Death Magnetic settings (RkII)

[kingster911]

I've heard this now twice. I guess it is a little bolstering, not clippy but just downright loud. I will look into this.

 

[Robusto]

a bit of a thread jack, but there was an article in Rolling Stone about production in recent cds, that they tend to be mixed "loud", but in doing so, they lose the nuance of volume to the ear.

I will see if I can find the link.

 

[MF]

a bit of a thread jack, but there was an article in Rolling Stone about production in recent cds, that they tend to be mixed "loud", but in doing so, they lose the nuance of volume to the ear.

I will see if I can find the link.

I think this video explains pretty well the problem you're talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

 

[Robusto]

a bit of a thread jack, but there was an article in Rolling Stone about production in recent cds, that they tend to be mixed "loud", but in doing so, they lose the nuance of volume to the ear.

I will see if I can find the link.

I think this video explains pretty well the problem you're talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

Great Example!

here is the RS link:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17777619/the_death_of_high_fidelity/print

 

[Robusto]

And others discussing the same:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/09/18/fans-complain-after-death-magnetic-sounds-better-on-guitar-hero-than-cd/

and another link:

http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/09/does-metallicas.html

 

[Bourque]

Welcome to the loudness wars! At some point we got quality confused with volume. Which I don't understand because the volume in my car and on my stereo could go quite a bit higher so why do they think we're running out of room to turn it up? Once your ear gets used to hearing how unnatural the horrible sound of squashed sound, you're ruined.

 

[Klaasman]

I've been watching the "Making of Death Magnetic" DVD and they got all kinds of amps and guitars goin on. Ampeg, Marshall, Bogner, Deizel, Krank, Mesa Boogie, Randall all in one room! And they use practically a different guitar every time. James did use the old "V" once, but most of the time it's the ol' Les Paul.

 

[kingster911]

What's this making of DM dvd? Was it only available in the Coffin set?

 

[jdurso]

james and kirk quit using mesa amps years ago other than for rehearsing.

wrong... i dont want to start a pissing match but thats the most incorrect post in this thread. While they have branched out from their boogies at times and incorporated them into their rigs, the triaxis', mark ivs, mark iics and 2 channel rectos have been and still are the staple of their sound.

The new GW goes into the equipment used on this album. The rhythm tracks were all done by hetfield who used his mostly his mesa gear on this one (triaxis, mark IIc). Actually the interviews for this GW are pretty **** good... both het and kirk go into the influence boogie has had on their tone. het seems to be just as big a gear head as the rest of us hear in search of his "grailtone".

 

[jdurso]

Welcome to the loudness wars! At some point we got quality confused with volume. Which I don't understand because the volume in my car and on my stereo could go quite a bit higher so why do they think we're running out of room to turn it up? Once your ear gets used to hearing how unnatural the horrible sound of squashed sound, you're ruined.

because the album is clipping all over the place so they can make it "louder". What they ended up doing was making everything sound more compressed and killed a lot of the dynamics. I'm listening to the GH3 rips right now and there is just more dynamics in the guitar tones and more clarity. The guitar tones actually sound better on GH3.

 

[jdurso]

Sup, so I just listened to death magnetic and the rguitar sounds are insane! Really tight and punchy, now I know that metallica use bout a 100 different amps when recording but if anyone could give me any advice to dial in their tones for my roadking 2 which is played through a recto cab I would be really grateful.
I'm looking for the cleans and lead sound from the day that never comes in particular and also the rhythm tones from pretty much all the songs on death magnetic. If it helps I also have access to an overdrive, 10 band mxr EQ and of course a wah pedal for the leads. Thanks!

keep in mind i'm using a roadster but here's what i find comes close to my favorite riff on DM... its in Suicide & Redemption at 3:08. I point to that one because its one of the most clear riffs on the whole disc. Also the guitar tones on this album as well as many others are actually pretty dry in terms of gain. This may suprise a few people but here is what i'm digging on. All knob settings are like a clock

100 W
Diodes
Bold
Channel 3 - Raw
Bass- 12
Mids- 11:30
Treble- 12:30
Presence- 9
Gain 11:30

There are two keys to this.
1) I use an OCD infront on these settings as a boost with a little added gain... i find it adds some nice harmonic richness and a little tightness
2) You need a guitar with hot pickups. My McCarty sounds good on these settings but to get that real metallica chug its all about my ESP with the EMGs.

