Cast Recording Quality

[dramageek1211]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 4:10pm

I'm sure it has been discussed a bit before and searched but couldn't find anything. My question is about cast recording quality. I have found a few cast recordings of shows that have horrible quality either on certain parts of songs, whole songs or sometimes throughout the whole cd. Particularly, I've noticed this with the OBCR of Rent, Patti's Gypsy and the Little Mermaid recordings. Anyone else notice this problem or know of any other cast recordings during which this occurs?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 4:27pm

Need a few specifics here -

Are you buying CD's or downloading music form legit siutes or downloading form music sharing sites?

This can matter a great deal. The CD has the best quality. Downloads are often MP3 files and especially when listening on headphones you CAN hear a difference: MP3 files tend to have a harsher sound.

Also what specific tracks in the shows you mentioned are problematic and what are you hearing? Distortion? Reverb? Indistinct lyrics?

Millions have purchased RENT and although there have been some complaints that the performances seem underpowered, I haven't heard many (any?) about the overall sound quality.

I personally prefer the sound of the older cast albums where cast and singers were all together in one large studio to record the show - The recordings sound more like the shows sounded in theatre. The modern technique of isolating the singers and having them sing so close to the mics, and heavily editing the performances creates an almost sterile sounding recording., Yes everything OS correct and perfect but somehow the "spark" of a live performance is often missing. Even so, the overall sound quality of most modern cast recordings is tremendously life-like.

[dramageek1211]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 6:27pm

The Rent and Gypsy that I'm referring to are CDs. The Little Mermaid was downloaded from iTunes. I've noticed it in Rent during "Happy New Year" (A and B) as well as "You'll See" but I haven't listened to the full CD in a while so it may or may not be the whole thing. Gypsy I remember noticing a while ago - I think it was during "Everything's Coming Up Roses" with some reverb or something toward the beginning before the song really gets going. The Little Mermaid is during the "Part of Your World" reprise. Right before the last time Ariel sings the word "world" there is some kind of harsh noise that kind of sounds like distortion I guess. Thanks for your help:)
Updated On: 5/3/10 at 06:27 PM

[binau]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 6:43pm

I remember people complaining about LuPone Gypsy. Apparently there were problems with some of the initial CDs where some tracks had irritating volume peaks.

Updated On: 5/3/10 at 06:43 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 8:26pm

Mermaid has that glitch on the CD too, it was fixed in later issues.

[tdl83]

Posted: 5/3/10 at 9:39pm

"Gypsy" w/Patti was corrected immediately.....not to many copies had it.