Date:         Sat, 26 Aug 2006 11:23:30 -0500
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         Scott Phillips <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Can 78s sound better than LPs?
Comments: To: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
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I agree completely. Just because you have a tool, it doesn't mean it is
needed, or even non-destructive.

I've just finished looking at a few popular recordings from the last few
years in Sound Forge. The display indicates huge amounts of clipping...
Not of the CD format, but in the mastering process at the very least. I
can only assume that every possible digital tool was used to produce the
loudest, most distorted sound possible. Horrible sounding stuff. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 1:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Can 78s sound better than LPs?

There's a lot of truth to this. Many engineers, when given a knob to
turn, will turn it. Back in the day, the signal path was simpler and
cleaner. There were many fewer options and hence fewer ways to go badly
wrong. As long as a guy knew not to overload a mic or mic preamp, he'd
be pretty good to go (although MANY engineers back in the day couldn't
even grasp that simple concept). I'm thinking of even the most complex
art-rock album and I can't see why one needs all the options afforded by
modern virtual "consoles" with a heap of plug-ins. Add into the mix that
the digital signal processing is pretty piss-poor in a lot of cases and
then add the cult of ye olde analog gear, often in disrepair, added
hodge-podge to the modern control room, and the total lack of basic
electronics know-how in said control room, and the recipe for bad sound
is printed on the wall.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Olhsson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 11:13 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Can 78s sound better than LPs?


> Tom Fine wrote:
>>... Alas, the
>>skill set has slipped so badly that many modern recordings are
horrible
>
> I'm not sure it's exactly a higher skill set. Today we're drowning in
excessive signal processing 
> both in recordings and live music venues. The folks who sell music
gear are killing the goose that 
> laid their golden egg.
>
> -- 
> Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN
> Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control
> Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined!
> 615.385.8051    http://www.hyperback.com