| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
 Posted - 09/15/2003 : 11:06:52
|
There's a hell of a lot of distortion (the bad kind, not the good kind) on SMYT. I understand that they want to hit the analog tape as hot a they can to reduce hiss, but you'd think they'd be a bit more conservative since they're going live to 2-track. I'm wondering if their listening environment is poor when they're recording and they can't hear it. I doubt the clipping was introduced in mastering. In some ways I like it because it sounds more like an old folk archive recording, but mostly it distracts me.
I've always felt that they go overboard with the stereo compression also. Why not record quieter and fix it in mastering when you have time to fine tune it? Am I the only one who hears these things and/or cares about them? SMYT would be even better if it sounded as good as DITS.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
|
|
blarg007
= Cult of Ray =
USA
493 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2003 : 11:19:20
|
i haven't had a chance to give it a good reference listening yet -normally i would have by
now - i'm thinking of waiting for a vinyl copy -someone stole my CD already and all i have is
a MD copy (20bit but with ATRAC compression) so i cant do it with that.
as far as i can tell the outcome of the finished cuts probably was weighed by many things
and yet they chose the path of least manipulation so here it is. in my car i thought i noticed
a little unevenness in the mastering -maybe accomodating a cut that they wanted to use but
knew had some clipping so they damned the torpedoes and put it in?
R |
Edited by - blarg007 on 09/15/2003 11:20:29 |
 |
|
|
deadlydoctor
- FB Fan -
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2003 : 12:17:53
|
quote:
Originally posted by blarg007
i'm thinking of waiting for a vinyl copy
When will this be available?
--------
he’s tripping over graves • as rain begins to fall • and finally they escape when the shuttle bus is called |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2003 : 18:57:03
|
| Aye, i noticed the same thing, it's waaay too 'hot' i think, in that bad digital way...it does sorta crumple. |
|
|
|
Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2003 : 19:47:11
|
| Frank likes distortion, remember? |
|
|
|
Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2003 : 19:50:02
|
| I'd be interested in hearing what you guys make of an album like Bee Thousand by Guided by Voices, White Light/White Heat by Velvet Underground or Dragnet by The Fall. |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2003 : 22:36:05
|
The second latest GBV album was REALLY FUCKING LOUD. Holy shit, a song from that album pops up on my RioVolt, nearly kills me each time.
 "We've got Dean to thank / For this Cult of Frank" |
|
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2003 : 06:38:31
|
But the distortion sometimes doesn't correspond with a loud section, it's wierd. Almost like it's a dirty patch or falty equipment.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2003 : 08:32:31
|
| hmmm...not sure, don't really know enough about it.. |
|
|
|
miguel
- FB Fan -
USA
213 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 04:22:03
|
| I thought it was just me! |
|
|
|
billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6212 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 06:31:22
|
In New house of the pope for instance
a lot of noise at the beginning of the song
''it's not a box, it's a submarine'' |
|
|
|
mdisanto
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 09:31:54
|
yah i heard that too, a lot of records do that i noticed. its really bad on Exile on Mainstreet. If you listen with headphones and sometimes in my car stereo, it clips frequently. Maybe they screwed it up when they put it to CD or something.
-miked |
|
|
|
leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 09:49:04
|
yeah the sound is kind of fuzzy n dirty - weird coz Dog in the Sand was recorded live to 2 track too but it has immaculate sound quality.
My 2 cents - I reckon it gets in the way of the atmosphere, reminds me of dirty swampland, not desert to the horizon.
- Leo |
|
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 11:47:13
|
I think the difference is that DITS was recorded in a pro studio on well maintained analog gear, where SMYT was recorded in some building probably using a less reliable tape machine that may not be well maintained. They probably did not have an acousitically treated room to listen in either.
I know that some of you analog torch bearers will hate me for saying this, but I think they should investigate some digital options. They could get better bang for their buck that way, and I think the sound quality would improve. I know it's not sexy, but you can get a great sounding digital machine for less money and hassle than you can an analog one. It'd be easier to cart around on top of that. Then you wouldn't need to worry about hiss and could get a cleaner sounding recording. I don't think the advantages of tape compression are that great when going live to 2 anyway. If you're multi-tracking, for example, the bass track can be recorded really hot to make full use of the compression, but in live to 2 it has to be mixed much quieter and gets less benefit. I doubt FB will ever adopt this idea because he seems to enjoy the mystique of recording the way they used to in olden days. Still, I can't help but think his records would be better received if they paid more attention to these sonic details. Weither or not people think they care about how something sounds, they can't help but be influenced by it.
www.mp3.com/clootie |
Edited by - Atheist4Catholics on 09/17/2003 11:48:47 |
|
|
|
speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 11:59:21
|
Hey Dave, are you talking about UTAC or Earthquake Glue? I didn't notice either one being louder than normal, but haven't compared side by side with other albums. Both are great records though. I didn't know you were a GBV fan, you've just risen in my estimation! Up from zero! Kidding! Mostly!
