Dark Matter - Dynamic Range Rescue Project

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[E.H. Ruddock]

any Dischord

wat

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[brisk]

Fuck I love when PJ fans do stuff like this. Look forward to it.

[WaitingForBluey]

I probably haven't listened to Fugazi in almost a decade and then 'Break' came up on a shuffle I was listening to and I almost shit myself... still love that band so much

[joostone]

Someone else is using AI on the atmos mix:

[joostone]

Oh and I think you're doing great work Trag. I'm a musician myself and in the middle of recording/mixing 2 albums. Unlike you I can still enjoy the music, but I can totally understand your frustration. I really really don't understand why they went with Serban Ghenea. I want him to stay away from this band as much is possible.

He's a modern mixer, perhaps the biggest household name in music right now. A perfect fit for all the Dua Lipa's in this world. He makes the best mixes for mass consumption. He understands that 95% of the people only listen to compressed streaming audio. And most of those people do that while using Bluetooth earbuds. This week I did the same. I played Dark Matter on my earbuds every day commuting in public transport. In this setting it's one of the best sounding rock records I've heard in quite some time. But yesterday I had some time for myself so I played the vinyl again. I have a good setup (B&W CM speakers, Project carbon turntable, Ortofon blue needle and Marantz amp). By Ed's request I played it loud... And yes, In this setting the record is one of the worst sounding rock records Ive heard in some time. It's just not mixed to be heard this way.

And I still don't know who mastered all this. It's soo weird is no where listed in the liner notes. But the problem is not the loud mastering. It's the chained and heavy compressed mixing. The digital vocal chain used on Eddie is soo noticeable, and to make way for all the automated bass and guitars he compressed the drums to sounding like a cheap 60s record. I'm blaming Wotman only for using Ghenea. He should have went with other 'modern' mixers like Ryan Hewitt or Mark Rankin. Both would have been a far better choice here. Or Alan Moulder since he already worked with Wotman for that Iggy Pop record.

So, Wotman if you're reading this. You did great with this band!! Your energy is all over this record, it was you the band needed and I can't wait for one or two more records with you. But please choose someone else as your mixing engineer for this band.

[thesound]

Background Keys - Scared of Fear:

[Coach]

Someone else is using AI on the atmos mix:

I don't like the guitars on that toward the end, they seem muted.

[Fattie_Vedder]

Background Keys - Scared of Fear:

Maybe this is the true meaning of Dark Matter. All the hidden layers of music we can’t hear, buried under the main tracks.

[Ms Harmless]

Dark Matter keys >>> Lightning Bolt keys

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[BootsToAsses]

X-post:

Alright guys, I'm soliciting some feedback here. I'm using two different mastering algorithms. Any thoughts on which we prefer? Both are converted to low bitrate MP3s for ease of hosting; I promise the WAVs sound much better.

Algorithm #1 is 10db of dynamic range:

https://voca.ro/1gajEyRFaNwP

Algorithm #2 defaulted to 7db of dynamic range based on a Riot Act reference track. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T LET THE LOUDER VOLUME TRICK YOU INTO THINKING IT SOUNDS BETTER. I can dial back back the limiting on this so it has the same EQ and imaging profile, but with a broader dynamic range.

https://voca.ro/1azrOsgQnb8F

I have no idea what all the technical stuff means, and I just briefly checked out the two clips and the second one sounded better to me at first glance.

I'll listen to the full songs properly and share thoughts.

Both sound good though! Ed's vocals are much clearer.

[stip]

What I've struggled with on a bunch of your mixes, Trag, and whether this is the limitation of the source material you can access, or sonic choices, or familiarity with the released song, is that everything ends up feeling over separated. I like the greater clarity and awareness of the individual performances, but it actually ends up losing the band in the room feeling to me. Too much distance. Some overall cohesion feels lost.

In version one there is too much echo on Eddie's vocals, and the overall mix feels echoy in general, and the impact gets diluted by the space.

Version 2 has a little more cohesion, but the guitars feel lost in places (during the verses). Ed sounds really fierce in the chorus. Weirdly this picks up a lot of energy as it goes. Verse two sounds much more intense than the first verse (in a good way) and I assume the mix is the same. May just be my ears settling into the mix.

Although your caps have lead to believe this may be volume?...

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[The Town]

X-post:

Alright guys, I'm soliciting some feedback here. I'm using two different mastering algorithms. Any thoughts on which we prefer? Both are converted to low bitrate MP3s for ease of hosting; I promise the WAVs sound much better.

Algorithm #1 is 10db of dynamic range:

https://voca.ro/1gajEyRFaNwP

Algorithm #2 defaulted to 7db of dynamic range based on a Riot Act reference track. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T LET THE LOUDER VOLUME TRICK YOU INTO THINKING IT SOUNDS BETTER. I can dial back back the limiting on this so it has the same EQ and imaging profile, but with a broader dynamic range.

https://voca.ro/1azrOsgQnb8F

I can't wait to listen to the full album! This is incredible!


My initial thoughts, though I want to go back and listen with what stip said in mind.

I'm getting richer low end on Algorithm #1. There is more detail.
Maybe Algorithm #2 is a bit more cohesive. The low end doesn't stand out as much.

I prefer Algorithm #1 but wonder if there's a kind of novelty factor at play and in the long run I'd prefer Algorithm #2.
Still right now, Algorithm #1 for me.

My setup:

Spoiler: show

Audeze LCD2 headphones
Foobar2000 with ABX Comparator using ReplayGain / simple track gain

foo_abx 2.2 report
foobar2000 v2.1.4
2024-04-27 14:17:31

File A: Algorithm #1.mp3
SHA1: 48713e76eb94949d6a3e5c688a0104eb3d49be38
Gain adjustment: -4.01 dB
File B: Algorithm #2.mp3
SHA1: eae279c0294f57fa10e004626d6e86ab9e368e00
Gain adjustment: -8.55 dB

Output:
Default : Primary Sound Driver
Crossfading: NO

14:17:31 : Test started.
14:19:28 : Test restarted.
14:19:28 : 00/01
14:21:36 : Test restarted.
14:21:36 : 01/02
14:22:28 : Test restarted.
14:22:28 : 02/03
14:22:43 : Test restarted.
14:22:43 : 03/04
14:23:17 : Test restarted.
14:23:17 : 04/05
14:23:52 : Test restarted.
14:23:52 : 05/06
14:24:09 : Test restarted.
14:24:09 : 06/07
14:24:34 : Test restarted.
14:24:34 : 07/08
14:24:34 : Test finished.

----------
Total: 7/8
p-value: 0.0352 (3.52%)

-- signature --
1b1e9947350b0961fde55c01beac5156ee830d43

[E.H. Ruddock]

That AI stuff sounds fine. I’m not waiting around for trags stuff

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[RockPusher]

Dark Matter keys >>> Lightning Bolt keys

x a million

[96583UP]

I think this project is off to a great start. initially I questioned the decision to repeatedly insert the loud grunt noise from Obey The Law of the Heart but now i understand it is a necessary element every 8 seconds to recalibrate and accentuate the texture of the remaining track

bravo