I can't speak on the Mythologies album but there seems to be some confusion here. If a recording is not as loud as some others (a lot of modern, or modern rock recordings for example) that does not mean it's compressed. Compression is actually when the recording is produced at a louder volume and the dynamics of the recording are narrowed. Which means usually the volume of the quieter parts of the recording is raised to more closely match the louder parts of the recording. Thus everything sounds louder and you need less of the volume knob to get the music loud. Sometimes barely any at all and it's VERY LOUD. I much prefer the wider dynamics as that is what music generally has, dynamics. Squeezing out the dynamics is what makes the recordings lifeless, good for earbuds and a car system though if that's where your at. A good stereo system with the proper volume adjustment will certainly bring most lower volume recorded music to life. Maybe some don't like to adjust volume in the new pitiful quality I-tunes world?
Mythologies on MoFi - Something wrong? ?
Patricia Barber's Mythologies is one of my favorite albums from a unique and talented artist. The cd is nothing short of brilliant, both musically and sonically. Unfortunately, the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs vinyl is very poorly mastered, so that the level is far too low to be satisfying. I own several thousand lp's and cd's and I have no axe to grind. In fact, I generally love all of MoFi's releases. This time, however, they blew it. I have contacted them, and they will not acknowledge the problem, notwithstanding that I know others who have had the same experience. It is not just that this album was recorded at a low level - it is apparent that the vinyl was mastered improperly, so that the level is WAY too low to be played back at ordinary listening volume. As a result, it lacks dynamics and is dull, lifeless and boring. The cd suffers none of these problems.
Anyone else have the same experience?
Anyone else have the same experience?