posted
I know that there are programs out there to take one's LP & Tape collection to the digital era. However, are there programs out there to improve the sound quality on an old or low quality CD release?
I have several CDs that were of the first few generations of the format. They are a great improvement over tapes, but I have to turn some up to 22 - 24 on my CD player to get nearly as loud as a new CD at a volume setting of 16 - 18 on the same deck.
Equalizers can help to an extent, when playing the CD. Not having one in the Montero Sport (150% stock...*frown*), I was hoping to burn copies for the truck that sound better than the originals. Not sure if that is possible.
If this is possible, what programs would I want to look into? Any idea on the cost? This would need to be a no-to-low cost endeavor (very low priority).
Was also thinking about looking into a free program called Audacity (spelling?). It's been recommended for some LP / Tape to digital conversions, but I'm not sure if it handles CD to CD.
posted
Essentially you are better off with the older CDs than the newer ones. I saw that thread a few days ago and watched the video. Wow I knew there was a difference but wow..... The newer CDs just turn them down.
quote:Originally posted by Tempe: Essentially you are better off with the older CDs than the newer ones. I saw that thread a few days ago and watched the video. Wow I knew there was a difference but wow..... The newer CDs just turn them down.
T
Older CD's are recorded a bit lower because back then fidelity, clarity and dynamics where the law in recroding albums...most people that had any stereo stuff had Hi-Fi eqpuiment to listen to the recordings with...most recordings now are clipped and distorted 5-10% to make them come out louder on cheap book-shelf stereo systems / ipod compatible equipment...this extra percentage is not audibly discerned as distortion but perceived as louder to the listener...if you want the older recordings to sound louder then get more power from your amps...although there is software you can buy to increase the amplitude of the signal too...you just have to know how much clipping you can audibly introude without frying your speakers. IMO older recordings are how music should be recorded...modern stuff is burned 100 X's then supper-clipped to get them to sound louder during Radio play-back on OEM car radio's or desk radio's etc. in order to capture the listeners attention better and gain better advertising quotients.
Not looking to introduce a clipped sound to the mix. Just frustrating when 1 CD sounds good at 18 - 20 and the next CD has my son clapping his hands over his ears until I can get the volume down to 12 - 14.
Personally, I prefer the "warmth" of LPs & Tube amps or a nice old school (35 - 40 years old) Marantz tuner / receiver.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic