Mixed Tracks vs Raw MP3s/Digital ---- sound quality?

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-- Mixed Tracks vs Raw MP3s/Digital ---- sound quality?

Posted by Dj Pluviose on Sep-12-2011 06:44:

Mixed Tracks vs Raw MP3s/Digital ---- sound quality?

Just wanted to open this thread to ask a quick question

Do you guys notice by any chance that sometimes a track that is already mixed has a higher sound quality? I've noticed that in some mixes, the mixed tracks sound sharper, warmer, and more upbeat. In comparison to the raw/unmixed version of the track, it sounds slower, more bass-y, and a dull sound in some cases.

Of course the mixes have to already be in high quality... like FLAC or 320/mp3. I consider some live sets out there to be in poor quality

But yeah... I understand that speeding up the track makes a slight difference... but it doesn't have that "sharper" sound to it.

My theory was to slightly raise the Treble and I usually see the difference quite clearly sometimes.

So I'm wondering... why are unmixed tracks originally dull and slower? I think it is intended that they leave the "tweaking" job to DJs to fix themselves?

Posted by Chimney on Sep-12-2011 09:18:

Everyone probably notices it, but it doesn't have anything to do with sound quality. The DJ might increase the pitch to make the track fit into the set better and this can give the illusion of the track sounding better - I could give countless examples myself of tracks I've listened to, then after buying the track itsself it was -5 and was dead boring.

Second of all, it probably is the treble and maybe even the feeling of the entire live act.

When it comes to mastering, I, personally, don't feel that EDM per se has its justice made. Most of the tracks that I buy, always in FLAC, although good, miss that sharper edge and fine-tuning, which shouldn't come as a surprise really, with all the small, individual labels that don't know how to master properly/ can't afford hiring a sound engineer.

The best sounding album I've ever heard, master-wise, was Lady Gaga's "The Fame". The mastering is amazing, the sound is filling and it just sounds grand. However she's got behind her major labels that take care of mastering and sharping the sound. Another example is Katy Perry albums, where often the produced music in the background sounds flat and kinda dull, but accentuates her voice.

Posted by Dj Pluviose on Sep-12-2011 10:21:

Yup. The treble... it really does make an effort on sharpening the sound.

Some livesets sound like shit though... it sounds like someone just got a high quality tape recorded and hit the record button right above the speakers.

I guess it is the treble and speeding it up.

I was experimenting with Airwave to make it's synths sound sharper and... "remastered." was able to make it sound much nicer when all I did was raise the treble and sped it up a little...

thanks for the reaffirmation though

Posted by SYSTEM-J on Sep-12-2011 10:57:

In which sets do you notice this? If they are radio sets then what you're describing is probably the radio compression.

Posted by Rodri Santos on Sep-12-2011 11:06:

Radio stations use compressors and a lot of glitchs, sometimes sound better sometimes don't and in general if you add some mid range, treble to a track it sounds warmer but is quite exhausting if happens for long.

About live mixes, apart from the crowd that changes the sound dynamics it is a big room which means some reverb and this means that your appreciation of the sound is louder and since it tends to slightly increase upper frequencies you get that warmer sound again.

Generally speaking i think the dj shouldn't touch the equalization of the tracks , exception is when you modify it according to the audio equipment of the venue, sometimes too bass driven or with dull high end.

Posted by Dj Pluviose on Sep-12-2011 14:32:

quote:
Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
In which sets do you notice this? If they are radio sets then what you're describing is probably the radio compression.

Hm, I don't have amazing results... and some are from radio shows, mix CDs, but rarely livesets that I ever notice. I'll just give you the track names.

Magik 5 - Rank 1 - Airwave vs original vinyl/digital
In Search of Sunrise (1) - Cabala - Dark Blue vs original vinyl/digital
A State of Trance (???#) - Cerf, Mitiska, Jaren - Light The Skies vs original
ASOT #378 - Ferry Corsten - Made of Love vs original/unmixed

(ok forgive me, I used to like Made of Love when I was like, a junior in high school. but I still noticed the difference)

You're right it probably is the compression.... but sometimes radio compressed songs have weak bass to it... it's like the bass isn't kicking as hard as the original.

Posted by Adam420 on Sep-12-2011 15:12:

quote:
Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
In which sets do you notice this? If they are radio sets then what you're describing is probably the radio compression.

Yea that's what I think he is referring to. At the same time though, he might also be talking about the effect that mixing a track out of another one might have on it, adding a sense of momentum which might not be present when the track is played on its own. I guess it's like a sonic illusion in some ways.