I’ve found it a bit odd that though CD and hi res digital formats have the ability to capture greater dynamic range, that recoding and mixing has been about decreasing dynamic range to impart a greater perception of loudness… This results in loss of dynamism and subtlety and increases distortion… And makes many recordings sound worse on better more resolving equipment…all in the name of making things sound louder instead of better… Because that’s what sold
With loudness normalization on streaming services reversing the perceived benefit of this type of mastering, that’s not a competitive advantage anymore so hopefully things will change…
But I think this largely explains one of the reasons for the question that started this thread.
Ive seen a couple videos that cover this…
Here is one by Bob Katz that I find interesting… Describing how and why mixing and mastering proceeded down this perhaps counterintuitive path…
