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Who the hell masters rap albums?!

post #1 of 31
10/28/10 at 7:45pm
Thread Starter 

They must be deaf. The rappers and the masterers. I am listening to Eminem's Recovery album (don't judge, he's better than most other rappers nowadays) and it is sounds so ****ing weird. I know what it SHOULD sound like.

But it is terrible. The treble is OVER emphasized. There just seem to be drops in so many frequency ranges. This is only with recent CD's though. Were these mastered specifically for Beats? What is the world turning to?

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post #2 of 31
10/28/10 at 8:15pm

I think sometimes modern records are engineered to sound "best" when cranked on a cheap car stereo or blasted through earbuds.

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post #3 of 31
10/28/10 at 8:35pm

That's unfair for our demographic. But then again, an album is only as good as how well it was mastered. Even though mastering is a "behind the scenes" process, it should still receive its fair share of respect and/or criticism when reviewing an album.   

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post #4 of 31
10/28/10 at 8:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zero7525 View Post

That's unfair for our demographic. But then again, an album is only as good as how well it was mastered. Even though mastering is a "behind the scenes" process, it should still receive its fair share of respect and/or criticism when reviewing an album.   



Not the whole genre. The Kid Cudi album "Man On the Moon" is great. A bit of distorted EQ'ing here and there but all and all, great. 

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post #5 of 31
10/28/10 at 11:51pm

I think rappers don't care THAT much about mastering. It's all about getting out your album on time to compete with other albums...

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post #6 of 31
10/29/10 at 12:03am

Sorry to be a bubble buster but one would think a 500+ Head-Fi'er would know this goes in the music section.

 

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/list/9

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post #7 of 31
10/29/10 at 12:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Riku540 View Post

Sorry to be a bubble buster but one would think a 500+ Head-Fi'er would know this goes in the music section.

 

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/list/9



He's 1000+ actually.

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post #8 of 31
10/29/10 at 12:14am

maybe a better title?  I'm listening to the album as i type... ripped the cd to flac to foobar and feel somewhat the same as you to how it sounds... sadly the ft. Rihanna vocals sound better in my car... i was excited to hear it through my hp setup after i bought it and listened in my car, but it was only marginally better with my hp setup, which usually isn't the case. Oh well, good thing i dont listen to much hiphop/rb

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post #9 of 31
10/29/10 at 12:15am

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingtz View Post

He's 1000+ actually.


Even worse. Very weird that the icon still says 500 yet his post count is above. Must not have kicked in yet.


Edited by Riku540 - 10/29/10 at 12:17am
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post #10 of 31
10/29/10 at 12:20am

Lets just him Mr. Spammer for simplicity ;D
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Riku540 View Post

Quote:


Even worse. Very weird that the icon still says 500 yet his post count is above. Must not have kicked in yet.

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post #11 of 31
10/29/10 at 12:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by karljs View Post

I think sometimes modern records are engineered to sound "best" when cranked on a cheap car stereo or blasted through earbuds.



I have more or less confirmation of this. I once toured a recording studio in Chicago and one of the engineers (a young fellow, as they all were there--I'm 22 now and he couldn't have been much older) point blank showed me the "boombox" they ran the mixes through, and told me exactly what you said. They also had a gorgeous SSL console and some of the nicest in-wall monitors I've ever heard, and it was the greatest thrill having my own recording mixed through that system.

 

I still have the end result. It sounds like horse scat.

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post #12 of 31
10/29/10 at 1:03am
Alright, I moved this thread to the Music Forum.

A lot of popular music is engineered to sound "good" (so to speak) on godawful car systems and cheapo headphones. It doesn't come across well on audiophile or pro gear, though.

Not to be flip or dump on your musical tastes, but give jazz and/or classical a try. There's so much variety in both genres that there's something for everyone. You'll find the recordings far better. Nothing wrong with rap, but there's also nothing wrong with becoming a fan of another genre or two.
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post #13 of 31
10/29/10 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

Alright, I moved this thread to the Music Forum.

A lot of popular music is engineered to sound "good" (so to speak) on godawful car systems and cheapo headphones. It doesn't come across well on audiophile or pro gear, though.

Not to be flip or dump on your musical tastes, but give jazz and/or classical a try. There's so much variety in both genres that there's something for everyone. You'll find the recordings far better. Nothing wrong with rap, but there's also nothing wrong with becoming a fan of another genre or two.


Sorry and thanks Erik.

In my tired rage last night I did not realize where I was putting this thread.

Rap is definitely not the only genre I listen to. I actually listen to it the least out of everything else

I do have some Bach, Mozart, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane in my library which I do listen to but I have very varied tastes in music thus the Eminem. 

I don't understand how people can reserve themselves for one genre only. Music is music is music and it all should be appreciated (with the exception of some of the rubbish on the radio).

 

I think it is sad that they are killing this genre (for me at least) because they are mastered for iBuds and highway thumpers.

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post #14 of 31
10/29/10 at 12:51pm

Maybe they should hire Rick Rubin...

 

Then again who cares? Even Adele's album "19" sounded louder through my DF. I just hope this trend does not spread.

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post #15 of 31
10/30/10 at 5:41pm

Who masters them? People who use Dr. Dre Beats.

 

Seriously though, mastering for any genre should have the same general basic requirements. I have some rap remasters that really impress. Why anyone else can't figure out how to do it right is beyond me....

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