WmAx
05-14-2004, 06:50 AM
Artist: Tierney Sutton
Album: Dancing In The Dark
Cat No.: Telarc CD-83592
The subtle, pure sound of Tierney's voice is a delight to listen too.......on headphones.
On speakers, it is a different matter, IMO of course. This album is overall disappointing, not because of the quality of performance, for this is certainly excellent. But instead, the sound quality of this ablum is abysmal. This is suprising since the record company releasing this album is Telarc -- usually known for producing works of higher than average sound quality. The sound quality issues are specific. No realistic playback is possible. The singer was close miced; apparently no e.q. was applied to her voice afterwards to try to mimick a more realistic perspective. The second problem is that the ambient field of the vocals and the band seem like they are in very different venues. It's just not possible for this ever to sound realistic. How many times have you gone to a live performance(unaplified) and had the vocalist sing 2 feet from your face? When did you get to experience the effect of the vocalist and band sounding like they are in two different venues, but were really in the same? This is why I find the CD okay on headphones. With headphones, you pretty much give up any sense of realism, and such close mic/mix ambient techniques sound acceptable, at least too me. But on quality speakers, where some sense of realism is to be expected, this recording method is unacceptable. THis would be a different matter, possibly, if it was some surrealistic performance like pop music, etc., which is not composed of real, predictable acoustic instruments and voices. BUt this jazz release contains all acoustic instruments/components.
Telarc -- what in the hell is wrong with you? I know that is is the 'norm' for many recordings to be made exactly in this fashion. But why did you decide to use this approach? I frankly expected a recording done in a real acoustic venue at a mid field recording range. Too bad. Telarc, listen to some Mapleshade releases --- while they have a lot of mediocre artists and audible tape hiss, they typically do a great job in mic placement and in using a real acoustic/ambient environment.
-Chris
Album: Dancing In The Dark
Cat No.: Telarc CD-83592
The subtle, pure sound of Tierney's voice is a delight to listen too.......on headphones.
On speakers, it is a different matter, IMO of course. This album is overall disappointing, not because of the quality of performance, for this is certainly excellent. But instead, the sound quality of this ablum is abysmal. This is suprising since the record company releasing this album is Telarc -- usually known for producing works of higher than average sound quality. The sound quality issues are specific. No realistic playback is possible. The singer was close miced; apparently no e.q. was applied to her voice afterwards to try to mimick a more realistic perspective. The second problem is that the ambient field of the vocals and the band seem like they are in very different venues. It's just not possible for this ever to sound realistic. How many times have you gone to a live performance(unaplified) and had the vocalist sing 2 feet from your face? When did you get to experience the effect of the vocalist and band sounding like they are in two different venues, but were really in the same? This is why I find the CD okay on headphones. With headphones, you pretty much give up any sense of realism, and such close mic/mix ambient techniques sound acceptable, at least too me. But on quality speakers, where some sense of realism is to be expected, this recording method is unacceptable. THis would be a different matter, possibly, if it was some surrealistic performance like pop music, etc., which is not composed of real, predictable acoustic instruments and voices. BUt this jazz release contains all acoustic instruments/components.
Telarc -- what in the hell is wrong with you? I know that is is the 'norm' for many recordings to be made exactly in this fashion. But why did you decide to use this approach? I frankly expected a recording done in a real acoustic venue at a mid field recording range. Too bad. Telarc, listen to some Mapleshade releases --- while they have a lot of mediocre artists and audible tape hiss, they typically do a great job in mic placement and in using a real acoustic/ambient environment.
-Chris