Okay... I really want to get this recording done and wrapped up! We did the actual thing at the end of last year, and the edit/mix last month. And we have been sitting on two versions of the final mix for a few weeks now. And now that I'm on tour, I've got heaps of time to listen and compare between the two..

... of course, my wife and the engineer had a quick listen already, and we have thoughts... but my wife has delegated the final decision to me.

Now... what is the difference between the two versions? Well, one is the raw final edit and mix... and the other has a noise reduction filter put on it. And on first listening in the car when we first got the versions, we were pretty happy with it.

But on further listening on headphones, I found that the noise reduction made the violin sound weirdly hollow and there were bits where it sort of sounded a bit underwater? For a split second... and things that you wouldn't notice at all if you weren't listening to them on a good pair of headphones or speakers!

But it bothered me... again, not crazily... but the nagging feeling was there that it didn't quite sound right! Sigh.... that is what you get for training your ears to be discerning!

That said... on the performance and recording side of things, we are COMPLETELY happy with it! It sounds like us... and it feels like it captures the essence of what we think a live recording and concert should sound like. Not a recording recording... it is not that careful in execution... and we deliberately opted to avoid the Frankenstein route of most recordings. This is us... no tricks!

Anyway... going back to the noise reduction... as it was a live recording... with large takes... there are occasional traffic noises, and in one track... a distant lawnmower... and creaks and bumps from the church as well.

... and the noise reduction does muffle or get rid of some of it. With a small effect on the tone and sound of the violin... oddly, the harpsichord doesn't seem to be affected quite so much. But the violin sounds thinner, a bit hollow and distant... only the merest little thing, but enough so that I notice... and I don't quite recognise it as my violin and myself. The mannerisms and shaping is me... but the sound is a little off!

So... the big question... is the noise reduction worth it? And now that I've had a day of listening on computer speakers and good headphones... well, for most of the tracks... No, it doesn't get rid of enough noise to make it worthwhile.. and it also makes the background sound of the church (the silence noise) also sound strange to me!

However, that said, there is one track where I was playing a solo dámore piece... and there is a lot of traffic... and planes... and that might have to go the route of noise reduction! I'm listening to that now...

... on the other hand, if this is a "live" recording that is meant to follow more a concert sound... well, these are concert sounds as well! Proof of life!

... and we have always been a little on the "don't care" side of things when it comes to the music industry preference for "cleanliness". So, maybe this will be another moment of flying that flag again!

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