[niemion]

Now before I got my new earmuffs I never ever thought about Grace as a terribly recorded album, but now I hear that Jeff's voice is totally raped on this popular world-class album. Take Hallelujah for example, you can hear clipping throughout the song and it evolves to the point of the ridiculous just before 6:00 min.

I have always liked Diana Krall's albums and found them well engineered, but take I Get Along Without You Very Well from The Look Of Love. At around 1:23, once again disastrous clipping.

I know about the Loudness War but have never really realized what all the fuzz was about. Now it's come to the point that I can't really stand to hear some of my favorites anymore, literally. The clipping makes me uncomfortable, it gives me headache and it simply takes the joy away from the music.

Hear for yourself (stripped down versions, so the minute marks mentioned doesn't apply):

Diana Krall clipping
Jeff Buckley clipping

 

[GreatDane]

I've listened to that DK song on CD over 20 times and I never thought it sounded clipped.

 

[Punnisher]

Could you point out the word(s) where the clipping is?

 

[niemion]

Krall, in bold:

But I get along without you very well

I've forgotten you just like I should
Of course I have

Buckley: At 5:57, It's the fifth Hallelujah (in reverse order). Just one example of many, this is the worst.

 

[Mystere9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by niemion /img/forum/go_quote.gif Krall, in bold: But I get along without you very well I've forgotten you just like I should Of course I have Buckley: At 5:57, It's the fifth Hallelujah (in reverse order). Just one example of many, this is the worst.

Hmm, I can hear what you're talking about on the Krall clip, it's kind of a croak. I can do that with my voice, though that doesn't preclude any clipping.

edit: The Buckley clip sounds like real clipping to me. I'm using an MS-1 out of laptop hp-out by the way.

 

[niemion]

Clipping visualized in Audacity

If this isn't clipping somebody better educate me about the clipping phenomena.

 

[crossmd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatDane /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've listened to that DK song on CD over 20 times and I never thought it sounded clipped.

This. I'm not really sure what the problem is, and I don't think my ears are that bad.

 

[niemion]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossmd /img/forum/go_quote.gif This. I'm not really sure what the problem is, and I don't think my ears are that bad.

If you can't trust your ears, give your eyes a shot

Another visualization of the Krall clipping

 

[Punnisher]

That seems to be the only severe clip in the entire song.

Sucks, but there are far worse audio tragedies.

 

[dompower]

did you notice the clipping before or after you ran it through audacity?

 

[niemion]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dompower /img/forum/go_quote.gif did you notice the clipping before or after you ran it through audacity?

Read the original post and let that answer your question.

Welcome

 

[reorx]

did you listen to the original recording of Grace, or the newer remastered Legacy edition? The latter has much better SQ imho...although im too lazy atm to find my copy of the Legacy version and check if it has clipping in the mark you mentioned

 

[DavidMahler]

I thought the original had much better quality sound and the Legacy Edition was Mastered in brickwall 2004 fashion.

 

[niemion]

Quote:

Originally Posted by reorx /img/forum/go_quote.gif did you listen to the original recording of Grace, or the newer remastered Legacy edition? The latter has much better SQ imho...although im too lazy atm to find my copy of the Legacy version and check if it has clipping in the mark you mentioned

I listened to the 1994 edition, the 2004 legacy edition sounds the same to me in terms of lacking headroom. Quite terrible. Quite.

Quote:

I thought the original had much better quality sound and the Legacy Edition was Mastered in brickwall 2004 fashion.

To me it makes no sense to talk about which one has the better sound quality. Both albums are horrible.

 

[DavidMahler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by niemion /img/forum/go_quote.gif I listened to the 1994 edition, the 2004 legacy edition sounds the same to me in terms of lacking headroom. Quite terrible. Quite. To me it makes no sense to talk about which one has the better sound quality. Both albums are horrible.

I'm convinced that you either have a strangely defective disc or a newly mastered copy, because I've listened to Grace for over a decade and I've never noticed any clipping. I will admit that the mastering of the CD issues are a bit bright, but what you may be associating with "clipping" could be microphone tube saturation. Andy Wallace was the engineer, mixer and producer of Grace, he also worked Nirvana's Nevermind as well as Ben Folds' Whatever and Ever Amen..............he is known for having an immaculate ear in terms of creating a audiophile quality recording. Of all the albums, Grace was his baby because he played all three roles. I can't convince you what you're hearing is wrong, because you may be absolutely right that it is clipping, but you'd be of the select few that ever noticed this...............P.S. I believe the NEW non-legacy pressing of Grace borrows the remastered pressing which may be why it's clipping for you, this has been in circulation for 8 years. I believe the remastered edition is poorly mastered. The original is audiophile reference with the exception of having a bright edge.