RE: Telltale signs of compression?

Posted by Tony Lauck (A) on March 11, 2012 at 12:17:44

In Reply to: Telltale signs of compression? posted by Awacs on March 10, 2012 at 16:28:28:

The simplest and quickest way is to find the loudest part of a track and then adjust the volume control until the volume sounds about "right". Then take a look at the setting of the dial. The comparison will usally be valid across recordings from the same musical genre and the same instrumentation, but won't necessary be valid when comparing different genres or instrumentation. In the case of pop or rock, one needs to compare classic recordings in their original CD mastering with modern mastering of the same or similar recordings. This isn't a strictly reliable method, as the volume setting of two recordings with identical (e.g. no) compression may differ if one was "normalized" to a different peak level. But this method gives a quick 10 second "in your face" indication that something is drastically wrong with a recording. Or, if the volume control appears to be set very low because you had been playing a crappy loud recording it gives you a wake-up call that there may be hope for the new recording.

The best audiophile recordings may require over 20 dB more gain with the volume control than crappy recordings. (Often about 10 clicks with discrete volume controls.) When these recordings are played back with the volume control set too low or on a system that lacks sufficient headroom in the amplifiers and speakers they can sound anemic. Should this happen, it's not the recording's fault, it's the user's fault for not turning up the volume loud enough or not having an adequate system for the scope of music involved. (Some excellent audiophile recordings have gotten a false rap because they were not played back properly.)

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Telltale signs of compression? - Awacs 16:28:28 03/10/12 (22)

Thanks - Awacs 17:51:13 03/13/12 (1)

RE: Thanks - ionman 20:05:47 03/14/12 (0)

Whan an acoustic guitar sounds just as loud as a 7-piece horn section nt - meisterkleef 05:25:12 03/12/12 (0)

RE: Telltale signs of compression? - Tony Lauck 12:17:44 03/11/12 (0)

Depends on what they did - mls-stl 09:54:58 03/11/12 (6)

RE: Depends on what they did - Bromo33333 12:54:59 03/12/12 (5)

RE: Depends on what they did - Tony Lauck 13:40:38 03/12/12 (3)

RE: Depends on what they did - Bromo33333 13:59:20 03/12/12 (2)

RE: Depends on what they did - Tony Lauck 17:51:35 03/12/12 (1)

Yeah, dynaGROOVE. My bad. Ugh! nt - Bromo33333 05:03:20 03/13/12 (0)

RE: Depends on what they did - mls-stl 13:36:59 03/12/12 (0)

RE: Telltale signs of compression? - Dawnrazor 09:10:25 03/11/12 (2)

Good example here's another... - rwiley 10:14:27 03/11/12 (0)

RE: Telltale signs of compression? - bradluke0 09:49:48 03/11/12 (0)

RE: Telltale signs of compression? - hahax@verizon.net 21:01:47 03/10/12 (0)

The Music Sounds Just Plain "Loud"........... - Todd Krieger 20:29:17 03/10/12 (2)

RE: The Music Sounds Just Plain "Loud"........... - Bromo33333 05:08:04 03/13/12 (1)

I Took Your Advice and........ - Todd Krieger 09:40:54 03/20/12 (0)

RE: Telltale signs of compression? - Wesley Miaw 19:18:06 03/10/12 (0)

Loud, punchy,too much detail ... - slider 18:11:19 03/10/12 (2)

RE: Loud, punchy,too much detail ... - pbass-forever 10:07:00 03/16/12 (0)

I've Always Taken "Punchy" as a Negative In a Sonic Description.............. - Todd Krieger 20:32:03 03/10/12 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Telltale signs of compression? - Tony Lauck 12:17:44 03/11/12 (0)

RE: Telltale signs of compression?

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