Engineer disowns Metallica's 'Death Magnetic'

Metallica @ Wembley Stadium July 2007

Is 'Guitar Hero' version of new album better than the CD?

Sep 19, 2008
19 Comments
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Metallica fans have been complaining about the quality of the CD recording of the band's new album, 'Death Magnetic', with many saying the version available on the 'Guitar Hero' computer game is better.

A YouTube clip comparing sound on the two formats can be viewed by clicking on the video below.

Fans have complained on internet forums that the dynamic range heard on the CD version is not as good as the 'Guitar Hero' version, reports Musicradar.com.

While many fans have blamed the mastering process used on the album, Ted Jensen of Sterling Sound, who mastered the album, has reportedly written a forum post about the process.

"I'm certainly sympathetic to your reaction, I get to slam my head against that brick wall every day," he wrote. "In this case the mixes were already brick-walled before they arrived at my place.

"Suffice to say I would never be pushed to overdrive things as far as they are here. Believe me, I'm not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else."

Listen to the YouTube video comparing the two versions by clicking below.

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Comments (19)

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Jimmy_Bass

Sep 19, 2008

bloody hell. people complain about anything and everything thesedays!

marcus_x

Sep 19, 2008

I'm a music production student in my 2nd year studying Mastering......and even i think these people need to get out more. However i do agree that now, more than ever there is a huge battle to make records as loud as possible so they stand out on the radio. I blame the pressure frm record companies rather tahn the masterers themselves.

pauliogeorgio

Sep 19, 2008

thats a bit pedantic dont u think?

jpc123

Sep 19, 2008

I am a huge fan of Metallica and it is true, the sound of the new album on the released commercial CD is the worst I have ever heard. It's ok if it was not a rock/metal artist but for a band like Metallica who in the past have always gone for perfection this is just a bloody shame. the Guitar Hero III music is of much better quality with more dynamics. This put it this way on the released version during every song the sound gets so badly distorted that you can't hear which instrument is making a noise and the drums sound really bad, the GH3 version is all clear. As for complaining, well we have a right to complain. Why should we pay for albums when the sound is so bloody poor it makes you not want to listen to what could be the best album they have done since Master Of Puppets.

Van_Mocen

Sep 19, 2008

agree with marcus X. im a music producer as well and judging by the waveforms and by what I hear, the GH's version is a bit 'louder'. Plus, it's got a bit more headroom and enhanced lows, so I can only assume this regards the way both versions were mastered. One last thing, remember that CD is 16bit/44.1khz which is a lot less than what the blu-ray disc supports. I'm not sure, but I think the blu-ray discs are always 24bit and their sample rate is always higher than 44.1khz. I'm not sure, but I believe it's usually 96khz. So there you go NME, a load of reasons to explain why the GH's version sounds 'louder'. The guy who was so bold to use a spectrum analyser on both versions could have told you this, or at least, done a little research.

djnite

Sep 19, 2008

As geeky as it may sound, it really affects the sound quality. I've resorted to buying stuff on vinyl where I can, as record companies physically can't clip that like they can on CD. I have massive respect for Elbow whose latest album was deliberated mastered with a light touch, so that you have a bigger dynamic range and better sound. And that won the Mercury...

vonman

Sep 19, 2008

People should just buy a decent CD player, not the shit Alba or whatever churn out through Argos.

markonnme

Sep 19, 2008

Does it honestly matter what the production is line on a Metallica album? truly awful excuse for a band

hness

Sep 19, 2008

MASTERER OF MUPPETS! LOL

sxpstl

Sep 19, 2008

Okay.... i got 3 questions for ya...1. Does it Rock like bitch? (yes)2. Does it make you wanna jumpa round land mosh like a demented fool? (yes)3. why dont u quit whinnin and enjoy the aceness of a new kick ass Metallica album......? ? ? ? ?Where in the the Metali Mantra does it say "hmm i say this production feels a little tinny flarg! flarg!", oh yeah i tdoesnt it say BANG THE HEAD THAT DOESNT BANG!!!!!!

