Originally Posted by
soulster
That's not how it works. There shouldn't be any distortion on that song. And, what engineers do is put a limiter on the vocal track so that it doesn't overload the tape. FWIW I do not hear distortion on my CD OR LP copy.
A LIMITER is a specialized compressor that is used to stop in incoming signal at a per-determined threshold. High notes by a singer, for example, go high, but then sounds like it hits a glass ceiling. It doesn't go any higher. That way, you do not hear the full dynamic range. Limiters are necessary You don't want the needle to jump out of the groove on high passages. for not only avoiding tape saturation at high levels, but aids in disc cutting.
So, if you are hearing distortion, it could be a number of things. You did not mention what source you are hearing, but if it's the LP, you could be hearing groove damage, cartridge mis-tracking, or something in your playback chain. If you are listening to a CD comp, your distortion may be from mastering compression that was commonly used starting in the 90s. If you are listening to an mp3 or an iTunes download, that's likely your problem. This is why I want the CD, and wonder about the mastering. This is why I am an audiophile.
Apparently, you do not have the second pressing of the CD, or the deluxe CD that came out a few years ago. They have the single mix on it in place of the original mix.
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