Just popped to say

THE NW GOT THE SHAFT AGAIN. No Joe.

Good Afternoon Satchland.......How Is Everyone?

Shoving off work early and getting a jump on the weekend. We're going to visit my in-laws in Wisconsin.

Everyone have a Great Weekend !!!!!

Good evening Satchland......

Do the Stu - How you doing? People seem to like 'Deliverance' for a full on rock thing and 'These Days' for more of a ballad....'Neocity' is a mix of techno sounds and guitar which is kind of a EOC sound. Great, take a listen if you get time! If you follow the link below and click on the 'Fusion' album....Cheers!

nickbowley.co.uk/music

Nick

Hello, I am new here. I have registered because something has been bothering me for a while now. I was a Satriani fan only by knowing 3 albums (SWTA, FIABD, EXTREMIST). For the past 3 years I decided to catch up with his latest works.

I have been observed how Joe interact with his fans and he's humble and simple, a very nice person, no arrogance or stardom disease. So I thought well, since he's a simple nice guy why not ask. I believe Joe and his band are magnificent musicians who also have a certain knowledge of how audio has to be properly mastered when making a record.

What I am really concerned is about the loudness race taking place in Joe's records. And I am here to ask WHY in the world, the album "Strange Beautiful Music" is so LOUD, peaking at 0dB, at full digital scale. And taking the moment to also ask WHY "Professor Satchafunkilus" mastering is so loud, whimp and weak.

First, let me say about "SBM". It's is loud, really loud. Is that really necessary? Who decides this? Can Joe ever ask the record company for them to slow down? This album's loudness is on par with Oasis' loudest albums (generally their albums peak at +4dB).

Second, about "Professor Satchafunkilus"... how come the mastering is so different from, let's say "Super Colossal"... There are no punchy drums, it all feels flat, although this album is still loud but not as loud as "Strange Beautiful Music" (ReplayGain value of -8.40). How come "Professor" is so whimply mastered? Although I don't find "Super Colossal" that quite (-7.10dB) it still got punches.

Why in the world albums like "SWTA" and "FIABD", full of dynamics in the sound, perfectly mastered, their mastering techniques have been abandoned for so long, and they're the best sounding records.

I would think that with wasteful pop music like the absurd hip hop and rap groups put out would have been OK because I don't expect musicality or mastering perfection for THAT kind of music. But why the beautiful guitar has been forced to join the loudness race, this is something I really can't compreehend.

I can't accept an answer like "I leave this up to the engineers", NOT from so well talent, intelligent and well reputated instrumental musicians. I really really admire Joe and his band, and I am sure someone out there must feel the same way I feel too. So what gives? Who is encharged for these horrible mastering techniques? I wish that one day, the loudness race becomes the first 1 enemy for artists, bands, producers and engineers.

Keniko-what part of Wisconsin are you coming to?

NickBowley-how much does all the equipment cost?

Joe Satriani-I saw the vid of everyone singing happy birthday! sounds like you had a fun day!

John-thtanx for the floydrose trem page, it helped me realign the bridge when I wanted to adjust it, but messed it up.

Blue-moon-are you saying you're gonna stay a "girl" on myspace!?

This is a reference table for loudness. It explains a bit of the pain. Crystal Planet is also a *VERY* loud CD.

References in dB FS: Film industry reference level - [ 83dB ] (PS. the film industry never changed their level) Enya Watermark 1988 pressing - [ 85dB ] a-ha Hunting High and Low 1985 pressing [ 88dB ]

Joe's Albums in dB FS: JS Not of this Earth 1986 - [ 88dB ] JS Surfing w/ the Alien 1987 - [ 89dB ] JS Dreaming 11 1988 - [ 90dB ] JS Flying in a Blue Dream 1989 - [ 92dB ] JS The Extremist 1992 - [ 95dB ] (here things start to get loud) JS 1995 album - [ 92.5dB, because it's a quite semi acustic album ] JS Crystal Planel 1988 - [ 96,5 dB ] JS Engines of Creation 2000 - [ 96,5 dB ] JS Strange Beautiful Music 2002 - [ 99dB ] (1 to full digital scale) JS Is there love in Space? 2004 - [ 98dB ] JS Super Colossal 2006 - [ 96,5 dB ] JS Professor Satchafunkilus 2008 - [ 97,8 dB ]

For you to understand more, when these values hit 100dB FS, it is the same as saying they are 0dB or full digital scale. Whatever goes over 100dB it is represented as +1, +2, +3.

When you say that an album is "-10,00dB", that means that it will have to go down -10dB FS to match the referece of 89dB, which is the loudness reference that well mastered CD's have been made in the 80's. The film industry have always worked with a 83dB reference level and never changed it. So what is the best reason for record companies to boost the loudness and ruin the records with loud tracks.

