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[minogue]

I have a CD that has a bad mix. I know nothing about production of recordings, but I know when something sounds bad. It is Jon Anderson, Animation, CD OPIOVP01CD.
In MediaCenter, I have it as a FLAC file.
It is overmodulated (from the CD). Is there any way to tweek it to sound better with MC?
No is a fine answer, too.
I actually like the music, but it hurts to listen to it at a higher volume.
Thanks,
Kyle

[astromo]

From Audio Analyse, what are the Min/Max of Dynamic Range (DR) values?

DR less than 10 would tell me the mastering has compressed the recording. If it's less than 6, then you're dealing with excessive compression (generally) and the recordings have been mastered to be LOUD.

If that's the case, it might explain what you're hearing. And if so, then there's not much that can be done to improve audio quality as far as I know - unless you find a version mastered with better dynamic range.

[Awesome Donkey]

Welcome to the loudness war.

That album was released in 1982, but the 2006 remaster you have is very likely brickwalled (aka overuse of dynamic range compression) as are the overwhelming majority of remasters/releases these days.

https://www.discogs.com/Jon-Anderson-Animation/master/28074

Looking there, you'll notice there's no CD releases noted before 1999, so it's likely the only source with better dynamics is the original vinyl releases and cassettes. Reading the comments about that 2006 remaster, the general opinion is the release is just plain terrible.

[minogue]

  Thanks!
I figured!
Cheers

[astromo]

There's no entry for this recording over at the DR database that I can make out:
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=jon+anderson&album=

Dudes over here:
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/jon-anderson-animation-on-cd.95966/
refer to the CD as a "needle drop"

So, you'd do just as well to find it on vinyl and do some needle dropping of your own. At least you'd know that the sound hasn't been "remastered". How I've grown to hate seeing that word on a CD cover.