Dynamic compression room acoustics, or input clipping?

[Chris A]

I wonder if the YouTube version Chris downloaded is significantly different than the stereo mix/master from a CD or Bluray.

The Dynamic Range Database version of the track I analyzed had to be from the 2002/2003 release version (crest factor of 7 dB):

So it clearly is the least dynamic version from the list above. I expect the other later versions of this album to have significantly different levels of clipping--about 4 dB higher crest factor on average (7-->11 dB).

Chris

 

[MA043HA]

And right you are. Here are the waveforms from the 2020 4 disk dlx set. First the disk 1 CD and then the 24/96 stereo rip from the Bluray. Audacity clipping analysis showed none on either rip. Wonder how these would sound to our OP?

 

[Chris A]

The exact versions (release date and number) of the disc/music download make a difference when it comes to recorded music releases. In this particular case, it's an extreme example. Perhaps Mr. Wilson started to get more involved in the mastering process some year after the first release of this album (probably well after 2007), and left much more dynamic range from the mixdown tracks in a much later release (2020).

Chris