Weird, Special or Normal?

[Natasha]

Strange CDPlayer??

My sister and I bought my mom a CD player for her birthday. One of those ones that you can take with you.

Anyways, I was using it the other night, (big confession) and I popped in "Phantom of the Opera" and it only played backing tracks. I was a little surprised but since the CD also has backing tracks on it I just took it out and put Becky Taylor's "Shine" album in.

"You Raise Me Up" came on but it wasn't the version I'd heard before. Becky was singing all right but the background music was much louder than her voice and it sounded like she was singing it in a church. I was like, I must be dreaming! I've heard that song before and it just doesn't sound like that.

I then switched around and on some songs Becky's voice was barely audible yet the instrumental track was still very loud. And then all of a sudden it went back to normal. I was like, this is creepy!

Then I realized that the earphones hadn't been all the way in. I tried it with Hayley's first CD and it was the same.

Today I tried Charlotte Church's self-titled album on the speakers but only so far in and her voice is barely audible while the instrumental is very loud. You can sing to it and she can't be heard at all!

This is really weird but its kind of cool as well. Has anyone else noticed this? Try it and see if it works for you. Maybe my player is just weird -- or special! lol.

Natasha

[Natasha]

Something else I might add is on some CD's the voice doesn't roll back as much as Charlotte's did on "Charlotte Church."

But even if the voice remains audible it sounds DIFFERENT!

[HWI]

Hi Natasha,

The CD player sounds to me as though it is faulty. Take it back to the store, and take a CD with you. Get them to put it on another player and then into this one to hear the difference.

Or, you could just get them to change it for you, but insist on testing the new one before you leave the store.

These things happen. Man is fallible and, sometimes, the things he makes are not quite right. You shouldn't have any problem with the store. They are usually very good over things like this.

Keith.

[Richard]

Hello Natasha!

I've had a similar experience when using headphones, and I think I can offer a scientific explanation.

On most stereo vocal tracks, the vocal is positioned in the centre, so the recorded signals on the left and right channels are identical. If you don't insert the headphone plug properly, it is possible to parallel the left and right channels with the polarity of one channel reversed. This makes the vocal disappear, together with anything else that was recorded in the centre, but you will still hear any instruments that were recorded to left or right. I bet you thought you were a magician, so I hope I haven't disappointed you! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best Wishes to you and Crystal,

Richard

[1littlegirl]

I've done the same thing with my portable CD player! If you don't stick the headphones in all the way, the singer sounds very soft and echoes a lot. Sometimes I listen to it that way on purpose because it sounds cool.

[Natasha]

Richard thanks for that explanation! I think its cool because I love to listen to just the backing or really echoing voices!!

Natasha

[Richard]

Hello again Natasha!

You can certainly have a lot of fun that way, but when I'm listening to your clips on the Internet I make sure the headphones are plugged in fully so I can hear your voice properly.

The same goes for Hayley, Kristyn and all the other singers I listen to on the Forum. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Bye for now,

Richard

[roger]

I have a few old CDs which sound better if you pull the plug out completely!

Roger