In article , Iain Churches
wrote:



Sadly, in pop music, the majority rules, and mastering fashion has
reached the its current state due to the silent approval by the vast
majority of ther public, and the lethargy of those who might appreciate
something better:-)

I don't really agree with the semantic implications of the phrases "silent
approval" and "lethargy" in the above. Although I do appreciate that these
phrases probably do describe the wishful thinking and delusions of the
people who "master" music by choosing to apply high amounts of compression
and to clip.

The reality seems to me more like most people never knowing that they were
offerred any choice in the matter, or been given a chance to hear favourite
types of music *without* the compression/clipping side-by-side with the
plasticised versions. If you have no point of comparison, and no-one is
telling you what they are doing, then "silent approval" seems an odd phrase
to me. More like "mushroom farm"... :-)

Fortunately for me, the types of music I like generally have avoided the
dimwitted excess level compressions, clipping, etc. But it does bother me
that others who prefer other forms of music get this regardless.


My constant plea to sound professionals is "turn it down" whether it's
overall level at a live gig or monitor levels at a recording.

I agree about live gigs, and in many cinemas also. Do you attent many
recording sessions?

I've not been to any recording sessions except for some BBC broadcasts.
That, I guess, is very different to a commercal 'pop' recording. However
I've stopped going to 'shows' at our local theatre. They have a 'Bose'
'Sound Reinforcement' system. Sounds awful, and is usually turned up full
when there is any singing or music. Yet the theater is a small one. You can
clearly hear someone talking in a normal voice on stage, even in the back
seats which I prefer.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Change 'noise' to 'jcgl' if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html