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Thread started 07/09/16 3:11pm

anangellooksdo
wn

Sound problems with CD

Hi all. Bought a Sign O The Times CD last month at a good local chain store.

While my HNR PH 2 CD sounds good in my car (loud etc although way too much bass - have to turn that down -4), this SIgn O The Times CD is all over the place with sound; especially volume problems. Bass & Treble is fine but volume is different with each song.

"It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" is loud, but the song right after that ("Adore") is much softer volumewise even when i turn it up to max volume. I can't really enjoy it like I want to.

SOTT CD looks like a "real" CD, not a copy some company three together (pardon my lack of tech terms, I'm still learning).

Any idea what the problem could be? I can't see Prince allowing CDs out with these problems.
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Reply #1 posted 07/09/16 3:22pm

CalhounSq

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Sounds like you got a janky bootleg. I've never had audio problems with my original CDs. & how dare you turn the bass DOWN disbelief
heart prince I never met you, but I LOVE you & I will forever!! Thank you for being YOU - my little Princey, the best to EVER do it prince heart
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Reply #2 posted 07/09/16 3:34pm

anangellooksdo
wn

CalhounSq said:

Sounds like you got a janky bootleg. I've never had audio problems with my original CDs. & how dare you turn the bass DOWN disbelief


:) I know...he loved bass and so do I. My car stereo can't handle it like some.

As for the SOTT CD. I ASKED the wrecka sto clerk of they were bootlegs and he said no! I checked the CD and it looks real. Says Paisley Park Records etc.

Is a bootleg hard to identify?
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Reply #3 posted 07/09/16 3:38pm

derrick31

That's not a bootleg. That's how the Sign of The Times' cd sounds and why it, along with his other 80's work, needs serious remastering. SOTT is the worst sounding of them all.
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Reply #4 posted 07/09/16 4:14pm

mynameisnotsus
an

derrick31 said:

That's not a bootleg. That's how the Sign of The Times' cd sounds and why it, along with his other 80's work, needs serious remastering. SOTT is the worst sounding of them all.


Agreed - should have been done 20 years ago.
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Reply #5 posted 07/09/16 4:17pm

darkroman

My CDs are absolutely fine.

.

Maybe over the years some people just had a damaged batch as most people have never had sound problems.

.

I have four sets and the sound is fine:

.

The 2 disc fat jewel case.

The re-press as 2 disc slim jewel case.

The euro 1 disc v1.

the euro 2 disc v2.

.

I don't know if the japs version was remastered at all.

.

neutral

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Reply #6 posted 07/09/16 4:34pm

anangellooksdo
wn

derrick31 said:

That's not a bootleg. That's how the Sign of The Times' cd sounds and why it, along with his other 80's work, needs serious remastering. SOTT is the worst sounding of them all.


Wow. Interesting. Maybe it was literally a sign of the times.

Thanks all
I'll find Adore on another album. Although it makes me sad anyway since I think it was written for Vanity and they're both gone now.
Trying to just enjoy the music!
As he wants.
[Edited 7/9/16 16:35pm]
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Reply #7 posted 07/09/16 6:26pm

luv4u

Moderator

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moderator

My SOTT cd plays just fine. In my puter or in my car.

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #8 posted 07/09/16 6:35pm

ufoclub

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No big changes on the volume level of songs on SOTT on my CD's, that I remember.

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Reply #9 posted 07/09/16 6:41pm

WhisperingDand
elions

avatar

The OP doesn't sound like they are having problems playing anything, just that the volume levels are different on each track.

Which, I dunno, I know a lot of people complain about the volume levels on some of the 80s stuff, but... isn't that just sound dynamics? Like, we're used to everything being loud and one uniform volume now because that's how CDs and audio "evolved" over time with the digital age, it's not necessarily the "right" sound.

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Reply #10 posted 07/09/16 7:28pm

floralelephant
s

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I am thinking the issue has to do with the dynamics of Sign O The Times. It is not squashed at all dynamically so there are true quiet parts and loud parts. Music in the past two decades has been squashed so there are no dynamics; it's just loud all the time.

With that said, I think that Sign needs remastering (as long as it is not squashed). The vinyl sounds much better than the CD in my opinion.
[Edited 7/9/16 19:28pm]
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Reply #11 posted 07/09/16 7:45pm

leslievette

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My SOTT CD is quieter in volume than the others. In my car I notice I turn it up almost to the max to get it to where I want it to be. Usually my music is on shuffle and I forget, so when the next song comes on that's from a different album it's blasting and scares the sh!t out of me lol Always thought it was just my copy. Never varied by song though, the volume is pretty low all together.

