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going to back off on the volume...

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caldo149 United States469 Posts September 06 2009 06:41 GMT #1 So after reading this thread (LINK) about the loudness wars and watching some of the vods in it, I've decided to back off on the compression for the tracks I produce. I might use it for cool pulsating effects with the drums but I'm going to stop using such a strong limiter/compressor on my final mix. I used to compress it just so that the volume would match some of the other commercial tracks I had in my library, but now I realize how much better music can sound without it. The only reason I really did it was because I read about other producers doing it, and because I always get annoyed when I get to a track on my mp3 player that I have to bump up the volume for. Now I think that bumping up the volume on the player is a small sacrifice to make for better sound. I still don't really see the motivation to sacrifice quality for volume like that, it's preposterous. I think it would actually be a good marketing angle to advertise that you don't use compression and that your music sounds better at the same average volume. Anyway, no more excessive compression for me!

motbob United States12546 Posts September 06 2009 07:01 GMT #2 One man, taking a stand for better music.

intrigue Washington, D.C9931 Posts September 06 2009 08:13 GMT #3 i like this a lot and will also keep these things in mind when i finally start putting stuff out. mind the volume for the things you listen to yourself too! you see more and more among the general population and especially in musicians pretty bad hearing damage. i started being more aware of listening to music in general at a lower volume too; for the past year i've set my ipod's max volume at like halfway and it really does seem like my hearing's gotten better.

caldo149 United States469 Posts September 06 2009 19:02 GMT #4 halfway? pshhh I put my mp3player on the lowest setting above absolute silence, only slightly bumping it up if the surroundings are loud, but not enough to hear the music 100% clearly because that's wayyyyy too loud. Sometimes I use the built in custom equalizer and put all the frequency bars all the way down to lower the volume even more if I'm in a really quiet place. I've actually become pretty sensitive to sound volume after all my doings with electronic music production.

MamiyaOtaru United States1687 Posts September 06 2009 20:54 GMT #5 I'm glad you figured this out and are doing something about it, but at the same time I am horrified that a professional in this field would need a thread on a Starcraft forum to learn why the practice is bad. Not like I can blame you and your compatriots: the masses are idiots and go for the loud. It's the same deal with glossy screens on laptops. They sell better at retail (because they're shiny!) never mind it's harder to see stuff in them (especially outside) thanks to them being like mirrors. Heck, whenever that issue comes up I always liken it to the loudness wars as another example of the retardedness of the general population pushing suboptimal products. Anyway, read here how a Metallica album sounds better in Guitar Hero (or rather, sounds worse on CD thanks to the loudness wars): http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/09/does-metallicas/

caldo149 United States469 Posts September 07 2009 00:57 GMT #6 No need to be horrified MamiyaOtaru, I'm not a professional, simply an amateur. I've still got a lot to learn ^^ ;

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