CD loudness wars

timjand · 01-01-07, 04:25 AM

Has the phenomenon of excessive compression on CDs been discussed here?

There's not much point in great quality replay kit if the source is mucked up.

I wrote a piece here with some links:

http://www.itwriting.com/blog/?p=91

I've been truly shocked by some of the most severe examples.

I'm wondering how we can press for better mastering in future?

Tim

ekb · 01-01-07, 01:28 PM

Yes, this was brought up a few months ago here . And then there was some follow up discussing in the Concert DVD thread on that Forum.

It's truly a disgusting practice. I largely stopped buying music back in the early 80's because of this. I personally don't have much hope to see any kind of improvement. In fact I think things are getting worse. And now we have a whole new generation that probably has never heard quality music reproduction and have no idea what they're missing.

Ed

ekb · 01-01-07, 01:31 PM

Tim, BTW, thanks for the article and links - I'll be taking a closer look.

Ed

timjand · 01-01-07, 04:34 PM

I am getting really depressed about it. It's bad enough having to seek old CDs or LPs for reissued stuff, but when it comes to new releases we may never get to hear them properly.

Tim

ChrisWiggles · 01-01-07, 06:42 PM

This has been discussed before, but it is a topic that is always worth reiterating. It's really a shame when CDs get so heavily compressed like this. It's much more the case with pop/mainstream and rock music, which while I don't listen to much pop music, I do definitely enjoy rock and it's a crying shame to hear some of these CDs that just sound hideous.

ekb · 01-01-07, 08:20 PM

Tim,

I linked this thread in a post in the concert DVD thread so that a lot more people can see it. I'm with you 110% on this issue.

Ed

greeniguana00 · 01-01-07, 08:55 PM

Maybe with online music distibution, the music can be mastered at higher volumes, but also at a higher bitrate to avoid clipping.

ChrisWiggles · 01-01-07, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greeniguana00

Maybe with online music distibution, the music can be mastered at higher volumes, but also at a higher bitrate to avoid clipping.

*sigh*

ekb · 01-01-07, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greeniguana00

Maybe with online music distibution, the music can be mastered at higher volumes, but also at a higher bitrate to avoid clipping.

Didn't you forget to put a smilee at the end to tell us you're joking?

Ed

01-01-07, 04:25 AM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
timjand Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 26	CD loudness wars Has the phenomenon of excessive compression on CDs been discussed here? There's not much point in great quality replay kit if the source is mucked up. I wrote a piece here with some links: http://www.itwriting.com/blog/?p=91 I've been truly shocked by some of the most severe examples. I'm wondering how we can press for better mastering in future? Tim

01-01-07, 06:42 PM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
ChrisWiggles Perpetually Confused Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 17,965	This has been discussed before, but it is a topic that is always worth reiterating. It's really a shame when CDs get so heavily compressed like this. It's much more the case with pop/mainstream and rock music, which while I don't listen to much pop music, I do definitely enjoy rock and it's a crying shame to hear some of these CDs that just sound hideous. __________________ Source Settings Guide Discover the best radio station on earth: kexp.org

01-01-07, 01:28 PM	#2 \| Link
ekb AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ Posts: 4,013	Yes, this was brought up a few months ago here . And then there was some follow up discussing in the Concert DVD thread on that Forum. It's truly a disgusting practice. I largely stopped buying music back in the early 80's because of this. I personally don't have much hope to see any kind of improvement. In fact I think things are getting worse. And now we have a whole new generation that probably has never heard quality music reproduction and have no idea what they're missing. Ed

01-01-07, 01:31 PM	#3 \| Link
ekb AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ Posts: 4,013	Tim, BTW, thanks for the article and links - I'll be taking a closer look. Ed

01-01-07, 04:34 PM	#4 \| Link
timjand Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 26	I am getting really depressed about it. It's bad enough having to seek old CDs or LPs for reissued stuff, but when it comes to new releases we may never get to hear them properly. Tim

01-01-07, 08:20 PM	#6 \| Link
ekb AVS Special Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ Posts: 4,013	Tim, I linked this thread in a post in the concert DVD thread so that a lot more people can see it. I'm with you 110% on this issue. Ed

01-01-07, 08:55 PM	#7 \| Link
greeniguana00 Amateur Thinker Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,653	Maybe with online music distibution, the music can be mastered at higher volumes, but also at a higher bitrate to avoid clipping.