Quote:
Originally Posted by Datschge
Both screenshots are a disgrace to look at. That some genres often have quieter sections than others which aren't compressed over the top as well doesn't make the end result (barely using the dynamic range available) any better.
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The whole point is that you can't make a simple prescription like "the dynamic range needs to be X dB" that covers any and all cases, because the end result varies. Furthermore, while neither picture exactly looks enticing, the 2nd one sounds far better, because the squashed dynamics fit the style of the music more than with the 1st.
But I stand by my statement that, aside from a few cases, VGM has not suffered terribly from the loudness wars. The Final Fantasy main battle themes come out as follows:
1989: I - 9
1989: II - 8
1990: III - 11
1991: IV - 10
1992: V - 12
1994: VI - 12
1997: VII - 11
1999: VIII - 8
2000: IX - 9
2001: X - 9
2003: X-2 - 9
2002: XI - 12
2006: XII - 8 (Using track "Boss Battle")
2010: XIII - 8
2012: XIII-2 - 6 (Using track "Last Hunter")
Aside from FFXIII-2, they keep to a quite reasonable 8 or above.