Why is Jon Astley's CD mastering bad?

I don't really have very much stuff mastered by him, so why do a lot of people not like his work? Comments?

 

His style has changed over the last few years. Originally he got a bad reputation for over processing tracks. He used to compress the life out of stuff, EQ it too much and use a lot of noise reduction. Other than that he was fine.

All Things Must Pass, the ABBA stuff and most of the Who stuff he's done is way over the edge. It's loud, harsh and there's a lot of noise reduction artifacts.

Recently he's been more subtle with his processing. He's even done some things that have been viewed as good by some forum members.

 

Over use of compression and NR (noise reduction) come to my mind immediately.

 

Hi "POLOD" and welcome to the forum!

This topic has been discussed so many times on this forum that the mere mention of Jon's name sends shivers down some of our spines.

Try using the "SEARCH" function of this site and read in beautiful black and white just "WHY" Jon's CD mastering is so bad!

Chris C

 

But let me add again his work on the Tommy hi rez 5.1 mix is superb.....whether Elliot Mazer helped or not, it sounds great!

 

He also mastered the audio portion of 'The Kids Are Alright' DVD which is very good. If you get the special edition, there is an interview with him on disc two that I find quite informative (Did you know Pete Townsend once dated his sister?).

 

His sister is Pete's ex-wife. Nepotism at its finest.

 

Thought you meant Pete dated his own sister at first.

 

Extreme compression, digital clicks and static, and he uses Cedar NR on everything (a system designed for cleaning up noisy acetates and vinyl).

"A Quick One" stereo remaster is the loudest CD I've ever heard, even louder than modern nu-metal records, and that's not a good thing.

His remix of the "Tommy" portion of "Live At Leeds Deluxe" is notriously bad. The vocals all sound like they're underwater.

He also has a habit of pulling wrong tapes/releasing wrong versions, and he has a boner for fake stereo effects.

 

The less said about Astley, the less Maalox I drink......

 

This may be a stupid question, but this Jon Astley is not the same as the guy who put out the dance music in the late 80's.....is it?

 

yes it is Andy

 

I think he means Rick Astley.

 

Jon Astley did record dance music in the 1980s.

 

You are correct sir, that is who I was thinking of. Has Jon Astley always made his living maxing out classic cds, or was he known for something else before that?

 

Jon Astley did a couple albums in the '80's IIRC but I do not know if they were dance. One was the Compleate Angler (Spelling may be way off)

 

We need Jon Astley to remaster Rick Astley.

 

Yeah, that's him, and it wasn't any great shakes either......

 

According to AMG Astley (Jon) did in fact release 2 albums in the late 80's so BradOlson is right. It is supposed to be Bowie influenced but terrible production. Sound familiar!!

 

I think his first musical efforts were co-producing Who Are You and producing Clapton's Just One Night album. Here's one of his two solo records:
http://www.p-o.se/Lp 1987-Everyone Loves The Pilot.htm

 

JON ASTLEY IN WORK
http://img84.exs.cx/img84/5523/painkiller4uq.jpg




Jon Astley, i mean how is it possible that he has a job "remastering" albums. I DO NOT GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well, nepotism got his foot in the door (Townshend used to be married to his sister). And his work with the Who I think opened the door to work on other artists' material. As Jamie pointed out, though, despite his faults Jon Astley deserves credit for listening to constructive criticism and modifying his approach. The Who's Next Deluxe Edition is really a substantial improvement in his mastering work.

 

What the hell is, I mean, was that?

 

So, what good sounding CDs has Jon Astley done?

 

If this was a substantial improvement I'm so very grateful I haven't heard, or at least I don't believe I have, any of his previous masterings.