Hello,

has anybody tried to declip Blue and Lonesome? If so, which tracks/all of them? In which software and which algorithm?

I tried to do it in Audacity and Clip Fix, by reduction of volume -3 or -2,5 dB dB and the Clip Fix at 95 per cent, also 98 per cent gave me good results. For sure it is great alternative to original mix, which is not terrible, but it is compressed and since distortion has already been applied before compression can be perceived as too much.

Aint it better to go down e.g. by -8 dB, apply Clip Fix and then amplify to very rare clipping?

Or which (preferably open source or low-price for home use) software and workflow would you recommend?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-12-07 18:09 by jumpingjackflash5.

I asked about this in another thread but I can't remember which one it was!

It is what it is. Once you start declipping, you are changing the song as much as it was when clipped. It sounds fine to my ears, I don't see a reason to do anything.

BTW, (not saying you in particular) I've long felt too many are 'viewing' albums in their audio programs too often to judge the music. Just 'listen', no need to over-analyze, it takes away from the enjoyment.

I think the compression is in the mix. There's not much that can be done about it IMO.

Try the HD version which sounds better than the CD to my ears.

I agree that overanalyzing can be bad for music.

The compression+distortion on Blue and Lonesome is a bit too much, I think. I also preferred the older issues of Virgin/EMI catalogue since 2009 version were compressed.

I do not have HD version and do not want much to buy it twice, moreover I am from Czech republic and web stores do not have HD version available.

I don't see the need to do anything with this album when listening to vinyl. It sounds great.

The download version, however, sound a bit hard and rough - very light on bass. Then I just EQ my way to a good sound.

Maybe for vinyl different, less compressed mastering was used. Unfortunately this has been recently common.

By the way I do not complain for much the distortion that has been used during recording/production, that is +- OK. But the one caused by final mastering - further compression for CD/digital. It can be somewhat reversed by declipping, however.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 2016-12-08 10:49 by jumpingjackflash5.

You might try to play the files thru VLC. As you do, active the EQ tool of the player and set the premap level to zero. It'll decrease the output signal by 15 dB's or so.
Like any other declipping solution it doesn't undamage what's been damaged with the hot mastering.

I'm happy to wait for the vinyl ... For the reasons given above

Audacity can easy deamplify by selected value of dB. That is not a problem, I only search whether some free or very cheap alternative to Clip Fix is used.

Quote
midimannz
I'm happy to wait for the vinyl ... For the reasons given above

An option to download pre-cd mastering tracks would be even better. Vinyl is just a medium. I would be very happy if I can listen to what was actually recorded/mixed on studio analog tapes (with a bit of distortion that was applied). I fully respect mixing etc., but I suspect final CD mastering process used a lot of compression and this is not good trend.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-12-08 12:04 by jumpingjackflash5.

Quote
DandelionPowderman
I don't see the need to do anything with this album when listening to vinyl. It sounds great.

The download version, however, sound a bit hard and rough - very light on bass. Then I just EQ my way to a good sound.

Totaly agree.
The vinyl sounds fine...and I'm normally very critical of modern production & mastering.

A bit more separation & clarity might have been nice ...but the same could be said of that ball of noise that is Exile On Main St ...and we don't worry about it too much with that one !

[In fact part of Exile's many charms is that after forty odd years of listening to it you can still occasionally pick up in that murky mix the odd little thing that you hadn't really heard before.

...and this despite the numerous re-masterings and fancy pressings ]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-12-08 12:33 by Spud.

Alright - a pity that we that have bought CD do not have access to different master that was apparenlty used for vinyl.

They didn't necessarily use a different master...there are so many variables throughout the whole process, which all contribute to the final sound via any given medium.

CD format requires "just" downconversion (resampling, dither) to 16/44.1. But the dynamic range is the same at 24/48,24/96 or whatever what used for digital workflow. For vinyl you need different mastering.