Where the hell did dynamic range go?

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: skace
Random question, those people talking about the horrors of removing dynamic range, do you normalize your mp3s or no? And is normalizing similar to removing dynamic range?

Normalizing uses the peak of the original song as the maximum volume level. Dynamic range compression raises the peak audio levels beyond what a CD can handle. The peaks that are too high are somehow clipped off or lowered so the CD can handle it. I think that's how it works. I'm sure that Ms Dawn could provide a better explanation though. Either that, or it's already been explained somewhere in this huge thread.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Normalizing uses the peak of the original song as the maximum volume level. Dynamic range compression raises the peak audio levels beyond what a CD can handle. The peaks that are too high are somehow clipped off or lowered so the CD can handle it. I think that's how it works. I'm sure that Ms Dawn could provide a better explanation though. Either that, or it's already been explained somewhere in this huge thread.

Text

 

[Jeff7]

See?

 

[Rubycon]

original

compressed :Q

These are 24 / 44.1 WMA's

 

[Howard]

Hm, I didn't post in this thread?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Howard
Hm, I didn't post in this thread?

Quoted because you did.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
original

compressed :Q

These are 24 / 44.1 WMA's

Excellent examples.

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
original

compressed :Q

These are 24 / 44.1 WMA's

WTF! Even though I don't like that kind of music, that song was totally and utterly raped. There should be a law against this!

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
original

compressed :Q

These are 24 / 44.1 WMA's

The drums seem slightly shifted to the left in the compressed version. Does anybody else hear that?

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
original

compressed :Q

These are 24 / 44.1 WMA's

Bah, I still can't tell much difference between those. What exactly am I supposed to be listening for?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
original

compressed :Q

These are 24 / 44.1 WMA's

Bah, I still can't tell much difference between those. What exactly am I supposed to be listening for?

Separation of the instruments. The difference between those two tracks is GLARING.

1st has a nice range, the second has severe clipping and compressiion. Ms Dawn has basically boosted the level up (clipping it) and then she has compressed it.

Listen to each individual instrument to see the affect.

 

[Rubycon]

The shift in imaging could be due to the smearing from the limiter. The boost was quite strong with that one. I'm trying to make the effect readily apparent.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
The shift in imaging could be due to the smearing from the limiter. The boost was quite strong with that one. I'm trying to make the effect readily apparent.

Smearing? The second clip is like somebody smeared their butt with it and then released it.

Unfortunately just like most modern recordings.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Smearing? The second clip is like somebody smeared their butt with it and then released it.

Unfortunately just like most modern recordings.

Hence the expression sounding like azz.