Dynamic Range Compression Or Murdering Pleasure In Music
June 11, 2011 at 1:40 PM | Posted in Other | 27 CommentsI haven’t posted for a while, and this time decided to share my thoughts on an ongoing trend in the music industry which is increasingly killing music as a pleasurable experience in favor of…well, a loud one.
I will keep this as simple and short as possible. Our key term here is dynamic range, which in music is basically the difference between the quietest and loudest volume of a song. It’s what sooths you when a composition comes to a quiet break, and excites you when it gradually or suddenly becomes louder (below you will see an example with a graphic representation or histogram, as well as sound samples).
Over the last twenty or so years, most noticeably starting in the early 90′s and at an extreme today, the concept of “louder is better” has been pushed to the point of killing dynamic range in music, and is commonly known as loudness war. How is this done? By applying dynamic range compression. You take the low peaks of the range and drive them all the way up, next to the high peaks. So instead of lows and highs in the course of a song, you get one loud chunk of volume.
Over a certain period of listening to music with a high level of dynamic range compression, you may not conciously be aware of it, but your ears start to feel the strain, because loudness is pushed to the brink of distortion or saturation, there is no “resting” for them.
You may have seen CD’s with covers that read “Remastered”. This means taking the original master recording and enhancing it by means of equalization and other techniques. But most if not every remastered album in the last ten years uses the dreaded dynamic range compression, often times resulting in killing the pureness and clarity of the original work to get a very loud new master. It is supposed to catch more attention when listened to (it does, for the wrong reasons). So don’t do what I did with a couple of titles on CD a few years back, get rid of the original pressing of a CD in favor of a remaster done in, around the last ten years. You may regret it.
Trained ears will easily identify the progressively louder and distorted sound in the below samples. The newer remasters will sound more like FM radio, where dynamic range compression is always been applied. Why buy a CD if you pretty much get radio quality sound.
Although it is easier to note the compression applied to remasters of say, an 80′s recording like the below one, because you have a parameter to compare it with, you can also “feel it” in new recordings.
There are anti-loudness movements, and a few remastered CD’s have stickers saying that no dynamic range compression was applied, hopefully this trend will eventually revert itself at some point, though I wouldn’t get my hopes up there. You can see hundreds of Google hits on the subject, if you are interested in further reading and listening.
Here is the visual comparison of three different mastering works for Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach”. Starting from the top, the original 1986 “True Blue” CD pressing, the 2001 “True Blue” remaster, and the 2009 remaster used for the “Celebration” compilation.
Below you can either listen to a compressed mp3 file, or download two uncompressed wav files containing excerpts of each master. In comparison 1, notice how the strings are louder with each remaster, and how the drums are “forced down”, creating that flat, saturated sound, typical from FM radio sound and television as well.
Papa Don’t Preach Loudness Comparison 1
Papa Don’t Preach Loudoness Comparison 2
Papa Don’t Preach Loudness Comparison 1
Papa Don’t Preach Loudness Comparison 2
That’s all for now folks, hope you enjoyed this post.
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I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Big music fan and serious record collector. This passion started thanks to radio in the mid 80's. It became a big hobby in 1997, and I still enjoy it very much.
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[...] I’m reminded of what has been a trend in music production this past decade: overcompression. The Loudness War, as it’s been dubbed, has heated up for, I think, a couple of reasons. First, [...]
Pingback by Minimalism and the Amen Break « textamajig— January 11, 2012 #
[...] Vizual, graficul corespunzător undei sonore se transformă dintr-un "pieptene" sau "os de pește" într-un bloc hașurat aproape omogen, reflectând exact ceea ce se întâmplă cu sunetul. De exemplu, Madonna – "Papa Don't Preach": [...]
Pingback by Dynamic Range și Loudness Wars— December 7, 2011 #
I was thinking about this changing of the original music so it would sound good on low end equipment. Why would you do this to perfectly good music, don’t the artists care or is this because it sells better and to hell with the quality. If you think that all your music will only be played on a cellphone through the built in speaker while in a bar then it makes perfect sense but if you have a decent stereo at home with a normal background noise floor this is just stupid.
Comment by kat— November 14, 2011 #
I’m there with you!
