Sound quality question ...

[old skool]

Quick (and probably stupid) question ...

I've been buying a few cd's recently mainly on the Tresor label and I dunno if my cd player is shit (and it shouldn't be cos I paid enough for it !), but the sound quality on some of them seems to be really clipped and lacks a lot of clarity when compared with other cd's.

The cd's I'm mainly on about are Neil Landstrumms last one, Toby Schmidt and Dave Tarrida's latest mix cd. But I've also noticed it on a few of Depthcharges albums too.

Is it my ears or summat but sometimes the bass completely overtakes a lot of the effects going on.

Then again Subhead's album on Tresor sounds really clear and erm sharp ?

Is this the case on vinyl too ?

Is the recording supposed to be like this?

Please note this is in no detriment to the tracks themselves which I really like it's just I'm having to fuck about with my amp a bit which I've never had to do before.

[arar]

The subhead albums got a lot less sub bass on it to my ears...Ive got the last landstrumm record on vinyl and cd and it sounds much the same of either...

[V Knid esq]

Old Skool - all the artists you mention are not shy of the fuzzbox... it could well be that what you're hearing is what was intended.

[old skool]

Ah right ...

I thought it was my speakers or summat at first but I've been bangin' out loads of bassy stuff like Bad Company/Dillinja and it's been crystal clear...

Of course the neighbours are loving me at this point.

In my humble onion, it's a bit of shame cos I feel like I'm missing out on some extra sounds on the tracks...

But if that's the way it's meant to be then I'll have to get used to it.

[old skool]

At least someone responded, I thought I was the only one ... cheers...:0)

[r_v]

I know what you mean about the new Landstrumm album. I'm pretty sure its intended.

You may have read about his 'bit rate descimation' technique for crunching up the sound. This introduces all kinds of digital distortion and sampling artefacts and is a real charachteristic of Landstrumm's sound. You can hear this on his other albums but 'She Took a Bullet...' is the only record where this actually seems to affect sound quality.

Regarless, I actually like the way it sounds a lot. It gives the tracks that little bit more character. I've never heard any of the latest album over a PA, I imagine the bass must sound pretty out of control.

[old skool]

All that crunching bass must sound fucking banana's in a club if it's a decent sound system. The last time I heard Landstrumm was in December but the sound system wasn't clear enough to hear everything that was going on.

Still doesn't help my poor little speakers at home though.

[Marolo]

Actually, I don't think Landstrumm used 'bit rate descimation' for 'she took a bullet...' . See his interview on www.overloadmedia.co.uk

[old skool]

Maybe not but he's definitely succeeded in "old skools speaker decimation'.

[r_v]

ha ha... speaker descimation is probably a better name for it actually.

I suppose the answer to the original question is that these guys just REALLY love their filthy bass.

I saw Landstrum play at Pure in Edinburgh a while ago and it was gut wrenching stuff.

I hear Toby Schmidt has a bit of a reputation for wrecking PAs with his live sets. I think that's why he called his album Destroy.

[old skool]

Question is though, why put a load of great sounds into a track, then completely smother them with bass. I mean I like bass, I fucking love bass, but bass on its own can sound a bit boring aftera while.... which is where all the interesting little noises come in....

But it's all down to personal taste. And I still love Landstrumms/Scmidts/Tarrida's albums and will continue to play them.

Just really quietly.... until I can afford a phazon sound system to install in my house.... and a girlfriend who will put up with it.

[tsr_tomas]

could it be possible to make better sounds then Disted, lowfi, 8-bit, mono, 22050hz ?

don´t think so.

[old skool]

I agree. To what he just said. Does he mean big bad bass ?

Sounded good though.

Big bad bass + interesting noises = S I Futures.

[eclairfi]

dunno if its just me but the majority of Tresor. vinyls i have are very quiet recordings or muffled dirty muddy quality ...almost like you have to turn more EQ up (hi/mid mostly) to get more sound out of them..,.. but as ive discussed many a times maybe they are meant to be like that ... (dirtier, darker, muddy sounding ?)