The Mastering Show #34 - What ARE dynamics ?

Dynamics. I talk about them ALL the time. “This song has great dynamics”... “make sure you keep plenty of dynamics”... “your music NEEDS balanced dynamics”… but what actually ARE they ? Just like everything else we talk about on this show, dynamics are more complicated than they might seem at first glance. For example, there are at least two different types ! In this show we unpick the topic and try to shed some life on the truth about dynamics, including: * Why the loudness war hasn’t reduced loudness range * Why “DR” measurements don’t measure dynamic range * Why “crest factor” is a better term, and how it relates to the two types of dynamics * The natural dynamics of different sounds, and * When you don’t want to hear them * What Ian really thinks of the Prodigy, Skrillex and the Chemical Brothers - and their dynamics * How to measure dynamics Check the show notes for links http://themasteringshow.com/episode-34