Comment by Johann— November 15, 2011 #
On November 4, 2010, Earl Vickers presented his research paper at the 129th AES Convention in San Francisco about the loudness war. You can see his presentation with additional graphics on the excellent Turn Me Up website, which is totally focused on bringing dynamics back to music: http://turnmeup.org
Take 20 minutes to see the full presentation, you won’t regret it.
Comment by Stefano Giacon— July 28, 2011 #
Very interesting, thanks Stefano!
Comment by Johann— July 31, 2011 #
Johann…thanks for putting in the time to create this webpage to educate people about DRC. I recently completely upgraded my home stereo system with Klipsch RF-83 mains, speakers known to excel at producing wide dynamic range, and a flagship Pioneer SC-37 amp. I am still in awe over how well the combination is at revealing the subtleties of music, something which gets lost with the use of DRC.
I’m currently using Audacity to visually compare songs and I’m wondering, in your comparison graphic above, does your “vertical axis” go from -1 dB to +1 dB, as does Audacity by default?
Comment by Kris— July 26, 2011 #
Hi Kris! I used Adobe Audition for those graphics, not sure I am understanding you correctly, but the vertical amplitude line on Audition ranges from -27 to 0 db.
Comment by Johann— July 26, 2011 #
Another problem is the volume limits being place in sound cards. Its only encouraging Record companys to remaster at louder and louder volumes.
They need to start recording music with dynamic range again and give the listener full control over the sound dial.
I miss my old CD players that I could turn up loud and enjoy audio with their dynamics in tacked. But now because of the sound limits of the soundcards, I have to listen to horribley compressed loud music on my ipod, just so I can hear it!
I’m only 20 years old, so I think their is still hope for change if more and more young people wake up to whats actually going on.
Comment by fraz2011— July 18, 2011 #
Hi Fraz, thanks for your comments, you are right, and the fact that you’re so young is great, it means not only people from generations of no or less DRC are becoming aware, that’s actually great!
Comment by Johann— July 18, 2011 #
Jesus… you totally speak my mind! I have been such an idiot! Like you, I replaced many original CDs from the 80s through ‘remastered’ ones… and now I am beginning to start to rebuy the old masters again… how idiotic is that.
Thank God, I kept all my old Madonna CDs. I cannot believe that I kept on insisting listening to the 2001 Remasters of her first three albums, totally ignoring their first pressings.
Now I know better. I hope music industry will learn, too.
Comment by Honesty— July 8, 2011 #
It’s actually a good thing, you are learning from past mistakes, hehe! The 2001 remasters are already too compressed. It’s not that bad with “Like A Virgin” because the amplitude level of the original recording was pretty low, but the “True Blue” original master sounded very clear and loud, so the 2001 remaster is, to me at least, not a choice for listening.
Comment by Johann— July 8, 2011 #
[...] About dynamic range compression More about bitrate and compression I can't find the article I read last year about the actual effect on mental health that compressed audio has. If I find it I will post it. Those two are about related issues though. [...]
Pingback by Drained when listening to music.— July 6, 2011 #
Johann what;s your take on the Platinum Notes software?
Comment by Sergio Hernandez— July 4, 2011 #
Hi Sergio, I haven’t tried the software but have used other volume leveling tools. This paragraph off a review of Platinum Notes summarizes what comes to my mind “No software can put back into a sound file what has been lost by recording it too loudly.” (http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2010/10/platinum-notes-3-review-the-mp3-strikes-back/)
Comment by Johann— July 4, 2011 #
I agree with you 100%. Since I’ve used this software mostly to revamp my old original files and it has worked well, I wanted to ask your opinion about it. Personally the remasters are nasty. Platinum Notes is great when you have a rare mp3 of a song and you only have the 192k file, it does a good job enhancing “what you have”. I personally use Adobe Audition to remaster my own vinyl transfers and my old original discs which I still proudly own.
Comment by Sergio Hernandez— July 8, 2011 #
This is a major problem within the music industry – is there any wonder why CD sales continue to decline? Sadly, most kids these days have no clue, especially as they’re happy with the inferior quality of MP3s. Alan Wilder (Recoil, ex-Depeche Mode) wrote an excellent essay on the subject for Side-Line back in 2008:
http://www.side-line.com/interviews_comments.php?id=29640_0_16_0_%20C
Television also suffers from a different form of the loudness wars in that commercials are louder than network programming so as to grab your attention. It’s just obnoxious and annoying.
