I just found that waveform on juno...   its not like I am, "totally alone."

True enough, re dynamic range, but some music is squashed to hell, and it kind of suits that music. Chemical Brothers springs to mind. If you look at any of their "banging tunes" they are similar to Linear Phase's tune. And when you're in a club and listening to this stuff, you ain't worried about dynamic range and there's a certain primal feeling you get when you can feel the bass turning your stomach inside out. Not my cup'o'tea, but I've been there and experienced it a few times.

From a personal point of view, I prefer music with more dynamic range, but I still enjoy Slipknot too...

Johnathan.... it is possible to get a non-clipped wave and have it be as loud as it needs to be. 

Compression is just one tool to get you there BUT.... using too much compression will remove all the dynamics from the song and the listener ends up with ear fatigue from the constant continuously high levels with no relief. 

It took me a while to get the formula close to right... keep dynamics and still be radio ready with the levels. 

Generally, my first few drafts will look like the wave you show..... shaved tops, but in the tracking and mixing stages that is OK.... and yeah.... I have put out more than one song with shaved tops.... no shame in that. 

Now that you've heard a song that has dynamic range and no clipped/shaved tops and still is loud enough to rock...... you have defined your next goal for your own music. I'll be watching and waiting. 

Oh, here's Setting Sun by Chemical Brothers:-

Linear Phase

John


Guitarhacker I'm very glad you posted that. I was thinking of doing the same but yours is well done and I don't have to. LOL

I am reminded of jazz recordings that look a lot like the second one.

But even classic rock has the same look more or less. I should say well recorded and mastered music has that look. If we think of recording as a container we don't have to fill it to the brim. What filling it to the brim does is give the listener irritation and fatigue.

Unfortunately, "for society, and the betterment of listening to great audio," you are correct on that..   Yes my track is, "loud." and fighting in the, "loudness war."   I don't have a good argument for that...  Mines a soldier of volume..   for better or worse..  I'm afraid I'm outed there 

I hope you don't think we or I am putting you down. That was not my intention.

I don't get the need to make a record as loud as is possible. All play back devices have a volume control. If a listener needs it loud its a simple thing to turn it up. But when it so compressed in order to get that loudness all dynamics die a dirty death. Its unnatural to the human ear and will either harm one's hearing or make one turn it down. Either way it becomes unlistenable. 

Its not your fault for doing that. Its what most people are used to.  But if you let yourself listen to other types of music you may find it inspiring how non compressed music can go to the soul directly.

I have no doubt that your song sounds good to you but what if it could sound better? Let it breath and you may be surprised how good it can sound.

And this is Bleed by Meshuggah:-

"Guitarhacker"


Johnathan.... it is possible to get ......... tops and still is loud enough to rock...... you have defined your next goal for your own music. I'll be watching and waiting.

Ok, no worries :-)

"synkrotron"

Oh, here's Setting Sun by Chemical Brothers

Awesome! :-)  and Meshuggah omg!! :-)

Thanks

"John"
I hope you don't think we or I am putting you down. That was not my intention

Your good, no worries, will do

and this is That's The Way by Led Zeppelin:-

Linear Phase

and Meshuggah omg!! :-) 

Yeah, I'm listening to a lot of Meshuggah at the moment, especially Catch Thirty Three and Koloss.


But I also love listening to Porcupine Tree, amongst many many others.


Depends on what "mood" I'm in

synkrotron


Oh, here's Setting Sun by Chemical Brothers:-

Digital sausage...