will everyone just stop...

[Future Proof]

Originally Posted by *_*

Ok, I listen to the music on the computer via the following setup.

Powerbook/G4 Desktop -->iTunes --> M-Audio Transit 24/96 --> Headroom MicroDAC --> Mini^3PINT DIY Amp --> 26ga Silver/Switchcraft IC --> AKG K701

And the riverrun files are muddy, flat, and congested. Borderline intolerable (to me).

Interepret this however one may. But yes, there are people out there that most definitely can hear the difference. It's frustrating when you love a band like UW as much as I do and they release stuff that can't even be enjoyed at the level that (I think) it should be able to be enjoyed at.

You do understand that to get things at the level that you think it should be able to be enjoyed at, that on top of having a super-fast bitrate that the work would've had to have been mastered, right? I mean, it's obvious that this hasn't been mastered, and even I do final mixdowns that sound better (from time to time ) That would've been rather expensive, you know.

This has been a project that they've done independently; something they foot the bill for. Who's to say that they didn't just go with 160 because 192 is bigger and more bandwidth used on their server = more money?

Not that you don't have your right to an opinion (personally I think it's the unwaivering UW apologists that get under my skin more) but I think what you're asking for are things that Rick & Karl would've had to pay for themselves and as such, when you consider that 99% of bands don't do this much for their fans, this can't be that bad... right?

[lowbit]

Originally Posted by Future Proof

You do understand that to get things at the level that you think it should be able to be enjoyed at, that on top of having a super-fast bitrate that the work would've had to have been mastered, right? I mean, it's obvious that this hasn't been mastered, and even I do final mixdowns that sound better (from time to time ) That would've been rather expensive, you know.

Mastering used to be expensive. These days you can do almost all of it on a decent desktop computer using (relatively) inexpensive software. That isn't to say that anybody can do it well, because some talent and knowledge is still needed no matter how sophisticated the software, but I doubt there's any shortage of the required skills or tools in this case.

In any event, how much work is put into mastering the recording should have no impact on whether it's released as a 160 kbps MP3 or a 320 kbps MP3 (or a lossless FLAC, for that matter).

[Future Proof]

Originally Posted by lowbit

If it was coming from 99.9% of the artists out there, it would be par for the course, but I just expect better from Underworld, I think. Their music is great, but they've also historically shown an integrity and foresight that is all-too-rare in the music world.

99.9% of the artists out there don't even attempt anything close to what R&K have been attempting. Every now and then you get a track on Myspace or a lo-quality streaming preview, but you never see anyone out there releasing 90 minutes of experimental, envelope-pushing stuff inbetween albums, nor do you ever see a band deviate as far from a comfort zone with reference to style and sound that R&K have with these 3 releases.

So, I don't understand where you're getting your precedents from, I guess I'm saying.

P.S. - I wouldn't be at all shocked if R&K knew less about mastering than you assume they do. A harddrive full of RTAS plugs and a rack of gear doesn't make a good engineer, and being wicked at putting together beats and crafting that sick sound out of a Nord Lead doesn't make you a good engineer either...

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Well, like most of us I am a little disappointed in the bitrate but I'm a fanatic so I'll take whatever I can get. Although some of you can't tell the difference the thing is that some of us can, and that there is no reason to release something in such a low bitrate. Personally, the pictures and whatever don't mean a lot to me, I only care about the music, and 5 pounds for 30 minutes of it isn't exactly the greatest deal...maybe it's fair, but for that I would definitely expect it to be close to lossless. I really doubt it's a bandwidth thing...for a 50 MB file bandwidth isn't a big deal. Remember that allofmp3 site that made money by selling MP3s for one cent a megabite?

I guess the real reason why it's a disappointment is because obviously they've been working on these tracks for some amount of time, and put a lot of work into them, so encoding them into a 160 kbps MP3 and leaving that as the ONLY format you can get the songs in just seems careless.

But that's just one little bear's opinion...

Originally Posted by Future Proof

99.9% of the artists out there don't even attempt anything close to what R&K have been attempting. Every now and then you get a track on Myspace or a lo-quality streaming preview, but you never see anyone out there releasing 90 minutes of experimental, envelope-pushing stuff inbetween albums, nor do you ever see a band deviate as far from a comfort zone with reference to style and sound that R&K have with these 3 releases.

That's less true than you think. There are a lot of artists who try to give a lot to the fans, and although it's true that this new format is pretty unique, you have to remember that their last album came out in 2002 and the next one might not be until 2007. So yeah, other bands don't release stuff like this in-between albums, they just release more albums. And as for the comfort zone thing...personally there's only one thing that struck me as decidedly non-UW (the ending of this here release), and bands deviate from their comfort zones and release experimental stuff a lot...personally I can't even call this stuff very experimental and it's certainly not envelope-pushing. I like the music, but let's not make sweeping generalities about how 99.9% of bands out there don't do things like this...

[froopy seal]

+++ No moaning in here, only claims +++

Originally Posted by BrotherLovesDub

http://www.itsmybinky.com/

I want a diamond pacifier with the Mysterons Mix! Maybe that would stop moaner(s).

[Future Proof]

Originally Posted by 34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j

That's less true than you think. There are a lot of artists who try to give a lot to the fans, and although it's true that this new format is pretty unique, you have to remember that their last album came out in 2002 and the next one might not be until 2007. So yeah, other bands don't release stuff like this in-between albums, they just release more albums. And as for the comfort zone thing...personally there's only one thing that struck me as decidedly non-UW (the ending of this here release), and bands deviate from their comfort zones and release experimental stuff a lot...personally I can't even call this stuff very experimental and it's certainly not envelope-pushing. I like the music, but let's not make sweeping generalities about how 99.9% of bands out there don't do things like this...

My bad. I keep forgetting that UW are just like everyone else except that everyone else does everything better.

Some examples would be nice, because all of this stuff that you say everyone is doing, I haven't seen it done to the degree that they've pulled off...

[dubman]

it's a problem with you people feeling really fucking entitled.

I'm floored at the shit I'm seeing posted here.
The sound is fine, don't test my ears kids. Those that are sound purists, go to your 5.1 surrounds and monkey forever with every level. You have no clue what listening is all about.

AGREED.

it's like there isn't even music there, it's all about what you imagine is "missing" because it's not to your hi-def, number-obsessive needs.
we just got 85 minutes of music. with another album coming next year and 2 soundtracks.
shut
the
living
fuck
up

[Future Proof]

Originally Posted by dubman

it's a problem with you people feeling really fucking entitled.





AGREED.

it's like there isn't even music there, it's all about what you imagine is "missing" because it's not to your hi-def, number-obsessive needs.
we just got 85 minutes of music. with another album coming next year and 2 soundtracks.
shut
the
living
fuck
up

Why do they have to shut the fuck up? I mean, people pay ALOT of money to hear these releases, you know? Mortgages get re-financed, meals skipped, cars repossessed every day because of how expensive these releases are. These people pay money that would make King Solomon blush and damnit, they deserve exactly what they expect! Shit, for the price I paid for this release I'm kinda pissed that the sound isn't 3d and that they didn't send me some sort of new 3d headphones to listen to this with!

And worst of all, they had no choice. Was anyone else freaked when they woke up this morning to the sight of Rick holding a gloc to their heads? I never knew that Rick was so gangsta. DAMN.

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[big screen satellite]

Originally Posted by Lou

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exactly....