Jimi, Square Waves, response from EH

Here's the URL for Roger Nichols' web site: www.rogernichols.com (big surprise there). Once you're there, click on the link for "EQ Columns" and look for the column called "CDs Give Me The Jitters!" Fascinating stuff.

Gardo

 

Oh yeah, I follow RN's comments in EQ magazine every month. None of this was news to me.

 

Does this qualify as "thread crapping"?

Gardo

 

Excellent points. I don't blame engineers for wanting their peak levels as close as possible to 0 db. No sense wasting bits. On the other hand, I've read (maybe here?) that in the old days, digital engineers were warned by Sony not to let peaks get too close to zero, out of fear of "overs" that wouldn't be tracked by slower meters.

Gardo

 

I think that's pretty consistent with the way Grant writes. I don't think he's trying to put you down. (just to be clear, there's no sarcasm in this post)

 

Thanks for that clarification.

But if it's not ridicule, what is it, exactly? Why post to a thread and say, in essence, "I'm not learning anything here"?

Sorry--I'm feeling a bit cranky. On any other forum, those kinds of posts come with the territory. On this forum, they're rare enough that they bother me more. Or something like that.

Gardo

 

I see Bob's diplomatic approach is rubbing off on you, Steve

 

This is so very true yet when you get an album mastered at any of the big mastering houses either in Nashville, LA or New York, the engineer automatically pushes the level up to 0dB. The last thing your album goes through is a digital peak limiter! There's no reason for this. I just think it's easier for them to get the levels even. If the last song is quieter than the rest it's easier to increase its volume than it is to make the rest of the record softer. Also, if they have that limiter in place they don't ever have to worry about getting any overs. When I print a mix I have to sit there and watch the meters to make sure I don't have some rogue snare hit that sends my meters into the red. It's a pain in the ****.

 

You bet

 

Point well taken. I had my own little "over" there and I have now adjusted my levels accordingly. Headroom is a precious thing. I'll try not to run out of it.

My apologies to Grant, Steve, gorts, and the forum.

On with the motley!
Gardo