The best audio format, ever

[bunchofkeys]

Short version: Standard CD-Quality is all you need!
I‘m a sound engineer working in music production and different studios. Pop and classic genre. Today most music is recorded in 24 Bit / 88.2 or 96kHz which is already a very high resolution. It‘s nice to have for editing and processing the audio. It all happens in PCM format. For listening on your Hifi-System the good old 16 Bit / 44.1kHz CD-quality is absolutely fine! Even if you have an expensive high-end system with good room treatment - 9 of 10 people won’t even hear a difference to any high-resolution format by doing a blindtest.

Regarding analog: today during the recording, mixing or mastering process analog tools like tape recording, maybe valve equalizers and compressors are still used to taste by some engineers to bring in a wanted sound character - like harmonics, saturation or even some distortion. Mostly in the pop/rock genre, where the engineering is an essential creative part of the music. In classical music and audiophile jazz production, most engineers and producers prefer the clean and natural „not-coloured“ sound of a good digital-chain from the ADC after the microphone-preamp until the final master audio file in the end.

If at any stage something sounds like „garbage“, then it‘s not about PCM or DSD. In a case like that, the problem is definetly somewhere else.

Try to say it in a polite way:
In music production and listening in general there are so many variables and decisions made along the way which determine the final sound of what you hear. So it always sounds a little naive to me when „audiophiles“ or hifi-people looking with their magnifying glass on the one thing they think will make the difference.
Happy listening, stay safe and greetings from germany!

[nickparkin]

This guy seems pretty smart he should start his own audio company

[hakanpersson]

It`s not all in the recording format it`s in the packaging as well. I think that the vinyl record is the perfect combination of sound quality in a nice package. You can enjoy both the music and the artwork at the same time. The return of the vinyl record in recent years and the success in market is no coincidence.

[markielinhart]

The best audio format is the one that’s music to my ears... ✌️🌹🇦🇺

[gotham]

Nancy is a city of half a million people, but you have to say it with a French accent. nohn-CEE

[catified]

The best format is the one that makes you happy.

[nickparkin]

I have some 3” full range drivers from the 60’s and they sound sublime! So good in fact, that I can easily hear “Tape noise” going on in the background of a lot of tracks. It is a consistent, strange sound that adds a cool ambience to the soundstage.

[ericksonjustinAK]

For the record, that was not a longer answer than I wanted. Perfect. I am an IT guy that loves listening to music. I just recently decided I'm going to spend over $1500 on speakers because I miss the sound I got from floor standing speakers that had drivers bigger than the 3 inch ones you typically see now with BestBuy/Costco home theater speakers. So I started researching hi-fi audio and fell into the audiophile rabbit hole. What is with you audiophiles on youtube? You guys are all so easy to listen to and seem like such warm, nice, and friendly guys. In IT there are cocky jerks that are sort of reluctant to share their knowledge and love to belittle people for not knowing as much as them because it makes them feel superior. I got out of those work environments a long time ago and have learned to sniff out those work environments so I don't end up in them. I have to believe audio guys can be the same way because most of the time that cockiness is actually insecurity of technical knowledge. They are afraid of asking questions or showing they don't know something because they are afraid of another cocky guy laughing at them because they didn't know something that "every audiophile should know" and really embarrass themselves. So when you ask these guys questions that they can't fully explain, they just use audiophile terms and dance around and try their best to spit you out at the end so you feel sort of dumb and don't want to ask another question. Where as guys that actually have an honest comprehension of why one DAC is better than another (or even why you use a DAC), for example, they are excited to explain it to you because they remember when they figured it out and it made perfect sense to them. So when you ask a genuine question because you genuinely missed something or because they forgot to explain something, they are the kindest person and eager to say it a different way. All of the audiophiles on Youtube seem to be this guy, but not only that, you are just so easy to listen to with the cadence, pace, volume, tone and all of it. Must be something to do with attuned ears. Probably really good mics too. :) The cheapaudioman, audiophiliac, John Darko, and you are all giving me the audiophile bug.

So your answer was perfect. Probably a longer response than you wanted, but I truly appreciate you and how you enjoy sharing your journey to your knowledge.

[TheNathanMChannel]

When I was making recordings years ago going from cheap cassette tape to an ADAT-XT was a mind-blowing change. It sounded no different going in than coming out. I haven't tried that with DSD vs. PCM but I suspect it will be much less noticeable. In any case it's down to the skill and choices of the recording engineer much more than the digital format. They're all pretty darn good, so then it's just up to the humans to make something good.

[bpawnz]

The best audio format is a live performance. :)

[jamesrobinson]

Someday I'd like to hear about production and mastering and all the compression. That's what really influences the realness of the recording.

[Aranimda]

MP3 320 for stereo listening. Yes, there are far higher quality formats available but they take much more disk space and I can't hear the difference. Also, nothing is as compatible as MP3.
But what I truly prefer is a good multichannel recording. I got a 7.1 setup and I love to be surrouded by the music, with different details coming from all sides.

[richsherman]

Audio evolution!!! thanks Paul, always love your chats.

[williampearson]

Paul McGowan vs Michael Fremer ---- What round are we in? Who's going to win? DSD or ANALOG? Are they both right? or simply enjoy the music!

[dhpbear]

That digital audio recorder that Paul owned was the Sony PCM-F1. I'd post a link, but links don't seem to be allowed :(

[perherbert]

Nancy is mentioned in the movie Kelly's heroes from 1970. :)

[jaumefresquet]

I fully agree with you. By the way, the Sony PCM-F1 originally used the Betamax format for recording, but by canceling the drop out corrector it could work with any video format.

[johnmarchington]

I agree entirely with Paul about DSD and SACDs. There is a combination of warmth and inner detail with transients brilliantly projected

[gitmobob]

Paul, the best audio format is the one that makes the individual listener want to stay and listen. It dosen't matter if its analog or digital. Considering most people don't hear much above 15Khz and there isn't much music content below 30Hz I think that nullifies much of digital advantages and I find increased dynamic range to be distracting. I am also skeptical that no matter how many 1 and 0s you have that the recording is perfect. And yes I have heard dad recordings.

[ssgeek]

I was told by a salesman (dj shop in uk) that a analogue mix will still blend channels at the +3, 6, 9db over zero but digital mixing stops at zero...umm.I don't personally know?