Death Magnetic: NO CLIPPING on GH3

[Exocaster]

The distortion in the top end?

This. Someone said "it sounds like it was mastered through a Tubescreamer", and that's pretty much the extent of it. The snare hits are distorting. I don't have a problem with the mix or the tones, it's that it was cranked up so loud in mastering there's distortion on everything, and it makes the top end really harsh. Through my Polks or my Sennheiser phones it's really nasty. I actually prefer it on my iPod through cheap earbuds, as it masks a lot of the distortion. (Except when Lars lays into the snare...) If I still had a tape deck, I think I'd dub it to cassette.

[Rear Naked]

If I still had a tape deck, I think I'd dub it to cassette.

:lol:

[DeadNight Warrior]

Is there anyway we could move on past the clipping thing already? Are we all sound engineers? Just listen to the Goddamned cd and appreciate it for it is. Or, throw it in the trash if you don't like it. Jesus.

This is one of the most awaited releases from one of the world's biggest bands, and you're wondering why everyone's dwelling on it sounding like complete horse{censored}? In all seriousness, it sounds like you either have crap gear, or your ears aren't that great. Coz the CD does undeniably sound like pure balls. If you can't hear it then good for you, enjoy it while you can.

The first song clips pretty much constantly throughout the whole song.

[wok]

TheEsupremacy:

*sticks fingers in ears* "lalalalalal i can't hear you guys...zomg Metallica are incredible....*drool* what an incredible sounding album!!!!! ZOMG LIKE WOW!!!!!
BTW DIDN'T I TELL YOU I CAN'T HEAR YOU? Lalalalalala!!!!!!"

[marshallnoise]

This sort of brings up an interesting new idea. Mixing and mastering your own version of a record. Then reselling it as Death Magnetic mastered by Marshallnoise. Or something like that. Obviously there would be royalties paid to Metallica but you would get a small cut of whatever number of albums you sold.

The thing that people need to understand but obviously don't is that who ever mixes or masters a record is like a member of the band. They shape the whole sound of the band.

[TomCTC]

Always gotta find something to complain about.

 

"Ohh it's too looooud! :cry:"

 

{censored} sakes.

[maninblk0073]

Yea...I ran it through a couple different "clip restoration" programs...theres clipping on snare hits...bass drum hits and some of the palm-muted guitars.

Pretty easy to fix though.

[Jim85IROC]

This album takes the "loudness wars" to a whole new, completely unbelievable level. For something to be released with a mastering this utterly bad just amazes me. This cd is full of great music that I can barely listen to.

This cd will wind up in one of my cars because there's no way I can stand it through headphones or on my home stereo. The clipping is non stop!

[Rear Naked]

This sort of brings up an interesting new idea. Mixing and mastering your own version of a record. Then reselling it as Death Magnetic mastered by Marshallnoise. Or something like that. Obviously there would be royalties paid to Metallica but you would get a small cut of whatever number of albums you sold.

 

 

yeah that will happen:poke:

[marshallnoise]

yeah that will happen:poke:

 

 

Of course not. But an interesting concept, no?

 

What if we could get ahold of Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak and remaster it?

[Exocaster]

From the mastering engineer:

I

[blargh]

Always gotta find something to complain about. "Ohh it's too looooud! :cry:" {censored} sakes.

 

I don't mind it being loud. Lots of CDs that I think sound great are mastered loud. The problem is, Death Magnetic's mix is pushed past compression and into distortion, which sounds awful.

[Jim85IROC]

I think this explains it.

[ChS]

It's probably more apparent to people that have worked with audio and mastering at least on some level, the sound of audio when it's squashed through dynamic compressors is unmistakable, like taking UltraMaximizer and pushing it well beyond where it starts distorting. What's bizarre is they apparently squashed it before mastering. Why bother even sending it to a mastering engineer if you're doing that?

[Detonator]

 

It's probably more apparent to people that have worked with audio and mastering at least on some level, the sound of audio when it's squashed through dynamic compressors is unmistakable, like taking UltraMaximizer and pushing it well beyond where it starts distorting. What's bizarre is they apparently squashed it before mastering. Why bother even sending it to a mastering engineer if you're doing that?

 

 

Compressors are used in the mixing process all the time. I think this whole issue literally boils down to the fact that James and Lars are old and deaf, and were probably {censored}ing around with dials that they had no business touching. Not even an amateur engineer would allow the mix to be sent off for mastering in that sorry state.

[wok]

I think this explains it.

you may be closer to the truth here than you realise

[JKD]

TheEsupremacy: *sticks fingers in ears* "lalalalalal i can't hear you guys...zomg Metallica are incredible....*drool* what an incredible sounding album!!!!! ZOMG LIKE WOW!!!!! BTW DIDN'T I TELL YOU I CAN'T HEAR YOU? Lalalalalala!!!!!!"

