Conclusion:
Most people don’t notice the effects of “loudness”
Most people who do, don’t like it
“Loudness” has no effect on sales or chart placements
In the near future, all music will play back at a similar level, regardless of how “loud” it is
The prize in a competititon intended to raise awareness of the loudness wars is… acompressor ?
Exactly the kind of tool that was used to make many of those crushed, distorted “casulaties” in the first place ?
Right.
Because...
DRD goes global for latest skirmish in the loudness war - Pro Sound News
After a highly successful 2011 edition, this year’s Dynamic Range Day promises a further 24 hours of online activity designed to raise awareness of excessive loudness and the impact that it is having on the sound of recorded music.
The organisers of Dynamic Range Day 2012 have published an open letter to the music industry.
The letter asserts that most people don't like the effect the "war" is having on the music they listen to, and that new standards and legislation will soon make the effects of high average level - so-called "loud" music - irrelevant.
The letter is approved by both Dynamic Range Day and TurnMeUp.org
Mastered for iTunes offers the opportunity for music to sound great again - will artists, labels and engineers seize the day ?
Dynamic Range Day this year is on 16th March, starting at 12:00 GMT.
Show your support by signing up to the Facebook Page and Event !
To organise your own local event, click here.
If you are interested in sponsoring DRD12, please click here.
Lefsetz Letter » Sound Quality.
And nobody’s doing anything about it. Because they’re just not shooting high enough. They want better laptop sound. Higher resolution MP3s. No, what we want is uncompressed audio played through high end systems. This will sell, if someone would just lead the way.
On November 4, 2010, Earl Vickers presented his research paper at the 129th AES Convention in San Francisco with clear evidence that there is no connection between loudness and sales.
Don’t believe me ? Just watch the video...
To find out more, click here
There is a myth that in order to stand out on the radio, your song needs to be louder than anyone else’s.
Bollocks.
Maybe this was true during the first Loudness Wars, back when every Motown release was louder than the previous one, but not any more – not for a long time...