Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - DAW Mixing: Lower Levels=Better Sounding Mixes?

Kiwiburger · 27th April 2007

If you want quality, it's a good idea to never hit 0dB. Bear in mind that the converters in domestic CD players don't often have brilliant analog chips, and they get a bit crunchy sounding as you approach 0dB. They can always turn up the volume if they want it louder.

But in the real world - modern CD's are ridiculously loud and clipped, and nobody seems to give a toss. Also, there are so many digital players that attenuate in the digital domain, so maybe those cheap converters will never be have to approach 0dB anyway ... it's not the 70's anymore, few people would recognise hifi if it bit them on the arse.

If you want to sound like a modern CD, smash the tops off your waveform - judge how much distortion you can tolerate.

27th April 2007	#2
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,075	If you want quality, it's a good idea to never hit 0dB. Bear in mind that the converters in domestic CD players don't often have brilliant analog chips, and they get a bit crunchy sounding as you approach 0dB. They can always turn up the volume if they want it louder. But in the real world - modern CD's are ridiculously loud and clipped, and nobody seems to give a toss. Also, there are so many digital players that attenuate in the digital domain, so maybe those cheap converters will never be have to approach 0dB anyway ... it's not the 70's anymore, few people would recognise hifi if it bit them on the arse. If you want to sound like a modern CD, smash the tops off your waveform - judge how much distortion you can tolerate. __________________ My carbon footprint is bigger than yours.