The Loudness War - A Real Example!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G4PZ1... Click for HQ stereo.
I noticed that all of the other loudness war examples on here have been created by the user.
The first clip I didn't create myself, I did nothing more than reduce the volume, it is the version from Massive Attack's best of album Collected, the second is the original version from Blue Lines. The difference isn't that obvious mainly because of the general crappy nature of the sound quality on Youtube and because its not an extreme example.

This treatment makes almost no effect on record sales, on iTunes the original version is the #2 best selling Massive Attack song while the compressed version #7

Fair use is assumed as it is a short clip.

• Category

  Music

[Derrick Yeoh]

hi @ajuk1, again in response to listening to the A and B - the B (where your money's on) still is recording higher peaks. Mastering and compression basically brings the average level of sound to a higher level whilst maintaining all the peaks (at the same level). I fail to see how B is better than A considering it's 9dB louder (in terms of peaks)

[ajuk1]

I've gone off this video, it's not a very extreme example and I think the second half maybe unintentionally louder. My Radiohead video is my favorite.

[boosuff]

In the uncompressed version, each sound jumps out a bit more, making it more dynamic and interesting. The over compressed version doesn't allow for any interesting dynamic shifts in the music....making it bland and uninteresting.

[Paul Durso]

orangesquish, i think all Christian rock bands get their albums mastered in a top secret underground FBI/FCC missile silo, where Moses comes down and pulls all of the dips in the waveform all the way up to heaven. it's a government conspiracy.

[hueseph]

They both seem identical to me. The second clip is louder but the first one is already compressed quite a bit.

[tcotme]

B is better (or more hi-fi) because it has a higher dynamic range i.e. there are more differences between quieter and louder parts of the music.

You as a user can control the peak level of the music by adjusting the volume of your hi-fi system. But you can’t increase the dynamic range of compressed music.

[leichnahm]

wow, this snare alone is it worthy to listen to :D its also nice to hear, the reverb of vocals do not jump right into your Face x_O

[PolishCatholic1]

Zwei bei Kalwaas^^

[MrMultiMindControl]

I'm sorry but i dont think they play muisic on the radio in the middle of a fucking war T_T

[AgentHomer]

The second version is not an uncompressed version! There is no uncompressed version of this song. The second version is actually compressed quite a deal already. The first one is just overcompressed, that's all.

[mm071018]

its "unfinished sympathy", off their first album "blue lines" from 1991 :)