I need some advice with volume mastering.

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I started making music with lmms about a month ago, and I have a few projects done. However, I noticed that most of them are too quiet. More quiet than the other music I have on my phone/PC. I've been learning how the FX-mixer works, and I'm still confused with the color coding.

What exactly does the red section of the volume mean? When ever I keep the master volume in the yellow zone, the song is too quiet. When it's in the red zone but not hitting the top, I can reach my desired volume.

I've heard that anything in the red zone means clipping/distortion, but I don't hear any as long as it never hits the top. I may be wrong though.

The spectrum analyzer is a bit confusing too. It always shows that my music is under 0db, even when I cranked the volume to 200% and there was obvious distortion.

Any answers to this would be appreciated. Thanks!
mangorosi wrote:
Fri May 05, 2023 7:06 pm
I started making music with lmms about a month ago
Hi, Welcome to the Forum mangorosi !
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I noticed that most of them are too quiet.
Yep that is correct, but it can be changed :)
What exactly does the red section of the volume mean?
FX color coding:
Green: The output will not clip ON ITS OWN!!!
Yellow: Wont clip, but is close..
Red: Clips!

Clips are bad if OTHER instruments play SIMULTANEOUS !
Those other instruments will be distorted, may even 'pop'.
Discreet sounds can clip as you want, and it wont be bad.

But clipping does not need to have anything to do with loudness! That part is a bit tricky, but just believe me :P
Your very best tool against clipping are Equalizer and frequency-analyser
Enhance the frequencies that are low, and dampen those that causes the clips!
That is the fix!
You get more total sound (presence) , and you have removed the frequencies that made your project clip-distort
Great analyser: SPAN!

Doing this work is called Mixing
Back in 2015 i made this

It is very old!!! ..Maybe i should make a new one...