Many people may not realise but several old records sound quiter than todays latest records. For many years not just music producers, but producers as a whole have been using the compression techniques in order to make music sound heavier and louder. It is compression that allows you to notice what is being promoted, either through a music record or a television advert. When listening to a record you either hear bass, drum, heavy guitar or vocals which all produce outstanding records, however people fail to realise too much of these sounds damages our health.
What is Compression?
Compression is known as the inbuilt volume control in a track. It plays the role in controlling exactly how loud the music sounds. It levels the peaks and troughs of a track to a much higher average overall. In today's society many people listen to music on the go through iPods, mobile phones, car stereos and radios, compression allows different tracks to be mixed in different levels which are later listened to through these gadgets in todays society. For obvious reasons, record labels intend for their music to be heard everywhere, even ontop of background noise including from the outside world, therefore todays favourite tracks have been produced louder. Research has shown many sound engineers feel under pressure to produce music which is unaturally loud. It has been said, one of the main reasons why we are changing our sound to music, making our record labels louder is due to the way we are consuming music differently than before. It is evidently proven we do not listen to music in our living rooms or on big speakers how people use to, but it is through latest technology we listen to music through iPods and MP3 players while on the train or computer. Many record labels intend to reflect this specific change in listening habits as the speakers and headphones we use today don't exactly give us a powerful outcome to the music being played.
Compression is known as the inbuilt volume control in a track. It plays the role in controlling exactly how loud the music sounds. It levels the peaks and troughs of a track to a much higher average overall. In today's society many people listen to music on the go through iPods, mobile phones, car stereos and radios, compression allows different tracks to be mixed in different levels which are later listened to through these gadgets in todays society. For obvious reasons, record labels intend for their music to be heard everywhere, even ontop of background noise including from the outside world, therefore todays favourite tracks have been produced louder. Research has shown many sound engineers feel under pressure to produce music which is unaturally loud. It has been said, one of the main reasons why we are changing our sound to music, making our record labels louder is due to the way we are consuming music differently than before. It is evidently proven we do not listen to music in our living rooms or on big speakers how people use to, but it is through latest technology we listen to music through iPods and MP3 players while on the train or computer. Many record labels intend to reflect this specific change in listening habits as the speakers and headphones we use today don't exactly give us a powerful outcome to the music being played.Many artists want their music at a high level, wanting their tracks as loud as possible but they do not realise how damaging this can be to music. It is not just music artists but also labels that are following this specific approach. Lily Allen and the Artic Monkeys have successfully used 'dense compression' with their music giving their music more of a bite enabling them to sell a lot of records. However, fans are not impressed with the way many record labels are mixing their music.
The album, "Death Magnetic" has a very unique mix to the album, coming from the renown band Metallica. Fans were dissapointed with the product complaining the record label is "ironically too loud". These fan concluded with an online petition, where more than 20,000 fans signed wanting for the album to be released with a more dynamic sound to it. From this, many other artists have taken this into consideration when producing their very own music.
But Why Isn't Louder Better?
Tinnitus, an inner-ear condition is caused through the loudness of music. This is where your tiny strands of hair, also known as stereocillia are effected. Their job is to pick up any sound vibration and transform them into sounds you hear. These sounds heard can be broken by loud noises, once these noises are broken they are able to cause the rain to produce a ringing sound. Depending on the pitch of the sound, the ringing sound varies. In a serious situation where a sufferer finds it difficult to hear, it can become extremely hard for them to hear above the ringing. Research has shown, listening to loud music which is overly-compressed can tire you out.
Tinnitus, an inner-ear condition is caused through the loudness of music. This is where your tiny strands of hair, also known as stereocillia are effected. Their job is to pick up any sound vibration and transform them into sounds you hear. These sounds heard can be broken by loud noises, once these noises are broken they are able to cause the rain to produce a ringing sound. Depending on the pitch of the sound, the ringing sound varies. In a serious situation where a sufferer finds it difficult to hear, it can become extremely hard for them to hear above the ringing. Research has shown, listening to loud music which is overly-compressed can tire you out.What Can Be Done To Combat This?
An organisation has been set up in response to the number of increasing records today. "Turn Me Up" set up by Charles Dye. This organisation promotes anti-compression audio and practices with reasonable audio. Deadmau5, a Canadian dance artist released the first fully-remixable album for the iphone. Created by Irish software developers Future Audio Workshop, this application enables the listener to fix the record to their own specifications, either making certain sections louder or quieter. They even have the facility to add in new effects to the track. As this album was a huge success, many more albums are expected in the coming months. Therefore, audience today have a say on every stage of an album's production.
Below are the top five loudest records of all time :
- The Stooges - Raw Power (1997)
- Oasis - What's The Story (1995)
- Red Hot Chilli Peppers- Californication ( 1999)
- Metallica - Death Magnetic (2008)
- Artic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. (2005)
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