CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Music and Recordings => Topic started by: timjthomas on December 04, 2011, 11:31:11 AM
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What music do you use when "testing" a set of headphones? This list is not to be confused with "perfect recordings". These are tracks you use to test gear, which often means recordings which challenge transducers or upstream gear, or which have problem spots which can show you problems in gear/headphones. Perfect recordings test certain aspects of gear, but will only show you so much. Bad recordings can be just as useful for testing gear as great recordings.
note: Since this is a sticky, I have comandeered this part of this post to direct the thread. Original post below.
-RD
My list changes from time to time, but below is what I keep coming back to. (I can post links or pictures to specific versions I have, if there is a need.)
Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions / Trinity Sessions Revisited
Diana Krall - Live in Paris
Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Jim Hall - Concierto
Led Zeppelin - 4 Disk Box Set
LOTR - Fellowship of the Ring
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Pearl Jam - 10
Pink Floyd - DSOTM, Wish You Were Here, The Wall
Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company
Steely Dan - Gold
Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground
U2 - Achtung Baby (specifically Mysterious Ways)
As for classical, there are quite a few I use, but the main ones are:
Bach Cello Suites - Zuill Bailey
Bach Goldberg Variations - Murray Perahia
Brahms Violin Concerto - Anne-Sophie Mutter
Brahms Piano Concerto #2 - Fleisher & Szell
Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos - Hilary Hahn
Aside from the classical, I'm not sure how well all of the above are mastered. I'm sure that the CJ's Trinity Sessions (in fact all of the CJ stuff) as well as Clapton's Unplugged are very well mastered.'
Any thoughts on how well these are mastered?
-Tim
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Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Sessions / Trinity Sessions Revisited - Great
Diana Krall - Live in Paris - Awesome
Eric Clapton - Unplugged - Near Perfect
Jim Hall - Concierto - ?
Led Zeppelin - 4 Disk Box Set - Bad
LOTR - Fellowship of the Ring - OK
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue - Depends which version
Pearl Jam - 10 - Bad
Pink Floyd - DSOTM, Wish You Were Here, The Wall - Depends which version
Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company - BAD
Steely Dan - Gold - depends which version
Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground - ?
U2 - Achtung Baby (specifically Mysterious Ways) - BAD
As for classical, there are quite a few I use, but the main ones are:
Bach Cello Suites - Zuill Bailey -?
Bach Goldberg Variations - Murray Perahia - OK
Brahms Violin Concerto - Anne-Sophie Mutter - OK
Brahms Piano Concerto #2 - Fleisher & Szell - OK
Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos - Hilary Hahn - ?
? = I haven't heard it.
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Here's an article about Jim Hall - Concierto: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=38650 (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=38650)
Tord Gustavsen Trio is minimalist jazz trio. The Ground is probably their most "widely" known album.
I heard about Zuill Bailey's recording of Bach's Cello Suites on NPR. I have several versions of the Bach Cello Suites -- some I like better -- but this is very well recorded.
Hahn's recording of Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos is almost "syrupy", but it seems to work (for me at least.)
I can provide samples of any of these if you'd like to give them a listen.
Updated
Luis: I hadn't realized that you had commented on each of the recordings, noting that some were "BAD."
Led Zeppelin - 4 Disk Box Set - Bad - I much prefer the LPs I have of Zeppelin and usually listen to those. I've been meaning to pick up a "good" version on CD. Just not sure which ones to get.
Pearl Jam - 10 - Bad - I figured as much. I just like the raw emotion of the recording :)
Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company - BAD - I've read this. Are all of the tracks poor? I'll have to listen more carefully to ths one.
U2 - Achtung Baby (specifically Mysterious Ways) - BAD. Not surprising. I like they Mysterious Ways. It's a "fun song."
Pink Floyd & Miles Davis - I'll have to check which versions I have. Do you have a particular recommendation?
Steel Dan - Gold - I have the expanded edition: http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Steely-Dan/dp/B000002OHR/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1323111435&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Steely-Dan/dp/B000002OHR/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1323111435&sr=1-1)
Thanks,
-Tim
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So what single recording or two is your reference recording -- the one you use to evaluate headphones, speakers, etc.? Why that recording? What do you listen for?
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Elton John - Bitter Fingers
John Mayer - Who Says
a recording I have of the Emperor Concerto (Beethoven's 5th piano concerto)
Sometime's recording's I made myself
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So what single recording or two is your reference recording -- the one you use to evaluate headphones, speakers, etc.? Why that recording? What do you listen for?
Single song: Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place
Single Album: Paul Simon - Graceland
I listen for naturalness. If anything sounds too bright, too flabby, lacking, too shrill or too much glare then I know it is NOT the recording. Vocals should sound effortlessly natural. Both have a ton micro-detail that many speakers and headphones fail to reproduce properly. Graceland in particular has a lot of ambiance that is completely missing in a lot of systems.
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I wish U2 made an effort to make good recording. Not a big U2 fan (LOL, my favorite U2 album is Zooropa) but still. Their records totally suck from a high-fidelity point of view, except for their very early ones.
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Some of my usual go-to albums:
Patricia Barber - Modern Cool
Casandra Wilson - Traveling Miles
Kurt Elling - Nightmoves
San Francisco Symphony - Mahler Symphony No. 1, No. 2 or No. 5
Budapest Festival Orchestra - Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Mariinsky Theater Orchestra - Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3
Pieter Wispelwey - Tchaikovsky: Variation on Rococo Theme
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My list of "reference recordings" is really different from my list of recordings I use to test headphones. Not sure which this is supposed to be but both are good ideas for threads. Maybe we should clarify
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i don't think i have any here to be honest. i just listen to music and know if something sounds off to me or not, but i guess you can say i always used Diana Krall - Live in Paris (2002) for testing overall naturalness in the midrange and sometimes i used lion king album for testing dynamics but that's bout it if that counts. overall though i don't really have much i guess you would consider. ''reference''. i just listen to tunes.
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A few:
Britten's Orchestra - KCS/Michael Stern
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana - LSO/Richard Hickox
Groundation - Hebron Gate
Hugh Masekela - Hope
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Metallica - Black
Paul Simon - Graceland
Pink Floyd - DSOTM
Rickie Lee Jones - Naked Songs
*also for speakers :)
LFF - you need to hear Tord Gustavson's Trio - The Ground :-0
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The instrumental group Kodo from Japan made some very interesting recordings. I like their track "Ibuki" a lot. Their compilation "Heartbeat" has some great tracks.
