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FunkyVibes

Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 21:30 |
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AFO Album Compression Comparison
This post is meant to expand on the discussion regarding compression of A Funk Odyssey and the variance between the first test pressing and the final retail album release.
To make an effective comparison, I used the track 'Little L' from each album because it changed minimally between releases (as far as mixing goes).
Track without compression/brick-walling:
Little L - 1st Test Pressing (this album includes interludes)
Track has been compressed:
Little L - 6 track album sampler
Track has been further compressed (slightly):
Little L - 2nd Test Pressing (album features finalized track listing)
Track retains same compression level:
Little L - Album Version (Retail Release)
The compression level of the 1st AFO test pressing with the interludes included indicates to me that it may have been an un-mastered album version because its compression levels are very similar to other albums that had similar leaks like the self titled album Gorillaz which also had an alternate test pressing created without compression applied. |
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FunkyVibes

Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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Jam Vibe
Joined: 24 Apr 2015
Posts: 151
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 22:32 |
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Thanks for the infos FunkyVibes!!!
The High Times is absolutely the worst when comes down to mastering, they simply took the organic feel from the early albums and applied some club like compression to the songs.
Now, about dynamite album, even being a very compressed album on almost all songs, i really think that some of the tracks sounds particularly good, like (Don't) Give Hate a Chance. The only disappointment is Talullah the loudness kind of kill the slow feeling of the song. |
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FunkyVibes

Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 10:56 |
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Hey you're welcome! I agree that the High Times comp is really bad and whoever was in charge didn't seem very concerned about mastering everything.
DGHAC actually doesn't sound too bad I agree. Some tracks I could never enjoy very much because of the production & compression applied to them. Like 'It Feels Just Like It Should' always grated me. The song itself is interesting and kind of experimental but the sound of it... the quality seems bad to my ears. Electric Mistress is another track that I feel could be improved by a different mix.
I felt similarly about some of AFO's songs like 'Twenty Zero One' (which i think would work better as an instrumental imo) and 'Stop Don't Panic'. 'Main Vein' to me needs a better arrangement. It sounds better as an instrumental too. |
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Dye
Correspondent & Expert

Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 5146
Location: Planet Home; Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:25 |
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Synkronized is, for me, the album that sounds perfect from start to finish. |
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Funkalero
Joined: 13 Nov 2010
Posts: 138
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Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 04:54 |
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Dye wrote: |
Synkronized is, for me, the album that sounds perfect from start to finish. |
I totally agree with you. |
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Trolll
Joined: 27 May 2002
Posts: 335
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Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 10:11 |
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Hi Funkyvibes,
Thanks for the good work! That's an interesting read.
On another note, regarding different mixes, I once had the promo 7" of Cosmic Girl (the white label 7" records for jukeboxes), and I could swear the mixing of the song was different from other releases.
If I still had that record, I'd have you try and "analyse" it the way you do, just to see if I was crazy or not (I might be...)  |
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FunkyVibes

Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 03:48 |
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Funkalero wrote: |
Dye wrote: |
Synkronized is, for me, the album that sounds perfect from start to finish. |
I totally agree with you. |
For me, while I like the album & the mixing (for the most part)... it's the first album that really started to sound more processed I guess. Pro-toolish?
I also think it sounds too compressed imo.
Overall, it's a solid effort that I think was rushed due to the circumstances surrounding it. I have no doubt 'Symphonized' would have been a more polished album considering they already had 9 tracks finished before it was scrapped.
Trolll wrote: |
On another note, regarding different mixes, I once had the promo 7" of Cosmic Girl (the white label 7" records for jukeboxes), and I could swear the mixing of the song was different from other releases.
If I still had that record, I'd have you try and "analyse" it the way you do, just to see if I was crazy or not (I might be...)  |
Was it this record?? |
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Trolll
Joined: 27 May 2002
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FunkyVibes

Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 21:17 |
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Ahh... intriguing. |
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Trolll
Joined: 27 May 2002
Posts: 335
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Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 12:10 |
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Well, don't go and spend a lot on that record just to give it a try! Maybe it was just in my mind, but it struck me every time I listened to it, even comparing with other vinyl records... |
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