[winternett]

I run a recording label that publishes Drum&Bass music (RuffAndTuffRecordings.Com), (Drum & Bass music currently is known as one of the loudest engineered music genres put out on the block right now). I went the other way in terms of our releases... Our music is only as loud as it needs to be. If a listener wants it louder, they can simply turn up the volume.

Going to nights where these super-compressed tracks are often played at unimaginable volume levels, You must wear ear plugs, otherwise you're guaranteed to go deaf.

When music is compressed, dynamic range is lost, and the actual elements in each track like bass and ambient sounds are limited in how they can create a mood in a track. These loud tracks are impressive in terms of grabbing attention, but over time they create fatigue for listeners, and people tend to not want to listen to additional music after a few loud tracks.

There is a high price to pay for continuing down the path of loudness with music.

The main driver for ending the race in music should be doing whats right, music should have dynamic range as the main focal points of audio engineering. Until that gets sorted out, bring your ear plugs.

[sramsay]

I think your point about "listener fatigue" is important, because that's a big part of this. It's not just about the way a squashed track won't sound as good or as interesting (though it won't, of course).

And yeah, that's a famously "loud" genre. What drives me insane is going to, say, a mostly acoustic live show and having the person behind the desk mix it as if it's Drum & Bass. I never ever go to a show without earplugs, because you just never know.