Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Yepp couldn't agree more

.... and whilst they are at it, a 5.1 mix would be most welcome aswell:)

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Ah really? I always find Dubno to be the quiestest UW album, by quite some way. It sounds so feeble in comparison to everything else, even STITI.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Seconded!

The last two minutes of bs/sc need a gain boost!

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

i don't know, after all the bad experience i've had with "remasters" and "remixes" (you know, the entire record is re-mixed from the multitrack tapes into stereo and 5.1), i would hate to see that done to an UW album.
i guess a remaster would be OK, but to me a re-mix is probably not a good idea at all.

on another note, do any of y'all have the album on vinyl? it sounds more bassy to me, but it's probably because i have a subwoofer.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Check out the remasters of all Depeche Mode's back catalogue if you want to know how good they can sound if done properly......the DTS mix of Violator is awesome.

The UW sound is made for a 'spacial' mix

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

if you want it louder... do you not have a volume knob on your hifi? :confused:

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

It's interesting you bring this up because after listening to Barking about 10 times I feel that Barking may be the most bass heavy Underworld album. The bass is so damn prominent and powerful in every song. To confirm my thoughts I put on some dubno and then STITI which I've been listening to for old time's sake/it matching the weather nicely and sure enough, I must turn the volume knob up louder. But now this argument brings about another point:

The Loudness Wars!: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war

Having to turn the volume up preserves the dynamics of each layer much nicer, I quote Bob Dylan from the wiki article:

Musician Bob Dylan has also condemned the practice, saying: "You listen to these modern records, they're atrocious, they have sound all over them. There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like—static"

So let's hope that doesn't happen to an Underworld record. Because I'm fine turning my volume knob up more to feel it, but there are great re-mastering techniques that if implored by Underworld, would be fucking fantastic!

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

so freaky. i was just listening to Juanita on my way into work today and realized i had my iPhone craked up, and my car radio really freaking high. still sounded a bit flat.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

I agree... some remastering would be awesome- provided the boys do it themselves or to their specs because yes, a lot of those remasters are horrid!

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Bullshit!! Crank it up all you want but louder is certainly not better. I was listening to this album all day yesterday and found myself once again gob-smacked at the depth of sound that they achieved in that album. If you "remaster" (pretty much just make louder) that album you will most likely squash out the real detail that is buried in the sound.

By bringing the levels up the louder sounds will drown out the quieter sounds and the dynamic range will be minimised dramatically.

It is perfect... dont touch it.. dont even look at it!

Just listen!


And does nobody have any appreciation for the album sounding like it was made in 1996? I mean you can butter it up and make it all fresh and 2010.. but then it loses all its character.. i think people need to learn how to appreciate the character of the album and the time it was made and not just the music.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

it just seems like it was mastered too low but im not clammoring for a remaster either. it is what it is.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

YES! This was my original reason for posting. I have since taken out the use of listening to the actual CD's. I'm just moving with the times, however, I do still own a record player, cassette deck, and a CD player w/a built in CD-Recorder - you just never know when you'll need these.

I listen to my music mostly while driving and I like most these days hook up my iPod and I almost always have to MAX out my volume for STITI... and I have a pretty good sound system in my car!!! :eek:

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

This is true. The same as with STITI is if anyone has the original CD of Black Celebration can note. It too lacked in volume and bass.

The Remaster of Black Celebration to date is my favourite Remastered album. STITI will be up there too if it ever gets a good Remastering.

As for dubno - I'm totally satisfied with the mixing of the album at it's present state. If it were to be remastered, would I buy it? Of course, but only for the extra's! :D

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

My ears have matured since 1996... I wasn't referring to bringing up the sound or just making it louder - you can do that with an equalizer and all you'll get is a muffled loud experience. No thanks.

I'm talking about enhancing the highs and lows, primarily the lows - Banstyle/Sappy's Curry is the best example - and really, it's the only track on the album that I feel was mixed too low - Maybe it was UW's intention to start that track at such a quiet state - but that beginning bass would kick if it was a little more pronounced! Kind of like Cups when the bass ignites or even Jumbo...

I don't want to have to turn my volume up to enjoy the album - I just feel that the experience could be better w/out making the album sound like 2010... although I am still thinking about wearing my space suit to the next uw show in San Diego... ;)

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Wasn't there some discussion back when 1992-2002 came out, that some people thought that Pearls Girl sounded worse on the '92-'02 disc than on STITI? That there was clipping when looking at the wave files?

Jason

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Barking is bass heavy...but I figured that was due to the collaborative production effort. But things are getting mastered too loud these days for sure (Health, Neon Indian...etc) and the overall effect is a headache. Or maybe I'm getting old.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

you're not old, unless you've noticed some kind of dramatic change between 2000 and now, cos the problem first really got mainstream in the late 90s.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

I already worked on it. It's pressed low. No doubt about it.... arguably the rest of stuff today is 'maximized' way too much... one big flat wavefile... that's no bueno either...


So I just made it a little louder.


http://www.sendspace.com/file/hwp8hm

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

it's true STITI is just pressed low. Not sure why they did that. So yes you can make it louder without touching the dynamics or "remastering" if you just rip the cd, normalise the wav's to 0dB (or -0.1 dB for safety) and then compress that result to mp3 or whatever to put on your iPod (as Prof demonstrated here).

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

I really really really don't think they wanted to make a "dance" song here. This is a very special song that transcends jumping around.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

I remember SELECT magazines review of STITI..
Pulp have just done Disco 2000. Underworld have just done Disco 3000! :-D

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

hmmm, nowhere in my post did i detect any indication that I was referring to a "dance" song or jumping around... :confused:

to want to feel the music pulse throughout your insides in no way to me says it needs to be a dance song...

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

Thanks King. I'm excited to try this when I get home. It never even dawned on me to do this and I edit music straight from the WAV files all the time... lol! I guess I was just hoping for a cool STITI box w/some extra tracks and video... :D

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

i always preferred the version of Pearl's Girl from the Saint Soundtrack to be quite honest - but that may just be for sentimental reasons...

i rarely even listen to the 92-02 disc - i just got the japanese version for the extra DVD... and also because i didn't have Big Mouth or Dirty...

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

There is also Replay Gain.

Re: Second Toughest in the Infants
 

+1

All the mp3s in my collection go through MP3Gain (see Wikipedia for info).