Dynamics and quality win the Loudness Wars

Guns ‘N Roses:
Dynamics and quality win the Loudness Wars

from Bob Ludwig:

On Sunday, November 23rd the new Guns ‘N Roses record Chinese Democracy was finally released after many years of waiting and many millions spent making it. 14 different recording studios are credited. I was thrilled to have been chosen to master the album.

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The Beatles: Loudness War

This is the wave form of “Something” by The Beatles. You can see how the waveform changed from digital release 1983 to digital release 2000.

Waveform image of “Something” by The Beatles, from the CD albums: Abbey Road (Toshiba), Abbey Road (EMI), 1967-1970,

Metallica – Death Magnetic pressconference, Loudness War

Video

Metallica’s Rick Rubin-produced album Death Magnetic was released on Friday to a fairly decent critical response. Hobnox caught up with Metallica at a press conference given by the band, as its members prepared for a record release party and concert in Berlin:

for full lenght video :

http://www.hobnox.com

In the 23-minute question-and-answer session, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett spoke about the ideas behind the album and their revamped internet strategies. Hetfield showed healthy sense of humor during the conference and even Kirk Hammett tried to be funny.

Loudness War

According to mastering engineer Ian Sheperd, Metallica’s new Death Magnetic album has a serious sonic problem: it has been compressed just about as much as it’s possible to compress audio.

For a better understanding this YouTube video shows what happens to a sound file when its hyper-compressed.

2,730 fans have signed a petition asking that the album be re-mixed (as opposed to remixed) and/or remastered.

To me that “loudness war” has reached its top last year already. Hopefully, others will follow.