compression vs art bbc radio 4

[Pieoftheday]

this half hr programme was on this morning but is available on iplayer, i hope to have another listen later as i missed quite a bit, bloody work!!

[Desmo]

Thanks for this, I'll listen to it on the iPlayer later. Should be very interesting.

[Clothears]

It was an interesting half an hour.

I had to chuckle when Steven Wilson ( Porcupine Tree mainman and re-master producer to the prog stars ) admitted that when listening back to his music on CD and then 24/96 Hi-Res files, he couldn't tell any difference.

I know I was listening to it on a car radio, but when they played some examples of compressed and non-compressed files, I must confess I couldn't really hear much difference. That probably says more about my rubbish ears than anything else.

.

[Audio Advent]

It was an interesting half an hour.

I had to chuckle when Steven Wilson ( Porcupine Tree mainman and re-master producer to the prog stars ) admitted that when listening back to his music on CD and then 24/96 Hi-Res files, he couldn't tell any difference.

I know I was listening to it on a car radio, but when they played some examples of compressed and non-compressed files, I must confess I couldn't really hear much difference. That probably says more about my rubbish ears than anything else.

.

Isn't there also compression in FM broadcasting these days? More likely to hear a difference via iPlayer I'd guess.

[Michael loves music]

I love radio 2 is Radio 4 worth tuning in for ??

[NRG]

Good programme. I could certainly hear the differences listening on an iPad with some cheap ear bud phones but only just on the CD vs MP3 sample. As pointed out in the programme the differences would be much more apparent on a good HiFi. The hi res bit also made me chuckle, it's all in the mastering really...

[Ammonite Audio]

I could hear the differences via a Tivoli table radio.

[Neil McCauley]

Good programme. I could certainly hear the differences listening on an iPad with some cheap ear bud phones but only just on the CD vs MP3 sample. As pointed out in the programme the differences would be much more apparent on a good HiFi. The hi res bit also made me chuckle, it's all in the mastering really...

+1

[Audio Advent]

I had to chuckle when Steven Wilson ( Porcupine Tree mainman and re-master producer to the prog stars ) admitted that when listening back to his music on CD and then 24/96 Hi-Res files, he couldn't tell any difference.

I know I was listening to it on a car radio, but when they played some examples of compressed and non-compressed files, I must confess I couldn't really hear much difference. That probably says more about my rubbish ears than anything else.

.

I've just listened myself .

Steven Wilson didn't exactly say that at all. Much less than how you've characterised it (for whatever reason, I guess to align his opinion more with yours?). He simply said it found it difficult.

That might sound a subtle difference to be ignored and to round down to a black or white position, but suggesting he "admitted he couldn't tell any differnce" also misrepresents his attitude to 24/96. It would also falsely paint him as redliculous for recording in 24/96 when he secretly thinks it's bollocks..

He said CAN tell a difference but it's subtle and not night and day.

Says more about your car I think and the compression already applied for transmitting on FM - really need to listen to it on iPlayer through your hifi. One thing they oddly didn't mention about the 128kbps MP3 file played was the obvious distortion on the piano - didn't mention that.

[Audio Advent]

Good programme. I could certainly hear the differences listening on an iPad with some cheap ear bud phones but only just on the CD vs MP3 sample. As pointed out in the programme the differences would be much more apparent on a good HiFi. The hi res bit also made me chuckle, it's all in the mastering really...

Interesting...

Couldn't you also hear the difference at the beginning to the acoustic guitar?

I found the apparently optimally compressed guitar to be robbed of most of it's richness, harmonics and rounded, "analogue-like" form! Instead it was more pecussive and hard and bright to the point of sounding unnatural. Not far off what I sometimes hear being used as test tracks to demo speakers..

The researcher gave his theory that this is down to consumer conditioning - they choose the amount of compression that they are used to as optimum and reject the natural sound of an instrument . Then near the end of the programme there were the 3 industry professionals mocking people who listen between their speakers and saying we shouldn't cater to them, only those who want compression. Quite depressing that the natural, rich and deep sound I personally like is actively being removed from the music we are served up.

Long live fancy audiophile labels and individuals dedicated to the sound I like.

[Audio Advent]

One last observation ... Did anyone else begin to notice how compressed the actual participant's voices were throughout? Even one guy had crazy compressed background hiss as loud as anything coming through.. sibillance was really prominent . Wondered if it was a little joke or just standard but I'd only just been made aware due to the uncompressed music in the show. Kind of ironic that it started to bug me and become fatiguing :lol:

[Clothears]

I've just listened myself .

Steven Wilson didn't exactly say that at all. Much less than how you've characterised it (for whatever reason, I guess to align his opinion more with yours?). He simply said it found it difficult.

That might sound a subtle difference to be ignored and to round down to a black or white position, but suggesting he "admitted he couldn't tell any differnce" also misrepresents his attitude to 24/96. It would also falsely paint him as redliculous for recording in 24/96 when he secretly thinks it's bollocks..

He said CAN tell a difference but it's subtle and not night and day.

Says more about your car I think and the compression already applied for transmitting on FM - really need to listen to it on iPlayer through your hifi. One thing they oddly didn't mention about the 128kbps MP3 file played was the obvious distortion on the piano - didn't mention that.

I call myself Clothears with good reason.

[Audio Advent]

:) I was hoping it was because you were Bagpuss taking part on the forum.