Re: OT That 'sizzle sound' of Mp3s

[Dan Ash <Daniel.Ash@Verizon.net>]

> From: Miko Biffle <biffoz@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: OT That 'sizzle sound' of Mp3s
> To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 3:28 PM
>
> For the most part, vinyl mastering and production esthetics were more 
> mid-rangey and compared to modern production a little "honkey" 
> sounding.  Compression and volume maximization aside, I prefer the 
> broader tonal spectrum of modern recordings. I love Hendrix, but most 
> of recordings still have that narrower range and less bass, giving the 
> recordings a dated sound. MP3's of the same recordings sound dated as 
> well. I understand the basics of high end interpolation and sampling, 
> but still, I just don't hear it.
Sorry if I'm a little late to the party, and confess that I didn't 
follow this thread closely - but it took a little while to process the 
statement that Hendrix sounded 'dated'.   I realize now of course that 
the reference was to the sound of the recordings - his music is of 
course timeless. 

So based on the necessity of mastering for a lathe and limiting the 
low-end to accommodate turntables, Eddie Kramer mixed and EQ'd the bass 
at a level that worked for his target media.  With the advent of 
sub-woofers and newer dance styles dominating the mainstream we 
evidently have a new generation that notes a lack of low end in classic 
rock and on the other hand also accepts the sizzle that even my tired 
ears finds 'earritating'.  It only now occurs to me that anything more 
than a couple of years old might sound 'dated' to younger listeners. 

Excuse me while I work my back over to my rocking chair!

In discussions I've had with audio engineers about the satisfying sound 
of Motown recordings in particular, most point to tape-based analog 
reproductions of drums and bass guitar as the characteristic sound of 
that era - so yes - those recordings did define an entire era of analog 
recording.  Rock , soul, and almost any other pre-disco musical styles 
were mastered with the same sensitivity to low end content that couldn't 
be reproduced using a turntable or speaker systems of the day...

The same observarion applies to all remastered mixes of the Hendrix 
material, even those made for release on CD.  It would be silly to try 
and hype the bass to try and contemporize these tracks.  I also remember 
discussions here and elsewhere suggesting that for several entire 
generations the subtle analog 'distortion' in any recording was 
'familiar' and therefor preferred by audiophiles.  Funny how there are 
psychoacoustic aspects and even cross-generational biases that inform 
all discussions about music reproduction.

That said - the sizzle of MP3s is just LAME.

I suppose I must approach the idea that a new generation of listeners 
will label the sonic character of my own tracks as those of a bygone era 
just as we might identify the sound of wax-cylinder audio reproduction 
from the early 1900's, and then the characteristic 'sound' of magnetic 
media recordings thereafter.  And this doesn't even address musical 
styles which are only 'contemporary' for a moment in time.  

For the record I always discounted the meme that music itself was better 
'back in the day' because I know that we'll only hear most good music 
these days if we actively seek it out, and yes there is much chaff to 
grind away before we get to the good stuff. 

Just rambling a bit here, but being on this list often points me to 
wonderfully satisfying music produced by people whose opinions and 
contributions are clearly a cut-above'...

Dan Ash
White Plains, NY