Tape v. Digital

[geoff]

Last night (my time) , feeling somewhat shocked and glum, put on CD of
Nora Jones' latest. After midnight (time, not song) so headphones.

Presumably recorded of tape for some reason (nostaligia ?), because what
really stood out to me was the tape hiss that of course faded in and out
each of of each track. And overall listening gave a sense of mellowness,
however that to me was not a positive thing for me - a bit like a veil
across everything especially snare and cymbals, the opposite of
over-bright. Not the clarity and depth I'm accustomed to from of her
first couple of albums. Maybe everything miked less closely, presumably
a deliberate production decision.

Star track musically for me was Don't Be Denied, which may have been
more poignant than normal because of the huge number of people who now
stand to be denied . Or maybe it was the Glenlivet effect.

geoff

[[email protected]]

geoff:

I can tolerate a tad of tape hiss a lot more
than I can some other things.

[JackA]

On Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 10:40:15 PM UTC-5, geoff wrote:
> Last night (my time) , feeling somewhat shocked and glum, put on CD of
> Nora Jones' latest. After midnight (time, not song) so headphones.
>
> Presumably recorded of tape for some reason (nostaligia ?), because what
> really stood out to me was the tape hiss that of course faded in and out
> each of of each track. And overall listening gave a sense of mellowness,
> however that to me was not a positive thing for me - a bit like a veil
> across everything especially snare and cymbals, the opposite of
> over-bright. Not the clarity and depth I'm accustomed to from of her
> first couple of albums. Maybe everything miked less closely, presumably
> a deliberate production decision.
>
> Star track musically for me was Don't Be Denied, which may have been
> more poignant than normal because of the huge number of people who now
> stand to be denied . Or maybe it was the Glenlivet effect.
>
> geoff

Maybe you should try noise cancelling headphones!!!

Jack :)

[geoff]

On 11/11/2016 3:38 AM, JackA wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 10:40:15 PM UTC-5, geoff wrote:
>> Last night (my time) , feeling somewhat shocked and glum, put on CD of
>> Nora Jones' latest. After midnight (time, not song) so headphones.
>>
>> Presumably recorded of tape for some reason (nostaligia ?), because what
>> really stood out to me was the tape hiss that of course faded in and out
>> each of of each track. And overall listening gave a sense of mellowness,
>> however that to me was not a positive thing for me - a bit like a veil
>> across everything especially snare and cymbals, the opposite of
>> over-bright. Not the clarity and depth I'm accustomed to from of her
>> first couple of albums. Maybe everything miked less closely, presumably
>> a deliberate production decision.

rec.audio.PRODUCTION.

Grateful somebody (who actually knows) have a listen and tell me I'm not
going deaf.

And she herself was producer. WFT ?

Like tweeters blown, especially on vocals. EWven moreso when not
headphones. Or tea-towel over mic. Or recorded from a different room.

geoff

[JackA]

On Friday, November 11, 2016 at 7:20:01 AM UTC-5, geoff wrote:
> On 11/11/2016 3:38 AM, JackA wrote:
> > On Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 10:40:15 PM UTC-5, geoff wrote:
> >> Last night (my time) , feeling somewhat shocked and glum, put on CD of
> >> Nora Jones' latest. After midnight (time, not song) so headphones.
> >>
> >> Presumably recorded of tape for some reason (nostaligia ?), because what
> >> really stood out to me was the tape hiss that of course faded in and out
> >> each of of each track. And overall listening gave a sense of mellowness,
> >> however that to me was not a positive thing for me - a bit like a veil
> >> across everything especially snare and cymbals, the opposite of
> >> over-bright. Not the clarity and depth I'm accustomed to from of her
> >> first couple of albums. Maybe everything miked less closely, presumably
> >> a deliberate production decision.
>
> rec.audio.PRODUCTION.
>
> Grateful somebody (who actually knows) have a listen and tell me I'm not
> going deaf.
>
> And she herself was producer. WFT ?
>
> Like tweeters blown, especially on vocals. EWven moreso when not
> headphones. Or tea-towel over mic. Or recorded from a different room.
>
> geoff

Producer, like Remaster, another abused word. Remember the 70s group, Pilot? I contact David Paton to ask him exactly what did Alan Parsons do to be credited as the producer for Pilot's hit, "Magic". He was sort of upset of it, and said Alan mixed the song, nothing more!

Vic Flick, UK session guitarist, tells the story of Paul McCartney not even appearing at recording sessions where Paul was credited as Producer. Due to popularity, I guess they used Paul's name just to help promote the songs.

Jack