Posts
1139
Joined
3/21/2008
Location
US
Edited Date/Time
1/16/2012 5:04am
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/index.html?t=689347#689347
As you may know, Metallica's latest album Death Magnetic is available as downloadable tracks in Guitar Hero III. But you probably didn't know this: The tracks sound better in the game than they do on CD or on iTunes. Like a lot of modern music, Metallica's latest is a victim of too much compression. Basically the levels are boosted as far as possible in order for the CD to sound louder. Loud is good, but you lose way too much dynamics in place of the volume. And there's even proof: Sound engineer Ian Shepherd compared the wave forms of the Guitar Hero versions and the album versions of the songs and took these screenshots:
"As you can easily see," he writes, "the CD version on the bottom has been heavily compressed, limited and/or clipped, and sounds massively distorted as a result." In fact, the CD is 10 dB louder than the Guitar Hero version. Although Sheperd points out that the comparison is superfluous:
"There's no analysis needed, you can hear it plain as day," he said to Wired via email. "The real credit lies with the fans on the Metallica forums who spotted this and pointed it out."
Metallica fans are calling for a remix of the album, and it's only a matter of time until someone distributes the Guitar Hero version online...just don't miss any notes!
As you may know, Metallica's latest album Death Magnetic is available as downloadable tracks in Guitar Hero III. But you probably didn't know this: The tracks sound better in the game than they do on CD or on iTunes. Like a lot of modern music, Metallica's latest is a victim of too much compression. Basically the levels are boosted as far as possible in order for the CD to sound louder. Loud is good, but you lose way too much dynamics in place of the volume. And there's even proof: Sound engineer Ian Shepherd compared the wave forms of the Guitar Hero versions and the album versions of the songs and took these screenshots:
"As you can easily see," he writes, "the CD version on the bottom has been heavily compressed, limited and/or clipped, and sounds massively distorted as a result." In fact, the CD is 10 dB louder than the Guitar Hero version. Although Sheperd points out that the comparison is superfluous:
"There's no analysis needed, you can hear it plain as day," he said to Wired via email. "The real credit lies with the fans on the Metallica forums who spotted this and pointed it out."
Metallica fans are calling for a remix of the album, and it's only a matter of time until someone distributes the Guitar Hero version online...just don't miss any notes!
The mastering engineer was prolly trying to fix it and even it out. Usually with that type of music, they do a lot of heavy compression for the radio mixes and the cd mix. It would be a different master print if they release it on vinyl. You also have to remember that the mastering process isnt finished until the record execs say it is. If it is not as loud as other albums that it will be compared to, they will want it bumped up more. A lot of it isnt their fault.
Just a point of reference - the Ian Shepherd fella is a classical engineer. The views between rock and classical mix and tracking engineers are vastly different. Both mix differently, and both want mastering done differently. Classical guys only use compression during mastering only if neccesary, and if they do they only push it at about 1/2 db.
Rock guys can go up to 15 db of compression during mastering. Sometimes even more.
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
I guess I will download the album. Please don't tell Lars.
If those clowns still recorded to a Studer at 30ips they could keep the entire dynamic range and it wouldnt give what is called listening fatigue.
Clipped music sux !
I think Metallica peaked with Master of Puppets. For me, Kill'em All was a tad too raw but good, Ride the Lightning was actually my favorite, Master was a more polished version of Ride the Lightning. The black album was too overpolished but still had some good tunes, then it all went downhill from there. Still, bad Metallica is better than most other bands' best efforts.
ATR Magnetics
http://usrecordingmedia-store.stores.yahoo.net/atrma202x25o.html
Called them up, they said it was a bad batch. Sent us a new crate of it and the new stuff is fine. I think it took them a while to get their machines working right.
I havent been on a session where they are using it yet though. We are trying to get rid of all the shit GP9 that we have.
There is a note floating around supposedly originating from the mastering engineer saying that the mix was "brickwalled" before it even reached his facility.
One last thing--listening to this inspired me to write my own review that Metallica fans may appreciate:
http://kingbaroque.blogspot.com
Post a reply to: Metallica sound better on Guitar Hero