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Post by martindn on Oct 15, 2008 21:44:58 GMT
Yes, I agree Paulo, the live versions have an immediacy and intimacy that Hayley's studio recordings lack. I always tell people that you have not heard Hayley properly until you have heard her live. In his interview with Hayley, Alex from Celebrity Radio heavily implied the same opinion. This EP I think comes nearest to reproducing the feel of a live performance, and will show thse who have never heard her live what they are missing. Perhaps it its the next best thing for those like you who cannot get to er live performances, or have never heard her sing live.
Martin
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Post by Colin on Jan 13, 2009 2:28:51 GMT
Hi everyone I've just noticed that Hayley's iTunes Festival 2008 live EP is now available in iTunes Plus, which is a better quality recording (256 kbps instead of 128 kbps, and free of DRM). These are available at the same price (79p each or £4.49 for the EP) or for £1.12 as an upgrade. However it seems you must upgrade your entire iTunes library at once - so if all you've purchased from iTunes is this EP you may find it worthwhile upgrading. For me, I have 128 upgradeable songs, most of which I'm not worried about upgrading - so the only option for me is to repurchase the EP at full price.  According to Apple:
iTunes Plus refers to songs and music videos available in our highest-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding (twice the current bit rate of 128 kbps), and without figital rights management (DRM). There are no burn limits and iTunes Plus music will play on all iPods, Mac or Windows computers, Apple TVs, and many other digital music players.
iTunes music with DRM [the original releases] includes audio with a bit rate of 128 kbps and allows users to transfer songs and videos to up to five computers, burn seven copies of the same playlist to CD and sync to an unlimited number of iPods.
I don't know if these are yet available on any other iTunes sites apart from the UK. Kind regards Colin |
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Post by martindn on Jan 13, 2009 21:23:01 GMT
I'd be very interested to know if these sound any better. The main issue I have always had with it is the acoustic of the venue, and I can't imagine that a higher bit rate will fix that!
But it is still worth getting if you don't have it at all for Hayley's fine performances.
Martin
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Post by pjrcorreia on Jan 13, 2009 23:28:09 GMT
Hi Colin, Thank you for the tip! I didn't notice that before. I upgraded my few albums. At least to my ears they sound the same, I really can't see hear much difference! I just check the Itunes stores in New Zealand, USA, Germany and Portugal and the EP still isn't available in any of them, I think that this EP is only available in the UK and Ireland!  Best wishes, Paulo Correia |
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Post by comet on Jan 14, 2009 0:16:43 GMT
Hi Martin,
The acoustics of the venue do not necessarily show up in the recording, nor the other noise you may have heard in the audience area, like breaking glass and chatter.
The recording is usually made from the mixing desk, directly from the microphones and other inputs like electric piano, prior to the sound being tone adjusted and amplified and sent to the speakers : The sound which you heard at the venue.
The recording was probably made on a multi- track system where any of the inputs or microphones is recorded on it's own on a separate track and can be adjusted afterwards to produce the final recording.
Most of the microphones Hayley uses are only sensitive to sound made directly on Hayley's side (Or the axis of the mike) and within a few inches of the mesh, You will often see Hayley move the mike to the side to produce a fade in the sound she is making, These microphones ( Usually Shure SM58s ) pick up very little sound from the audience side (To prevent feedback and the amplification of audience sound ).
the applause and audience sound is picked up on a separate microphone often hanging from the ceiling and is usually a condenser microphone which picks up sound from all directions more or less equally. This sound can also be adjusted into the final mix of the recording.
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
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Post by Dave on Jan 14, 2009 2:17:07 GMT
Hi Paul, That's a good explanation, the only thing I'd add is that condenser microphones can also be (and are) used for main vocals, at home and in the studio. They can have switchable sound pickup patterns too, I had to drive 150 miles to get a dual condenser mic for my daughter to do that, as a Christmas present last month!  Yes the professional dynamic microphones used by Hayley are more durable and can handle very loud sounds better than condensers, so they are used on stage. But Hayley won't be using SM 58s, her microphone systems cost thousands, I kid you not! Cheers, Dave |
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Post by gra7890 on Jan 14, 2009 22:25:32 GMT
Hi Dave, Paul, and Martin, Interesting information but the iTunes CD still has the 'hollow sound' the venue produced  Graham |
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Post by martindn on Jan 14, 2009 22:37:53 GMT
Yes Graham, that was what I meant. Not as pronounced as the actual performance I think, but still noticeable on the recordings. Maybe the sound from the "audience" mike was mixed in all the way through, perhaps at a lower level. Or maybe it came from the mikes used to pick up the backing instruments (which you didn't mention Paul).
Martin
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
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Post by Dave on Jan 26, 2016 4:32:50 GMT
Hi everyone, Hayley's iTunes Live session is another of her download albums/singles that I've discovered recently in true CD quality i.e. lossless FLAC compression so if anyone's interested, it too can be streamed losslessly from www.tidal.com if you sign up for a one month free trial. I can only speak for UK and Ireland members, that's all I've tried. You may need Audacity or a stream downloader to save it to computer (then burn it to CD). There is no proper artwork available with this version though, only on iTunes if you download it (in .mp3 GRRR). Cheers, Dave |
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