Compression Rules! Rick Rubin Masters Red Hot Chili Peppers Just For iTunes
Let the compression wars begin. In a bow to the dominance of iTune's, the new Red Hot Chili Peppers release has been mastered with Apple's music service in mind. Due August 30th, "I'm With You" was produced by Rick Rubin and "mastered specifically for iTunes to optimize sound quality".
"The compression kings, Rick Rubin (Producer), Vladimir Meller (mastering Engineer), and The Red Hot Chili Peppers are at it again," wrote the Computer Audiophile blog, "…but considering this production Trio's history of sonic destruction it did not shock me."
Exactly what "mastered specifically for iTunes to optimize sound quality" means is unclear. But you can listen to the first single here. Let us know what you think.
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It sounds better than Californication on itunes thru small computer speakers. At least they made the effort to maximise mp3 “quality”. Now stop mucking around and give us 24b/96k uncompressed wave,aiff’s ect 🙂
I don’t get it. What does mastering for iTunes mean? iTunes has it’s own EQ that will adjust files played through it differently on each setting. Then you have to take into consideration that each device is going to different speakers that will sound differently. Technically, most engineers should be mastering music in response to whatever music is going to be listened through the most which are computer/lap top speakers and iPod buds. I don’t see how mastering for iTunes specifically can even apply. Are they mastering the music for use on the standard setting all iTunes start at (which is shitty Flat) that people listen to their music on because they don’t realize what the EQ settings actually do (make their music sound SO much better not being on the setting Flat)? If that’s the case, isn’t everyone pretty much doing that now?
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If this means the CD gets a different mastering than the mp3 release, this is a cool development. Mp3s are mainly listened to through computer/lap top speaers and iPod earbuds so they will have too much bass when listened to on a home stereo system. So the CD release should always have less compression and lower bass levels than the mp3 version. When ripping CDs, users will always apply the software’s own automatic EQ so there is no need at all to do it in the mastering stage and thereby make listening on systems with real speakers less enjoyable.
Oh word? I’mma have to get mah Beats By Dre headphones to listen to dis one.