[Napalm]

Hi James,

Now after seeing what atrocities are happening in the recording studios.... and that they use things like Yamaha NS10s to target the boomboxes... could it be that they also use Brystons to... hey why is there a black van in front of my house.... I didn't say anieyr92r9hwehefefffffffffffffffffff

[James Tanner]

Hi,

NS-10's are used as a reference point for many studios - it just kind of evolved over time. Nobody really thinks they are a reference in the quality sense of the word but they are a reference from studio to studio and room to room.

Most quality studios have 2 or 3 types of nearfield speakers available and all have a MAIN system that can be farfield or midfield, which is more the reference point for the studio.

Mastering Studios typically have excellent speakers as 'Mains' or 'Mid-Field' monitors (a lot of them high-end consumer speakers) - I have been in many of them. 

The film scoring guys are the top of the list when it comes to quality gear (speakers and electronics).  They usually have an L.C.R. setup they take with them from studio to studio when recording film scores.  I have sat in on a lot of this type of recording venue and it is most impressive to sit in front of the LA Philharmonic orchestra when they are being recorded!

james

[Napalm]

Hi James,

I was just  a little bit....

But now you confirmed something that I already suspected for some time now - that these days you may expect much better sound from a concert or movie Blu-Ray than from a CD. And it's not about the bit rate, it's about the mastering.

So how comes. I guess that there are some additional steps in checking/confirming movie soundtrack quality (like many screenings, with directors/producers/whatever) while the CDs just get dumped on the unsuspecting public without any real QA control.

Would this be the explanation?

Nap. 

[Laundrew]

Hi James,

I was just  a little bit....

But now you confirmed something that I already suspected for some time now - that these days you may expect much better sound from a concert or movie Blu-Ray than from a CD. And it's not about the bit rate, it's about the mastering.

So how comes. I guess that there are some additional steps in checking/confirming movie soundtrack quality (like many screenings, with directors/producers/whatever) while the CDs just get dumped on the unsuspecting public without any real QA control.

Would this be the explanation?

Nap. 

Do Ipod users really care about audio quality

Be well...

[James Tanner]

Hi James,

I was just  a little bit....

But now you confirmed something that I already suspected for some time now - that these days you may expect much better sound from a concert or movie Blu-Ray than from a CD. And it's not about the bit rate, it's about the mastering.

So how comes. I guess that there are some additional steps in checking/confirming movie soundtrack quality (like many screenings, with directors/producers/whatever) while the CDs just get dumped on the unsuspecting public without any real QA control.

Would this be the explanation?

Nap. 

I was in the USA Sony Mastering studio a number of years ago and sat with one of the top recording engineers in the business - he said to me - "what you have to understand James is the Master System is not for me - the Mastering system is for the CLIENT".

james

[Napalm]

I was in the USA Sony Mastering studio a number of years ago and sat with one of the top recording engineers in the business - he said to me - "what you have to understand James is the Master System is not for me - the Mastering system is for the CLIENT".

james

Still puzzling for me.... like in how comes someone like Norah Jones after tastefully doing her first records with the late Walter Sear, suddenly jumps into iTunes style sound on her last album? Unless it's not really her that could decide, but then who are the bozos that are taking these decisions? 

Nap.

[James Tanner]

Still puzzling for me.... like in how comes someone like Norah Jones after tastefully doing her first records with the late Walter Sear, suddenly jumps into iTunes style sound on her last album? Unless it's not really her that could decide, but then who are the bozos that are taking these decisions? 

Nap.

I'm guessing they get seduced by the industry - in that - sales are more important than quality.

james

[Laundrew]

I'm guessing they get seduced by the industry - in that - sales are more important than quality.

james

Unfortunately in most cases today, let us build it as cheaply as possible is the norm for many companies today 

Be well...

[Napalm]

Unfortunately in most cases today, let us build it as cheaply as possible is the norm for many companies today 

Be well...

Yes, but once the public notices and you get the label "junk" stamped on your forehead, it's very difficult to ever sell anything again at more than Dollar Store prices.

As for Norah, it seems that I'm not just an odd lunatic that has noticed this while everybody else is happy with the new sound. Check amazon.com reviews..... unfortunately I bought the CD before they got written.... So now she won't be able to sell anything to me again unless  she pulls out a real feat like a new album from which 4 tracks go directly to Top 10 charts and all reviews rave about sound quality. Which won't happen, eh?

Nap. 

P.S. It's not always obvious what sound systems the reviewers on Amazon have, but this 1 star ("I hate it") review shows that iPod users are not happy either. So for whom on earth are these guys mastering for? 

" This review is from: The Fall (Audio CD)
I pre-ordered this album confident of another "Come Away With Me".
Last time I pre-order.
The music overwhelms Norah's voice, and it's not good music either.
I actually had to look twice at the IPOD to make sure I ordered the right album. "

[Napalm]

Just a little bit of teasing:

http://www.cherrybeachsound.com/studios.html

 

Nap.

[JRace]

Unfortunately the last person who has a say in the end product seems to be the musician.

On the other hand would you want someone like Keith Richards or Pete Townshend having the final say on the sound quality?

 

[vegasdave]

Depends on the musician.