Why are Classical cd audio levels all over the place?
07-23-02, 07:04 PM
#1
DVD Talk Godfather
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,284
Received 1,802 Likes
on
1,125 Posts
Why are Classical cd audio levels all over the place?
I understand that many works have quiet passages and soft music in different places and that headphones or a quiet high end car 
are probably the best ways to enjoy Classical cd's.
But when I listen in my car the quiet parts go so low I turn it up then a loud part blasts and it sucks.
Why can't they even out the levels so that one doesn't have to do "Level riding" while listening.
AUDIOPHILES can you help me understand this? Am I buying the wrong cd's? Are there companies out there that are conscience of this? Am I approaching the listening experience wrong?
are probably the best ways to enjoy Classical cd's. But when I listen in my car the quiet parts go so low I turn it up then a loud part blasts and it sucks.
Why can't they even out the levels so that one doesn't have to do "Level riding" while listening.
AUDIOPHILES can you help me understand this? Am I buying the wrong cd's? Are there companies out there that are conscience of this? Am I approaching the listening experience wrong?
07-24-02, 02:38 AM
#2
DVD Talk Godfather
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,284
Received 1,802 Likes
on
1,125 Posts
help....
07-24-02, 06:41 AM
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Um, didn't you just answer your question in the first sentence? Evening out the levels would be screwing with how the music was intended to be presented.
07-24-02, 08:12 AM
#4
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
this annoys me, too, so I never listen to classical unless I'm in a quiet listening environment.
The dynamics are most definitely part of the composer's intent. Soft passages are meant to be really soft, which makes the loud, driving passages stand out more.
Remember: a good chunk of this stuff was written long before the idea of recording even came about: you're supposed to hear it live in a concert hall.
While I do find it annoying that I can't listen to classical except at home (or live), I'm willing to accept it given that the dynamics of the piece often create much of its interest.
(what fun would any of Beethoven's symphonies be if they had flat dynamics (i.e. were loud all the time)?)
The dynamics are most definitely part of the composer's intent. Soft passages are meant to be really soft, which makes the loud, driving passages stand out more.
Remember: a good chunk of this stuff was written long before the idea of recording even came about: you're supposed to hear it live in a concert hall.
While I do find it annoying that I can't listen to classical except at home (or live), I'm willing to accept it given that the dynamics of the piece often create much of its interest.
(what fun would any of Beethoven's symphonies be if they had flat dynamics (i.e. were loud all the time)?)
07-24-02, 08:15 AM
#5
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I find that the only way (outisde of attending a live performance) to fully enjoy classical music without blowing out your eardrums is to use headphones in a fairly quiet setting. Same with musical theatre recordings.
07-24-02, 06:59 PM
#6
DVD Talk Godfather
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,284
Received 1,802 Likes
on
1,125 Posts
Originally posted by Aghama
Um, didn't you just answer your question in the first sentence? Evening out the levels would be screwing with how the music was intended to be presented.
Um, didn't you just answer your question in the first sentence? Evening out the levels would be screwing with how the music was intended to be presented.
07-24-02, 07:49 PM
#7
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: east texas
Posts: 5,473
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
dynamics are not just written on the music but are also many times left up the the conductor. being one myself, i can say that my interpretation of louds and softs are not the same and another conductor's.
as for a way to fix the volume problem, i really don't think there is a way that wouldn't destroy the intent of the music. think about if you are enjoying a live performance with no background noise. even then there is a noticable difference in volume that is an integral part of the music. unfortunately, when you are in a car, there is so much background noise that some of the very soft parts are inaudible unless you turn the volume up. i think that to try and fix it would defeat the purpose of the music.
as for a way to fix the volume problem, i really don't think there is a way that wouldn't destroy the intent of the music. think about if you are enjoying a live performance with no background noise. even then there is a noticable difference in volume that is an integral part of the music. unfortunately, when you are in a car, there is so much background noise that some of the very soft parts are inaudible unless you turn the volume up. i think that to try and fix it would defeat the purpose of the music.
07-24-02, 08:27 PM
#8
DVD Talk Godfather
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,284
Received 1,802 Likes
on
1,125 Posts
I think a --small--- boost of the LOW LEVEL parts wouldn't hurt. But that's just me.
end of thread.
end of thread.
