Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site tekcad.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekcad!shauns From: shauns@tekcad.UUCP Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: CD listenability Message-ID: <468@tekcad.UUCP> Date: Sat, 25-Jun-83 00:17:32 EDT Article-I.D.: tekcad.468 Posted: Sat Jun 25 00:17:32 1983 Date-Received: Mon, 27-Jun-83 01:53:42 EDT Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 44 It seems we've addressed this subject before. An interesting perspective on this whole issue of CD `harshness' can be obtained from the July issue of Audio. This magazine now presents CD reviews, and their comments are revealing. You can read them for yourself, but the upshot is that the MIKING MIXING, and EQ are screwing up the sound, NOT the CD format itself. The CDs that were most shrill were multi-miked and EQ'd with a heavy hand. Those that used a minimalist approach were faultless. Parenthetically, I might add that several CD pop releases were also reviewed, and their sound was really no better than the analog version (except, of course, for noise level) owing to the ridiculous amount of processing that the pop album is subject to. (Case in point - the Billy Joel CD. Who cares? An absurd album to `demonstrate' CD with.) A second point was brought up about the demos at CES - In almost all cases, the cuts were being played too loud, and the playback systems were gagging on it right and left. How can you judge a program source when the playback equipment isn't up to it? Once again, I restate my long-held views: MOST RECORDING ENGINEERS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. And it's going to take some time to spread the word. Until then, our ears will suffer their learning pains. Before we all let our imaginations run wild with supposed inadequacies of the CD format, let's apply a little scientific method and listen to some properly recorded CDs on adequate equipment before we pass judgement. Then we'll know where to lay the blame. Shaun Simpkins uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!teklabs!tekcad!shauns CSnet: shauns@tek ARPAnet:shauns.tek@rand-relay -- Shaun Simpkins uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!teklabs!tekcad!shauns CSnet: shauns@tek ARPAnet:shauns.tek@rand-relay