For heavier stuff like on The End of the Line or The Judas Kiss i use basically those same settings but bass a tad more gain, presence at 12 and recto tracking.

 

[Klaasman]

Your channel 3 raw, would that be the same as the raw on channel two of a rectoverb?

 

[jdurso]

Your channel 3 raw, would that be the same as the raw on channel two of a rectoverb?

yeah more or less. a rectoverb might have a little more bite as i find the roadster just smoother overall, so just adjust your treble if its too bright. I have owned a few rectos in the past (2 channel triple, rectoverb, tremoverb) and never used the raw setting but i'm really thrilled with it for both a pushed clean when i roll off the volume and a very Metallica rhythm sound when i use an OD infront.

 

[styphon]

I have listened to this album about 10 times and I love it.. Just yesterday I looked on youtube at the Guitar hero versions. Even though I love the album, it makes me sad that Rubin made these changes. One of the worst parts of the CD, the drums being so in front with a wet loud "thomp" is absent on the guitar hero versions. What surprises me even more is that some of the solos have *DRAMATICALLY* different guitar tones.

That being said, I actually like the lead guitar tone on this album. I wonder if it is achievable on a road king with a guitar with active pickups and a Zakk Wylde OD to push Ch 3 or 4, while using Siemens El34s.

 

[Elpelotero]

FWIW, I can nail the tone on The Day That Never Comes with my '92 Recto....I mean absolutely nail. They definitely used old rectos. Not saying '92 stuff, but old for sure.

 

[Klaasman]

Man, I tell you what. I'm about ready to sell my Rectoverb and get a Marshall JVM 4 channel half stack. I'm tired of tweaking this Mesa. I swear it sounds different everytime I turn it on. I thought I had the Death Magnetic tone goin one time usin JJ preamp tubes and some JJ jv6 outputs but then two days later I fire it up and it don't sound the same. All I do when I play, is tweak the knobs. I just can't find the sound I'm lookin for. If anyone would like a sample, look up baldknobby on youtube. Here's another thing I don't get; why does Mesa stop selling the amps everyone seems to love?? The Mark II C+ and now the Mark IV. I don't get it. I thought of buying a Mark IV recently and find out they are discontinued.
So "Elpelotero", please share your settings.
Thanks.

 

[Elpelotero]

Man, I tell you what. I'm about ready to sell my Rectoverb and get a Marshall JVM 4 channel half stack. I'm tired of tweaking this Mesa. I swear it sounds different everytime I turn it on. I thought I had the Death Magnetic tone goin one time usin JJ preamp tubes and some JJ jv6 outputs but then two days later I fire it up and it don't sound the same. All I do when I play, is tweak the knobs. I just can't find the sound I'm lookin for. If anyone would like a sample, look up baldknobby on youtube. Here's another thing I don't get; why does Mesa stop selling the amps everyone seems to love?? The Mark II C+ and now the Mark IV. I don't get it. I thought of buying a Mark IV recently and find out they are discontinued.
So "Elpelotero", please share your settings.
Thanks.

I honestly don't think you can get these tones outside of these super early Rectos. If you've ever played one, you'll know what I'm talking about. They simply just work. It's like one of those Mac PC commercials..."Hi I'm a Mac. I just work."

It's also worthy to note the settings sound very different with different guitars. On my friends guitar my settings sound like ***. But anyways:

Diodes.Bold

The slightest variance makes a big difference. I'm talking millimeters. Hopefully it works out for you. My guitar has Seymour Duncan JB. Mahogany and Maple. Maple neck.

 

[Kaz]

I read in GW that they broke out their old IIC+s for the album. And Jaymz's old Elektra V lol