Since you've been continually bashing the disc for no apparent reason (production notwithstanding)...all I hear from you is "wah, wah, wah" also

In all honest though, I think they mixed it, figured it didn't sound agressive enough...so they just ramped it so we get all that high end from the guitar plus drums...clipping the {censored} out....

My ears are shot high end wise (I'm 38 and listen to walkman too much plus ear infections basically killed my drums)....but it's very tiring to listen to for me unless I listen to it on {censored} gear. I can only imagine what this sounds like to some of the kids whose ears are still working.

[wok]

Since you've been continually bashing the disc for no apparent reason (production notwithstanding)...all I hear from you is "wah, wah, wah" also

i thought that's what this forum was all about:



seriously, I admit i never was a big Metallica fan, however i liked the occasional song, which includes songs from The Black Album.

I have always thought that Metallica deserved the fame they got above other, in my eyes far superior bands, as they did commercialise metal and bring it to the masses.

i have been listening to metal since 1983, and i still like to listen to a good metal album. However, anno 2008 Metallica just aren't capable anymore of making remotely relevant or interesting metal. And all the hype and the fact that they will probably sell millions of copies of the new album, grates me because it is lacklustre and occasionally embarrassingly corny and bad. Anno 2008 you shouldn't get away with subpar songwriting, poor musicianship and a poor production. I understand that people are optimistic after the {censored}fest called St Anger, but to call this a metal classic shows that you either don't listen to a lot of modern metal, you don't have high standards or that you are a fanboy who will swallow anything your favourite band releases (And being sort of a Maiden fan, even we aren't that tolerant).

[Edes]

The guitar tracks would've been redone by the guys who record the guitar parts for the game.
They would've done their own mixing too.

I really wanna hear those tracks on gh3 through my surround now.
Will have to download them when I get home.

[JKD]

i thought that's what this forum was all about: seriously, I admit i never was a big Metallica fan, however i liked the occasional song, which includes songs from The Black Album. I have always thought that Metallica deserved the fame they got above other, in my eyes far superior bands, as they did commercialise metal and bring it to the masses. i have been listening to metal since 1983, and i still like to listen to a good metal album. However, anno 2008 Metallica just aren't capable anymore of making remotely relevant or interesting metal. And all the hype and the fact that they will probably sell millions of copies of the new album, grates me because it is lacklustre and occasionally embarrassingly corny and bad. Anno 2008 you shouldn't get away with subpar songwriting, poor musicianship and a poor production. I understand that people are optimistic after the {censored}fest called St Anger, but to call this a metal classic shows that you either don't listen to a lot of modern metal, you don't have high standards or that you are a fanboy who will swallow anything your favourite band releases (And being sort of a Maiden fan, even we aren't that tolerant).

We all look for different things in 'metal' I guess...heck I love Dio and it's hard to get any more corny or cliche (well I guess there's Dream Evil )

Whilst I don't understand not liking something because it was 'hyped' thanks for expanding on your opinion.

[blargh]

The guitar tracks would've been redone by the guys who record the guitar parts for the game. They would've done their own mixing too. I really wanna hear those tracks on gh3 through my surround now. Will have to download them when I get home.

 

No, it's from Metallica's studio tracks, not a cover.

[Edes]

No, it's from Metallica's studio tracks, not a cover.

 

 

Wow I know there is that guy who records most of the tracks for the game.

Figured it would've been him.

They definitely would've had their own mix done though to emphasise the guitars in the mix.

[Kantroce]

http://mastering-media.blogspot.com/2008/09/metallica-death-magnetic-sounds-better.html

 

Supposedly shows the CD version and the Guitar Hero version side by side.

[Johansolo]

for the guy who doesnt understand why everyone is complaing about DM

just play track off DM on your stereo at a normal volume...then take the disc out and put in black albulm without touching the volume knob.

black albulm sounds half the volume...yet when you crank the volume on you stereo its sounds decent.

wheras DM has that "cranked" sound9you know when the speakers itself is distorting) at any volume on your stereo

[DirtyBird]

While I totally respect your opinion, could you please explain what you mean by "squashed to hell". I'm honestly trying to listen for what you guys are talking about. Seriously. I feel like I have a totally different cd/lp than you guys do. Surely there's only ONE version right??

 

 

You have to know what to listen for, but when you figure it out, it will stand out like a sore thumb.

 

THe best way I can describe it, is the difference between a high end stereo and a crappy ringtone on a cell phone.

 

[YOUTUBE]3Gmex_4hreQ[/YOUTUBE]

This is a decent example, but the problem is that it's a crappy quality youtube video. The sound is compressed in the process, which masks shoddy mastering and makes the clipping much harder to hear.

 

When speakers clip (Such as my cell phone speaker analogy) it sounds a bit different from when the recording itself is clipped all to hell, but it's a similar type of sound.