Is Recording quality the real culprit?


We spend Thousands on trying to improve the sound of what we listen to. But isn’t it really more of a problem that we can’t really overcome, eg. Recording quality? It’s so frustrating to have a really nice system and then to be at the mercy of some guy who just didn’t spend the time to do things better when things were being recorded.

Fortunately many artists make sure things are done well, but so many just don’t make it happen.

It can sound really good but just doesn’t have that Great quality we desire.

So why are we wasting our time spending so much money on audio equipment?

emergingsoul

Conversely, a sub par recording can't kill great music. 

Well, it does for me.  But that could be just me.  

I have some recordings that were made using just one, stereo microphone that sound fantastic. 

@curiousjim , I can think of at least a couple also.  Without going back and looking for others, the two I am thinking of are the Cowboy Junkies first and second releases, Whites Off Earth Now and Trinity Sessions.  

@ibmjunkman ....I suspected such, but thanks for the low down on exotic waste treatment and the means to do so....

One can apply the same routine with different means to the end with recordings, and it likely happens more often than one might think or even notice in a listening sess.....  The means to do such is not typical except for the most rabid of 'philes, and would require really deep pockets to be able to 'remaster' and mop up the mess one hears to their approval....

Best common example:  Movie sound tracks.

Waiting for AI to be turned loose into those mixes.... ;)

"Hal, why did you redo that break at 11:40?  I thought we'd agreed tha..."

 

"Well, Dave....I was reviewing the previous 5:40 and it seemed to me to not have enough cow bell...."