My SDCompo 16 entry. It's past the deadline, so I think it's ok to share. :)
Zipped XM file:
http://crazyazngamer.googlepages.com/oceandust.zip
Should play fine in ModPlug. A bit quiet though, but that's to prevent clipping and the MP3 render is normalized anyways.
MP3 render:
http://crazyazngamer.googlepages.com/entry5.mp3
Just dropping back in for a quick greeting to you all. :)
Very nice piece.
I rather experienced the opposite. The XM version was louder, more dynamics and specific positions, while the compressed
version sounded softer with pale dynamics and panorama.
Wee, it got 5th :P
Congrats to Relabs and pupafish for their entries as well.
Anyways, the only effect I used post-production for that particular mp3 was normalization, so really, the balance between panning and volume shouldn't have changed.
However, I did listen to the original the second time, and I do see what you mean. Although the balance shouldn't have changed, since the original was produced at such a low volume, the low volume might have produced the illusion of a more varied dynamics than the normalized (yeah, I didn't compress the track).
I think it has something to do with human hearing. I usually notice a dynamical difference between a track played loudly and softly.