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Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:25 am
by amphibian
Hey all.
When I play my track in logic pro or what-have-you, it sounds fine, but when I export it, some hats at random points in the tune (I'm sure it's not random at all) have this weird effect. I assume this is what people refer to as phasing, and what is the best way to handle this? Do i need to notch out frequencies out of basslines.etc. where my hats sit? I haven't seen anyone actually recommend this before so wondering maybe there's something else I'm doing wrong?
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:28 am
by Wrigzilla
No idea bruv, if it's phasing you should be able to hear it while the project is playing in logic.

Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:21 pm
by JFK
Upload a sample for us to hear bruv

Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:30 pm
by JBE
Most of the time it's due to compression of the exporting. If you export into MP3, the mp3 is going to compress a lot of the audio which can cause a lot of problems with frequencies. I have it happen a lot to me when I upload stuff to soundcloud. I haven't actually figured it out entirely, or how to really prevent it. Try exporting to higher quality as much as possible. Generally with mp3 320 is as high as you ever need to go. Try exporting to wav or something, and see if the problem still persists. From what you're explaining, it definitely sounds like an exporting problem.
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:44 pm
by drokkr
Harmonic distortion. It shouldn't be there when you export the wav. The slight compression of going to 320 might be causing this...
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 1:52 pm
by antics
If I remember correctly this topic was once brought up and the solution suggest was just to tweak some (random) parameters very slightly, so that the distortion dissappears without affecting your sound too much
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 11:23 pm
by cahrlibrown
I think why people never mention the hat and bass, and other more unique barriers to the production of the frequency of conflict between the reason is because the production of dubstep music in an ideal formula for every DSF production.
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:07 am
by Manic Harmonic
did you try exporting it as a wav to see if it sounds good like that? I'd check the settings you're using for the mp3. I did a lot of research on the best way to export mp3's and I have it set to VBR, filter frequencies below 10 hz unchecked (since I'm sure you're already cutting those anyway), and joint stereo. You could try bouncing it in real time too, maybe with a 2nd cycle pass. I would only tweak the parameters as a last resort.
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:42 am
by Toric
Please post a sample so we can correctly diagnose your problem!
Or dropbox me the project file so I can take a look at it.
-T
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 12:35 pm
by atticuh
amphibian wrote:Hey all.
When I play my track in logic pro or what-have-you, it sounds fine, but when I export it, some hats at random points in the tune (I'm sure it's not random at all) have this weird effect. I assume this is what people refer to as phasing, and what is the best way to handle this?
There could be a variety of issues that are causing your problem, but I'll suggest something a little different.

If you're in the process of mastering, watch your dither settings, as some of the noise shaping options on some post-processing VST's cause small artifacts/blips/other noises on certain samples.
amphibian wrote:Do i need to notch out frequencies out of basslines.etc. where my hats sit? I haven't seen anyone actually recommend this before so wondering maybe there's something else I'm doing wrong?
Apply everything you know about mixing/managing frequencies and apply it to every instrument. The question you should be asking is, "Are my hats sitting in a frequency range which is also occupied by any instrument?" Whether its a bass synth, a lead, or even other percussion samples, if they're in the same freq range, expect to notch EQ the tracks or at the very least apply inconspicuous side-chain compression.
I think part of the reason why people never mention frequency clashes between hats and basses, as well as other more unique obstacles in production, is because in the "ideally produced dubstep song" as per "DSF formula" to production, you wouldn't have a bass which would extend that far up the frequency spectrum; however, in the real world, where artists typically do not have a sub bass sitting exactly between 20hz to 65hz, you'll have to start applying all those nifty mixdown tricks, talked about on these forums, to not only the situations in which they're often mentioned, but also outside of those "typical" situations.
My 2 cents really.
Keep the good work coming, pHybian.

Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:24 am
by Teknicyde
JBE wrote:Generally with mp3 320 is as high as you ever need to go.
320kbps is as high as the MP3 file format can handle.
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:09 am
by amphibian
lol wow - this old, oild thread was brought up by someone saying spam. lol. Thanks everyone

Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:06 am
by atticuh
amphibian wrote:lol wow - this old, oild thread was brought up by someone saying spam. lol. Thanks everyone

Oops. Didn't check the date on the initial thread. What was the solution to your problem originally?
Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:25 am
by Sparxy
atticuh wrote:amphibian wrote:lol wow - this old, oild thread was brought up by someone saying spam. lol. Thanks everyone

Oops. Didn't check the date on the initial thread. What was the solution to your problem originally?
Yeah also intrigued to know what caused this, and how you fixed it

Re: Weird distortion/FX on hats at certain points
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:43 pm
by atticuh
I've had it happen to me, but not from the rendering process alone. Usually, SC compression likes to mess with my percussion samples, and I'm not really sure how to get around that.
