Gearslutz.com - View Single Post

Aseice · 27th August 2007

I certainly understand what you mean.
I personally think Dre 2001 is very very (very !) well mixed album, but the drums and the overall loudness are pushed to the extreme. Also it seems that the drums base on certain frequencies, that are not too friendly to the ear but still add punch and are well perceived on poorer systems. That's why the snare might feel like an axe to the eardrum at high volume.

I can imagine on a PA system calibrated to a quieter and smoother song from the beginning of the 90-s or so and then playing a song off of the 2001 might to some serious damage.

Although I think this style kind of fits to the album very well, I don't think I would like to mix like that myself. I tried, but found myself sacrificing quality for loudness and didn't like the harshness.

To me, 2001 is exactly on the loudness border-line of "over-producing". It feels like the drums have been laid out on the spectrum almost as with clinical accuracy (heh... hence the Doc?). I have to say it's tempting and pounding like hell, but as you said ear fatigue is quick to come.

27th August 2007	#7
Aseice Gear Head Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 42	I certainly understand what you mean. I personally think Dre 2001 is very very (very !) well mixed album, but the drums and the overall loudness are pushed to the extreme. Also it seems that the drums base on certain frequencies, that are not too friendly to the ear but still add punch and are well perceived on poorer systems. That's why the snare might feel like an axe to the eardrum at high volume. I can imagine on a PA system calibrated to a quieter and smoother song from the beginning of the 90-s or so and then playing a song off of the 2001 might to some serious damage. Although I think this style kind of fits to the album very well, I don't think I would like to mix like that myself. I tried, but found myself sacrificing quality for loudness and didn't like the harshness. To me, 2001 is exactly on the loudness border-line of "over-producing". It feels like the drums have been laid out on the spectrum almost as with clinical accuracy (heh... hence the Doc?). I have to say it's tempting and pounding like hell, but as you said ear fatigue is quick to come. __________________ "we'll do it live"