And sorry, but GRP isn't exactly a mainstream label... jazz music for aficionados...

Trouble is, major labels ARE putting out pop, rock and urban music that sounds terrible. It's mixed by guys like Lord-Alge and the best of the best. But then it is handed off to mastering engineers who are TOLD to make it as loud as it possibly can go. You either do it, or they hire someone else.

It has got to the point that they (the mastering engineer) often request stems of the mix, so that they can mitigate the effects of slamming the compressors and limiters so hard it actually changes the mix! So much for a great mix!

And, you know the REALLY stupid thing about the whole thing? Most record buyers nowadays listen to much of their music from iTunes, either on an iPod, or streamed from the computer to their music systems. And you know wht iTunes does to all the tracks? Yep, you guessed it! It has a feature called 'Sound Check' which actually turns all the LOUD tracks down, so they are roughly the same volume as older CD's that are ripped into your collection!

So, you gain no practical benefit from having ruined the sound of the CD trying to get it as loud as possible...

It has gotten INSANE, and I'm sorry, but this is NOT primarily at the hands of bedroom studio owners (no matter how good or bad they may be). They have NO impact on what major Top 40 labels do to their CD's

Just TRY to listen to the new Metallica CD if you want to hear ear bleedingly bad sound at it's worse. Nobody did THAT one in their bedroom, I can tell you!

Jazz labels, classical, yes, there's a little sanity left in the world. But mainstream pop and rock has gone off the deep end...