[Edited 7/9/16 21:20pm]

From now on, 4 U I shall be wild 💜
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Reply #12 posted 07/09/16 7:58pm

luv4u

Moderator

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moderator

leslievette said:

My SOTT CD is quiter in volume than the others. In my car I notice I turn it up almost to the max to get it to where I want it to be. Usually my music is on shuffle and I forget, so when the next song comes on that's from a different album it's blasting and scares the sh!t out of me lol Always thought it was just my copy. Never varied by song though, the volume is pretty low all together.


nod falloff

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #13 posted 07/09/16 8:34pm

WhisperingDand
elions

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lol oh yeah, you'll wake the neighbors running a Prince shuffle that doesn't stop at 1993.

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Reply #14 posted 07/09/16 8:58pm

derrick31

anangellooksdown said:

derrick31 said:
That's not a bootleg. That's how the Sign of The Times' cd sounds and why it, along with his other 80's work, needs serious remastering. SOTT is the worst sounding of them all.
Wow. Interesting. Maybe it was literally a sign of the times. Thanks all I'll find Adore on another album. Although it makes me sad anyway since I think it was written for Vanity and they're both gone now. Trying to just enjoy the music! As he wants. [Edited 7/9/16 16:35pm]

Buy the Japenese SOTT CD.

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Reply #15 posted 07/09/16 10:55pm

SanDiegoFunkDa
ddy

I downloaded the SMH remaster years ago and burned it to CD. the sound is perfect

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Reply #16 posted 07/09/16 10:59pm

djThunderfunk

avatar

WhisperingDandelions said:

The OP doesn't sound like they are having problems playing anything, just that the volume levels are different on each track.

Which, I dunno, I know a lot of people complain about the volume levels on some of the 80s stuff, but... isn't that just sound dynamics? Like, we're used to everything being loud and one uniform volume now because that's how CDs and audio "evolved" over time with the digital age, it's not necessarily the "right" sound.


This is EXACTLY it. SOTT was mastered, for analog (vinyl/cass) standards of the 80s. There was still such a thing as dynamics, peaks & valleys, loud songs and quiet songs. All copies on CD so far are from the same master, although the JAP SHM versions are a bit louder (but not remastered).

Eventually it will be remastered. Most likely the dynamics will be lost and all the songs will be loud. Also, there will probably be squashed peaks and frequency loss. But that's okay because it will be louder so most people will think it sounds better.



[Edited 7/9/16 23:01pm]

Liberty > Authority
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Reply #17 posted 07/09/16 11:06pm

breakdown2k14

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My sign of the times CD has low volume tracks also
one that comes to mind is "the ballad of Dorothy parker".its really low sound compared to the song "It",which sounds normal volume.
There's Joy in repetition
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Reply #18 posted 07/09/16 11:11pm

djThunderfunk

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The vinyl also has louder & quieter songs. For instance Ballad of Dorothy Parker is really low compared to It.
Just sayin'...

[Edited 7/9/16 23:12pm]

Liberty > Authority
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Reply #19 posted 07/10/16 12:57am

udo

avatar

derrick31 said:

That's not a bootleg. That's how the Sign of The Times' cd sounds and why it, along with his other 80's work, needs serious remastering. SOTT is the worst sounding of them all.

.

`Remastering` is NOT compressing the hell out of the audio to get rid of any dynamics left.

If you perceive dynamics as a problem the somethign else is wrong.

The sound on SOTT is not so loud but there are some dynamics.

Dynamics serve a purpose.

Read bit more about loudness wars.

.

Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill... If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry.
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Reply #20 posted 07/10/16 3:00am

skipthecharade
s

anangellooksdown said:

derrick31 said:
That's not a bootleg. That's how the Sign of The Times' cd sounds and why it, along with his other 80's work, needs serious remastering. SOTT is the worst sounding of them all.
Wow. Interesting. Maybe it was literally a sign of the times. Thanks all I'll find Adore on another album. Although it makes me sad anyway since I think it was written for Vanity and they're both gone now. Trying to just enjoy the music! As he wants. [Edited 7/9/16 16:35pm]

Try Girl 6, volume is much better there on Adore and The Cross.

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Reply #21 posted 07/10/16 3:13am

udo

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Have a look at this page to see how the 'mastering' improved' over time for Prince's records.

Or perhaps this page to see the specific problem album of the topic starter.

If you understand there there is a sort of reference audio level (volume) that an album is listened to in e.g. the studio then you start to understand that the nuances in dynamics serve a purpose.

