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To clip or not to clip...?

post #1 of 5
1/12/11 at 2:26pm
Thread Starter 

Have been contemplating what could happen to me if I would post this... Being called a lunatic? heretic? burned alive?...

 

Anyway, here we go: do I hear clipping in these samples from

 

1) Bjork - Homogenic Live - Hunter and ....

2) Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - Time .....?

 

Download WAV file from here.

 

I am really crazy about especially DSOTM, so I find it frustrating that I don't know whether the clipping is from my equipment or in the actual recording. I am quite sure the clipping in the Bjork song is in the recording, but not sure about DSOTM... Samples were taken from CD with EAC (WAV format).

 

Listening to this via DIY SD-card player, 12-fold TDA1543 DAC, M3/PPA headphone amps, Sennheiser HD550.

 

Really curious if any of you are hearing clipping....!


Edited by Koen - 1/12/11 at 2:38pm
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post #2 of 5
1/12/11 at 7:50pm
which version of DSOTM?
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post #3 of 5
1/13/11 at 12:35pm
Thread Starter 

 SHVL 804, I believe that's an EMI-Harvest release.

 

However, I also tested the same clip of the 'Shine on' boxset edition. Same story. Clip here.

 

Also listen to this clip from a rip claimed to be from the Mobile fidelity version: here. Clipping is much less pronounced in this version (limited to one beat of drum just before singing begins). Still present, though... Or??

 

Someone please share your experiences listening to these clips.

 

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post #4 of 5
1/16/11 at 9:17am

The Björk sample quite clearly clips, must have happened during recording already (at least from what it looks like in an audio editor). Not surprising, given that the album had been very loud on purpose.

 

Now the PF sample is a lot more tricky. I can hear the "cracking" on this one drum beat (sounds like heavy tape saturation), but otherwise it seems clean. With cans, you can hear that saturation is still affecting the next few beats after the most obvious one. In general, the differences between the versions seem to be quite subtle. The MoFi version might have a tad more punch in the bass. Interestingly, a look at waveforms reveals that the MoFi version is a bit ahead at the end - that might have been tweaked a little for effect.

Other than that, I don't hear any outright clipping. The underlying "tock-tock" beat may have undergone some soft limiting via tape, but that's how it was intended then.

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post #5 of 5
1/16/11 at 12:59pm
Thread Starter 

OK, so apparently I have been confusing clipping with 'tape saturation'? Didn't know there was even such a thing. biggrin.gif

 

I am happy to know that my gear then probably is ok, since I am not alone hearing this.

 

Indeed, the MoFi version is much less pronounced, but still very audible in my opinion. I agree, apart from that one drum beat the rest is clean. Still, it bugs me. Now I know it is there it really gets more attention than it deserves.

 

Anyway, I believe the MoFi version managed to polish it somewhat, unfortunately still audible.

 

I guess I am quite happy with my gear's ability to reveal this type of imperfection. cool.gif

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