CALLING ALL PRODUCER'S/DJ'S...

I need help...I just finished a dj mix that i'm happy with BUT before I release it I'de like to put it through some COMPRESSER's and/or 4 BAND EQ's or whatever it is big name Dj's's or Producers use to give it that Crisp, Clear, "proffesional sound".  I wish i could explain it better, I guess the best example would be the new "Daley - What's in a Name ?" mix.. he's got that real - y'know, "CRISPY" sound? ANYWAYS, I got Pro-Tools and Cool Edit but I don't know what Compresser/EQ Parameters I would use to get that CRISPY type of sound.. Can someone PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS?

 

PRO TOOLS AUDIOSUITE:

 

COMPRESSION SETTING: (Fill In The Blank)

Gain:____db

Threshold:____db

Ratio:___

Attack:____ms

Release:____ms

Knee:____

 

4 BAND EQ SETTING: (Fill In the Blank)

Input: ___db

 

---{   Gain=___db; Freq=___Khz

 

--O-- Gain=___db; Freq=___Khz; Q=___

 

--O-- Gain=___db; Freq=___Khz; Q=___

 

}---  Gain=___db; Freq=___Khz

     

 

Any other tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated, much thanks.

well... for one, prostar mixes are usually done with really good mixers, clean vinyl, and top-line styli.  You can polish a good mix with compressors, etc, but if it's not a really hi-fi recording then there's only so much you can do.  Mastering isn't a magic box fix...you usually have to sit and toy with it until you get your specific mix just right.  It takes time and experience, unfortunately.  There is stuff like the Aphex Aural Exciter, which is  hardware unit, that does seem to really fatten up an audio signal, but it does a shitload of weird harmonic processing.

Yeah I like the way it sounds now and since i really don't know what i'm doing i'll just save it from sounding worst,lol.

Fuck that shit.....record it again and use good stylie and a good mixer...if your mixings tight it should shine up sweet....steve blake recorded a mix for Fevah that was done on a shitty two channel....the mixing and eq's were tight as Dots sister, that CD was on the cover of WAX...no complaints.

If your styli and mixer arent good, there is not much you can do later on to regain the lost sound sharpness...