| Re: Springsteen's Magic(Compression Alert!) [message #283529 is a reply to message #279816 ] |
Mon, 22 October 2007 08:31   |
 PlasticMoonRain
Messages: 7
Registered: July 2004 |
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An amusing side note on this Springsteen album fiasco.
If you type into Google "Brendan Springsteen Magic compression," a few links down is Brendan O'Brien's Wikipedia entry.
When you go the entry, you don't see anything negative about his work with Springsteen.
However, if you go to Google's "Cache" link, you'll see somebody posted this in the 3rd paragraph of the Wikipedia entry and it was subsequently deleted:
"With the release of Bruce Springsteens "Magic" in 2007 many people have commented on the poor sound and production of the album and have placed the blame on O'Brien. Some people say the CD sounds worse than albums recorded back even in the fifties due to its extensive overuse of compression and muddiness introduced by poor recording and mixing techniques. See the reviews published on amazon.com for more information."
Drew
White Castle Studios North
Scarsdale, NY 10583
"Buy'em By The Sack!"
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| Re: Springsteen's Magic(Compression Alert!) [message #283938 is a reply to message #283840 ] |
Tue, 23 October 2007 12:57 |
stevieeastend
Messages: 1251
Registered: November 2004
Location: Vienna, Berlin, New York |
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I don´t find it that bad because I am pretty sure that this sort of "wanna-be-in-your-face" sound was intentional, seems like they wanted to go for "Rubin-like" production style.
To me the new Kelly Clarkson and Hard-Fi are the all time masters of loudness-to-death-productions without any stylistic intention behind it. There´s cool loudness and there´s stupid loudness...
http://www.eastendrecords.at
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| Re: Springsteen's Magic(Compression Alert!) [message #284881 is a reply to message #279816 ] |
Fri, 26 October 2007 19:21 |
Secular_Tool
Messages: 35
Registered: July 2007
Location: Oklahoma City |
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I'm admittedly an Neanderthal and download almost all the music I buy these days from Itunes. The car and my Ipod are my main listening environments for recreational listening so I don't mind what sonic compromises there are in the ACC format.
I'm also poor so that's a limiting factor as well.
I downloaded Bruce's Radio Nowhere and I was immediately blown away by how awful it sounded. I really couldn't hear anything but Bruce's voice with hideous noise surrounding it. It was like he was being accompanied by somewhat melodic jet engines. My day job is in aerospace so you'll have to trust I know how they sound.
By contrast, I just got Neil Young's new one, Chrome Dreams II, and it is as far to the opposite end as possible. Aside from being a good but maybe not great Neil Young record--I haven't decided yet--Niko Bolas got him a punchier and more modern sound than normal without polishing out all the funky smudge that makes Neil so cool.
Also, there's no autotune, no brickwall limiting, no garbage and tons of dynamic range.
You can really hear music being played by musicians. Love him or not, you got to give him some respect for keeping his feet in the dirt.
On one of my fav tracks--Dirty Old Men--they don't even clean up Neil's uneven vocal volume as he moves around. It sounds pretty live like he's cueing the band. It's a bit annoying but at the same time, such a refreshing change compared to all the slick crap out there.
Also, Niko gets a really great, solid, organic bottom end which always seems missing from Neil's records.
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| Re: Springsteen's Magic(Compression Alert!) [message #286275 is a reply to message #279816 ] |
Thu, 01 November 2007 18:23 |
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Just heard one on Sirius, and it sounded pretty stinky, unfortunately.
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| Re: Springsteen's Magic(Compression Alert!) [message #286341 is a reply to message #279816 ] |
Thu, 01 November 2007 22:06 |
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I have known Bob extremely well for many, many years, and I am 100% sure he would not do this unless "forced" to do so by the client.
And he would follow client instructions with grace and imperturbable poise, of course.
Plus, we do not know what the pre-mastered mixes sound like, either.
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| Re: Springsteen's Magic(Compression Alert!) [message #286463 is a reply to message #279816 ] |
Fri, 02 November 2007 11:48 |
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Eliott James
Messages: 283
Registered: May 2004
Location: Atlanta |
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Bruce may have hearing issues, I don't know. This album is ruined by what was done.
I saw him a short while back when he did the solo tour. The sound was so loud I had to cover my ears, having forgotten to bring ear plugs. It was uncomfortable and I wasn't in front of the speakers.
I know there's trend in live sound that rivals the loudness wars in audio production. It's getting really stupid.
I'll still go see him and estreet when they come around next spring, but I WILL wear ear plugs. If that doesn't cut it, I'm done with him.
Eliott James
http://www.EliottJames.com
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| Re: Springsteen's Magic(Compression Alert!) [message #295528 is a reply to message #286313 ] |
Thu, 06 December 2007 17:14 |
stevieeastend
Messages: 1251
Registered: November 2004
Location: Vienna, Berlin, New York |
Platinum Member |
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| wwittman wrote on Fri, 02 November 2007 01:20 |
Someone told me, second hand info, that in fact pressure came from Bruce and the label to make it loud loud loud, and then Ludwig did it.
Brendan basically bowed out at that point.
I think one could say the producer SHOULD be responsible, but I don't think that Brendan is the one who ASKED for it to be slammed.
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Listened to "Incubus" latest the other day, produced by Brendan O`Brian....doesn´t sound superloud at all. Actually it´s pretty much the opposite, you could almost "feel" the band in your room when listening to it. Very open, wide sound with lots of dynamics, awesome work. It´s weird that this should be produced by the same person who did Springsteen´s latest... Producers are overrated 
BTW To me Brendan O`Brian rocks! This guy has done some amazing work so far...
http://www.eastendrecords.at
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