DAC Resolution Test and Don't EVER use Digital Volume Control

[Robin Bowes]

On 02/05/10 20:00, mswlogo wrote:
>
> Ok, here is 30secs of this terrible recording.

I didn't say it was a terrible recording, I said it was not a good
recording.

> Let me know which samples you hear that clipped.
>
> http://softronix.com/pictures/levelp...0recording.zip

No need - I have the whole album, "What You Got", and also his two
earlier albums - "Walking On Fire" & "Hoodoo Moon".

R.

[Robin Bowes]

On 02/05/10 20:20, mswlogo wrote:
>
> Yeah modern studio's like Telarc compress the crap out of everything.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/What-You-Kenny.../dp/B00004SGR7

I can't speak about other Telarc recordings that I have not heard, and I
know that some of their classical recordings that I have heard are very
good.

However, that particular album has a lot of compression.

>
> You guys are clueless.

No, we're not. We just don't agree with you.

R.

[mswlogo]

On 02/05/10 20:20, mswlogo wrote:
>
> Yeah modern studio's like Telarc compress the crap out of everything.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/What-You-Kenny.../dp/B00004SGR7

I can't speak about other Telarc recordings that I have not heard, and I
know that some of their classical recordings that I have heard are very
good.

However, that particular album has a lot of compression.

>
> You guys are clueless.

No, we're not. We just don't agree with you.

R.

That album is not over compressed.

It's a bold track no doubt and it may not be your cup o tea.

But it's not over compressed and the clipping is essentially non existent.

[andynormancx]

But it's not over compressed and the clipping is essentially non existent.

By which you mean the clipping exists.

[mswlogo]

Curiously he appears to be having the same conversation elsewhere...

http://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubb...190#Post117190

You found my signature !!

I run that site and you can see the tone of the replies as well.

You missed the thread related to this real topic (we got side tracked on clipping).

Basically I convinced them to increase their systems by +3dB digitally(by removing some headroom Meridian adds for things not everyone actually needs) and say don't worry about the increase risk of clipping (not all systems will increase clipping it's too long to explain here, read the thread if you want).

21 owners (at last count) say their system has a large or small improvement 0 say none. This only applies to folks running external DACs (a.k.a. as Meridian Digital Speakers). This is on $10K to $300K systems.

http://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubb...728#Post115728

[mswlogo]

By which you mean the clipping exists.

Yes that track has clipping. It's too small to even consider attenuating or compressing to get rid of it. You'd do more harm than good if you got rid of it. There are other ways to get rid of too. But it's total nonsense to worry about. Listen to the snippet I posted.

[Robin Bowes]

On 02/05/10 21:10, mswlogo wrote:
>
> That album is not over compressed.

Again, I didn't say it was over-compressed - I said it had a lot of
compression, which it does.

>
> It's a bold track no doubt and it may not be your cup o tea.

I'm not commenting on the musical content, merely the sound. As I said
previously, I quite like that sort of music.

> But it's not over compressed and the clipping is essentially non
> existent.

Clipping should not be "essentially" non-existent, it should simply *be*
non-existent.

R.

[andynormancx]

This is on $10K to $300K systems.

I'm afraid I am naturally suspicious of the judgement of anyone who has spent $300K on a hifi setup.

[mlsstl]

Ok, here is 30secs of this terrible recording.

Let me know which samples you hear that clipped.

http://softronix.com/pictures/levelp...0recording.zip

I hope the performer does not shoot me but I suspect after some folks hear even this short sample they may just buy it.

If folks agree this is crap then I'll stop now. Because my ears and system say this is an exceptionally good recording and really shows how good CD's can sound.

I downloaded the clip and took a look at it in Adobe Audition. The track I looked at showed no clipping at all. The highest peak was -0.19 dB. Of course that could have been dynamically limited during the recording, mixing or mastering process, but there is more than one way to do that. Not everything has to turn into a square wave clip.

However, I'm confused as to why anyone would use this song to illustrate the need for dynamic range. The average playback level ranged from -6 to -9 dB with the drum strikes mostly weighing in around -2 dB. You've got an electric guitar plugged into an amp, an amplified organ, a drummer who isn't doing anything unusually subtle, and a close-miked singer who appears to have a bit of routine vocal processing added.

While I like Kenny Neal and the recording is certainly respectable compared to many entries in this age of loudness wars, this is pretty standard bar band blues material. (And bar bands can be very good, BTW.)

Tell me again what's getting lost in the mud at -80 and -90 dB?

[Robin Bowes]

On 02/05/10 22:29, mlsstl wrote:

> Tell me again what's getting lost in the mud at -80 and -90 dB?

You mean you can't hear the marching band at 0:19 - 0:25 ??

R.