What is "muddiness"?

[Draconiator]

In my desire to improve, I'm coming across this term a lot here at OCR. Thankfully, when I got a judgement thread, I never got the "muddy" crit, but I'm still wondering how to identify it, so I can get rid of it if I hear it.

I've gathered from the judges forum, it's when multiple instruments fight for the same space in the sound spectrum, making it sound "mud", but I just need to train my ears to recognize it when I hear it. High-end mud especially.

If someone can make something demonstrating that, that would be extremely helpful.

Thanks in advance!

[Kidd Cabbage]

I've seen it referring to what you're talking about - different instruments fighting for the same sonic space, though the more common meaning for "mud" in the world is too much low mids - the heavy unclarity at like 150-400hz. Different instruments fighting for the same space is called "masking." That being said, like you mentioned, on OCR many people do call masking by the name of muddiness.

[Tensei]

An indistinct wall of sound in the low-mid end of the frequency spectrum, generally caused by reverb, multiple instruments fighting for the same frequency, etc.

Boost as much as possible with a notch EQ with a reasonably narrow Q, and move it around in the 150-400 Hz area to get a feeling for what it sounds like.

[Kidd Cabbage]

150-400 hz

ttttwwwwwiiiiiiinnnnnnssssss

[Tensei]

Sometimes, when I'm feeling really frisky, I go up to 500 Hz.

[OceansAndrew]

Most of the issues I hear that are OCR-specific tend to be at 250hz, but it can vary.

[Nabeel Ansari]

It often comes from too much low end on reverb. Just makes it really "blubbityblubbglub" in the low end.