[Vintage-Audio] CDS With Too Many Highs?

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Hi All,

Today I listened to a just released digitally recorded CD by a Southern 
Gospel Quartet that a close friend of mine sings the Low Bass for. Now 
either the old blind dude's ears are failing or these digitally recorded and 
mixed CD products have way too many highs! It is difficult to find a term 
that describes them correctly. They are definitely intense, almost to the 
point of being a piercing sort of sound. Not what I find pleasant to listen 
to. I had to trim 6Db off the upper midrange so that I could listen to it 
without just getting up and shutting it off.

Some of the other commercially recorded CDS do not have such intense highs, 
others do. However, it does seem to be much more common if the recording is 
done by someone with digital recording and mixing gear in a "home" or "small 
studio" environment. Is this the fault of the person doing the original 
recording, the person doing the mixing or the digital equipment itself?

I also noticed that the bass guitar was distorted on certain low notes. I 
attribute this to recording it too hot to start with and then incorrectly 
adding reverb to emulate a spacious large studio sound.

Maybe I am blaming the wrong entity? Instead of being a factor in the 
digital recording world or because it is done using digital technology, 
perhaps it is due to the person doing the recording and mixing not knowing 
the correct way to do it?

Is the public willing to accept these sub standard recordings because they 
listen on sub standard audio systems and do not know the difference? Or has 
the term "music" gone the way of the old water wasting toilets that actually 
flushed with one press of the handle? I HATE these new ones! But I suppose 
somebody does sell a lot more plungers!

Duane




Duane Fischer, W8DBF - WPE8CXO
E-Mail: dfischer at usol.com
Hallicrafters web site: www.w9wze.net
HHRP web site: hhrp.w9wze.net