Why audio quality matters - recording density [message #101872] |
Fri, 02 January 2009 19:43 |
Shane M
Messages: 12 Registered: December 2008
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Junior Member |
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Question: I was listening to a very long video on "why audio quality matters"
(this is about 2 1/2 hrs in total) where characteristics of favorite recordings
are discussed.
http://philoctetes.org/Past_Programs/Deep_Listening_Why_Audi o_Quality_Matters
and 3 themes of some favorite listenable recordings kept popping out at me.
1) space in the mix (density)
2) simplicity of signal chain
3) quiet (overall levels had a lot of true quiet - not just overcompressed
quiet - loudness wars)
obviously capturing a great performance is key, but it stood out to me that
tracks identified as great recordings seemed to have lower audio density.
(granted alot of the recordings seemed to be single takes in a the same
room too - maybe that's more of it).
I realize many of the older tracks were this way because of physical track
and time limitations that prohibited filling up of every sonic niche, but
it got me to wondering whether the current practice of stereo recording sources
may be contributing also once certain track thresholds are reached.
.... and along with that thought - have any of you purposefully attempted
to track more sources in mono to reduce the sonic footprint? Do you intentionally
force yourself to work with fewer tracks?
I guess at base I'm wondering if tracking multiple sources in stereo vs.
mono can contribute to mixes that in aggregate are harder to listen to.
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