SH Spotlight Why the new "LOUDNESS CRAZE" in digital mastering really robs music of life..

Sorry, I DO have a problem with it. The music isn't usually mixed with all that compression. It's added later. It does sound better than what you get on CD. That compression does not make new music sound good, and it causes hearing fatigue.


Compressed downloadable files is no excuse for smashing everything. They were smashing music before the internet was ever popular.

 

I know what you mean, but that is not the right word to use.

That's for listening. You shouldn't ADD it to the medium.

OK, I get the touhge in cheek attitude. I'm a bit slow!

 

I don't disagree, but it isn't just a matter of buying CDs... radio airplay, downloads, and crummy-but-mobile earbuds add to the muddled perceptions.

If J6P reacts positively to compressed audio, whether responding to surveys or just buying the product, what is the compelling argument to the music industry to make things right (as perceived by a handful of enthusiasts)?... who is the entity with clout that can pitch this argument?

As noted above, well before the CD, somebody somewhere put a bug in someone's ear that compressing audio over the airwaves made for a louder, and therefore fuller, and therefore better sound... who can undo that, and make it seem like sales will increase if the trend is reversed?

Wish I knew who it is... 'cuz I don't think it's a handful of audiophiles with torches and pitchforks.

 

I've noticed the same! DCC on Ipod sounds very good.

Now the real question, bad copies have been around for a long time, and loud copies have been around for a while as well. Steve and others have gone back and revisited masters and produced fantastic copies, but will the same be possible for the loud music?

Are the masters loud?

 

Isn't it interesting how the "loudness" trajectory has lead from years of trying to get things louder--I remember reading how Paul McCartney was trying to to get more bass into Beatles records in 1965, how the Yardbirds were trying to stop engineers from from trying to tone down their studio playing--to the point now where it's no longer necessary to try to squeeze louder volumes out of the recording and doing so is even detrimental to the sound. Seems like the circle is complete.

Dale

 

Yes, I do! I'm a bit slow today. My asthma is killing me. It's been so dry here, and then we immediately get hit with the icy weather.

 

All I know is, lately I've mostly been buying used CDs, from the early 90's or earlier. The majority of new CDs I've bought are making their way to the "sell" pile. I wonder how many of them might be keepers if they weren't maximised/compressed etc.? It's been dawning on me (yes, I'm a slow creature) that perhaps the reason I enjoy very little current pop/rock is this pernicious trend.

 

I've not seen this article posted in this thread so here it is

http://www.austin360.com/arts/content/music/stories/xl/2006/09/28cover.html

wags, great post - there's a point buried in there about us being able to control the volume

a tad OT

 

" Originally Posted by PopB*tch

Noel Gallagher was interviewed by David Walliams
in the Observer last weekend, and told a classic
story. Liam, apparently, was a huge fan of Spinal
Tap. But he thought they were a real band. He
was horrified to discover the same actors
performing as A Mighty Wind at Carnegie Hall a
few years back and, when Noel told him the bad
news, shouted "I'm not 'avin' that", and stormed
off. And has never watched the film again. "

The above cant possibly be true, could it?

 

Well, maybe I didn't say it right. I was trying to make a distinction between "current" music and older "catalog" music being remastered & re-released. I'm in my mid 50's & I don't really follow & buy that much "current" music anymore...except for the occasional country offering.

Sure, some of the reason I don't buy "current" music is because it sounds bad...but most of my reasoning is that I just don't care for it. I've "crossed that line" so to speak & would rather listen to old stuff!

What I am saying is that with current music (i.e. "new stuff"), the producer is (by definition) the original producer. He or she has a "sound" in mind for the recording...and they are directing the process from recording to mixing to mastering...to achive their vision of what they want the finished product to sound like...for better or worse. (mostly worse... ) If that's what they want to present to the public - OK - fine. I don't like it, but they're not butchering something that had been heard before. It's a new recording - they (artists & producers) want it to sound that way from the git-go.

But - when it comes to remastering catalog - the procedure is (from what I have learned here) quite different. And to treat vintage recordings the same way that a brand new recording is done is ludicrous.

Dexter

 

Does someone store a list of well {re}mastered CDs (of popular music) without the poor compression somewhere? would a website be helpful

I think most classical recordings are safe from the disease

 

How aware are the record label execs, producers and other unindicted co-conspirators of how this is beginning to undermining their whole future enterprise? Perhaps a WTO-style riot on Sunset Strip is needed, with signs, teargas and everathing to wake 'em up.

Something I haven't heard discussed yet, is how turning everything up, compressing it to a pancaked fare-thee-well, maximising etc. affects the tone colour of instruments; I was listening to the new Jet album today (wearing ear protection, natch), and the way this one was mastered makes everything sound sort of grey. Cheap Trick's new one is this way as well; Oasis' Don't Believe The Truth too, to an extent. Anyone else hear this with (many of the) new rock CDs?

 

That's the best YouTube I've ever seen. Thank you so much for posting it, Steve. If everyone could see and hear this clip, they could easily understand the loudness wars and perhaps be as horrified as we are. It's very depressing!

Something MUST be done about this! I'm about ready for the riot bhazen wrote about above...

 

Had'nt heard that song in awhile. Great clip and really shows how the sound can get all screwed up just for the sake of making it sound louder.

 

I e-mailed the demo in Steve's original post to 5 friends. I heartily recommend doing the same, especially if you know any active recording artists or musicians. Spread the word!

 

Gary I hear you man, now try and imagine...

You know better, but in order to stay employed and feed your family you have to do what the producer tells you to do even though you wish you didn't. Now that really sucks!

Frankly, I'm just happy that there are older acceptable to excellent masterings of the majority of my favorite albums. It could be even worse.

It's been along time since I've purchased any other mastering engineer's work besides Steve and Barry's for this threads reason alone. It'll be a frosty day in July before I cough up my hard earned cash for any other labels work as long as the digital workstation/smashstering trend continues. Give me those 23-24 year old Japan CBS/Sony plant masterings anyday.

 

its not the fault of the digital workstation though, its a tool

 

I don't think it will make a difference but I sent this email to Steve Hackett's sales desk on his website. Another post talked about previous Steve Hackett remasters and their poor sound quality. Like I said, I don't think it will make a difference but we have start somewhere to let musicians and the mastering folks know we don't like and won't buy this type of cd quality.


Here's the email:
Hello,
I love Mr Hackett's music. I own all his albums, many on vinyl as well as CD. I have ordered all my Steve Hackett CD's direct from Mr. Hackett's website. I also am concerned about the quality of recorded and remastered music. This posting to an audio forum is worrisome and is something I noticed on the previous Steve Hackett remasters.
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...ad.php?t=88471
I hope Mr. Hackett is concerned about sound quality and not just making the remasters loud. I have preordered every new and remaster of Mr Hackett's. I am going to hold out on the latest remasters until I see if it's a good remastering or just making some fabulous music sound loud. Thank you

 

your link doesn't work, unfortunately

 

Foiled again by technology.

 

and when you want new music?

 

This will be great to play for friends that don't fully grasp it. Very well done, concise video.