enthalpy

Thursday, January 10, 2008


Your music is everywhere, in your car, in your mp3 player at work, over the blaring TV. That's why it sucks so much today: You're not really listening
The idea that engineers make albums louder might seem strange: Isn't volume controlled by that knob on the stereo? Yes, but every setting on that dial delivers a range of loudness, from a hushed vocal to a kick drum — and pushing sounds toward the top of that range makes music seem louder. It's the same technique used to make television commercials stand out from shows. And it does grab listeners' attention — but at a price. Last year, Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone that modern albums "have sound all over them. There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like — static."
Who can blame producers for using all the tricks in their bag to get your attention, but they shouldn't be surprised when we tune out.



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