Bad remastering - give me your examples

Hey, audiophiles.  I'm working on a story about mastering -- or more specifically, remastering old releases for CD.

Among all the deluxe and anniversary editions that keep coming out, a lot of them do indeed sound better than the original CD editions.  That's especially true for older albums that debuted on CD originally in the '80s, because labels often didn't take the time to create a new master for the digital realm, and instead just transferred the tapes prepared for vinyl.  That often produced a less-than-desirable result.

On the flip, the trend in recent years especially has been to master albums way, way too hot.  Sure, they sound "louder," but louder is usually not better when it comes to sound quality.

E-mail me at [email protected] to nominate your candidates for remasters that sound worse than the original CD edition (or if you have an example of a disc that's only been released digitally once and it's bollocksed up, I'd like to know about it too).

Grazie.

- Derek Donovan, [email protected]

Comments

[Tim]

Do the original Star Wars movies count? :)

[bob]

Who buys cds?

[Scott]

The new Metallica is horrible, good cd, terrible mix, unless you like distorted over powering drums.

[Gary Oldman]

Meat Loaf "Bat out of Hell."

Yeah, it was one of those great-selling-analgo-albums-notreamtered-for-digital, but still. I thought something was wrong with my speakers the volume was so low. Turned up to a hearable volume, then lost the high end.

[Steve]

I'm not sure about this latest batch of Stones reissues. I got It's Only Rock & Roll, and it sounded fine. But I bought Black & Blue this past weekend, and it sounded weird and boomy.

[Racer X]

The ZZ Top Six pack was issued many moons ago featuring remastered "synthesized" drums on the first 6 ZZ Top albums, that, when compared to the original LPs, makes one long for the days when ZZ Top was just a "little 'ol blues band from Texas".

[kmoon]

I love distorted over powering drums.

[bob]

Mark Knopfler is coming to the Midland.

[pellboy]

Tell me more, bob...just bought his new album (Get Lucky)that came out today.

[pellboy]

Holy crap, am I seeing this right? Please tell me these are just special presale prices! I think it did say something about first 7 rows.

Our Price: ₤88.47 GBP

Includes the following charges:
Base Price: $125.00 USD
MarkKnopfler.com Service Charge: $15.00 USD
Transaction Fee: $4.00 USD

[kmoon]

I love Mark Knopfler too! When is he supposed to be here?!

[pellboy]

kmoon, according to his website, not until April 2010.

http://www.markknopfler.com/tour/gl_northamerica.aspx

[kmoon]

aww dangit. Well, I guess that's plenty of time to save up some money, haha.

[NEW]

Hey PB, I was also taken aback by ticket prices for this. The last several shows I have seen at the Midland have been quite pricey so I was attributing it to the venue but then I just got WSP tix for around $45 including service charges through the band's presale. Then again, the affordability of the WSP tickets might a conscious effort on the part of the band to keep prices low.

[pellboy]

"Then again, the affordability of the WSP tickets might a conscious effort on the part of the band to keep prices low."

Posted by: NEW

I'm thinking this in regards to Panic.

As for Knopfler, I'm guessing the prices may reflect his rarely touring the states making this Midland show more of an 'event' ala Leonard Cohen. I'm also hopeful that there maybe a more affordable ($50-$75?) balcony seat or something when the presale is done. I'm a huge Knopfler fan so somehow, someway I plan on attending this show.

Oh and apologies to Mr.Donovan for somewhat hijacking this thread so for my input, I'll include the most recent CD from Linkin Park, "Minutes To Midnight", IMO mastered way too "loud" as noted in the original post. Probably not as much of an issue with bands like that but still somewhat annoying to an old fart like me and yes, don't hate me but I like Linkin Park.

[Derek Donovan]

pellboy, I agree -- most modern rock is mastered waaaaaay too hot. Of course, "Death Magnetic" still takes the cake for the worst-sounding commercial master I've ever heard.

http://www.nme.com/news/metallica/39816

[Bubba]

Wouldn't even bother with MARK KNOPFLER - not solo anyway. Saw DIRE STRAITS at Kemper umpteen years ago.

Bob, you asked WHO buys CD's? Good point! Sad but true!

[Derek Donovan]

Bubba, I buy a lot of CDs, and would never pay close to the same price for a download of anything that I could get in a physical form.

Think of the CD as a physical backup. Then again, I was born in 1970 and still think of those quaint things called "albums" as sacrosanct. ;)

[pellboy]

I still buy CDs and as bad as some of them sound, they still sound 10x better than a compressed digital download. Bah!

Btw, Bubba...yes, if you were looking to relive a Dire Straits show, MK solo won't be your cup of tea. Haven't yet seen him live solo but his albums emphasize his superb (and grossly underrated) songwriting skills and his playing is often very understated. More about creating an overall musical landscape than rocking the house with one of his amazing leads. Personally, I enjoy this side of his career (also a huge Straits fan)and am looking forward to seeing him in that venue next Spring. I'm sure he'll let loose at least a little in a live setting.

[NEW]

"I still buy CDs and as bad as some of them sound, they still sound 10x better than a compressed digital download. Bah!"

Agreed. People seem to forget that most downloads are totally stripped of high end bandwidth. You can really notice the diffenence on decent audio equipment.

[musicfan]

I still buy CD's too and will continue to do so until they are no longer available anywhere...call me weird, but I like having something to HOLD and not just listen to, and I am also one of those weirdos who read liner notes (and credits at the ends of movies!)

[K-rocket]

I bought the Rolling Stones“remastered” singles collection, the London Years when it was released way back in 1989. I didn’t think it sounded much different than their other disc’s released at that time. It wasn’t more vibrant and it didn't seem to eliminate much tape hiss etc. It has been 20 years… so it's been a while. Perhaps the technology wasn’t far enough along in 1989 to make much of a difference. However the recent Beatle remasters sound amazing. Quite vibrant, to my ears anyway. There’s a lot of presence particularly in the vocals. This Boy and Yesterday really stand out (among quite a few others).

For what it's worth I buy CD’s and download a few tunes off Amazon, Itunes, etc. I will continue to purchase CD’s until they are able to match the sonic qualities on an Mp3 as a on a disc. They’re getting close however I still hear much more depth on a CD. I wonder if a lot of people don’t realize what they’re missing by only listening to Mp3’s. Perhaps Mp3’s are simply too convenient for most people to care about any sonic subtlety. However I can't imagine why anyone would bother buying a remastered recording via a download. Two steps forward, two steps backwards. I’ve found the cost to be about the same if you legally download or buy the disc on-sale the week it’s released. I'd rather have the tangible version.

[Paulala]

I'm with you Musicfan. I love sitting and listening to that new CD and reading every line of the liner notes. I hope that I never have to give that up for this digital stuff. Same with movies - I never leave before the credits are over. Another quirk (if it is one) I will never go into a movie if it's already started. Is that weird?