Audio Engineering
Recording, mastering, dynamic range, CDs, formats, and moar
Dynamic Range
11.09.2026
One of the things that got me interested in audio engineering was comparing different masters of the same album. It is interesting how sometimes the exact same music can sound noticeably different depending on the release, although that is kind of rare. For instance comparing the MFSL version of an album with the original master, with good hardware I actually could feel the song itself being more dynamic, but on general hardware, not really that much.
Speaking of dynamics, DR measurements are pretty useful because they help with comparing releases. Generally the higher DR means more quite and loud moments, that is in indicator of well mastered music, so usually the higher it is the better.
CDs
11.09.2026
I really like CDs. It seems like fewer and fewer people listen to them anymore, which is a shame because I think they are pretty cool technology.
I like using them for music, but I also like using them for storage sometimes. It is nice to put files on a disc and having an actual physical copy of something, rather than to depend on a online service. (It also feels quite retro in a nice way).
I even made my own program for ripping and playing audio CDs. It is listed in the Other Links section of this site. Making a program for CDs is probably more enthusiasm for the format than most people have these days, but I just think they are neat.
Formats
I like keeping music in lossless formats such as ALAC, and I have also been experimenting with DSD. But I probably am going to run out of storage if I keep up this way. Maybe 320 kbs mp3's are the best, as much as that can offend some people. They say that there really is a difference between the 100mb lossless version and the 5mb lossy version, storage-wise that is true, but sound-wise, I don't know man...