Source
r/protools•
Impudenter

Why does the bounced file sound different than the playback in Pro Tools?

Help Request

I'm very new to recording music, and am using ProTools First. I'm currently trying to export a project as a WAV-file, but the exported file sounds completely different than the project does when I listen to it in ProTools. (It sounds like there is some sort of EQ on the entire track, the bass is way too low, for example.)

Any idea of what I'm doing wrong? I haven't had this problem before.

Posted May 23, 2020, 9:01 PM UTC

19
TheN5OfOntarioprofessional•

Maybe you bounced from a bus that doesn’t represent the whole signal chain?

8
tonypizzicato•

This, or something(s) aren't being bussed to the proper channel. You can combat this by choosing your hardware output as the bounce source. But if that solves the problem, you should probably consider revisiting your internal routing.

5
DanielBuxton•

I’d check over your routing on your channels. I’ve had many an issue when a mix gets a bit complicated.

As a test, just make sure all channels are going out to your main monitor output within your I/O (or feed all channels into a stereo aux and ensure the output of that is correct) Ensure you bounce to disk selecting said output as the source.

Make sure the format of the file on bounce matches the parameters of your session too (so if you started a 44.1 24bit PT session, bounce your file in that format).

Don’t click “offline” for your bounce either, that way you can monitor it in real time whilst its doing it.

Try an AB of both at that point by bringing your bounced file back into your session and checking against it. You could also record your mix internally to a new audio track using a stereo bus and see if you are having the same problem.

It might be worth checking you haven’t accidentally written some automation during your session too. You can globally disable automation from its window for troubleshooting purposes.

I hope you work it out :)

3
ImpudenterOP•

I got it to work in the end! I think the problem was that the channels weren't going into the main output, but I'm not entirely sure, I changed some other settings as well. Anyway, thanks for the help!

1
DanielBuxton•

Glad to be of help :)

1
danplayslol11•

It depends what your playback is. Sometimes there are weird EQ settings in iTunes or whatever OS system you’re running. I had this issue too before I realized I had an EQ on my windows audio engine

2
DanielBuxton•

iTunes caught me out for ages with a smiley face EQ haha!

1
thornygravy•

It really shouldn't.. only thing I can think of is maybe you're noticing downsampling?

What are you using to play the wav file back?

1
MadCapMusic•

Make sure all your stereo tracks are bouncing stereo. It sounds like you’re getting phase cancellation.

1