Further reading and consulting:

LOUDNESS WAR in Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

The best way to master is record at maximum levels on your recording software and/or recording workstation. Then that way you don't have to over-boost on your mastering, just barely give a raise in levels.

The Alesis MasterLink is the best stand-alone mastering tool on the market and allows loudness (but never too loud) without over compression on dynamics.

Check out www.soultostrings.com I recorded & mastered everything in this fashion and the end results were fantastic.

Dear Professor Satchafunkilus, HI,Joe.I am guitarist in Australia.Have been listening and being inspired by you since not of this earth.I just wanted to thank you for music and your lifes dedication that has meant so much to me.You are a very generous and humble man and wanted too thank you for sharing your skills and work with the world.Please dont ever stop recording and touring.will come and see you when your 85 still blowing peoples minds.Lifelong dream came true and can mark it off the bucket list.Just went to the show at Tivoli Brisbane.It was everything i wanted and more.My mind was blown and willbe forever more.The new album is great and got it on constant rotation.Theres no-one else i'd rather listen too. I know you dont like praise but i just wanted to thank you once again for everything you do and what you've given us all.I'll look foward to your future conquests. I just wanna rock.

Craig

Hey Joe, I met you at the tivoli in Brisbane and u signed my Drivers licence when i was off my head, what an awsum concert that was hey man!, i forgot to ask you and i wish i did when i met you, whats one piece of advice you could give a guitarist to get as good as possible?

Igneousiceman - does cycling up the shop count? >=:o) i haven't done a proper ride for 3 months, for me a proper ride = 10km :P which is nothing for real cyclists. we have a Freeway Bike Hike here, you get to cycle down the Freeway for 30km...i've done that twice in '05 & '06...I haven't done the last 2yrs. so the furthest i've ridden is 30km in 75 mins :) i need to get some fitness again...i've been avoiding my exercise bike. i got bursitis in my left hip and as soon as i start to get some fitness and push myself it flares up :/

about the Tour...i don't care for Armstrong. do you think he was a druggie? how can you win 7 Tours?? I see a few more have been kicked out of the Tour...did you hear the people booing that Ricco guy? serves him right...his whole team has pulled out.

roo BigBunny and the satchers: Yes, joe has all the notes, he said he knows he has them in one of the travel cases.

thanx for asking roo >=:o) much appreciated...now i know i didn't stuff up yayyy! that was nice of you to give away a M&G pass, good on ya.

Jamie oh man, i'd love another G3!! just Joe would be fine though :) i 2nd what Jamie said Joe Thanx for returning to Oz...please visit us again soon!! >=:o) about the guitar, i emailed my local music shop and they said they have someone who can clearcoat it, don't know how much it will cost though $$$

Tracie - thanx for that link...man that's a good drawing!! but like Alan said 'where's the little legs?' hey, if you can't beat them, join them >=;P

Rock people now used to get lot of compression.

But everybody is free to master rock as jazz or classical music.. that is to say with more dynamic.. it's as you wish.

Don't forget that mastering step won't do miracle.

The definition of your dynamic starts with the way you play, record, & mix.

Hi Do The Stu,

I have The Extremist, ITLIS, Live!, PSAMOR and SWTA, and just bought NOTT and CP on ebay. So still looking for FIABD, TM and others. Have DVD's LISF and G3 Vai/Johnson, my brother lent me Live in Denver and I think I'll get my own copy of that too. Also have a hefty playlist of Joe songs on You Tube - so handy.

I've been right out of active listening to music unfortunately (I know, it's sad) , got distracted for about 10 years going to uni, work, family, it's now all Hannah Montana and Pink at our place! There's really only been radio and the daughters' So Fresh CD's - how tragic.

Having said that, I rarely find a band so good that I am willing to shell out for their entire CD, I must be a hard customer. If I have to disclose some, I do have ACDC, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, U2, Def Leppard, and then almost nothing after that.

It was when we bought a new PC media centre last year that I went through all my CD's to transfer to WMP and iTunes and was putting together a playlist to walk/jog/ride to that I plucked out SWTA and thought SH*T why haven't I been listening to this??

Cheers

Skippygirl

I must say I am very impressed by everyone's knowledge of the db recording levels of these cd's. I always thought I had a pretty good ear, but I think my is only good to the music and different instruments playing. Someone tell me axactly what recording a cd at 88 db or 100 db does? How does it adversly affect the sound?

Happy Birthday, Joe!!!

WeŽre expecting you here in Brasilia on the august, 2nd!!!

Thanks for the oportunity!!!