What we are listening to [2019]

seagull · March 3, 2019, 10:13pm

BeersOnMe · March 3, 2019, 10:14pm

Neal Schon’s acoustic guitar riff in the opening stanzas of Whiter Shade of Pale is so cool

Wakajazz · March 3, 2019, 10:28pm

BeersOnMe · March 3, 2019, 10:50pm

BeersOnMe · March 3, 2019, 11:20pm

oneofmany · March 3, 2019, 11:30pm

Been listening to this @dabassgoesboomboom on my headphone rig. I want to like it but I’m finding the mix is making my ears bleed. I’m listening to it streamed from Tidal, I find everything is loud in the mix, bass is distorted as are other sounds. Maybe it’s meant to be this way?

Just wondering if you are hearing this as well.

Yes, I have added way too many albums to be able to listen to them all, especially since 1.6 Radio Definitely a first world issue.

dabassgoesboomboom · March 3, 2019, 11:37pm

100% agree @oneofmany. I can’t imagine it will get nominated for best Engineered (non-classical) album at next year’s Grammys…

The same songs mixed differently maybe could cause less ear bleed. I have to assume it’s all as the artist intended I guess.

I more so love the melodies and song writing.

I was listening to Empire of The Sun last night and could make identical comments. Oasis too. I could go on forever ha.

BeersOnMe · March 3, 2019, 11:46pm

oneofmany · March 4, 2019, 12:25am

Yeah very true. Sounds OK in the car but not good at at on a decent system. Shame.

I guess it’s the old “loudness” issue.

mark_spilberg · March 4, 2019, 12:29am

dabassgoesboomboom · March 4, 2019, 1:00am

Shame indeed and it doesn’t have to be that way, even with modern popular stuff.

Check out 'This Town’ by Niall Horan - the Tiesto remix specifically.

I mastered a track call ‘This Town’ for a Niall Horan remixed by Tiesto. This was a good test as I had accurate technical details of the lossless master file. I mastered ‘This Town’ to -0.5dBTP and -10.5 LUFS. Once Apple transcoded the master it was -0.4dBTP and still -10.5 LUFS.

When Soundcheck is enabled, Apple Music streams this track at -2dBTP and -12.50 LUFS. A much less drastic change than ‘Rockstar’, but still a bit of room for improved dynamics. At the time I was just happy to get this (very dynamic for electronic music) master past the decision makers involved.
_So my master of ‘This Town’ plays back a whole decibel louder on Apple Music than ‘Rockstar’. It’s also got a much broader dynamic range and doesn’t distort. Winner!

Background by the Engineer here:

https://www.masteringthemix.com/blogs/learn/producing-music-for-apple-music