Here, the dynamics are superb, the mastering compression is mild, and in my opinion, it’s one of the best recordings to come out of the 90s.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (1999, Vinyl) - Discogs Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (1999, Vinyl) - Discogs

If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Californication is the Chili Peppers' most commercially successful studio release with over 16 million copies sold worldwide and more than 5 million in the U. I can clarify that the ONLY real thing that makes it different from all other pressings and re-pressings, is the UNIQUE Side 3 matrix (C1 MK), which is only on the first press. I heard details on the music I’d never heard before, and this is coming from a diehard obsessive Chili Peppers fan who’s listened to this album more than they probably should have.

Vlado Meller has faced criticism for his mastering, clipping albums such as Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, The White Stripes’ Icky Thump, and The Mars Volta’s Deloused in the Comatorium.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (2021, Vinyl) - Discogs

I also edited the songs from the deluxe edition of the album, the songs from “By the Way” single, and two alternate official mixes of “Universally Speaking”! The clipping is, again, not as bad as Californication, but is still quite audible, such as on “Stadium Arcadium” and “Animal Bar”. Upon discussing my problem, he proceeds to pull out a tape box with notes pertaining to the recording. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development.Fortune Faded” faces some rather bad clipping, with some quite distorted drum fills at the end of each chorus. The mix engineer can get everything right, from the initial microphone technique to the final mix, but if the mastering quality is poor, the record will fall at the final hurdle.

Californication - Reissue - Cut by Bernie Grundman | Steve Californication - Reissue - Cut by Bernie Grundman | Steve

As the video above explains, by squashing the natural human dynamics, we remove all the light and shade that makes music interesting and exciting.AT-LP120 needs to track on the heavier side to not skip like a gram more since anti-skate don't really work on those tables. It truly sets an amazing soundscape, profound, quiet when it needs to be, otherwise loud and with very low compression. As you can hear, the original master is squashed and compressed to a level of unacceptable distortion. The vinyl release, however, was mastered by audiophile-beloved Steve Hoffman, monarch of the Steve Hoffman Music Forums, and apparently sounds great, averting the clipping of the digital release!

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (1999, CD) - Discogs Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (1999, CD) - Discogs

I could lie with the shit sound, but I must have cleaned the record 10 times and my needle thinking I was crazy.If you can’t get it to play without skipping maybe you should just downgrade to an AT-LP60 that is already calibrated properly OR learn how to use your tonearm adjustments properly. Different to 2012 version as has coloured labels matching cover art, the text on the front cover is translucent so you can see the art through the text, and the web addresses have been removed from the bottom of rear cover. Both are rather infamous for the distortion they have created or pushed for in multiple records, and that’s why I assert that they are most likely the reason for the band’s loudness during this period. It looked to all the world like RHCP were going to become a fallen giant, playing to consistently dwindling audiences, never likely to recapture to glory days of BloodSugarSexMagick.