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The instrumental group Kodo from Japan made some very interesting recordings. I like their track "Ibuki" a lot. Their compilation "Heartbeat" has some great tracks.
I like Kodo but I wouldn't consider their recordings to be demo quality nor reference quality. A lot of what I have heard from Kodo is missing the extreme low bass and even the low bass of those drums.
If you have ever seen a live performance of that kind of music, you can literally feel it. That feel (impact, dynamics and complete frequency response) is missing from everything I have heard from KODO. :(
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True, for real low bas Massive Attack is better suited.
I am just partial when it comes to Kodo given the percussion patterns through my HD250 II are so much fun to listen to.
If I am going to be picky some old Funk or a fat Kyuss grooves are what I prefer to judge bass in most cases.
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Harry Belafonte - Belafonte at Carnegie Hall (Gold CD) ... Awesome!
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Harry Belafonte - Belafonte at Carnegie Hall (Gold CD) ... Awesome!
A bit on the thin and bright side IMHO but definitely a reference.
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i thought the original one was thinner sounding. The Gold CD sounds better to me. Less midrange glare and richer sounding with more meat on the bones to the vocals and snaps
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Patricia Barber - Verse (MFSL)
Jacintha- Autumn Leaves
Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington - The Great Reunion
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The original was an all out failure. It is missing songs, is badly transferred, badly mastered and the packaging was crap.
The Gold CD is indeed much better but it doesn't sound as good as it should. Keep in mind that I am being VERY nit picky.
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By the way, I would nominate that Brubeck mastering of yours too. That Take 5 sample I heard was awesome!
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Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba DCC
-Exaggerated stereo mixing ala Beatles but still reference quality for me in terms of tonality and life
Gabriela Anders-Wanting
-A Natural Sounding and Intimate Pop/Jazz/Samba Album
Front Line Assembly - Tactical Neural Implant
-Bassy yet clean sounding industrial music recording :)
Muddy Waters - Folk Singer (MFSL)
-Sounds very natural to me. Sort of like the Belafonte Gold minus the extra presence in the vocals. This actually sounds a little better to me than the Eric Clapton unplugged maybe except for the startling bass extension of the Clapton recording.
The Nat King Cole Story
- Very Natural sounding. Even better sounding than the DCC greatest hits to me.
Dixieland America (Compilation)
-Very Natural Sounding
Spyro Gyra - Stories Without Words
Great Blend of Natural and electronic sounds
Jazz At The Pawnshop XRCD version
- I like the brighter and more lively XRCD version than the others I've heard
BTW I'm just randomly posting these recommendations as I am listening to my computer's library of music :)
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Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba DCC
-Exaggerated stereo mixing ala Beatles but still reference quality for me in terms of tonality and life
No!
That has to be one of Steve's worst masterings. It's missing air and is very stuffy sounding - not lifelike at all!!! I don't know what he was thinking when he mastered it.
The master tape probably doesn't sound that much different but this mastering was way too conservative, even by his standards. He needs to re-do it for Audio Fidelity because you can get some great sound from that recording.
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hahaha it may just be a good match with my cans LOL. Actually it does sound like theres an hd650esque sound sprinkled on it but its magic for me. It gives me goosebumps even though I know its not truly realistic sounding.
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hahaha it may just be a good match with my cans LOL
It's one of those that tends to sound good on everything. The laid back character of the DCC mastering isn't unpleasant but I can't listen to it for much time. Really lacking in certain areas.
If you are coming to the August meet, I'll play you my version. :)p7
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I wish I could go. I'm in the Philippines though. Anyways I edited the post before this just as you posted the last post. That softness works for me for some reason but yah... A totally realistic sounding version would be something I would be interested in listening to.
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hahaha it may just be a good match with my cans LOL. Actually it does sound like theres an hd650esque sound sprinkled on it but its magic for me. It gives me goosebumps even though I know its not truly realistic sounding.
Another recording like that one is The Oscar Peterson Trio - We Get Requests.
Every single version I have heard love to pump up the bass and it gives it a stuffy (albeit musical) sound quality to it. It can sound so much better than what's out there. Even the new SACD is guilty of this. You would think a mastering engineer would know what a bass should sound like.
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Another recording like that one is The Oscar Peterson Trio - We Get Requests.
Every single version I have heard love to pump up the bass and it gives it a stuffy (albeit musical) sound quality to it. It can sound so much better than what's out there. Even the new SACD is guilty of this. You would think a mastering engineer would know what a bass should sound like.
Which version do you like the best... or do you think is least bad? I have the SHM and the FIM K2-HD. I haven't heard the Verve 20-bit but I assume it's nothing special.
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Another recording like that one is The Oscar Peterson Trio - We Get Requests.
Every single version I have heard love to pump up the bass and it gives it a stuffy (albeit musical) sound quality to it. It can sound so much better than what's out there. Even the new SACD is guilty of this. You would think a mastering engineer would know what a bass should sound like.
Which version do you like the best... or do you think is least bad? I have the SHM and the FIM K2-HD. I haven't heard the Verve 20-bit but I assume it's nothing special.
SHM for me. Although my version sounds nothing like it. The SHM is probably the best of a bad lot. They are all compressed too.
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Any thoughts on the Columbia Gold Mastersound release of Time Out? I think it sounds decent, but definitely not as good as some of my other favorite jazz albums. I haven't heard the Classic Records 200g Grundman mastered vinyl.
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Any thoughts on the Columbia Gold Mastersound release of Time Out? I think it sounds decent, but definitely not as good as some of my other favorite jazz albums. I haven't heard the Classic Records 200g Grundman mastered vinyl.
Stay away from both.
Get the old Legacy issue...pre-2001. It's not compressed, sounds great and is cheap! The new deluxe Legacy issue has tape damage. facepalm
I haven't heard the new SACD though....original SACD is fantastic.
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I haven't heard the new SACD though....original SACD is fantastic.
Really?? I had always heard that the original SACD was just a lazy PCM upconversion and that it was junk.
The Japanese gold Mastersound is 1992.
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I haven't heard the new SACD though....original SACD is fantastic.
Really?? I had always heard that the original SACD was just a lazy PCM upconversion and that it was junk.
The Japanese gold Mastersound is 1992.
The Mastersound is not the one you want.
