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Is music quality moving away from the "audiophile"

I recently read an interesting post on the production of the new Metallica album and how its sound has been catered to the Ipod generation. Formatting the sound of the album toward the ipod itself. With computer downloads, mp3's etc, etc. it seems that "compression" over quality is becoming the norm.

In the Metallica example, I have been a fan since 84. Now, i know they are not a good example for the so called "audiophile", but that being said the production on this album is terrible. Actually, worse than their previous album St. Anger. Who makes the call on this? The band, engineer, record company? A combination of all?
zigonht
cyclonicman
693 posts
 
Phasecorreec

The current issue of Rolling Stone has an article in it about the sound quality of "Death Magnetic". Fans are complaining that Metallica has cranked the sound levels so high on Death Magnetic, that the music is distorted and compromised. It goes on to state that 11,000 fans have signed a petition asking for a remix and remaster of Death Magnetic. Get this, other fans are trading a version of the album made from the less loud mixes intended for use in Guitar Hero III!!
chazro's avatar
chazro
575 posts
 
Quote from David Chesky in the latest Downbeat said something to the effect that technology's reaching new heights regarding sound quality and yet, the masses are overwhelmingly supporting LOW-FI sources! In retrospect, I would argue that that's ALWAYS been the case.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
wow...it must be that bad i take it...looks like im just gonna have to live with Kill em all on vinyl! oh well...that being said...are the tunes on Death Magnetic any good?
zigonht OP
124 posts
 
Phasecorrect,

It is an improvement over St. Anger but as a fan since 84 it is honestly is not that great. Sad to say...
jfz
570 posts
 
It's more than a small % of Springsteen fans that are very unhappy with the compression (and distortion) on Springsteen's "Magic". For an example of a recent excellent sounding rock/pop release, try Jackson Browne's Time the Conqueror. He even uses tubes; and is selling LPs at his concerts.
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