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

Showing 2 responses by cyclonicman

I agree with Ben and Bongofury for the most part. I also enjoy searching out new music and it's a bonus when it is well recorded. The only problem I find is that I have been a long time Springsteen and Metallica fan and as such I want to hear their music and I know that it doesn't sound as good as it can or should and I wish they would fix it. It seems like almost all rock is recorded with very little dynamic range and that is the problem because there are no longer any musical nuances, it's just loud!!! This new recording mentality is really destroying the emotional impact of the music. It's as if the audio industry has decided to add steroid's to every musical note and beat.
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!!