PCA Forums

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/106263

on the small audio wave form window, you can see the different in volume.
http://f3.yahoofs.com/ymg/null__11/null ... ADiGuhcBVm

I always find myself reducing the volume level on any CD that I copy or convert to MP3. I use a utility called MP3 Gain that does a decent job.
http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/

I've heard a few songs off of this CD and Metallica is finally back. I haven't bought it yet but from what I'm hearing the mix was compressed and the volume is so loud that it's actually clipping off some frequencies. This, to me, gives the CD a flat sound. There's no dynamics. I also obtained a copy of Metallica playing their new stuff live on BBC radio. It's pretty sad when a bootleg sounds better than a studio album.

Google "loudness wars" if you want to do further reading on the subject. Many CD's are falling victims to poor sound engineering. One really good comparison is Led Zeppelin, while they didn't fall prey to the loudness problem, there is a distinct difference between the CD's released in the 80's and the remasters released in the 90's. The original pressing, without monkeying with the mix, just sounds better. Engineers sometimes don't understand when NOT to use noise reduction on a recording. I like being able to hear the buzz of the amps and rattle of the drums on older recordings. It gives them character.

I think the best engineered CD's were Pink Floyd's. The dynamics are retained and they sound brilliant (on the original pressings, I haven't heard the re-masters). I use to use "Is There Anybody Out There?" from The Wall when setting up my speakers.

Compression started with Michael Jackson. It was actually the marketing department's idea. They sampled many different versions of the same song to people & had the people decide which they liked best. Most liked it when everything was loud. Thus normalization began. Since then, it only became worse over time. I sadly suspect that the times of silence in music are gone. Only in the 70s did they ever really get close to perfection & then people realized that they don't like real music, they like pumped up music.

Yes, I agree that Pink Floyd is expertly recorded & mastered (Alan Parsons once again... see other thread). Also check out Dire Straits & the Fleetwood Mac reunion CDs for incredible engineering.

I've heard that people are actually recording the new Metallica album from their Guitar Hero games due to the fact that it was better mastered on the game than on the CDs.

adding a vote to pink floyd. I remeber buying Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication album.. returing it 3 times then gave up when i figured out the mastering was causing the horrid clipping.

This is yet another reason why I won't buy CDs anymore. Even if i like the band.. have the money.. like all the music.. I cant PAY money for a BETTER recording then i can find on the net for FREE.

Here is another (more of the same actually) of the issue with a better explanation and examples from the past. They even mention the Chili Peppers album Pugs.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1222287 ... %3Darticle

Executioner wrote:Here is another (more of the same actually) of the issue with a better explanation and examples from the past. They even mention the Chili Peppers album Pugs.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1222287 ... %3Darticle

While many have criticized ". . . And Justice For All" for not being a balanced mix, at least it's not clipping.

Err wrote:While many have criticized ". . . And Justice For All" for not being a balanced mix, at least it's not clipping.

Exactly.