Thanks for featuring this important topic on your fine blog, Johann.
Comment by djShelf— July 3, 2011 #
Fantastic article djShelf, and thanks for your comments!
Comment by Johann— July 3, 2011 #
Indeed, but I think MP3 is not the main cause. The problem is bad hardware and listening. If people listened on a quiet place (at home and not on the run) with a decent hardware setup (like my old 70s hifi) you should notice compression and the DR of music.
People listen on the car, street. With buds or at home with computer speakers and cheap headphones. With these it’s hard to listen to quiet passages (high dynamic range becomes annoying) and compression is harder to be noticed.
With this kind of hardware and background distractions, it’s desirable to have constant volume.
Comment by George— July 14, 2011 #
George, I agree in that part of the issue has to do with not really listening to music. It also seems true that it’s harder to detect DRC on a new recording than by comparing an 80′s master to a new remaster, especially for the casual listener. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Johann
Comment by Johann— July 15, 2011 #
Yes, it’s hard to detect any DR in new recordings. Afterall, compression has been slowly rising since the mid 90s and people have had time to adapt to that sound.
Had I not compared an original CD vs it’s remaster, I would not have noticed this issue. Until someone compares and discriminates, it’s all unknown!
Also, as we already know, music nowadays is a background thing. A few months ago I began to listen seriously and the experience is great! (with good music)
Comment by George— July 16, 2011 #
I’m a teen who a few months ago got interested in listening to music seriously (using hifi and not an ipod).
I happened to see the wikipedia article about the loudness war, but didn’t quite pay attention to it until I went to a record store and saw Led Zep’s discography with a “remastered” label, and somehow I got reminded about this and began to search information.
I did a few tests with my own music and idiot me, I used winamp’s preamp to make the music louder! Once I deactivated it, god, the drums, the instruments, the soundstage… appeared and the music was dynamic.
I don’t know how we can combat this because my generation is used to that, I was used to it. As I said, I used winamp’s preamp because it “sounded better”. But once you notice it and pay attention, it’s hard to listen to compressed music.
The casual listener doesn’t know about this but unconsciously feels it. I can relate my case:
My dad has got Hotel California in vinyl, and I couldn’t get enough of that song (so dynamic). I had a CD version (DR10, compressed) and it didn’t attract me that much, a bit fatiguing as well. I thought it was the analog characteristics of the LP.
Well, downloaded an audiophile needledrop of that album and voila, wonderful dynamics, excellent music. Who was to blame: the CD compression.
Comment by George— June 18, 2011 #
Thanks for sharing your experience George!
Comment by Johann— June 19, 2011 #
I had exactly the same experience George, listening to Hotel California on vinyl, then moving on to the ‘remastered’ CD years later (though the cd cover did not indicate that it was remastered).
At the time I did not know about dynamic range compression. But I remember not enjoying listening to the cd very much… It lacked ‘feeling’ and expression.
Thinking that I must have been remembering the album as better than it was, with rose tinted specs, I didn’t think it would be the CD at fault… Then one day I got to listen to the original vinyl again and all the emotion returned.
If I’d only have ever listened to the compressed CD from the off, I would probably have never gotten into this album in the first place!
So no wonder CD sales are dropping- at least from people who appreciate music subtleties
Comment by Mark— January 4, 2012 #
But what I really CAN’T believe is that a professional sound technician is ‘physically’ able to consciously compress remasters and new recordings to such a ridiculous high level, in order to wilfully produce total distortion of music. It’s impossible for me to take that in. If you listen to the terrible chunked sound quality of compressed CD’s, you have to be or deaf or (worse) that much unconcerned to actually still label that as HiFi.
Viva mp3, viva the iPod. Yeah, thanks!
Comment by Stefano Giacon— June 16, 2011 #
I share your thoughs 100%, then again, I had a friend listen to these samples and he didn’t really tell the difference, so it’s no wonder that this is an unknnown issue for the casual listener.
Comment by Johann— June 16, 2011 #
You are DAMN right!
Comment by madmat71— June 11, 2011 #