Best Sounding CD Ever?

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:01 pm

A couple of my favories are:

Hard Rock CD. Nickleback's "The Long Road"
Dance/Pop CD. No Doubt's "Rock Steady"
Adult Conteporary CD. Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature"

So What's the deal with the new Metallica Record
I heard the thing for the first time and couldn't believe it. When I was taught to mix I was told to always reference my mix back to mono. When I do that to Metallica's new CD everything gets crazy. Guitars somewhat go away and the mix just sounds wierd. I understand that they wanted to do something raw with this album but????

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:43 am

Quote:

So What's the deal with the new Metallica Record
I heard the thing for the first time and couldn't believe it. When I was taught to mix I was told to always reference my mix back to mono. When I do that to Metallica's new CD everything gets crazy. Guitars somewhat go away and the mix just sounds wierd. I understand that they wanted to do something raw with this album but????

Have you ever converted a X/Y recording to mono and see what happens? Wink

Not everything has to sound good in mono.

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:47 am

...Not that I ever heard material that sounded good that didn't maked sence in mono.

I have to check that Metalica recording...

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 5:29 pm

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If X/Y is done correctly in mono it shouldn't sound "out of phase". At least that's the idea with "stereo miking" techniques. They are phase coherent. Now, I'd really like to know how it was done so I can understand it a little better. Was it a production call and intentional? Was it screwed up in mastering? Actually is it possible to be screwed in mastering?

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:28 pm

Got to agree with Ragpicker's Dream. That is a good sounding record.

I wish I could find out every aspect of how it was done from first track to final master. Mics, Pres, Comps, AD/DA, Verbs, Tape Format, Mastering EQ, Comp etc.

Woods

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:22 am

Quote:

Actually is it possible to be screwed in mastering?

Well... anything can happen!
But normally you won't end up with a "pan-cake" or destordet result unless you asked the engineer for it in the mastering.

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 2:57 pm

I am a novice at recording, but these are some of my favorite sounding CDs:

Radiohead 'OK Computer' - This is my reference point for most of my recording/mastering.

Mars Volta 'Deloused in the Comatorium' - Great guitar sounds, glad someone else here likes it, too.

Stereolab 'Dots and Loops' and 'Emperor Tomato Ketchup' - Great synth sounds and vocals, with some dense, yet well mixed arrangements.

Tortoise 'TNT' - Simple at first listen, but the more you listen the more you hear.

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 1:57 am

I love many cd's that I think sound superb ...such as the following...Sarah Brightman's(eden,la luna, harem), Dream Theater's( image and words,scenes from a memory), Madonna's(ray of light, music), Linkin park's(hybrid theory, meteora), Evanescence(fallen), Korn's(untouchables), Mandy Moore(and yes this album too...if you want a great production...don't limit yourself musically), most hip hop cd's have a great sound too, I always loved the production of Queensryches empire cd and Metallica's the black album, modern country music cds sound great too like the Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Rascal Flats, etc..., and older metal or rock albums such as Journey(frontiers,escape,raised on radio), Def Leppard(hysteria, adrenalize, x), Bon Jovi(slippery when wet, bounce, crush), Winger(1st cd or in the heart of the young), and here are some modern rock cds i love the sound of too, Matchbox 20(mad season), Goo Goo Dolls(gutter flower,dizzy up the girl), Creed(human clay, weathered), all Nickelback cds...anyhow the list goes on and on...i'll just keep it as these albums...good luck Very Happy

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:58 pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith H:
I know what the worst sounding CD i've heard in a long time is,Metallica's new album,i think the recording engineer must have been drunk when he made this one,worst audio quality i have heard in a long time.I liked it better when recording studio's where analog,back then i think engineers took more time to make great recordings.Now i think they just crank up the levels push a button and walk away.I think studio's are in a hurry to get the things out to the public instead of taking the time to make a good product.Of course this is purely my observation or opinnion and your miliage may vary..PEACE and Happy 4th of July everyone..Keith H.

