The Loudness War - how is it affecting you - vinyl/iPod, etc.

[dobyblue]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvheOquAmyw

Great new video from a poster on the Steve Hoffman forums with some excellent comparisons.

[FreddieFerric]

Excellent find! over compression at the mastering level + mp3 compression at the i-pod level = sucks!

[Galley]

Guns n' Roses won the Loudness War with Chinese Democracy.

http://www.gatewaymastering.com/gate...udnessWars.asp

[Icedburden]

Great video, thanks man.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Galley

Guns n' Roses won the Loudness War with Chinese Democracy.

http://www.gatewaymastering.com/gate...udnessWars.asp

It really is a well done CD, all waveform analysis shows this to be the case. In addition it's got some pretty great tunes on it too.

[TeresofBlood]

I only listen to music in headphones, so fatiguing is a serious problem for me when listening to a CD that has been ruined by dynamic compression. If I try to listen to Metallica's Death Magnetic in headphones, I have to shut it off after 20 minutes or so, because my ears hurt.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by TeresofBlood

I only listen to music in headphones, so fatiguing is a serious problem for me when listening to a CD that has been ruined by dynamic compression. If I try to listen to Metallica's Death Magnetic in headphones, I have to shut it off after 20 minutes or so, because my ears hurt.

Ouch, but I know exactly what you mean. When you first experience it...it's quite amazing how noticeable it really is.

That CD is definitely one that can't be cranked. Do you know if the vinyl was any better (source-wise)?

[DarkDune]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

The Loudness War - how is it affecting you - vinyl/iPod, etc..

I couldn't hear the question

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by DarkDune

I couldn't hear the question

WHAT?

John

[Johnny Vinyl]

Most excellent thread Steve! The link should be seen for anyone interested in music and wonders why their recent purchase (pick a format)sucks as much as it does.

John

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by John72953

Most excellent thread Steve! The link should be seen for anyone interested in music and wonders why their recent purchase (pick a format)sucks as much as it does.

John

What an attitude to take John! Maybe we can get the music companies to post an audio analysis graph like dobyblue does on the back cover, sort of like a food label disclosing what it is made up of. Then we can decide whether it is recorded well or not. I write notes of what this group says is well done sonically, etc. to help me pick out stuff at the b&m but I forget to take the notes with me nearly every time.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

What an attitude to take John! Maybe we can get the music companies to post an audio analysis graph like dobyblue does on the back cover, sort of like a food label disclosing what it is made up of. Then we can decide whether it is recorded well or not. I write notes of what this group says is well done sonically, etc. to help me pick out stuff at the b&m but I forget to take the notes with me nearly every time.

LOL.... I was exaggerating a bit there, but there's truth in it as well and I think it's easily recognized, even for a novice. Unfortunately, after you've made a purchase the retailer won't take it back usually.

John

[bandit29]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Ouch, but I know exactly what you mean. When you first experience it...it's quite amazing how noticeable it really is.

That CD is definitely one that can't be cranked. Do you know if the vinyl was any better (source-wise)?

The only "source" (that I know)of Death Magnetic that sounds good is the Guitar Hero version..I've heard it and that doesn't sound like your speakers are blown..

not sure about the vinyl.

http://www.wired.com/listening_post/...es-metallicas/

[TeresofBlood]

I've heard the vinyl of Death Magnetic is not nearly as bad as the CD, but still way compressed. For the most part though, vinyl discs are somewhat immune to the loudness war, because they require separate and different mastering technique. Also, dynamically compressing music, then physically compressing it (to fit on a CD) isn't exactly great for quality. Vinyl, even if over compressed, still has so much more room to breath and much greater resolution.

[Clark Kent]

Even with the moaning of the audiophile community in the past few years, the trend has gotten worse if anything on mainstream releases with a few notable exceptions. The musicians themselves should take more responsibility for their releases.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Even with the moaning of the audiophile community in the past few years, the trend has gotten worse if anything on mainstream releases with a few notable exceptions. The musicians themselves should take more responsibility for their releases.

+1. You'd think they'd want their songs to be heard as intended.

John

[DarkDune]

Originally Posted by John72953

WHAT?

John

Why are you all looking at me like you want an answer? Did you ask a question?

[Daredevil666]

How it's affecting me ? Simple, I used to buy 200 records a year. I now buy one. OK, maybe two on the good years. If all Blu-Rays were riddled with EE like Dark Knight, my blu-ray buyings would follow the same pattern.
Vote with your wallet.

[DougMac]

There's not much new coming out that I want to listen to anyway. What I am listening to doesn't seem too badly compressed. I download from Rhapsody at the highest bitrate and evidently the source wasn't badly compressed.

I've been watching some concerts on DVD and Blu-Ray and they sound really good, no loudness wars there. I also have a collection of LP's and 78s that get regular play. I've been listening to some RCA "Living Stereo" and some Columbia "Six Eye" LP's from the late 50's/early 60's. They sound great!

[dobyblue]

I am actually more likely to buy new records, I think I've only bought one CD in the last 12 months and that was the new album from "The Verve" as it was the only way to get the DVD with the 5 live tracks from Coachella on it - I only listen to the vinyl version of the album, it's gorgeous.