You want the LEGACY re-issue.
The original SACD, the SACD single layer, released in Japan has the original 3 channels on there. If you balance them properly...it's fantastic.
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Dead Can Dance - The Serpent's Egg
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Michael Ruff - Speaking in Melodies
Dynamic Slam!
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I have the 4 single sided 45 rpm Classic Records Time Out and I think it sounds better than the 90s CD.
I also have a mono 6-eye which is really nice. I prefer the mono for Morello's drum solo.
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this thread is a sad reminder to myself why I'm no longer active on any of the half dozen audio forums I used to frequent. it's never less than shocking to me when I realize people spend so much effort and money on their rigs, only to listen to such trash. yeah, I'm a snob. :)p8
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That's not my goal with audio gear at all. I could care less about bad recordings, I just don't want my gear to make them worse and with headphones that's a tall order. I personally think it's really sad for people to get so obsessed with SQ that they choose music based on the sound, not the content.
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The best thing about the Paradox is that it allows me to really enjoy less than amazing recordings, which are at least 80% of my music collection. Give the Omega 2 a top notch recording and it sounds glorious. Give it an average recording and it sounds average. The Paradox doesn't forgive absolute garbage, but it really does a lot with a little, more so than pretty much every other headphone I've heard.
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That's not my goal with audio gear at all. I could care less about bad recordings, I just don't want my gear to make them worse and with headphones that's a tall order. I personally think it's really sad for people to get so obsessed with SQ that they choose music based on the sound, not the content.
I agree but I also like to search for the best possible pressing of albums as much as I can. Sometimes though, I can't help but get carried away with the audiophile reference stuff just because of the sound at first. I actually start enjoying the musical content on some of them in the long run :D
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I have a few headphones that handle less agreeable sounding music. Too much loudness-war-syndrome though and chances are I will not listen to certain albums again. Oh well...
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As much as I don't like the bands modern music, a lot of the time I have a hard time finding many recordings that are cleaner sounding than Converting Vegetarians by Infected Mushroom.
The entirety of the psybient/psychill or whatever you want to call it genre seems pretty well done.
As for something that maybe more people here might agree with;
Bile Inferno by Vladimír Václavek and Iva Bittová
A Meeting By the River by Ry Cooder and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
This Binary Universe by BT
I'd also like to mention Libellula by Mishra, as a seldom-heard but very solid recording (for their exposure) and all round album.
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What is everyone's general opinion of MFSL? I have heard they have a problem with quality control and drastically changing the original sound of original releases, at least in the case of vinyl
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What is everyone's general opinion of MFSL? I have heard they have a problem with quality control and drastically changing the original sound of original releases, at least in the case of vinyl
Hit and miss in ALL cases...vinyl...cd...cassette.
Sometimes they EQ it wrong...sometimes they use the WRONG master. facepalm
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Hit and miss in ALL cases...vinyl...cd...cassette.
Sometimes they EQ it wrong...sometimes they use the WRONG master. facepalm
Such was the case with Megadeth's Countdown To Extinction
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I actually like the new countdown re-mix. But of course I like the non mfsl pressing of it better.
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I read at shoutbox that LFF is remastering Graceland. I wonder if it will be commercial or LFF just doing his hobby.
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...do you mean Grace? LFF ends up remastering most albums that he likes for his own personal use. He does it professionally if you have things you want done though.
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To know that there's a fixed copy of Grace out there is heartbreaking.
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I read at shoutbox that LFF is remastering Graceland. I wonder if it will be commercial or LFF just doing his hobby.
The big recordings (aka famous albums) I do for personal use. I have done Graceland and Grace and about 2,000 other recordings. The ones I get the most comments about are my remasters of The Beatles, Californication, Graceland, All Things Must Pass, the Sinatra catalog, Dean Martin catalog and my binaural recordings. For comparisons sake, I usually put my remaster against those by MFSL (or XRCD releases) as well as the original recording so people can properly A/B/C the differences.
My professional work has been mainly for movie studios and some small but difficult restorations for a few big name clients who must remain unnamed with the independent artist here and there.
Often times I pour a lot of my time into mastering an artists work to be natural sounding and dynamic but all too often they feel it sounds muffled or not loud enough. I have had more than a few strongly worded exchanges with "all-in-one" engineers and producers as well. In those cases, I rather turn down the work and let someone else ruin their music but I like to maintain my ideals. I could definitely make a living if I did as I was told but due to my constant refusal, my mastering/restoration services have become a side-line kind of thing for past 2 years.
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Would love to hear the Graceland remaster..... p:/
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Would love to hear the Graceland remaster..... p:/
I always have it with me when I go to a meet.
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@LFF
Among 3 Release Graceland (Paul Simon): 1986, Reissued 2004, 25th Ann 2012.
Is it true that first one has better quality than the other?
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@LFF
Among 3 Release Graceland (Paul Simon): 1986, Reissued 2004, 25th Ann 2012.
Is it true that first one has better quality than the other?
Yes. The first release has by far, the best, most natural sound compared to the others. The 2004 is compressed to crap but still sounds good - no distortion, no audible clipping. The 2012 issue is the same as the 2004.
Although my version is completely remastered and different sounding...it's most similar to the original 1986 version. It's very dynamic and you actually need to turn the volume knob up to enjoy it. :)
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LFF, have you got access to masters? or are you tweaking stereo copies?
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LFF, have you got access to masters? or are you tweaking stereo copies?
p:/
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LFF is the master , he records all his own stuff :boom:
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LFF, have you got access to masters? or are you tweaking stereo copies?
p:/
I'm wondering if you've done any of my stuff!!!! :-0
Anything would be an improvement on 80's CD's!!! :)p2
You'd be surprised. A lot of those 80's CD's, with proper de-emphasis, sound VERY good. :)
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Wow, ripping on pre-compression 80's CDs? You should have some excellent DR on those.
Are your's originals or recent 'remasters'?
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Wow, ripping on pre-compression 80's CDs? You should have some excellent DR on those.
Are your's originals or recent 'remasters'?
It's a common complaint Anax.
The 80's pressings lack body and most have too much top end - especially if not properly played back. While the dynamic range is fine, the EQ work/mastering tends to be abysmal.
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TBH, I wonder whether engineers had some problems moving from mastering for vinyl to mastering for digital.
