loudness wars: digital recording to improve?

If the recording is botched and dynamic peaks compressed or clipped in the recording, no algorithm will fix it properly.

Algorithms can change what is there but not put back information that is lost in the first place, a least not with complete accuracy.

Sorry.

All these algorithms do is allow the average listener to listen to a mix of different recordings with different overall loudness levels on a server at more of a consistent volume without having to adjust volume as much. Not sure it will do much more than that for audiophiles.

All I can say is that I really like the new Black Keys CD and would like it even more if it sounded real, instead of recorded for MP3 users. There is so much potential in that CD. Its really a shame what the labels do.

I agree with virtually all that's been said. The current state of affairs saddens me more than I can say. I'd be very happy if compression as we know it now ends. I am very skeptical that that will happen, however. It seems to me Mapman makes a great point. Maybe the guy who wrote the piece will listen to "us"? Who knows...

Another good point is that the recording industry has allowed its legal distractions to take their eye off the target in regards to quality product in many cases.

I suppose that their argument is that there is not much money to be made in making high quality recordings available to the public these days because most people care about cost first and quality second with these things.

"Sad, but True" I suspect. That seems to be how things in general work these days.

Mapman, you might want to reconsider your thoughts on what algorithms can and can't do, especially when given more brushes and more delicate brushes on a bigger canvas. Getting it right the first time is certainly preferable, but being able to offer some level of repair might be better than leaving it broken. I suspect that the potentiality of these kind of offerings, might more often than not, be squashed by business politics rather than inherent failure.