Quote:
Originally Posted by 24-96 Mastering  With this one, I actually think average punters might notice. Have a listen to it on headphones... (as most mp3 player users will). That's where the real drama begins.
Chris:
I think everyone posting here gets that TJ didn't enjoy mastering this and that this kind of distortion was not his choice. He was just one link in the chain that led to - what is to my knowledge - the loudest and most distorted release of a major, internationel calibre artist yet. I think noone here assumes him to be the one in the chain that wanted the album to be this way... but someone did, and that's what's so puzzling. Who on earth heard it and thought it was good that way? And who, assuming that TJ at some point communicated to those in charge that the mixes are less than ideal to work with, insisted that he would have to go ahead and work with them?
I guess this thread so far has been a nice opportunity for everyone to bash the quality of the product, me included, but I for one am genuinely interested to hear how this came to be - because it is just so extreme. |
Rick Rubin and Metallica are solely responsible for the end product. They gave the directions, they approved it. They are not rookies and no one at the label can ever bully these guys into anything. Both parties are 800 pound gorillas in the music industry. These guys are smart and in control. You and I may not like their taste, but it's not a Chris Athens record. It's a metallica record and this is what they want to give the record buying public. Only Metallica and Rick know why it sounds like it does.