As music production reaches higher and higher for that stand-out sound, it's explored no avenue more frequently than that of volume. Listen to a song from 30 years ago and compare it to one from today - you'll have to give the volume knob a good turn to compete. But why has this happened? What's causing producers to attack each other with big beats, and how is it affecting our listening experience?
Let's ask some questions...
What is the Loudness War?
Ever since the invention of the club, producers have wanted their track to stand out - to be the banger that gets everybody on the dancefloor and takes them out of obscurity into super stardom. But how do you make a song stand out amongst so many other similar tracks? Amongst other things - volume.If one song is louder than the rest, it'll sound more intense, therefore (in theory) making the club-goers dance all the harder. However, since this has been the thought process for decades now, it's got to the point where tracks simply cannot go any louder while maintaining musical integrity.
Therefore, producers now have to fight their way to decibel heaven, making sure their tracks pump out as loudly as the hits in order to stand any chance of getting into a DJ's playlist. There's nothing a DJ hates more than having to adjust the volume knob - it's just hassle! (Either that or the P.A. simply can't go any louder!)
Victims of the Loudness War
As with any war, there are innocent bystanders that will be needlessly mutilated. In this case, it's dynamic range. This is the difference in volume between loud and quiet parts of the track.
Why would you want dynamic range? Well, the bigger the difference in volume between a lead synth and a kick drum, the harder that kick drum will punch the listener in the face. So the victim is - punchiness! Dance tracks now are a seamless blend of loudness, that doesn't even dip in the massive "hands-in-the-air" moments. Listeners don't get the punchy, powerful tracks they deserve and these quality tunes are forever destined to be big, rectangular blocks in mastering suites across the globe... or are they?
Fighting the loudness war
If you want to say no to these pointless casualties of war and take back the dynamic range that your songs deserve, perhaps it's time to stop putting limiters on everything. Perhaps it's time to turn down the synths and simply turn up your speakers rather than the track! It's a tough battle, since many DJs will not give any quarter to producers who dare to venture below that 0dB point, but if you want tracks that punch and take listeners through a range of dynamics, you'll have to risk it and fight the good fight.
So are you with the Club DJs? Conforming to the mainstream and making large, loud listening experiences? Or dare you depend on dynamics to give your track a completely different dimension to it? It's time for you to pick your alliance for this war; it's going to go on for a long time!