There were all kinds of things done on masters if they were to be pressed onto vinyl along with the problems of having loud music at the end of side 1 or side 2. Distortion problems on LP's could be quite a problem. Plus the fact that they used compression quite freely sometimes in order to get the music way above the noise floor of LP's and a little bit of tweaking so that the final LP would print with a nice top end.
Transfer that thinking to digital produces all kinds of problems and I think early 80's recordings suffered with guys mixing with LP in mind and not CD.
Result was an uninvolving, squeaky clean rendering of something that sounded much better on vinyl and so many people stuck with (and still do) vinyl albums.
I heard one of the first Philips CD players and it was just awful. No clicks or pops, but tape hiss was astounding (ADD copies abounded) and lacking of guts was just unforgivable. Everyone seemed to be in denial about it!!
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TBH, I wonder whether engineers had some problems moving from mastering for vinyl to mastering for digital.
There were all kinds of things done on masters if they were to be pressed onto vinyl along with the problems of having loud music at the end of side 1 or side 2. Distortion problems on LP's could be quite a problem. Plus the fact that they used compression quite freely sometimes in order to get the music way above the noise floor of LP's and a little bit of tweaking so that the final LP would print with a nice top end.
Transfer that thinking to digital produces all kinds of problems and I think early 80's recordings suffered with guys mixing with LP in mind and not CD.
Result was an uninvolving, squeaky clean rendering of something that sounded much better on vinyl and so many people stuck with (and still do) vinyl albums.
I heard one of the first Philips CD players and it was just awful. No clicks or pops, but tape hiss was astounding (ADD copies abounded) and lacking of guts was just unforgivable. Everyone seemed to be in denial about it!!
That's hitting the nail on the head.
They mostly all approached digital the wrong way.
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Wow, ripping on pre-compression 80's CDs? You should have some excellent DR on those.
Are your's originals or recent 'remasters'?
It's a common complaint Anax.
The 80's pressings lack body and most have too much top end - especially if not properly played back. While the dynamic range is fine, the EQ work/mastering tends to be abysmal.
Yup. I just thought it odd to single out 80's cds as an example of poor SQ. It's like saying Stevie Nicks is ugly when you've got Susan Boyle out there.
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Wow, ripping on pre-compression 80's CDs? You should have some excellent DR on those.
Are your's originals or recent 'remasters'?
It's a common complaint Anax.
The 80's pressings lack body and most have too much top end - especially if not properly played back. While the dynamic range is fine, the EQ work/mastering tends to be abysmal.
Yup. I just thought it odd to single out 80's cds as an example of poor SQ. It's like saying Stevie Nicks is ugly when you've got Susan Boyle out there.
LOL! :)p13
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Wow, ripping on pre-compression 80's CDs? You should have some excellent DR on those.
Are your's originals or recent 'remasters'?
It's a common complaint Anax.
The 80's pressings lack body and most have too much top end - especially if not properly played back. While the dynamic range is fine, the EQ work/mastering tends to be abysmal.
Yup. I just thought it odd to single out 80's cds as an example of poor SQ. It's like saying Stevie Nicks is ugly when you've got Susan Boyle out there.
I'm not sure it's just 80's CD's but the first attempts and transfers from A to D weren't always too stunning and were held up as examples of excellent recording quality.
You are right, Susan Boyle is terribly ugly though. :gross:
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:)p13
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I like to use John Mayer - Who Says.
I'm interested in what LFF thinks about this recording?
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I like to use John Mayer - Who Says.
I'm interested in what LFF thinks about this recording?
I'll be honest...NEVER heard it. :-\
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Waltz for Debby has quickly jumped to the top of my list for reference recordings lately. The piano and bass are just wonderful.
I'm getting more and more into Jazz lately (lots of good ol' Blue Note stuff) and I'm finding a ton of recordings that kick the piss out of a lot of my previous test tracks.
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Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Vinyl, 1987 Cd, DVD-A
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Waltz for Debby has quickly jumped to the top of my list for reference recordings lately. The piano and bass are just wonderful.
I'm getting more and more into Jazz lately (lots of good ol' Blue Note stuff) and I'm finding a ton of recordings that kick the piss out of a lot of my previous test tracks.
Only buy the ones done by Alan Yoshida or Ron McMaster. Avoid the Van Gelder editions like the plague.
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Only buy the ones done by Alan Yoshida or Ron McMaster. Avoid the Van Gelder editions like the plague.
Funny you mention that, I have been going to used CD stores trying to find some older versions of albums that I like. Yesterday I picked up A Love Supreme CD from 1986. When I compared it to the one that I bought new (from the liner notes RVG remastered it), the difference is staggering. Coltrane's saxophone is very forward in the mix compared compared with the new version (where everything is at the same level). I am almost thinking there is something wrong with the older CD. Has anyone heard the original recording? It is kind of driving me crazy wondering how it is actually supposed to sound.
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Only buy the ones done by Alan Yoshida or Ron McMaster. Avoid the Van Gelder editions like the plague.
Funny you mention that, I have been going to used CD stores trying to find some older versions of albums that I like. Yesterday I picked up A Love Supreme CD from 1986. When I compared it to the one that I bought new (from the liner notes RVG remastered it), the difference is staggering. Coltrane's saxophone is very forward in the mix compared compared with the new version (where everything is at the same level). I am almost thinking there is something wrong with the older CD. Has anyone heard the original recording? It is kind of driving me crazy wondering how it is actually supposed to sound.
The old CD probably hasn't been compressed and has better levels than the modern version. As for Coltrane being too forward in the mix...that's how it sounds to me as well. Coltrane is a few db higher than all the rest and that's probably how it should be as he is the spotlight performer.
A lot of Van Gelder remasters (especially the Blue Notes) are almost nearly mono in sound. I don't remember if this is true for all the impulse remasters though. They also tend to be compressed to shit.
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Personal Reference Albums:
Matrix Trilogy Scores
I have the "for your consideration" versions WB sent to the academy. Very interesting scores. Still mixed with high levels, resulting in a very up front sound, which is suitable for it's type. I find "Saw Bitch Workhorse" from Revolutions to be excellent for seeing what a headphone can do in just about every department.
2012 LaLaLand release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture
This is probably the best film score I've ever heard. Not only that, but it's probably one of the best sounding (and it's from 1979!!). The score itself is genius... I can't do it justice with words. "The Cloud", "V'ger Flyover", and "The Meld" are my favorite tracks, showcasing a wide range of instruments, scoring methodologies, and auditory spectrum.
