8/27/18

Our discussion was surrounded by the fact that popular taste has eliminated dynamic range in modern music. Compared to music produced in the 50s/60s, for example, music produced today may have vocal and instrumental range, but generally remains at the same volume. This is not something I noticed until it was brought to my attention, and now it is difficult not to notice. However, I can’t agree that it is 100% true in all modern music , as different styles incorporate different dynamic ranges. Bluegrass and folk music, at least from what I have listened to, does incorporate different dynamics through the use of multiple instruments. Within most mainstream pop music, there is arguably most commonly a two decibel difference within a piece of music. Everything we hear has been compressed to be the same volume.

8/29/18

Expanding off of the previous discussion, dynamic range has a certain importance in music. The changes in volume compel us to pay attention, and the recent compression in modern music has served as a way of impoverishing our experience of listening. We don’t pay as close attention to what we are listening too, whether it be from the busy nature of our society or the fact that modern music lacks the heart that older music has. It also appears that the majority of people don’t realize that these “loudness wars” are happening because recent generations have never been exposed to anything else. Many people don’t understand the impact a simple change in dynamics can have on a piece of music because they have hardly experienced it, if at all. People pay more attention when music gets louder or softer, and recent generations are not used to paying attention.