jackdmc

Sep 19, 2008

HUGE ! difference in sound.. The brickwall limiting is out of control. Radio stations are just as bad trying to be the loudest, added with the crushed cd music today sounds like crap - xfm are the worst sounding station i've heard.

tooslim73

Sep 22, 2008

This isn't the first time I've heard of this problem. I have some CDs where it's claimed to be an issue, I could never hear anything different from older CDs.If you like the band, get the record.

callaby

Sep 22, 2008

couldnt see the difference between the two samples to be honest. of course when you present it like this video does its going to sound a little different because they switch while the song is playing and the effects on the guitars are changing rather than playing back the same sample twice, once with guitar hero and once with the cd version. when they do this at the end, you can hear that it sounds pretty much the same. who gives a shit, just turn it up loud and enjoy it or go see them live.

JohnARivers

Sep 28, 2008

I have run an independent studio, (Woodbine Street), for a long time now and despair at the lack of recording and mastering quality now prevalent. Labels whinge on about piracy but in truth they are as much to blame themselves for falling sales by simply ignoring the fact that quality sound is a huge part of the pleasure to be obtained from listening to music.

circados182

Sep 29, 2008

John Rivers, I would like it if you could list a few of the main stream artists yo have produced so that i may understand your level of expertise, i mean no disrespect but you must be very blind to miss so much quality correct me if im wrong but i believe rubin worked on metallica new album and he has worked on projects bigger than you ever will and he has effected the industry more than most on the job today, that said, shut your asses and appreciate a new release from some of main stream rock's best.

JohnARivers

Sep 30, 2008

Circados182 who ever you are - there's no need to descend into rudeness. (Oh, and I only have one ass). There isn't space here to give you a full list but I s'pose it started with Ghostown by the Specials. If you want more just get on Google. Of course Metallica are a well produced band but the point here is the general stifling of musical expression by too much brick wall limiting in both the mixing and mastering stage. Just open your ears and listen!

Fergus McCool

Oct 3, 2008

Hmm. Do people bitch too much about everything and anything? Yes.Does production really mattter? Does movie direction matter?"Pedantic" means too apt to try and teach others, not to complain too much or whatever it sounds like the above person is defending. Example, me saying what "pedantic" is, is pedantic.If people can complain about the quality of their food at a restaurant, that they paid for, they can complain about the quality of a recording. Vinyl does not circumvent the compression that can be put in a recording, either on the individual tracks or the mixdown.Does the average listener care about all this? People will listen to a song they like in a market while shopping, on bad headphones, small speakers, etc. A good song is a good song regardless. And the average listener doesn't know nor care about compression nor clipping. However, every dumb ass thinks they have good taste and are an expert in music, so when they are presented with something they don't understand they get defensive. Just as a dumb ass rock guitarist who doesn't know what a neopolitan six chord will say, those don't matter, "as long as it rocks."Lastly, they hired a primarily hip hop producer to make their album and hip hop really isn't about dynamics, and has a butt load of compression on them. So there you go. Rubin may be a legend, but perhaps not the best choice to go with everything and anything. However, perhaps because of Rubin, you get a raw, back to basics and old Metallica album. All things in this world are pro and con. And lastly, Metallica really hasn't given a crap about you since 1990, so why are any of you surprised?

Fergus McCool

Oct 3, 2008

Lastly, if you prefer the days of Bob Rock produced fare, then remember: he was hired basically to make Metallica more music video and single-friendly; get more girls to listen, be more popular. Lo and behold he did a good job with songs any jerk can like, like Nothing Else Matters and Unforgiven. I don't think that's better...

kazreem

Oct 3, 2008

tbh ppl the new album is such a come back from st anger stop complaining the music is good if ur jus complaining about the fucking level on the cd to the game then u jus reli need to get a life jus listen and enjoy