Xref: utzoo rec.music.makers:9416 rec.music.synth:14597 comp.music:1592 Path: utzoo!dciem!nttor!contact!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!mcnc!decvax.dec.com!maxx!tyager From: tyager@maxx.UUCP (Tom Yager) Newsgroups: rec.music.makers,rec.music.synth,comp.music Subject: Re: dbx vs. Dolby C Noise Reduction Summary: Let your ears be the judge Message-ID: <56@maxx.UUCP> Date: 16 Jul 90 00:26:14 GMT References: Organization: MAXX: Tom Yager's UNIX lab, Amherst, NH. Lines: 46 In article , apolivka@x102a.harris-atd.com (polivka al 60047) writes: > Can anyone answer some or all of the following questions about Dolby C > and dbx Noise Reduction systems? > [ ...scientific questions left to someone more knowledgeable... ] > 2. What are the pros and cons of Dolby C vs. dbx, particularly with > respect to the application of multitrack recording? I trust my ears, and I like dbx better. This is a "love or hate" question, and people on both sides tend to have pretty strong opinions. To me, Dolby C seems to trample on highs, and makes quiet passages in the music almost inaudible. For music that remains at a fairly constant volume, its noise-reduction is obvious, and can be impressive. dbx gets out of the way of quiet passages of music, while clamping down on periods of silence. I use it for all the tapes I listen to in my car, and I like the results. My four-tracker (fostex) has Dolby C NR. The music I do is mostly quiet, melancholy stuff that C just tramples to death. I switch it off, and reduce the noise during the mixdown with dbx. It isn't perfect, but I just couldn't get Dolby C to behave itself. I expect that traditional rock/pop would have no trouble punching through the hiss gauntlet that Dolby lays down. On the other hand, as you noted, dbx sometimes doesn't move fast enough. If you were to lay down a quiet percussion track with, say, a closed hi-hat every half-note, you might lose the leading edge of the sound to dbx. It can also be heard to "breathe;" some of the hiss comes through when dbx adjusts itself to quieter sounds. To each their own. If you're writing a paper on the two technologies, good luck in gathering your facts. If you're making a choice between them in preparation for spending a wad of cash on equipment, I'd say you should trust your own ears. Go to a dealer and have them set you up with recorders on both sides of the NR fence. Get some good headphones and go to town. I'd almost guarantee that, after a test drive, you'll have a clear preference for one. > Al Polivka arpa: apolivka@x102a.ess.harris.com -- +--Tom Yager, Technical Editor, BYTE----Reviewer, UNIX World---------------+ | NET: decvax!maxx!tyager -or- uunet!bytepb!maxx!tyager | | I speak only for myself "UNIX: It's not a job, | +-------------------------------------it's a Jihad!" -co-worker------------+