One of the neat things about audio digital tech is it's ability to
handle a pretty wide dynamic range. Essential to enjoying the sounds
of the natural world is that experience - from around 4dBA in a box
canyon in the Grand Canyon area to 96dBA when the cidadas get cranked
up in the Amazon Basin around 0900 hrs - and everything in between or
beyond. In mixing and producing our titles, we never compress or
limit because we want to maintain the illusion of that dynamic audio
experience as much as possible.
At the end of the chain, however, if one really needs to hear all
things at all times at the same (or nearly the same) level, a
Multicom Pro XL system can be installed in the playback amplifier
chain that compresses as much as the listener wants, really leveling
and "smoothing" out apparent and actual loudness. Restaurants that
play their own CD or iPod selections, use this system almost
exclusively. That takes the issue completely out of the hands of the
audio producer/mixer and leaves destructive decisions to the listener.
Bernie Krause
>Yes you are right.
>
>I think it'd still be worthwhile to have an opening tag to help people
>adjust the volume such as Mr Storm's. But if not, as long as the
>target volume level falls in line with regular pop music I suppose
>people will be in the ballpark more or less.
>
>I should've said 'most' media. I forgot about nature recording and
>Bruckner symphonies:)
>
>Danny
>
>--- In "John Hartog"
><> wrote:
>>
>> Danny, you wrote:
>> > You need to start with 'something' at a strong level...all media does
>> > this, movies, etc. Just the nature of things to make sure people set
>> > the proper level.
>>
>> Not sure what you mean by "all media does this." Starting with a
>> strong level might be an effective way to suggest the appropriate
>> playback levels, and that might be a fairly common technique, but I
>> don't see it as something that is always done, and it certainly isn't
>> necessary.
>>
>> Johnathan Storm's "Ancient Forest-Spring Chorus" begins with a
>> "DocuTone Volume Regulation adjustment" track. Even with that track,
>> I still end up adjusting the volume as the recording progresses, and
>> in the end the recording would be just as enjoyable without the volume
>> adjustment track.
>>
>> What if a nature recording does not naturally start at a strong level?
>> What if it starts quietly and gradually builds? It might not be
>> appropriate to add an unnaturally loud segment at the beginning.
>>
>> John Hartog
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
--
Wild Sanctuary
P. O. Box 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
t. 707-996-6677
f. 707-996-0280
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
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