Am I going deaf...

[Zenlitened]

... or is setting audio levels properly a lost art?

I'm watching VH1's Top 100 Hard Rock Bands, and it's absolutely great -- one fantastic act after another, lots of song snippets, cool video footage, and commentary by some really interesting artists.

At least I think they're all interesting. Trouble is, the editors don't bother to turn the music down a bit when they play the artists' sound bites.

Music and sound bite seem to be played at the same level, even though rock stars are required by law to mumble when giving interviews. I'm straining to make out what they're saying.

*Sigh.*

It seems like it was only 20 years ago that I was... 20. :D

[dbt]

1. It's a lost art, Zenlitened

1. Voice track at 0.
2. Music track at -3.
3. Tube limiter, fast attack, medium release. Apply 3-5 db gain reduction.
4. Listen on crappy speaker at low volume. If words AND music can both be understood, mix is OK. If not, go back to Step 1.

It ain't rocket sinus.

:hi:
dbt

[Zenlitened]

4. Kind of like a DJ at a radio station, in the booth...

...wearing state-of-the-art headphones, waiting for the last, faint note of a song to finish.

Meanwhile, rattling down the road in my old car, I've heard 30 seconds of dead air.

Yeesh. :)

[flaminbats]

2. what?

[Zenlitened]

3. I said...

You think you ...would-you-kids... see me, in the glass ...turn-that-noise-down... You think you hear me, you better listen fast, ...i-swear-i-don't-know.. I think I see you, gone to seed, ...how-you-can-listen... The only reasons, were your guilt and greed, ...why-don't-you... You're out there on your own, ...play-some-nice-songs... Your face turned to stone, ...why-when-i-was-your-age... Whatever happened to your life? ...blah-blah-blah... Stone Dead Forever...

;)

[flaminbats]

5. ahhh, turn up the volume...

:headbang:

I'm sure most rock stars probably start off poor, but what cut, if any, do they ultimately get from these MP3 lawsuits?