If YouTube recordings sound good, why do commercial digital releases sound so bad.

[hopkins]

Here's Michael Fremer recording snippets of Joe Lovano practicing at a recording session (starts 12.00)

And towards the bottom of this article you can hear the studio recording.

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The studio recording is much better than the excerpts filmed by Fremer! At around 12:30, we can hear Lovano's saxophone filmed by Fremer in the studio. The sound quality is not good. Low resolution, no texture. How anyone could think this is better than what comes out of the high quality microphones he is standing in front of, and mixed in to a recording, is beyond me. It is also insulting to every recording engineer.

 

[Rexp]

This is too cute and sounds great!

 

[Rexp]

Frankie Valli's voice and vibe is well captured in this vinyl rip but not in the 'official' digital release below. Party on!

 

[hopkins]

From the comments on the video, it seems that this is the original 1978 LP. I read on the Steve Hoffman forum that the masters for the soundtrack were destroyed/damaged and that all digital versions were made from tape copies. Mint copies of 1978 pressings can be found for a reasonable price on discogs.

For old time's sake (it always sounds better when you have the movie along with the sound - it's part of the "performance"):

 

[Rexp]

My new favourite live Jazz channel, shame the lossless files are not available.

 

[Rexp]

Sound is a bit rough n ready here but the musicianship shines through.

Starts 34.30 in:

 

[morricab]

Frankie Valli's voice and vibe is well captured in this vinyl rip but not in the 'official' digital release below. Party on!

The vinyl rip projects more and the digital release is more matter of fact. Perhaps the vinyl is brighter as well.

 

[hopkins]

The vinyl rip projects more and the digital release is more matter of fact. Perhaps the vinyl is brighter as well.

The volume level is also slightly different (not that it matters).

 

[morricab]

The volume level is also slightly different (not that it matters).

Well it does actually...

 

[hopkins]

Well it does actually...

Yes it can, I just meant it would not really change our perception in this case.

 

[morricab]

Yes it can, I just meant it would not really change our perception in this case.

Yes it can change your qualitative perception, this is why level matching is very important when comparing gear.

 

[Al M.]

Yes it can change your qualitative perception, this is why level matching is very important when comparing gear.

+1

 

[hopkins]

When listening to these two tracks (the vinyl rip and the YouTube video) I changed the volume by 5 db (I think) to try and match them. It's not easy to get them perfectly matched. But I also listened to each track at different volume levels to get an idea of what changed and what remained the same (not sure I'm very clear) as the volume changed.

 

[morricab]

When listening to these two tracks (the vinyl rip and the YouTube video) I changed the volume by 5 db (I think) to try and match them. It's not easy to get them perfectly matched. But I also listened to each track at different volume levels to get an idea of what changed and what remained the same (not sure I'm very clear) as the volume changed.

Just match with a pink noise track and an SPL App. C weighting . Then differences you hear can’t be blamed on SPL.

 

[hopkins]

Just match with a pink noise track and an SPL App. C weighting . Then differences you hear can’t be blamed on SPL.

Yes, but when you compare two tracks that have different loudness you can't do that...

 

[morricab]

Yes, but when you compare two tracks that have different loudness you can't do that...

If it's through speakers you can easily...headphones not so easy...

 

[hopkins]

If it's through speakers you can easily...headphones not so easy...

I guess I could have pulled my decibel meter and compared the max volume on both tracks, with my speakers, then adjusted the volume on my amp (that has 1.5 db steps). Next time...

 

[morricab]

I guess I could have pulled my decibel meter and compared the max volume on both tracks, with my speakers, then adjusted the volume on my amp (that has 1.5 db steps). Next time...

1.5 dB steps is large...what about adjustment in software?

 

[hopkins]

1.5 dB steps is large...what about adjustment in software?

It's not large.

Let's keep in mind we are talking about comparing two YouTube videos here! A "scientific" approach is hardly needed.

 

[morricab]

It's not large.

Let's keep in mind we are talking about comparing two YouTube videos here! A "scientific" approach is hardly needed.

You’re wrong but believe what you want…