... thoughts on Taylor Swift's REPUTATION CD...
I think when you look at the perceived decline in the hi-fi/audiophile hobby (if there is a decline, I just hear people talking about it) then I think you would have to add the loudness wars as one of the coffin nails. I like older rock music and like finding old stuff I've never heard but for my interests to stay keen I like an infusion of new stuff too. If the new stuff, even if well written and well performed, is of low SQ....why bother? |
Most newer "improved" pop/rock remasters on CD are mastered louder than the originals. So which approach in general is better? You would think the answer is obvious. The thing is when people shell out more money for the same stuff, they want to hear a noticeable difference and radical digital remastering in various forms is a means to that end. Beyond just being mixed louder usually, you often just might hear things you may not have heard before. |
Whoo hoo someone (Steven Wilson) remastered something recently and apparently got the DR right! http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list/dr/desc?artist=yes&album=fragile |
Nice. There were other good versions on the list but always good to see that someone still knows how to do it. Which makes me wonder if someone could make money re-engineering new music for audiophiles? I can't see that it would cost the artists anything. It might not make them much additional income but it wouldn't hurt. I'm guessing the engineer might not make much either which would be the limiting factor. But wouldn't it be great if there was an MSFL type organization/company that remastered hot new music to audiophile standards! I'd pay extra in a heart beat. |