Oliver Latry's rendition of Widor's Toccata
I think the album is from 86. A rather fun piece played on the Notre Dame organ. Heart punching bass and ear splitting highs, great for causing euphoric hearing damage!
Oliver Latry's rendition of Apparition de l'Église éternelle
From the collected works of Messain. Has the same extremes of the Toccata, but is a slow piece. It describes the building of a cathedral... as you can imagine it's very loud and "epic" sounding. Will put any headphone's head-shaking capabilities to the test, along with just about everything else.
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Short story:
After i read LFF's post, I imported a second hand Paul Simon - Graceland (1986).
Today it come to my door, i am glad that it is mint with very minimum scratch.
Early Impression:
- 2004/25th Ann. has emphasize on Low, and High Frequency
- 1985 has tighter bass
- 1986 has more precise soundstage, especially when you compare it with 3th track.
- Dynamic is really killed in 2004/65th Ann.
- When you come back from 1986 to 2004/65th Ann. , you will hear the later version has strange ambiance.
- Some glitch is still there, ex: 2nd track-2:35 you will hear a spark on right channel.
Conclusion:
Even it is early impression, I certainly can said:
The first release has by far, the best, most natural sound compared to the others.
Definitely This.
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Just wanted to say thanks to LFF and all who contributed here. I've found many new albums to enjoy. I'll add one of my own reference tracks...
Doug Macleod: Black Nights. The whole album is mastered well IMO.
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:)p2
Very happy to see you guys enjoying my recommendations as well as others posted on here. Here is one for you....and it's often confused/wrongly attributed....
This one...
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61SWaISezBL.jpg)
It seems everyone and their mother owns a copy of this. Almost every single time I get to hear the same story...goes something like this "This is THE TEST RECORD. It is famous/infamous for blowing up speakers since way back when. You NEED to hear it."
WRONG!
Why LFF? I'll tell you why. It is a mighty fine recording but THE TEST RECORD that's infamous for blowing speakers up is THIS VERSION (http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Overture-Capriccio-Italien-Cossack/dp/B000003CSG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389497984&sr=8-1&keywords=tchaikovskyDubstep Girl agrees812+telarc): :boom:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61a3b8E-lhL.jpg)
I can see why people confuse them as they are both by Erich Kunzel BUT this earlier version is the famous recording released back in the late 70's that blew amps, speakers, and would make most vinyl carts jump off the record. It's this version that you NEED as a reference in terms of dynamics and low-end slam. :boom: Just wait until you hear the shots! However...remember....to turn the volume DOWN! You don't want to blow up your headphones do you? :-DD
Have fun scaring your neighbors.
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Yup, I have the later one with the "digital canons". Talking about a CD which actually utilized the dynamic range of Redbook... Crazy.
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@LFF
I found a copy dates May 2001. Is there the correct version?
thanks...
Nevermind, in fact I already have this in my library. Wow...the dynamics are fantastic!! Wonderful recording. :)
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These tracks sound pretty good to me...not sure if others would class them as reference?
Michael Hedges - Beyond Boundaries - Java Man
Quator Ebene - Debussy, Faure and Ravel: String Quartets - Assez Vif, Tres Rythme
Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians (Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble)
Ryuichi Sakamoto - /04 - Riot in Lagos
Bruce Stark - This is K2 HD Sound (FIM sampler) - Blue Dream
Andre Heuvelman - After Silence - Oblivion
:)p8
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Eagles - Hotel California (Live)
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
Led Zeppelin - Kashmir, Ramble On, In the Evening
Beatles - Day Tripper
Bon Jovi - Dead or Alive
Mark Knopfler - Imelda
Dire Straits - Money for Nothing and the On Every Street album
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I recently heard that when CD's came out, Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra was a constant test track because the dynamic range was so impressive (much like 1812 Overture). Is there a recommended recording of this?
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From the Bakoon Products album,
1. On The Grass After School- lower end dacs tend to be muddy in between the notes, higher end DACs decays much faster.
2. Tokyo Tower for vocals
For testing how harsh something can sound, I use these tracks
3. Bright Stream - Nana Mizuki
4. Eternal Reality - fripSide
For the rest
5. Bad Horsie- Steve Vai, Alien Love Secrets. - I really enjoy the Ibanez tone and in general its not just this song but his other songs too, different amps and dacs tend to colour his guitar in their own way(can be a good or bad thing)
6. Ar Tonelico II Hymmnos Concerts (A game related soundtrack)
Basically nothing here is really reference but its more so simply because I really enjoy listening to them so I'm really familiar of how they sound on different systems.
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For sense of space, placement of instruments and perfect sound-stage this has been my go to recording for the last 2 years:
(http://www.soundliaison.com/images/A_MyMuseImages/SSS1%20Milan%20300.png)
http://www.soundliaison.com/ (http://www.soundliaison.com/)
This one because I know it so well, I have listened to it for the last 35 years;
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9c/MilesDavisKindofBlue.jpg)
and this one when I want to check intensity and lower end interaction, bass and drums.
(http://artiesten.omroep.nl/data/media/db_images/original/104297_295d00.jpg)
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If you can, keep an eye on old 12 inch mixes by original producers and from Japan.
I am seriously digging the dynamic range and stereo sound of Spandau Ballet's "The 12 Inch Mixes". Spandau Ballet made some superbly produced music, as good as Dire Straits.
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Proud to be from Cincinnati! Yes, that recording is terrifying in its power.
:)p2
Very happy to see you guys enjoying my recommendations as well as others posted on here. Here is one for you....and it's often confused/wrongly attributed....
This one...
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61SWaISezBL.jpg)
It seems everyone and their mother owns a copy of this. Almost every single time I get to hear the same story...goes something like this "This is THE TEST RECORD. It is famous/infamous for blowing up speakers since way back when. You NEED to hear it."
WRONG!
Why LFF? I'll tell you why. It is a mighty fine recording but THE TEST RECORD that's infamous for blowing speakers up is THIS VERSION (http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Overture-Capriccio-Italien-Cossack/dp/B000003CSG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389497984&sr=8-1&keywords=tchaikovskyDubstep Girl agrees812+telarc): :boom:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61a3b8E-lhL.jpg)
I can see why people confuse them as they are both by Erich Kunzel BUT this earlier version is the famous recording released back in the late 70's that blew amps, speakers, and would make most vinyl carts jump off the record. It's this version that you NEED as a reference in terms of dynamics and low-end slam. :boom: Just wait until you hear the shots! However...remember....to turn the volume DOWN! You don't want to blow up your headphones do you? :-DD
Have fun scaring your neighbors.
