so, this is inri002, updated (again) to remove any sound corruption, and let's hope it stays that way:
i've tested this one, and in fact re-uploaded it repeatedly, and the results are sort of confusing. it sounded wrong, until i downloaded it, and then it sounded correct. but, then it sounded wrong, again. and then it sounded right again after i started typing up this complaint, and then wrong again when i started focusing on filing. it's almost as though they were waiting for me to actually download it for the a/b, and then reverted once i called them on their bluff, and then reverted again once they thought i'd stopped watching, then back again, and then back again. and, that means what, exactly? that they're playing stupid games?
fuck.
i'm not disturbing this by measuring it - it shouldn't change under observation. that's not quantum theory, it's just silly woo.
so, it keeps modulating between a higher volume, "higher gain" version that boosts the mids (the correct version) and a more compressed sounding, incorrect version that wants to boost the bottom, instead. i seem to be able to get the correct version by refreshing, sometimes, but it seems to default to the incorrect version, over and over.
but these are imprecise human observations. the math is that it nulls.
what else can i say?
i've hypothesized before that i'm actually hearing an echo from a background listener that is cutting in and out on the line. the sum of it is that the bass gets boosted, but it could be the effect of a reverb feedback loop - and that's what you'd expect. so, for example, try putting a guitar through a delay effect and then feeding it back through an amp - it builds up very fast on the low end. so, i'm complaining that the bass is too loud and i can't hear the highs on the guitars, but maybe i'm actually hearing the feedback from the cops.
i dunno. i know it comes and goes, and i know i don't get it.
but, these files null, so what else can i say? it is possible to hear them correctly. i've made my displeasure clear, on the case that they're being altered. if i'm dealing with a malicious actor that insists on altering the files despite repeated instructions not to, what can i do besides point it out and demand otherwise? and, if i'm dealing with the technical consequences of internet streaming, what can i do?
i'm necessarily streaming this on the chromebook, so i can't disconnect. that's the point.
*sigh*
it nulls.
i wish i could upload some kind of signature file somewhere and get people to download it.
so, i've been spending the last several days trying to win a stupid argument about artistic freedom by overpowering whatever's going on via sheer will power, and i really don't know how long it'll hold for. but, it sounds ok right this minute.
there's four possibilities:
1) somebody is messing with the bass response at the server level, and my control over it is minimal. it comes back and forth with no real pattern.
2) i'm hearing interference from the cops.
3) it's compression introduced by the server, and i'm unusually sensitive to it, given that it's my own mixes.
4) subtle differences in the volume on playback are messing with my head.
re: (4), i'm used to listening to this with the volume cranked - while mastering, on my mp3 player, on my home system, etc. but, it actually sounds much better from bandcamp when it's run at a slightly lower level. it could be that some kind of normalization algorithm at the site (they may insist on boosting the volume before they convert to low quality mp3s for streaming) is essentially distorting the output at high volume, and i just need to turn it down to compensate (and maybe run it through an external amplifier if i need more volume). the quality of the dac in this chromebook is no doubt not helping much, although it does sound fine at a lower level.
as it is, i've found a sort of "sweet spot" and i hope to exploit it. if it keeps breaking in the same way, though...
