How to make audio sound good on any speakers

[nmaster64]

I had this problem with my previous video, Cursed Disease, and now I'm having it again with my new video I'm working on.

So I find a song, listen to it on my desktop speakers (nothing big, just a standard $20 2-speaker set), and it sounds great. The song drips of powerful beats and I can invision an AMAZING action video in my head.

The problem? I listen to the same song on something like my laptop speakers, and, well, I just don't feel it any more. This occured with my last video when it sounded great at my desktop, but when it was presented at a convention, big screen and all, the audio just didn't sound right to me.

I'm not a big audio buff, so maybe someone can explain to me why I have issues with powerful hard rock and strong classical tracks when it comes to the sound varying depending on the speaker system.

Other than getting the highest quality/bitrate version of the song possible, is there any way I can make a song sound good and still get that feeling of power regardless of what it's played on?

[Scintilla]

Other than getting the highest quality/bitrate version of the song possible, is there any way I can make a song sound good and still get that feeling of power regardless of what it's played on?

I don't know of any. In my experience, there's very little music I like that actually sounds good on laptop speakers (they simply cannot adequately convey the low frequencies).
Convention setups are usually pretty good, unless the setup in question involves Otakon's Video Room 1; then it's beyond help.

I've noticed, however, that some songs (I'm looking at YOU, Evanescence) can benefit from boosting the higher frequencies (and by this I mean above about 10kHz or so) -- it can make a recording sound clearer and more vivid, as long as you don't overdo it.

[nmaster64]

I've noticed, however, that some songs (I'm looking at YOU, Evanescence) can benefit from boosting the higher frequencies (and by this I mean above about 10kHz or so) -- it can make a recording sound clearer and more vivid, as long as you don't overdo it.

Basically, I should make the higher frequencies higher? hmmmm...

Do you recommend a simple amplify or a bass boost? Audio isn't really my thing...I appreciate the help...

By the way, you better "cease and desist" looking at Evanescence...you might get sued...

[Scintilla]

I've noticed, however, that some songs (I'm looking at YOU, Evanescence) can benefit from boosting the higher frequencies (and by this I mean above about 10kHz or so) -- it can make a recording sound clearer and more vivid, as long as you don't overdo it.

Basically, I should make the higher frequencies higher? hmmmm...

Only if the song needs it. "My Immortal" (the band version) needs it; "Anarchy in the U.K." needs it; many songs don't.

If you're unsure, try it and see how the result sounds.

Do you recommend a simple amplify or a bass boost? Audio isn't really my thing...I appreciate the help...

Simply amplifying the whole thing won't help and will probably hurt by way of clipping.
Don't do a bass boost unless you find the bass lacking <i>on your good desktop speaker system</i>. Actually, here's what I would do:

1) Find a speaker system with a subwoofer.
2) Play some other professionally recorded song that has fairly powerful bass on it. Adjust the subwoofer's relative volume until the balance is right.
3) Now play the song you're thinking about, without changing the volume. If the bass sounds good, great. If it's not powerful enough, then a bass boost will probably help.

If you mean in order to boost the higher frequencies, then neither an amplify nor a bass boost is what you want. You should use something like a graphic equalizer, a parametric equalizer, or an FFT filter (like Adobe Audition's).

By the way, you better "cease and desist" looking at Evanescence...you might get sued...

I'm well aware of what happened; one of my videos was affected.

(That video was my first time enhancing audio in such a manner before using it for an AMV.)

[downwithpants]

digital signal processing will have little effect on your sound quality when you're listening from laptop speakers. it's like installing tail fins on a tricycle to make it go faster...

laptop speakers have poor frequency and dynamic ranges. you can either spend money on speakers (computer speakers are inexpensive and provide fair quality; 3-piece or 5-piece systems are pricier will give much better quality), or headphones (great quality for the price, if you don't mind listening through headphones).

[nmaster64]

Thanks for the help guys.

Just so ya know, my laptop isn't what I'm really worried about in terms of it sounding bad. More than that, I just want other people who download the AMV to hear it right, but there's no way in the world to guess what kind of audio setup they've got. Most importantly, I want it to sound good when I go out to the conventions and my videos are judged. The audio quality has a strong impact on how a video is recieved, and it stinks to lose because the song sounds like crap on the con's 20-year old speaker system.

Looking over some recommendations, it actually seems for classical music you should boost the lower frequency ranges, while rock is more across the board, and metal is best raised in the higher frequencies...

It seems playing around with the equalizer is the best way to find out what sounds the best...I guess I'll just mess with that until I find what works best.

Thanks guys!

P.S. Turning the equalizer on/off made me notice: that makes one hell of a difference! That sounds a lot better!

[madmallard]

also remember how much you may/may not be compressing it has a BIG impact on dynamics when you run it at a con and start pushing 500+ watts.


AWA is pushing around 5000 watts in the VAT room. an okay sounding 224kps mp3 encode on your 5 watt desktop can all of a sudden have every piece of lossy artefacting brought to life on a system like ours.

and while most people who haven't heard the sound un-compressed wont even notice, to someone who knows(like the editor) the sounds may feel bad to them.

[maciko]

Here is a simple solution. Get a good set of headphones. If you would like me to elaborate on this just ask, there is a lot to be considered in setting up a reasonable listening room.