Feature article
THE OBSESSION WITH COMPRESSION (DOESN'T SELL MUSIC!)
This
significant finding results from a project undertaken by Dave Viney, a
mature post-graduate student with a first career in the IT marketing
and professional development.
The results are intriguing -
there is no evidence of any significant correlation between actual
loudness (& thus overall compression) and commercial success
whereas panel assessments of less compression & processing are well
correlated with those of sounding more pleasant and of above average
quality and with commercial success suggesting that the obsession with
compression tends to limit commercial success!
Interestingly, it
appears that perceived overall loudness may depend on its variability
rather than simply its average or maximum level – an area for further
study.
Dave is now setting up as a marketing analyst/advisor
to the music business and considering conducting further part-time
research – for further information about his project,
Dave is
contactable via email (dave.viney@rocketmail.com) or mobile (07802 248326).
