View Full Version : This article is both true and pure B.S.
If you have ever played Jennifer Warnes Famous Blue Raincoat over years on meany headphones and speakers there is no question in my mind, she is a very sibilant vocalist who's voice can extend well into the upper mid ranges but nothing like Joni Mitchel who is not sibilant at all.
Yes,some headphones make it worse like the Grado SR325i and my Mission 762i book shelves where pretty hard sounding in the top end with the stock Alcaps before I recapped them with the clarity cap SA's.
And a bright tweeter dosen't help her out any,but to say it's the sighn of a spike in the upper midrange is just plain crap.
She is not only extremely sibilant but her labiodental (friccatives) are overly pronounced V's and often F's.
The woman is a phonological case study!
And Allen Loft has been duped into believing there is a pair of speakers out there that can change that fact,I'm not saying some speakers may not hide it a little better than others and I'm shure some make it sound worse than others/ but give me a break the woman sssells ssea ssshells on the sssssea ssssssshore!
http://www.audiolofftreport.com/speakersound.html
Anyone else have an opinion?
This is what I truly call a general HIFI discussion.
I agree and this is very common with recordings today.
Often the fault lies with the production as too much EQ is used to boost the top end.
Sometimes it gets passed off as a good thing - extra clarity and detail but I find it very unnatural.
Rob
I agree and this is very common with recordings today.
Often the fault lies with the production as too much EQ is used to boost the top end.
Sometimes it gets passed off as a good thing - extra clarity and detail but I find it very unnatural.
Rob
Not exactly new, 1987 I have the 20th anniversary edition.
http://www.amazon.com/Famous-Blue-Raincoat-20th-Anniversary/dp/B000OPO6WY
I am really surprised so few have weighed in ,this recording is a standard I had really hoped to get diverse opinion and some good debate over speakers and artists/ recordings.
I have heard mention of problem sibilant recordings here on AOS and would just like to get a wide range of opinions on the topic.
I have Warnes' original LP and the 20th anniversary CD and I honestly hadn't noticed her sibilance.
The artists who produce 'challenging' sibilance for me are Joan Armatrading on her eponymous album (especially the track Save Me) and Janis Ian's Aftertones.
I'm led to believe that it's mainly due to poor microphone choice or positioning, or poor digital A/D conversion. I agree that it can be very annoying and can occasionally spoil an otherwise good recording.
It's not just S's that can be a problem
hztzcLvxT58
Well I'm playing it right now and I can't say I'm noticing anything other than a great album with Jennifer's smooth natural voice. In fact this has always sounded superb on my Harbies. I wouldn't say the recording as a whole is the best I've heard, but it sure isn't bad and her voice is what makes it.
Any track in particular Jeff? :scratch:
Well I'm playing it right now and I can't say I'm noticing anything other than a great album with Jennifer's smooth natural voice. In fact this has always sounded superb on my Harbies. I wouldn't say the recording as a whole is the best I've heard, but it sure isn't bad and her voice is what makes it.
Any track in particular Jeff? :scratch:
First we take Manhattan then we take Berlin: They SSentenced me to twentey years of boredom for trying to change the SSystum from with in.
True it's not unlistenable,I also enjoy her voice and the CD.
I do believe it was less of a issue as a double LP set than on CD.
But she dose over pronounce her S and F a lot.
It is most noticeable in : Night Comes On.
It's not overly sssispy just S seems over pronounced or over articulated.
I have Warnes' original LP and the 20th anniversary CD and I honestly hadn't noticed her sibilance.
The artists who produce 'challenging' sibilance for me are Joan Armatrading on her eponymous album (especially the track Save Me) and Janis Ian's Aftertones.
I'm led to believe that it's mainly due to poor microphone choice or positioning, or poor digital A/D conversion. I agree that it can be very annoying and can occasionally spoil an otherwise good recording.
Thank you I was hopeful there where other recordings to look for that may help shed some light on the phonominon .
Microphones would with or with out a screen or mic sock would clearly make a huge difference, or placed to close to the singers mouth, very good observation Martin i had not considered that.
It's not just S's that can be a problem
hztzcLvxT58
Oh Dear!
Not only replacing R with W later in the duet,but listen to how she over pronounces the letter T I believe that is a cause of Alveolar-palatal africte.
The place of articulation,the point of contact in her mouth where the tong meets the roof of her mouth, she extends the contact with to much force.
Reminds me of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7JcKKej0DI&feature=related
Will mabey not so much.
I've enjoyed Joni's music since early 70s on an sp25 and never had the matters you are concerned about as an issue. Perhaps you dont enjoy the MUSIC as much as you think you do?
Rather like a car owner who enjoys owning the car more than driving it.
I've enjoyed Joni's music since early 70s on an sp25 and never had the matters you are concerned about as an issue. Perhaps you dont enjoy the MUSIC as much as you think you do?
Rather like a car owner who enjoys owning the car more than driving it.
My point is that Joni is not sibilant what so ever! and sings higher into the upper mids and trebble range than Jenifer.
Making the point that the issue is with in the singer more than the recording or speakers.
I have also listened to her music since the early 70's on lesser gear than I have now,that is not the point.
The point is audio experts use recordings to point out flaws in something that really hasen't got an issue.
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