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Dark Matter sound production or mixing quality

Lv262167Lv262167 Posts: 6
edited April 21 in The Porch
What an awesome album Dark Matter is. The band has really done well with this album. The music quality is really high, but the sound quality really annoys me. The dynamics is really off, all is on the same level, Mikes guitar drowns out Eds voice and Matt sounds like he is playing in the room next door. Matts drums sound very thin and Eds voice misses depth. Jeff can hardly be heard.

What happened? I cannot believe the band agreed with this.

here is my equipment:
Cd on denon receiver with quadral full speakers
vinyl on denon stereo amplifier with quadral speakers and denon recordplayer with ortofon red needle

Post edited by Lv262167 on
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    DM282158DM282158 Beverly, MA Posts: 529
    Watt’s production style is definitely more “glossy”. Same sound on Hackney Diamonds, Earthling. 
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    nicknyr15nicknyr15 Posts: 7,816
    The production sucks but listen to the atmos version. It’s a lot better. 
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    kmcmanuskmcmanus Posts: 627
    I don’t love the sound but if Watt can get this quality of material out of them I can live with it. As long as his people aren’t mixing the boots.
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    nicknyr15nicknyr15 Posts: 7,816
    kmcmanus said:
    I don’t love the sound but if Watt can get this quality of material out of them I can live with it. As long as his people aren’t mixing the boots.
    Oh yea. Absolutely agreed. 
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    BenzBenz Posts: 117
    A also have a hard time getting over it especially because the songs are so good.
    I also cannot understand how anyone accepted this.
    When the reports from the listening parties came in everyone said it sounded bad but it was because it was to cranked up. 
    Then when the theater listenings happened everyone said the sound was bad they must have gotten the wrong mix or the cinema people did something wrong. 
    Now it turns out that this really just sound like shit and everybody hears it. It also has nothing to do with sounding modern or so it is just really bad. 
    Even Earthling sound much better (just sound wise) than this.
    I really hope that someday we get a remix of this album. 
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    KM73780KM73780 Posts: 1,039
    edited April 21
    Where can I get the FLAC file version?
    Post edited by KM73780 on
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    lastexitlondonlastexitlondon Posts: 12,015
    I feel it's very treble heavy
     Almost tinny in places. I must say I do not like the mix.  I like the songs. But I'm glad I can hear Jeff in the tinniness
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    alexross42alexross42 Posts: 367
    KM73780 said:
    Where can I get the FLAC file version?
    https://uk.7digital.com/artist/pearl-jam/release/dark-matter-40179776?f=20,19,12,16,17,9,2
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    tribejammer05tribejammer05 W'Ville, OH Posts: 696
    I listened with a quality pair of headphones and I could hear everything perfectly.  
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    darthvedderdarthvedder Posts: 2,481
    https://community.pearljam.com/discussion/302035/is-the-vinyl-better

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    jonbond1779jonbond1779 London, UK Posts: 1,562
    Would love to hear a Brendan O'Brien mix! 

    I also agree to Mix isnt right - although, looking forward to the bootlegs of these live
    "Bring it back, to the clean form. To the pure form"

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    edoconedocon Posts: 308
    The problem I have with record is the cymbals are buried in the mix, so for me the groove is kind of lost without hi-hat on verses and the ride during choruses.
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    JimmyVJimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 18,934
    I pre-ordered the mp3 through Amazon and have it downloaded to my phone. Listened to it a bunch of times through earbuds and in the car. I like some songs better than others but the album sounds fine to my ears. 
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    JoostoneJoostone Posts: 231
    Serban Ghenea is to fault here. I have no idea why Watt picked him to do the mix. Earthling was also him,

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    C-Wad84911C-Wad84911 Ohio Posts: 8
    I listen on Apple Music.  I turn off the Dolby Atmos and it’s so much better.
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    edoconedocon Posts: 308
    Just for fun I played a few tunes from Gigaton including Quick Escape after listening to Dark Matter. I thought Gigaton sound quality is noticeably better.
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    pjl44pjl44 Posts: 8,081
    Benz said:
    A also have a hard time getting over it especially because the songs are so good.
    I also cannot understand how anyone accepted this.
    When the reports from the listening parties came in everyone said it sounded bad but it was because it was to cranked up. 
    Then when the theater listenings happened everyone said the sound was bad they must have gotten the wrong mix or the cinema people did something wrong. 
    Now it turns out that this really just sound like shit and everybody hears it. It also has nothing to do with sounding modern or so it is just really bad. 
    Even Earthling sound much better (just sound wise) than this.
    I really hope that someday we get a remix of this album. 
    For what it's worth at my theater the problem was definitely the theater 
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    cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,126
    I’m either blessed or cursed as I can’t pick apart the mix like you all. I find it interesting but I am not qualified to provide input.
    hippiemom = goodness
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    pjl44pjl44 Posts: 8,081
    I think a lot of it depends on how you listen typically. If you listen to most of your music on Spotify for instance this probably won't even register.
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    jonbond1779jonbond1779 London, UK Posts: 1,562
    cincybearcat said:
    I’m either blessed or cursed as I can’t pick apart the mix like you all. I find it interesting but I am not qualified to provide input.
    Compare it to something like Wasting Light - Foo Fighters, which I think is close to a sonically perfect rock record IE - you can clearly hear all instruments in the mix of the song and nothing is overpowered by anything else and where the vocals are clear and fits among the other instruments & amplifications. 


    "Bring it back, to the clean form. To the pure form"

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    DM282158DM282158 Beverly, MA Posts: 529
    C-Wad84911 said:
    I listen on Apple Music.  I turn off the Dolby Atmos and it’s so much better.
    Did the same and fully agree. 
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    Go BeaversGo Beavers Posts: 8,663
    If you can’t hear Jeff then something’s off with your set up. 
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    2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,144
    Everything sounds super solid to my ears. Spotify Premium playback, LP, and Apple Music. Nothing is muddy or buried to me at all. Might be time to schedule with an audiologist if music sounds that way. 
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    Edved82Edved82 Ireland Posts: 1,255
    I'd love to hear a Brendan O'Brien remix of this album. The songs are really really strong. The mix, however, is not.
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    KV4053KV4053 Mike's side, crushed up against the stage Posts: 1,470
    The Dolby version on 2 channel stereo sounds freaking amazing. This album is sonically great (not perfect, but definitely better than good). 

    The non Dolby version sounds compressed.
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    desolatejoydesolatejoy London Posts: 247
    edocon said:
    Just for fun I played a few tunes from Gigaton including Quick Escape after listening to Dark Matter. I thought Gigaton sound quality is noticeably better.
    I feel like Gigaton has a much more ‘live sound’ feel than DM. Which is ironic seeing as DM was captured in so few takes. 
    But so far I’ve enjoyed the production on DM. 
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    DedvwDedvw Posts: 245
    tribejammer05 said:
    I listened with a quality pair of headphones and I could hear everything perfectly.  
    I agree, try different speakers. Sounds amazing on my Harmon Kardons!
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    Falling DownFalling Down Posts: 731


    Monitor Audio speakers making DM sound amazing. 

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    EP1973EP1973 Posts: 112
    The Dolby Atmos mix on Apple Music sounds great on Spatial thru AirPods. 
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    Live4themusicLive4themusic Wisconsin Posts: 10
    I 100% agree. I think the songs themselves are really good and am super excited to hear them live. But everything sounds muddled. Eddie's vocals are even more unintelligible than usual somehow. Glad to find out that I'm not the only one, I was worried about my hearing there for a bit lol
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