Metallicas new cd can only be described as intolerable. I have made several attempts to listen to each track, I just cant do it. One would be hardpressed to do worse.

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:20 pm

Stratovarius: Intermissions
^this is some baddass finnish power metal. Every guy in the band is a virtuoso, even the singer has tremendous range and control, no autotuning detected. I belive these guys are all digital, even their piano, and WOW it sounds good. The drums, DEFINALTY digital, and WOW, double WOW their drummer can play.

Blink 182- Blink 182(their newest one)
^a band member of a band I record dropped me a copy of this. H*ly Sh*t, what amazing sounds!!! The drums are live as hell, yet totally in place not taxing any space from the guitars. Now the guitars are just about the biggest guitar sound I have ever heard in my life. Punk rock is what I do best, and just when I was about to get a little ego going on I heard this album: EXTREME humiltity check.

The Mars Volta - "De-Loused in the Comatorium
^Refreshing new band. They get Flea and John Fruscante from RHCP on a few takes, so that had me.(I spent my teenage years as a Flea wannabe on bass)

Beastie Boys: Pauls Botique&just about everything they did. Cant find fault w/ anything the Beasties do.

Norah Jones - Come away with me. Not what I typically listen to, but I worked at the studio she recorded this at. The album that one all those grammies was actually a demo, if you can belive that! I guess when they listened to the actual "album", they ended up liking the demo more!!

DJ Spooky - Optomotry
Unbeliveable genius. This label recognized how bad ass Spooky is with a sampler. They hire the best jazz musicians in NYC to come jam out for a day, then Spooky cuts it all up his way. Great sounds. Matthew Shipp is the main keyboard player on this album, he is on some next level type stuff.

I love music!!! I will definatly be picking up some of you's all's recomendations!

Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 2:27 am

There are so many awesome sounding cds out there but here are a few I recommend.

for pop music
(Sarah Brightman)la luna, eden, harem
(Madonna)ray of light, music
(Tori Amos)boys for pele, little earthquakes, under the pink
(Matchbox 20)mad season
(Goo Goo Dolls)dizzy up the girl, gutter flower
(Train) drops of jupiter

for rock or metal
(Linkin Park)hybrid theory, meteora
(Dream Theater)images and words, awake, scenes from a memory
(Creed)human clay, weathered
(Tool)aenema, laterals
(System Of A Down)toxicity, steal this album
(Queensryche)empire, operation mindcrime
(Korn)untouchables,issues
(Def Leppard)hysteria, adrenalize,x
(Metallica) black album, and justice for all
(Megadeth)countdown to extinction
(Pantera)cowboys from hell, vulger display of power, far beyond driven
(Nickelback)silver side up, the long road
(Evanescence)fallen Very Happy

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:45 am

Awsome Topic... I am currently faced with trying out new monitors and have dug out a few CDs (and some clean records).....

In No Particular Order......
The Police Syncronicity
Audio Slave latests Album (very hot)
Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sex Sugar Magic

Its all about what makes your ears happy and what you are comfortable with. When setting up my listening area I listened to alot of differnt music in and out of the space for obvious reasons. It sounds differnt everywere but, the key is to know your speakers, room and music. You certainly don't want to use questionable Recordings.

"Open Up Your Ears And Clean Out Your Eyes Its So Nice To Be Alive!!" Beastie Boys

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:51 am

I believe I saw Dark Side of the Moon mentioned at least once... defiantely a killer. Also, Bella Fleck and the Flecktones - Outbound. Sounds amazing and has a wide range of instruments and sounds going on. I do mostly live sound anymore and it is one of my favorite soundcheck discs.

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 5:26 pm

here are some of what I think are the best sounding cd's

tio jeepy bradford marsalis columbia
storyville robbie robertson geffen
famous blue raincoat jennifer warnes cypress
kick out the jams mc 5 electra
dire straits dire straits warner bros

then there is this lp which is great sounding

king james harry james sheffield labs

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 3:38 pm

I would have to say that Rush-Moving Pictures, stands out for me. For live, Peter Gabriel- Secret World.

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