[DJamesGoody]

Originally Posted by Heartfelt

again... just trying to learn.


Why do most use older recordings for reference? Aren't they recorded with a different perspective? The biggest challenge I see is the bottom end. The bottom in the 80's or earlier doesn't touch what is being done now, in terms of intensity and focus?

What am I missing?

thanks!

I agree about the perspective thing. Making records is not immune from a thing called nostalgia, some that may or may not be falsely placed. Grass is always greener right? But while most new records do certainly have a greater bass intensity, it's not always a good or appropriate thing. Just as, not all old records sound good. I love the low end on Soul Coughing records just as much as I love the low end of a bunch of the Booker T or Isaac Hayes tracks. Totally different, both valid.

There is one overlooked major truth here, in my book........ and this affects everything else. One man's reference is quite possibly another man's distaste. There are obviously some records that most agree on, but beyond that, it's all relative.

For instance, I have an engineer friend who thinks that the Tool record Lateralus sounds amazing. I think it sounds kinda small and lean. It's his bag, and completely not my bag. But, we both agree that Sea Change is a brilliant sounding record.

Our perception of a good sounding record is so deeply affected by so many variables other than just sonics. Even though we're engineers, we're also human, therefore we make associations - some that may or may not be related at all to "sound" per se.

I'm just sayin.