-
(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/616/MI0001616266.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
This one sounds great
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Until yesterday, I had never heard Paul McCartney: Unplugged. Wow!! Where has this been all my life? I'll thank a member here for it, if I can remember who posted it...
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Abakus - That much close to the sun
the track California Sunshine has a close-mic'd guitar that can be bright and sharp in some setups
(http://www.ashoka.com.pl/download/cd_covers/that_much_closer_to_the_sun.jpg)
I used to use Radiohead - Paranoid Android a lot after hearing sibilance issues with a pair of DT880's in that track.
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I concur that the Graceland album from Paul Simon is aural delight.
I think Paul McCartney's Kisses on the Bottom album is also a masterpiece, sonically, in my humble opinion.
For something that should have sounded good but when listened to on a really good sound system/headphone, its flaws are laid bare, would be George Bensons - Tribute to Nat King Cole. - Great songs but the production lets it down.
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A few I take with me when I go listen to different equipment
Jimmy Cobb quartet, Jazz in the key of blue
Clifford Jordan, live at Ethel's (has noise from the crowd so ignore if that bothers you)
Eric Bibb, good stuff (particularly tracks 4-6).
Alex de grassi and quique Cruz , tatamonk
Fairfield four, standing in the safety zone, "My God called me this morning". Amazing vocals. Do not stop at the first track which is a snipet from an old recording. The rest of the songs are very well recorded.
Sheila Jordan and harvie Swartz, very thought of two
Greg brown, further in (first two tracks in particular)
Quatuor mosaiques, Haydn string quartets, op 20 (although their other Haydn is just as good. They use period instruments and the recording quality is suburb. For modern instruments I would take the Jerusalem quartet Haydn string quartet vol. 2.
The Bibb and Fairfield four are religious music so avoid if that bothers you.
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I liked most of the suggestions above. Fairfield Four: Safety Zone, I have used for some time as a reference for vocals. Just a great recording and incredible harmonies. I like Eric Bibb but find his earlier recording better than this latest one. It just seems "loud" to me.
I also am enjoying the Jimmy Cobb you suggested. This recording led me to Cobb's corner which is also superb.
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Paul McGowan's picks from a recent post:
Holly Cole, Temptation, Train Song. - My friend Arnie turned me on to this old chestnut. Great for tonality and imaging. Bass instrument mistakes a lot of the fret work and it’s easy to hear. Whistles and sound effects seem tough for DACS to get right.
Nils Lofgren, Acoustic, Keith Don’t Go. - Ok, everyone’s sick of this album and this track. I do this for a living and the over-played tracks are over-played for good reason. This is amazing for any number of qualities. The richness of the guitar plucks and harmonic content can be very revealing.
Boz Scaggs, The Essential Boz Scags, Thanks to You. - Great bass track, most systems won’t reproduce the lowest synth note on the end of the first riff. This is where using a proper subwoofer is very revealing. Good vocals.
Cantate Domino, Proprius, Koreansk folkmelodi. Another old chestnut. Terri’s favorite track, brings tears to people’s eyes if reproduced well. Can be screechy if not.
Buddy Holly, From the Original Master Tapes, True Love’s Ways. - Part of the New York recording sessions around 1958. Stunning recording for vocal timbers and depth of image.
Mahler 2nd, and Mahler 5th San Francisco Blue Coast.- The entire Mahler series is stunning and available as DSD or PCM high rez downloads. Some of the best classical around.
George Frideric Handel, Arias for Durastanti, Qual Leon. - Great arrangement and tonality, spaciousness is good. Hard to reproduce, can sound quite analytical and CD-like if not on a good DAC.
Diana Krall, Stepping Out, Body and Soul. - This piece is a good commercial recording with restricted dynamics and compressed sounding until you hear it on a proper DAC and discover its other qualities that lie hidden.
Brian Bromberg, Wood, Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers. - Perfect for hearing the quick pluck of the standup bass and making sure the instrument sounds as if it were in the room with you.
Shelby Lynne, Just a little Lovin’, Just a little lovin’, analog tape recording in studio, proper transfer to digital. - The cymbals and rim shots are excellent and few DACS and power amps can do proper justice to them. I first discovered this when DirectStream came on the scene. With any other DAC the cymbal sounds ‘normal’ and expected. On DS you can hear the metal of the cymbal. Almost eerie. Pre-echo tape bleed on her voice is quite apparent if everything’s setup correctly.
Red Norvo, The Forward Look, How’s your mother-in-law? - One of Keith Johnson’s earliest works. Recording at distance from the group and the sensation you are there, in the audience, is extraordinary if everything’s working right. This is one of those gems that can easily flatten out if you haven’t gotten your system setup properly. Should be 100% divorced from and behind the loudspeakers.
David Roth, Pearl Diver, Stockfisch Records, Vincent. - I found this on a giveaway CD at the Hong Kong Audio show and find it an enjoyable cover of this classic with wonderful tonal balance and vocal accuracy.
Mari Kodama, Pentatone, Appassionata. - This classic Beethoven piano piece helps me with determining complex passages and how electronic pieces fare when pressed with intricate harmonics and overtones.
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories, Within. - Stunning recording showing off what’s possible on 44.1kHz CDs when you are able to pull all that is there on the track with something like DirectStream. This is one of those tracks that until you hear what’s there, you can never know what’s missing.
George Frideric Handel, Apollo e Dafne, Come Rosa. - Recorded in a very live room the hall ambience is terribly revealing of minor details and is difficult for electronics of all kinds to get it right.
John Rutter, Rutter Requiem, Requiem Aeternam. - Like Big? Pipe organs? This amazing piece has a chorus that seems in the room, filling the soundstage wall to wall and just when you thought it couldn’t sound more real the pipe organ kicks the lower pedals and your jaw drops. Few systems can handle this piece appropriately.
Keith Greeninger & Dayan Kai, Looking for a Home, Bluecoast. - Great recording by Cookie. The performers are in the room. What always gets me about this recording is the desire to turn the level up, so good is the performance and when you reach lifelike volume levels, they get over loud on you and it takes quite an amplification chain to handle those surprise dynamics. Anything less than the best power amplifiers ‘squeal’ in protest.
Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here, Welcome to the machine. - Ok, you’ve gotten everything right and you just want to blow your socks off on the IRSV then this’ll do it.
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I liked most of the suggestions above. Fairfield Four: Safety Zone, I have used for some time as a reference for vocals. Just a great recording and incredible harmonies. I like Eric Bibb but find his earlier recording better than this latest one. It just seems "loud" to me.
I also am enjoying the Jimmy Cobb you suggested. This recording led me to Cobb's corner which is also superb.
I did not like the latest Eric Bibb (Jericho road) much either. If you like cobb's corner, there also is some good playing on jimmy cobb's mob, only for the pure of heart. Well recorded also like the others.
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Very seldom do I find myself caught off guard by a truly special recording. Hooker n Heat is just such a recording. I cued this stellar recording up on the Crack, slid into my trusty 650 and this album set my ass on fire!! (in a good way).
I've only played it all the way through about three times, so while I'm not ready to throw it in my top 10 just yet, I'd be surprised if it didn't end up there. The album is live blues cuts, in the line of Muddy Waters: Folk Singer, and if that sort of thing appeals to you then please go check this one out.
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A few I take with me when I go listen to different equipment
Jimmy Cobb quartet, Jazz in the key of blue
Clifford Jordan, live at Ethel's (has noise from the crowd so ignore if that bothers you)
Eric Bibb, good stuff (particularly tracks 4-6).
Alex de grassi and quique Cruz , tatamonk
Fairfield four, standing in the safety zone, "My God called me this morning". Amazing vocals. Do not stop at the first track which is a snipet from an old recording. The rest of the songs are very well recorded.
Sheila Jordan and harvie Swartz, very thought of two
Greg brown, further in (first two tracks in particular)
Quatuor mosaiques, Haydn string quartets, op 20 (although their other Haydn is just as good. They use period instruments and the recording quality is suburb. For modern instruments I would take the Jerusalem quartet Haydn string quartet vol. 2.
The Bibb and Fairfield four are religious music so avoid if that bothers you.
I concur that the Graceland album from Paul Simon is aural delight.
I think Paul McCartney's Kisses on the Bottom album is also a masterpiece, sonically, in my humble opinion.
For something that should have sounded good but when listened to on a really good sound system/headphone, its flaws are laid bare, would be George Bensons - Tribute to Nat King Cole. - Great songs but the production lets it down.
A few I take with me when I go listen to different equipment
Jimmy Cobb quartet, Jazz in the key of blue
Clifford Jordan, live at Ethel's (has noise from the crowd so ignore if that bothers you)
Eric Bibb, good stuff (particularly tracks 4-6).
Alex de grassi and quique Cruz , tatamonk
Fairfield four, standing in the safety zone, "My God called me this morning". Amazing vocals. Do not stop at the first track which is a snipet from an old recording. The rest of the songs are very well recorded.
Sheila Jordan and harvie Swartz, very thought of two
Greg brown, further in (first two tracks in particular)
Quatuor mosaiques, Haydn string quartets, op 20 (although their other Haydn is just as good. They use period instruments and the recording quality is suburb. For modern instruments I would take the Jerusalem quartet Haydn string quartet vol. 2.
The Bibb and Fairfield four are religious music so avoid if that bothers you.
Wow, thank you so much for the heads up on the McCartney. Just an incredibly well recorded and enjoyable album. I don't know how it didn't land on my radar before now.
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Eric Clapton - Unplugged - Near Perfect
I have listened to this disc for 20 years. Everything is right: positioning and spacial information of vocals and instruments, balance of volumes in the mix, background ambient noise, up to the tiniest detail of Clapton's finger pushes and flicks. It's a gorgeous piece of recording. I cannot wait to listen to this again on the Yggy.
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I have listened to this disc for 20 years. Everything is right: positioning and spacial information of vocals and instruments, balance of volumes in the mix, background ambient noise, up to the tiniest detail of Clapton's finger pushes and flicks. It's a gorgeous piece of recording. I cannot wait to listen to this again on the Yggy.
There is a remaster of this album that came out in 2013?? Is it worth picking up if I already have the original?
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There is a remaster of this album that came out in 2013?? Is it worth picking up if I already have the original?
Remaster!? Wha...!?
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http://store.ericclapton.com/unplugged-expanded-and-remastered-2-cd-dvd.html
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Bass extension (first few seconds):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g85LqKXIgvY
Bass slam/bleed (the drop at ~3:45, also has a hyper dense portion with lots of treble and midrange content to make sure the bass isn't drowning anything out):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HMinszjbqQ
Soundstage/imaging (mostly the early part/"intro"):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPMm5Mgy1Oc
Speed/"PRaT"/decay: (basically just a stupidly fast and dense song to test whether or not the headphone will shit itself)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60FJDw9qcFk
Dynamics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOj91grziJw
Vocals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xU_dz0llt8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32MIVHB4IJY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCFfuq_1iJA
(seriously just anything from Lumsk for vocals)
"Shitty recording test": (to see what the headphone does to "poor" source material)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BvPuh-loGI
Aggression/Harshness: (anything even remotely bright or shitty in the treble will make this UNBEARABLE)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTFgBwtHPl8
(again, just, anything from Suicide Commando)
There are a few other ones I use but *shrug*
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There is a remaster of this album that came out in 2013?? Is it worth picking up if I already have the original?
For the original 14 songs, I admit, I cannot hear a difference. Didn't they add like 10 more songs to the remastered? such as rehearsals and father's eyes.
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Bach Cello Suites - Zuill Bailey
Where did you get this album and which format?
(http://www.cello.org/Newsletter/Articles/zuillbach/zuillbachcover.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKdnWoG4rk8
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Good discussion here:
http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,2286.msg63067.html#msg63067
and here:
http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1565.0.html
We should probably merge the two threads. :-\
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When I was heavy into trying out headphones I had two CDs with hand picked tracks from all kinds of periods and genres. My choices are eclectic and I tend to like each track for its own merits.
