Blackdown wrote:i hear both sides of the CD v dubplates argument, but speaking strictly about the sonics, its undenyably true that when DJs like SLT Mob or Plasticman come on at DMZ with CDs...
1. it's about 30% louder
2. the sounds is more mid and hi end focused which reduces the weight and impact of the sub bass
and possibly...
3. the sound is warmer.
tho the latter is more marginal.
CDs warmer than vinyl? That's the first time i've ever heard that. The nature of analog (tape, vinyl, valve) is to introduce harmonic distortion to the audio. People invariably describe this harmonic distortion as making the music sound "warmer". There are complicated reasons for this to do with harmonics, unsurprisingly, which i would need the assistance of a text book to explain. long.
CDs work by making staggered digital estimations of the waveform, the result being a step like waveform rather than a inflinitely smooth analog waveform (as produced by nature, vinyl, tape etc). The stepped waveform is then digitally smoothed off. Because of this process, huge amount of audio information is discarded in the coding of real audio into 16bit 44.1 khz CD quality digital audio, and he reuslt is a colder, shallower sound than tape or vinyl.
but 99% of people dont notice hear the difference.
the main reason why CDs sometimes sound weak when DJs play them is because the tune hasnt been mastered, or even limited. When you cut a dub at transition, the guy puts a thousands of pounds of mastering equipment (manley eqs, compressors, limiters) and years of practice into making it sound heavy as possible. This has far more effect on the sound than the vinyl itself. Anyone can d/l the plug ins to do a decent job of it themsleves tho, with a bit of practice.
at this moment in time, i use both cd and dubplate. i like the sound and aesthetic of vinyl more than cd, but dubplates are expensive and impracticle. And knackered dubs sound worse than MP3.
