Symphony X: Trouble in Paradise

[J-Dubya 777]

NOW can I get that poop-free high five?

love Rush btw

One PF^5 for Meedley!

 

[Kenneth R.]

Know what the cute thing about vinyl is? The width of the groove determines volume. If your record is really loud, that's really wide grooves. That means each song takes up more space on the record, and guess what that all translates to... running out of room faster. You can't fit as much. You trade loudness for play-length. And that folks, is why a lot of LP's are softer. They also have less dB range to work with than digital media, but you know, I love vinyl. I think despite these setbacks, there are a lot of great albums.

So just some FYI. CD and DVD-A have a lot of potential. People just aren't using it a lot of the time. Again, I think PL sounds great and is one of the better ones. In my opinion the "monotony" if there is any on PL, is not due to overcompression, but over-metalization . For some listeners, it might be a departure from what they typically listen to, and the tone of the album is metal all the way through with very few breaks. You loudness-war nerds might even say it lingers more around the peak realm. Sure, but the dynamics are there. It's just all smashed together horizontally because there are more peaks more often. It doesn't mean that the waves are being smashed down to compensate. So like Jeremy said, just because the picture looks like a blue block, doesn't mean it's overcompressed. Try this exercise: Zoom in horizontally so that you can see the waveforms more distinctly, and then judge if they're being clipped on their up and down journeys.

 

[Jeremy Krull]

Mike's a smart and sensible guy, Jens Bogren's an ace mixer, better than most, and pretty much the entire mastering staff at the Cutting Room are awesome. That's all I'll say, I'm sure there is a considerable amount of room for arm twisting from the label, but let's put it this way, this is an immaculate production compared to all the Intromental beer coasters that Tommy Hansen butchers.

 

[Pharaoh]

I knew Pharaoh was going to come in and start talking about vinyl.

Good points, but... I still laughed.

I'm glad somebody appreciates my sense of humor!

Hey, by the way.....Petrucci or Romeo > louder ??

Nooooooo (ONLY KIDDING)

 

[DoomsdayZach]

Ken: Hence the fact that most albums seem to be released as double vinyl these days... to compensate for that discrepancy.

And for OP, yeah, i'm going to get reamed for saying this and not contributing to "intelligent discussion" but...
Do you really think it's a problem with waveforms so much as it is an issue of you getting burnt out on the album? I mean, seriously, it's pretty natural for some songs to get old after repeated listens, even if you love them at first. I mean, shit, most of the stuff that i've loved goes through a rough period after listening to it for a few weeks solid at every chance I get. There are albums that are fucking fantastic that i can hardly make it through because i just get bored listening to them. There is nothing wrong with the mix or the production, it's just that they lose impact after a while and you go "hmm, maybe i could go for some journey right about now".

I'm not trying to be a dick, but i'm just saying... interesting theory, but i don't fully buy it. I think there are other factors coming into play.

 

[Anonymous]

DOOOOOON'T STOP, BELIEEEEVING!

 

[Jeremy Krull]

If the conditions under which you're listening to something suck, then it won't matter how well it's mixed or mastered.

for instance (in my opinion, and only an opinion), I think that Alien, the second most recent SYL album, is one of the best produced metal records ever. Now, granted, if I listened to that through terrible computer speakers with my iTunes EQ set to the classic metal "scoop", I'd probably turn it off within the first 5 seconds. I guess the point I'm trying to get across is that, without offending anyone, maybe it's not the record itself that's making you fatigue from listening to it?

I remember I was trying out these new headphones once, that I now never use, because they made everything I normally enjoyed listening to sound terrible.

 

[razoredge]

Know what the cute thing about vinyl is? The width of the groove determines volume. If your record is really loud, that's really wide grooves.
.

Back in the day I had to recut the grooves to Immigrant Song wider(deeper) due to too many reruns... and it were'nt louder

Actually up until CD's vinyl was the high fidelity of choice. Cassetts were a downgrade. Some of those old turntables and systems had great sound. {not the one I destroyed Immigrant Song on}

I still havent heard Paradise Lost so I cant comment on the sound. I can see where this could be a valid point. Most people I know claim to get a headach if I over bombard them with my prog. Im sure Id have no problem listening to PL head to tail, its the only way to listen to bands in my opinion.

 

[razoredge]

AND, Eddie Van Halen built 5150 analog intentionally. In fact OU812 is the last vinyl I bought and I though it sounded great. Not that Ive compared, no turntable anymore. Im sure digital has come along ways since ? '88.

 

[darkblade]

...fucking GALVATRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(a break in intelligent conversation)

 

[Jeremy Krull]

damn right it's Galvatron. Man that's so refreshing, because I just remembered that time when that idiot woman who was into all the terrible Brooklyn bands thought it was from Voltron or something completely off base.

 

[Horus]

lol Voltron I was watching the original cartoon a few weeks ago at like 4 in the morning, and I was just like "LOLWUT?" </missingTheInsideJoke>

 

[RequiemX]

I think both KR and the OP have valid points. Paradise Lost is a very metal album that's executed nearly flawlessly and hardly ever lets up. This then combines with the fact that it's been compressed and results in some fatigue. I noticed some myself, and really miss both the vocal and acoustic dynamics of the previous albums.

But still...one of the top 3 SX albums in my opinion. Hasn't left my car CD player yet...

 

[SymX_AUS]

I miss Thomas Miller

 

[CttN]

This reminds me of that thread in the Opeth forum, some shit about teh loudness warz

 

[darkblade]

VOLTRON!!! that's like gay times ten compared to transformers. although i should have you know that i support the autobots, and not the decepticons. LONG LIVE OPTIMUS PRIME!!! someday i'll get that matrix of leadership.

 

[Force10]

Here is an interesting explanation of the loudness issue for us non music engineer types:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

 

[Lucius Octavion]

I miss Thomas Miller

Dude, I know the feeling. LePond is a great bass player and he does a great job with the band but man he just plays different than Thomas Miller.

 

[raythetse]

i basically crank my music in my car and have for years so i think my ears are damaged enough they can't hear enough to fatigue them anyway.

 

[schenkadere]

Here is an interesting explanation of the loudness issue for us non music engineer types:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

i went to that link, but decided that I'd rather watch a Loudness video...thanks!