He's the Cult of Frank / Fear me, the boy ass-pirate |
|
|
|
marcusb
= Cult of Ray =
USA
308 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 12:06:13
|
| Listen to The Swimmer.. there's distortion on the keyboard on that.. |
|
|
|
Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 12:37:46
|
quote:
Originally posted by marcusb
Listen to The Swimmer.. there's distortion on the keyboard on that..
That's different. That's overdrive and sounds intentional. It's probably from putting the keys through an amp. There are times when Frank's vocals distort on other records as well (like on Hermaphroditos) when he yells and clips the pre or the compressor, but the distortion on SMYT seems to be over the entire mix and not on any specific instrument (the clipping is in stereo.)
www.mp3.com/clootie |
|
|
|
Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2003 : 12:49:37
|
Aye, it's across the CD.
Mike, UTAC, it's been Ultra-maximized to the max... |
|
|
|
leokearse
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2003 : 09:22:38
|
Nobody believes me when I tell them DITS was live to 2 track - the sound quality is more balanced and crisper than albums made in big kick ass studios with 128 tracks and mixing desks carved from pure cocaine...will the catholics go back to DITS quality recording?
- Leo |
|
|
|
crippe
- FB Fan -
Sweden
64 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2003 : 12:04:19
|
| Oh, someone else noticed the distortion. I posted a thread about this six months ago on the mp3 sneak release, oh well. Frank, you better get someone with some knowledge about that old gear you´re using to record the stuff - CLIPPING IS NOT COOL MAN. |
Edited by - crippe on 09/20/2003 12:05:30 |
|
|
|
Zsolt G.
- FB Fan -
117 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2003 : 15:22:07
|
| Yeah, even in my car stereo I can hear the distortion. It's weird. I agree with Crippe that it sounds like in-studio clipping rather than a mastering issue. I think it was probably intentional, or at least accepted as adding a little extra authenticity. Goes to prove that it's analogue I guess. They oughta fix this though. methinks. |
|
|
|
Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2003 : 16:59:51
|
Raw Power is sure to come a runnin' to you! Ow!
When the hell is CBS gonna do a Murphy Brown reunion? |
|
|
|
Hermaphroditos
- FB Fan -
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2003 : 22:54:52
|
well if it's crisp and cool you want....then go listen to your new Lincoln Park album... Yikes.
"Oh pity me Garuda, and turn my hands into wings" |
|
|
|
Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2003 : 08:23:11
|
quote:
Originally posted by speedy_m
Hey Dave, are you talking about UTAC or Earthquake Glue?
nothing to do with noise, but EG is so much better than UTAC in my opinion, apart from 'everywhere will helicopter', which i gotta go listen to now. |
|
|
|
interloper
= Cult of Ray =
440 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2003 : 12:21:59
|
I know some people hate him, but I don't care. Steve Albini makes fucking great sounding rock records. He refuses to use compression. Granted, I use it as mildly as possible when recording, and as much as I can get away with live as it helps keep things under control in that environment. The trick when recording is to get good strong levels but not to clip, obviously. It really does let the dynamic of the music breathe more properly and it just makes more sense. Listen to FM radio, then listen to "Cactus" from Surfer Rosa. The quiet parts are actually quiet and wonderfully contrasts the loud stuff. Blah blah blah. But then again, the Raw Power remaster is loud as hell and distorted as shit, but it needs to be that way. It's fuckin Raw Power for godsake. I guess it's a matter of context.
And...Bee Thousand (Pete Townshend...think about it), is not without it's charm because of the ghetto ass recording techniques. That doesn't bother me half as much as the fact that his band generally has problems executing even the most simple bar chord. |
|
|
|
billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6212 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2003 : 14:58:56
|
hey give frank a break
''I like distortion, when I barchord''
I loves it man!
''it's not a box, it's a submarine'' |
|
|
|
billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6212 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2003 : 15:01:57
|
And ohh yes
Brackish Girl:
UTAC is way way way better than Earthquake Glue
(useless way of having a discusion)
''it's not a box, it's a submarine'' |
|
|
|
Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2003 : 15:05:33
|
| hmm...... |
|
|
|
TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2003 : 16:15:55
|
I too noticed quite a bit of hiss and pops and distortion (especially McCaffrey's bass) across SMYT. At first I thought it was my stereo! I had bought a new stereo (my old one died) the day SMYT came out so I could christen it with Frank, and I returned it the next day because I thought the speakers were bad! But when I listened on other sources, I found the same craziness. But it really doesn't bother me much...only the first bass plucks in Coastline...drives me nuts! Otherwise...why would this album need to be digital? I think SMYT has hit the sound quality frank has been wading through for the past 4 albums. It sounds perfectly weird to me! The songs are beautiful, and yet somewhat wrong...that's Frank for you. A masterpiece.
Catchin' blue in his eyes that were brown
-bRIAN |
|
|
|
El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2003 : 20:39:30
|
I noticed the vocals in Everything is New are pretty distored...somewhat annoying.
 "I joined the Cult of Frank / Did anyone else have to give up their first born?" |
|
|
|
LivER_FisH
- FB Fan -
South Africa
57 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2003 : 12:45:23
|
perhaps im just to be ignored
but,
has frank ever had that kind of distortion before?
if not, then that's ur reason |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
