digital download...or actual CD?

DewieCox

It is most definitely possible to have digital recordings sound good. It's all in how they are mastered.

Brickwalled>> they slather compression over the whole track after it's finished to raise the volume-- It kills dynamics-- also gives them an all around poopy quality, and adds distortion all over the place.

The sad thing is, there is no reason for S/T to sound like it does. I really dig some of the tunes on S/T, but the cd sounds crappy. Since I've made the switch to vinyl, it's really starting to grow on me.

HeavyHands

soulsinging wrote:

I used to have maybe twice that many cd's, but after the last nightmare I endured in moving to a new apartment, I tried to downgrade my cd collection a bit... those damn things are heavy in boxes...

For the future you should consider going to a local music store and seeing if they have any spare boxes lying around. CD's (in case you aren't aware) are traditionally shipped in 30 count boxes which are very manageable to carry and allow you to keep everything in order for when it's time to unpack. Normally they are just thrown out and I'd bet they wouldn't have any problem if you wanted to take some off their hands.

HeavyHands

soulsinging wrote:

What is brick-walled? I don't own a record player and the expense and effort of totally redoing my music collection in vinyl deters me from ever making the switch. By producer/mixer thing, you mean it is possible to record digitally and not have it sound like shit right? Because I don't think analog is going to last much longer and I truly hope I don't have to be resigned to the fact that all music in the future will sound as grating as s/t did.

This thread has some good links and info about the process that results in music becoming "brickwalled."

http://community.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=94732&p=2219628&hilit=loudness+wars#p2219628

decides2dream

DewieCox wrote:

It is most definitely possible to have digital recordings sound good. It's all in how they are mastered.

Brickwalled>> they slather compression over the whole track after it's finished to raise the volume-- It kills dynamics-- also gives them an all around poopy quality, and adds distortion all over the place.

The sad thing is, there is no reason for S/T to sound like it does. I really dig some of the tunes on S/T, but the cd sounds crappy. Since I've made the switch to vinyl, it's really starting to grow on me.

this made me laugh.
is that a technical term?


ya know...i know that vinyl is meant to be more full, richer, warmer....and i may even agree....until the first skip, pop, or hiss. :evil: that's always been my issue with vinyl. i did take care of my records, but that shit always managed to happen in any case. that's why cassette tapes - gawd i am dating myself - seemed so cool when they first came out! of course, they too had their own annoying limitations. i think we've all had tapes eaten. :evil: :evil: :evil: of course, CDs too can develope skips, are more compressed.....but i found my vinyl developed skips with far greater frequency than my CDs ever do.....and CDs are just so damn portable. sure, know there is mp3 players, and i DO love on ipod....but yes, i find the sound quality IS definitely more noticably suffering there. i still use it of course.....yes, i guess we learn to accept limitations for ease/portability....just for me.....CDs seem the best happy medium. and hey, more power to everyone and their preferences......just sharing my pov. i have no nostalgia for the vinyl of my youth...i *heart* CDs.

soulsinging

DewieCox wrote:

It is most definitely possible to have digital recordings sound good. It's all in how they are mastered.

Brickwalled>> they slather compression over the whole track after it's finished to raise the volume-- It kills dynamics-- also gives them an all around poopy quality, and adds distortion all over the place.

The sad thing is, there is no reason for S/T to sound like it does. I really dig some of the tunes on S/T, but the cd sounds crappy. Since I've made the switch to vinyl, it's really starting to grow on me.

Ah, gotcha. I've heard all about compression and the loudness wars, just hadn't heard the term brickwalled before.

soulsinging

HeavyHands wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

I used to have maybe twice that many cd's, but after the last nightmare I endured in moving to a new apartment, I tried to downgrade my cd collection a bit... those damn things are heavy in boxes...

For the future you should consider going to a local music store and seeing if they have any spare boxes lying around. CD's (in case you aren't aware) are traditionally shipped in 30 count boxes which are very manageable to carry and allow you to keep everything in order for when it's time to unpack. Normally they are just thrown out and I'd bet they wouldn't have any problem if you wanted to take some off their hands.

Undoubtedly, but then I have to carry 10 heavy boxes out... that's the problem After the bed, dresser, etc... 6 boxes of cd's begs the question of "do I really listen to all these? Really?" This time around I got them all into one... but it is a HUGE box!

And like I said, next time I'm going to hire movers. My gf and I have only ever had one fight... and it was the day we moved out of our old apartment, hehe. It was a nightmare!

HeavyHands

soulsinging wrote:

Undoubtedly, but then I have to carry 10 heavy boxes out... that's the problem After the bed, dresser, etc... 6 boxes of cd's begs the question of "do I really listen to all these? Really?" This time around I got them all into one... but it is a HUGE box!

And like I said, next time I'm going to hire movers. My gf and I have only ever had one fight... and it was the day we moved out of our old apartment, hehe. It was a nightmare!

It's definitely worth your $ to go with movers. I went that route last time and don't regret it one bit. I didn't let them move my music though. I insist on doing it myself. I had 37 30 count boxes. I don't need to spring for that many jewel cases in case a mover gets careless.

demetrios

hmm .. i would buy the supreme edition!

flac download + cd + vinyl ... + video dvd package

soulsinging

HeavyHands wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

Undoubtedly, but then I have to carry 10 heavy boxes out... that's the problem After the bed, dresser, etc... 6 boxes of cd's begs the question of "do I really listen to all these? Really?" This time around I got them all into one... but it is a HUGE box!

And like I said, next time I'm going to hire movers. My gf and I have only ever had one fight... and it was the day we moved out of our old apartment, hehe. It was a nightmare!

It's definitely worth your $ to go with movers. I went that route last time and don't regret it one bit. I didn't let them move my music though. I insist on doing it myself. I had 37 30 count boxes. I don't need to spring for that many jewel cases in case a mover gets careless.

Hehe, I fit over 300 cd's into one box

dimitrispearljam

cd-vinyl