Tools for Analyzing the Quality of Mastering

[Strangelove424]

I have been trying to get the Dynamic Range Meter plugin working in Foobar for a while. The plugin gives me this message and then shuts down:
 
This foobar2000 component has an expiration date set to 1 September 2011. Around this date the Pleasurize Music Foundation has planned an update for the Dynamic Range Meters and the foobar2000 component. These releases will have an updated algorithm for the DR metering. Please update this component. The latest information can be found on the website www.pleasurizemusic.com.
 
Anyone know how to get it working? There are download links for a standalone app (see below), but none of those links seem to work. I have seen semi-recent forum posts mentioning this plugin, so think there must a way to get it working, but I have not found anything in my searches. In the process of searching, I noticed there were a number of discussions on inaccurate results with the plugin, which though concerning, doesn't stop me from wanting to try it. If you are unfamiliar with this plugin, it basically measures dynamic range in db for a song or album, and is the source of the dynamic range levels from this site: http://dr.loudness-war.info/ The plugin itself also measures peaks, so it is extremely handy.
 
http://www.pleasurizemusic.com/free-downloads
http://www.kvraudio.com/product/tt_dynamic_range_meter_by_pleasurize_music_foundation
http://www.pleasurizemusic.com/

 

[castleofargh]

http://dr.loudness-war.info/downloads/foo_dynamic_range_1.1.1.zip  (got it in the top right link here http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=imagine+dragon&album=  ).

 

[Strangelove424]

Awesome, it works. Thanks man, that was bugging me for a couple weeks. 

 

[Strangelove424]

This is getting to be ridiculous...
 

 

 
That was captured with a slightly lower than max signal, so it's a conservative picture of the clipping. The whole album does this. And it's loud as a Red Hot Chili Peppers track. I can't even begin to describe how horrendous this sounds. Who rapes Beethoven like this? That's just sick.  

 

[Head Injury]

  This is getting to be ridiculous...
 
That was captured with a slightly lower than max signal, so it's a conservative picture of the clipping. The whole album does this. And it's loud as a Red Hot Chili Peppers track. I can't even begin to describe how horrendous this sounds. Who rapes Beethoven like this? That's just sick.  

Finally, a Beethoven record loud enough for the composer himself to hear!

 

[Strangelove424]

LOL... and rolling in his grave. Something about taking such liberties with a departed artist, and one so culturally important, strikes a nerve with me. 

 

[BeatsWork]

Thumbs up for Trent Reznor  http://nineinchnails.tumblr.com/post/59587808317/hesitation-marks-was-mastered-in-two-different   more, more
 
The last sentence is the best - don't offend the masses 

 
NOTE: The standard mastered version is in no way inferior to the Audiophile Version - we wouldn’t release something inferior as the default. The Audiophile Version is merely an alternate take on the mastering, which some people will appreciate. It’s meant to give a slightly different experience, not denigrate the standard version. Listen to each and come to your own conclusions.

 

[linglingjr]

  Thumbs up for Trent Reznor  http://nineinchnails.tumblr.com/post/59587808317/hesitation-marks-was-mastered-in-two-different   more, more
 
The last sentence is the best - don't offend the masses 

 
NOTE: The standard mastered version is in no way inferior to the Audiophile Version - we wouldn’t release something inferior as the default. The Audiophile Version is merely an alternate take on the mastering, which some people will appreciate. It’s meant to give a slightly different experience, not denigrate the standard version. Listen to each and come to your own conclusions.

I don't know if you were around for the pre-release hype about the two versions and then the massive disappointment  everyone had when it was actually released.  He had good intentions but the "audiophile version is nothing to gawk at.

 

[BeatsWork]

  I don't know if you were around for the pre-release hype about the two versions and then the massive disappointment  everyone had when it was actually released.  He had good intentions but the "audiophile version is nothing to gawk at.

That's disappointing. I was looking forward to some extended listening this weekend. Well at least have to give credit for concept if not execution.  And do you mean the mastering was not significantly better or the album in general was a disappointment?
 
Side note: This whole mastering issue explains so much. As I've gone higher end I've found myself going back more and more to the "classics" as I was finding that current recordings, regardless of bit or sample rate, just lacked "something". Now I understand what that "something" is! Seeing a business case to launch a site focusing on best mastered recordings vs. race to see who can be 1st to offer 32 bit 500,000 khz lossless capture of poorly mastered content!

 

[RRod]

  This is getting to be ridiculous...
 
 
 
That was captured with a slightly lower than max signal, so it's a conservative picture of the clipping. The whole album does this. And it's loud as a Red Hot Chili Peppers track. I can't even begin to describe how horrendous this sounds. Who rapes Beethoven like this? That's just sick.  

 
It's a popular classical track, so it gets the popular treatment.  This is only going to get worse as more people experience music on the run through the cloud.  At least atonal composers will be safe.

 

[Strangelove424]

   
It's a popular classical track, so it gets the popular treatment.  This is only going to get worse as more people experience music on the run through the cloud.  At least atonal composers will be safe.

 
I don't have these issues streaming composers like Bach, Mozart, Chopin, or Vivaldi. You can find well mastered Beethoven on streaming, but the chances for finding a smashed version are much higher. So why is Beethoven treated like heavy metal? I have a rough idea. 

 

[RRod]

LvB gets the magma treatment on disc too, worry not.  Chailly's recent symphonies release is way hotter than it needs to be.

 

[bigshot]

The mastering matches his tempi I bet.

 

[Bytor123]

...Beethoven was so deaf he thought he was a painter...

 

[Strangelove424]

  ...Beethoven was so deaf he thought he was a painter...

 
Just for the record, that's a George Carlin quote... Credit where credit is due.
 
RIP George.