CD I:
Dire Straits - Money For Nothing (Brothers In Arms)
Yes - Roundabout [Early Rough Mix] (Fragile)
Suzanne Vega - Cracking (Book & A Cover)
Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over (Lungs)
Kate Bush - Sat In Your Lap (The Whole Story)
Nora Jones - Creepin' In [With Dolly Parton (Feels Like Home)
Lynn Collins - Think [About It] (James Brown's Original Funky Divas)
Kyuss - 50 Million Year Trip [Down Side Up] (Blues For The Red Sun)
Rush - YYZ (Moving Pictures)
The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Marisa Robles, Iona Brown - Beethoven: Six Variations On A Swiss Song (Harp Concertos)
Weather Report - Birdland (Heavy Weather)
Ton Koopman - Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (J.S. Bach Organ Works)
Run DMC - Rockbox (Run DMC)
Massive Attack - Angel (Mezzanine)
CD II:
King Crimson - Larks' In Tongues Aspic Pt. 1 (Larks' In Tongues Aspic) -> 30th Anniversary Edition!
King Crimson - Larks' In Tongues Aspic Pt. 2 (Larks' In Tongues Aspic) -> 30th Anniversary Edition!
Charles Mingus - Better Get Hit In Yo'Soul (Mingus Ah Um)
S. Richter, Wiener Symphoniker, H. von Karajan - Tschaikowsky: Concert For Piano And Orchestra Nr. 1 In B Minor, Op. 23: Allegro (Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 & Preludes)
S. Richter, Wiener Symphoniker, H. von Karaja - Tschaikowsky: Concert For Piano And Orchestra Nr. 2: Andantino (Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 & Preludes)
S. Richter, Wiener Symphoniker, H. von Karaja - Tschaikowsky: Concert For Piano And Orchestra Nr. 3: Allegro (Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 & Preludes)
Skinny Puppy - Assimilate [R23 Remix] (12 Inch Anthology)
King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man/Mirrors (In The Court Of The Crimson King) -> 30th Anniversary Edition!
Some choices here I cannot explain. When the music sounds wrong through the headphone portable use or out...
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I'm huge on most of PBTHAL's vinyl rips, they're generally excellent quality and his 2014 Answer to the Master rips have been stellar so far, his stuff can be downloaded/seen here (http://vinyldoneright.nl/blog/).
Outside of those I really like to use:
Jamie xx & Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here (to test bass linearity)
James Blake - Limit to Your Love (To test sub-bass quickness)
Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle (to test bass presence in conjunction with mids)
Steely Dan - Aja (for the drum fills at the end)
Counting Crows - Mr. Jones (MFSL) (because it sounds nice)
Among others. I was also SUPER impressed with the vinyl rip of Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy from the 1973 vinyl, ripped from PBTHAL. I can't imagine it could sound better than this, but who knows?
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Let *** be the best mastering.
I often use:
CLASSICAL
op. 35 is the test track of choice
-IVES 1st symphony, 1st movement (SACD -> CD, 2006, ***)
-VERDI requiem: sanctus, libera me, PAPPANO (CD, 2009, mastering good).
-TCHAIKOVSKY
---op. 20 swan lake, pas d'action MONTEUX (london symphony orchestra, mastering good, if phones good should sound clear without having to boost upper mids or treble in equalizer which also boosts noise)
---op. 35 violin concerto, 1st movement, The Best of Tchaikovsky, (SZERYNG, HAITINK, contsertbebouw orchestra) (CD, 1993, Phillips ***)
-KLAMI psalmus, check thy wailing (CD, 1988, mastering good, not perfect, needs detailed system, if not then treble or mids muddy.)
-GNUTOV balalaika favorites, Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra (LP -> SACD -> DSD, 2006, ***)
POP
sagisu track is the test track of choice
-ADAMO mon voison sur la lune (from un soir au zanzibar)
[This is my live performance music and bass test track of choice.]
-RAVEL la bas vers l'eglise (from cinq melodies populaires grecque, NAGANO)
[This has upper mids along with detail low bass at low volume, needs a headphone that can do both. If the bass melody is muddy or too quiet but vocals piercing, or bass clear and detailed but vocal muddy, the headphone fails.]
-SAGISU first pop song (from Megazone 23 ost, /watch?v=HABztzndFi4 on youtube, from remastered cd import) ***
[This is my treble and upper mids, vocals, track of choice.]
Most of my other pop is mids heavy, or guitar based rock or bard stuff, etc, which sounds good just about anywhere.
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Was doing research on Dynamic Range and watched Bob Katz's lectures on mastering and the "Loudness Wars".
There is a database on releases/remasters showing which release was "properly" mastered with more dynamic range.
http://dr.loudness-war.info/ (http://dr.loudness-war.info/)
The site says a good score for a track is >=11.
The poster child of remastering is Green Day. The original CD was mastered with a score of around 8, which is bad. If the vinyl was mastered to the same loudness, the needle would fly off the record. So, the vinyl master has a score of 12.
If you are wondering which version of an album or track you should get, see if the album has a DR score on that website. People are submitting from optical, vinyl, and digital sources.
Oooh, Ookami! Awesome game and soundtrack. I own the CD boxset. I was just organizing of my FLAC "master" rips, prepping my machine for bit-perfect output.
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Yes, many of us have been using dr.loudness for ages now. Bear in mind, that only deals with DR. There are still other aspects of mastering that can go wrong. At least that's one variable we can pay attention to.
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Yes, many of us have been using dr.loudness for ages now. Bear in mind, that only deals with DR. There are still other aspects of mastering that can go wrong. At least that's one variable we can pay attention to.
That site has saved me a lot of money and aggravation. Some of the remasters of older material are compressed to death. 15 on original vinyl, 5 on CD. Crazy.
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Yes, many of us have been using dr.loudness for ages now. Bear in mind, that only deals with DR. There are still other aspects of mastering that can go wrong. At least that's one variable we can pay attention to.
That site has saved me a lot of money and aggravation. Some of the remasters of older material are compressed to death. 15 on original vinyl, 5 on CD. Crazy.
I figured many of you would already be using dr.loudness. I should have quoted MattTCG as it seemed like a good first step to answering his question.
There is a remaster of this album that came out in 2013?? Is it worth picking up if I already have the original?
So... have you tried dr.loudness? :)p8
EDIT: Also, this thread on head-fi got me started http://www.head-fi.org/t/735405/tools-for-analyzing-the-quality-of-mastering (http://www.head-fi.org/t/735405/tools-for-analyzing-the-quality-of-mastering). I didn't really read the details of the post, instead I googled Bob Katz and watched some videos from sound engineers. One of the vids talked about dr.loudness ... which was listed as a link on that first post. facepalm