[BC] Loudness Wars

[Andy Green (Listservers)]

Hi All, 

I know the subject of both radio and CD mastering over processing have been
covered on this and several other lists over time.

Yesterday I was in my local bookstore having a quick brows, I flipped
through a book that caught my eye called "Perfecting Sound Forever - The
Story of Recorded Music". By Greg Milner, published last year.

Fascinating stuff about the parallel development of for example tape and
wire recording, AC bias etc, stories that we all know bits of but written in
an entertaining and informative way, with enough technical detail to satisfy
an engineer, but not so as to put off someone who had an interest in music
production.

Flipping further, and a chapter called 'The story of the Band that Clipped
Itself to Death' caught my eye bigtime!
I caught a glimpse of names I knew - ...Z-100..Dorrough..Foti...Orban...
WPLJ.. etc, not the sort of thing you normally find in a book store in
Waterford, Ireland, and said to myself I can't stay here crouched on the
floor all day, I just have to buy it!

Read that chapter last night and although I had heard most of the discussion
before, it was presented in succinct and interesting way , showed both the
point of view of the mastering engineer, the Simon Cowell producer as well
as those like me who bemoan the over limited sound of a modern CD.

Several Tidbits I hadn't heard before, for example a theory put forward by
Chris Johnson who did survey of the most enduring albums and their audio
characteristics.

All in all I highly recommend this book for a good read over the weekend!,
and discuss further next week! (no I am not in any way benefiting from this
recommendation) 

Andy Green
 
Total Broadcast Consultants Ltd.,
Waterford City,
Ireland.
Mobile: +353 87 6169222
Tel: +353 51 845 422
Fax: +352 51 845 414