Paul,

Listen to some of the music I have on my page. Follow the link in my signature.

All of the music (with some exception) is BB/RB and sounds good, if I do say so myself.

I too thought the same thing originally, but I have learned, that is not the case. You don't necessarily need the Audiophile version to get good tracks.

The 2 things you mentioned are totally available from your current version.... if you know what to do and how to do it.

Let me say that some of the instruments do sound better if rendered in a specific key and tempo. If you are too far off from the tempo and key they were originally sampled in, it will have some artifacts that make it sound a bit strange. Lead guitars and other solo instruments are particularly sensitive to this so be aware.

Drums and bass don't suffer as bad from that issue.

The way to get that punch and kick and sparkle is to not simply use the tracks straight out of BB/RB. You need to use EQ and compression to get the punch and the sparkle that bring the tracks to life and make them sound like a player in the room that was mic'd. It's amazing what a simple EQ dropped into a bass track or a drum track can do for it's sound.

I use Sonar for mixing my music, and every drum track has a little custom EQ preset that I pop in to put the punch into the kick drum and the sizzle into the snare and cymbals. It makes a huge difference. Same thing pretty much applies to the other instruments as well. I use EQ and compression to get the sound I need.

Not only do I use the FX in the tracks, but also at times in the busses and especially in the master bus.

Hope this helps get you pointed in the right direction. Give it a try.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.