[Edited 7/10/16 3:19am]

Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill... If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry.
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Reply #22 posted 07/10/16 5:26am

breakdown2k14

avatar

djThunderfunk said:

The vinyl also has louder & quieter songs. For instance Ballad of Dorothy Parker is really low compared to It.
Just sayin'...

[Edited 7/9/16 23:12pm]


There's a sign of the times album coming out on vinyl august 23rd .its suppose to be remastered
There's Joy in repetition
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Reply #23 posted 07/10/16 7:15am

djThunderfunk

avatar

breakdown2k14 said:

djThunderfunk said:

The vinyl also has louder & quieter songs. For instance Ballad of Dorothy Parker is really low compared to It.
Just sayin'...

[Edited 7/9/16 23:12pm]

There's a sign of the times album coming out on vinyl august 23rd .its suppose to be remastered


Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the vinyl pressings don't sound great. I'm saying that like the CD, some songs on the vinyl are much louder than others. This isn't bad. This was how it was designed.

Liberty > Authority
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Reply #24 posted 07/10/16 8:32am

anangellooksdo
wn

breakdown2k14 said:

djThunderfunk said:

The vinyl also has louder & quieter songs. For instance Ballad of Dorothy Parker is really low compared to It.
Just sayin'...

[Edited 7/9/16 23:12pm]


There's a sign of the times album coming out on vinyl august 23rd .its suppose to be remastered


Thanks. And thank you to all who educated me so much more about all this.
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Reply #25 posted 07/10/16 9:29am

luvsexy4all

CalhounSq said:

Sounds like you got a janky bootleg. I've never had audio problems with my original CDs. & how dare you turn the bass DOWN disbelief

turning down the bass is a crime..when he didnt make it louds enough most of the time

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Reply #26 posted 07/10/16 10:19am

KingSausage

avatar

udo said:



derrick31 said:


That's not a bootleg. That's how the Sign of The Times' cd sounds and why it, along with his other 80's work, needs serious remastering. SOTT is the worst sounding of them all.

.


`Remastering` is NOT compressing the hell out of the audio to get rid of any dynamics left.


If you perceive dynamics as a problem the somethign else is wrong.


The sound on SOTT is not so loud but there are some dynamics.


Dynamics serve a purpose.


Read bit more about loudness wars.


.






That sucks that there's still a little bit of white space left over in the graph from 1999. I hope we've managed to eliminate that by now and truly achieve maximum loud.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #27 posted 07/10/16 10:58am

djThunderfunk

avatar

KingSausage said:

udo said:

.

`Remastering` is NOT compressing the hell out of the audio to get rid of any dynamics left.

If you perceive dynamics as a problem the somethign else is wrong.

The sound on SOTT is not so loud but there are some dynamics.

Dynamics serve a purpose.

Read bit more about loudness wars.

.

That sucks that there's still a little bit of white space left over in the graph from 1999. I hope we've managed to eliminate that by now and truly achieve maximum loud.


If I didn't know you don't really mean that I'd be ranting right now... wink

Liberty > Authority
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Reply #28 posted 07/10/16 11:14am

KingSausage

avatar

djThunderfunk said:



KingSausage said:


udo said:


.


`Remastering` is NOT compressing the hell out of the audio to get rid of any dynamics left.


If you perceive dynamics as a problem the somethign else is wrong.


The sound on SOTT is not so loud but there are some dynamics.


Dynamics serve a purpose.


Read bit more about loudness wars.


.





That sucks that there's still a little bit of white space left over in the graph from 1999. I hope we've managed to eliminate that by now and truly achieve maximum loud.


If I didn't know you don't really mean that I'd be ranting right now... wink




wink
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #29 posted 07/10/16 11:38am

Noodled24

anangellooksdown said:

Hi all. Bought a Sign O The Times CD last month at a good local chain store. While my HNR PH 2 CD sounds good in my car (loud etc although way too much bass - have to turn that down -4), this SIgn O The Times CD is all over the place with sound; especially volume problems. Bass & Treble is fine but volume is different with each song. "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" is loud, but the song right after that ("Adore") is much softer volumewise even when i turn it up to max volume. I can't really enjoy it like I want to. SOTT CD looks like a "real" CD, not a copy some company three together (pardon my lack of tech terms, I'm still learning). Any idea what the problem could be? I can't see Prince allowing CDs out with these problems.



The SOTT CD sounds like shit. It always has. The volume very low.

It's the only Prince album in dire need of being remastered. The version up on Tidal sounds amazing next to the CD.

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