lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Aug 24, 2009 21:46:04 GMT -5
If you haven't gone onto the Amazon Beatles Remasters website in a few days, check out the interview with Allan Rouse and Paul Hicks about preparing the remasters and then especially listen to the collection of 43 remastered songs (30 second clips) from a few of the albums they give you. Even listening to the song clips on my crappy laptop speakers, you can hear quite a difference from the old '87 CD's. On the "Please Please Me" clips, the vocals are so much clearer that, especially on "Anna" and "Misery", you can now really hear how bad John's headcold was the day they recorded that entire album. And on the White Album clips (this remaster is LIGHT YEARS better than the '87 CD) the vocals are just so clean and crisp and much better balanced against the instruments. In fact, that is the first and strongest impression I got from listening to all 43 clips. I think I am finally going to enjoy listening to the White Album once more, as the '87 CD of that was just awful and I barely played it these past 22 years, going back to my original vinyl instead. Listening to those 43 clips has got me fired up now in these final two weeks before the releases, because I can already hear real differences in most of the songs. Grab a listen! It is worth it and quite exciting!
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Post by Steve Marinucci on Aug 24, 2009 23:56:00 GMT -5
If you haven't gone onto the Amazon Beatles Remasters website in a few days, check out the interview with Allan Rouse and Paul Hicks about preparing the remasters and then especially listen to the collection of 43 remastered songs (30 second clips) from a few of the albums they give you. Even listening to the song clips on my crappy laptop speakers, you can hear quite a difference from the old '87 CD's. On the "Please Please Me" clips, the vocals are so much clearer that, especially on "Anna" and "Misery", you can now really hear how bad John's headcold was the day they recorded that entire album. And on the White Album clips (this remaster is LIGHT YEARS better than the '87 CD) the vocals are just so clean and crisp and much better balanced against the instruments. In fact, that is the first and strongest impression I got from listening to all 43 clips. I think I am finally going to enjoy listening to the White Album once more, as the '87 CD of that was just awful and I barely played it these past 22 years, going back to my original vinyl instead. Listening to those 43 clips has got me fired up now in these final two weeks before the releases, because I can already hear real differences in most of the songs. Grab a listen! It is worth it and quite exciting! I re-listened to that interview today. It's very informative.
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Post by glenn1966 on Aug 25, 2009 14:55:54 GMT -5
So... What I want to know: Is Dizzy Miss Lizzie still going to have that odd reverb on John's vocal?
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lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Aug 25, 2009 18:50:19 GMT -5
So... What I want to know: Is Dizzy Miss Lizzie still going to have that odd reverb on John's vocal? That was not one of the sample tracks. You only have to wait two more weeks to find out!!
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Post by beatleroadie on Aug 25, 2009 21:37:25 GMT -5
Hey lowbasso, did you listen to STEREO and MONO remasters?
I'm leaning toward getting the MONO box now and just picking up YS, LIB and AR in stereo individually. . .
Are the early records still mixed with the vocals and instruments in EXTREME separation or are they more balanced down the middle? That's mainly my worry with the STEREO box, that the Stereo mixes of the early records will be too fragmented....THOUGHTS? Anyone with me on getting the Mono box then YS, LIB and AR separately or is that a bad idea? Looking for advice!
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Aug 26, 2009 5:47:48 GMT -5
Hey lowbasso, did you listen to STEREO and MONO remasters? I'm leaning toward getting the MONO box now and just picking up YS, LIB and AR in stereo individually. . . Are the early records still mixed with the vocals and instruments in EXTREME separation or are they more balanced down the middle? That's mainly my worry with the STEREO box, that the Stereo mixes of the early records will be too fragmented....THOUGHTS? Anyone with me on getting the Mono box then YS, LIB and AR separately or is that a bad idea? Looking for advice! I'm getting the STEREO releases only, but yeah -- I'm hoping they won't be those extreme "vocals on one side, music on the other" renditions. I think it's ridiculous that we're forced to have to buy the COMPLETE MONO SET, when each and every album should be available indiviualy in BOTH formats, so you may select your desired albums on this or that.
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Post by Steve Marinucci on Aug 26, 2009 8:20:45 GMT -5
Hey lowbasso, did you listen to STEREO and MONO remasters? I'm leaning toward getting the MONO box now and just picking up YS, LIB and AR in stereo individually. . . Are the early records still mixed with the vocals and instruments in EXTREME separation or are they more balanced down the middle? That's mainly my worry with the STEREO box, that the Stereo mixes of the early records will be too fragmented....THOUGHTS? Anyone with me on getting the Mono box then YS, LIB and AR separately or is that a bad idea? Looking for advice! I'm getting the STEREO releases only, but yeah -- I'm hoping they won't be those extreme "vocals on one side, music on the other" renditions. I think it's ridiculous that we're forced to have to buy the COMPLETE MONO SET, when each and every album should be available indiviualy in BOTH formats, so you may select your desired albums on this or that. The original rumors that circulated had both stereo and mono albums on one disc. I can understand why they didn't do it -- confusion for the consumer -- but they could have packaged the two together as two disc sets. Or made limited deluxe versions that included the monos. Would have made more sense to me.
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Post by beatleroadie on Aug 26, 2009 11:37:45 GMT -5
I agree Steve. Limited Deluxe Stereo/Mono set would have been sweet, and probably cost about $100 less than box sets separately. . .
So have you heard the STEREO versions of the early albums...How's the mix? Does it sound weird with vocals on one side and all instruments on the other?
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Post by glenn1966 on Aug 26, 2009 14:11:10 GMT -5
So... What I want to know: Is Dizzy Miss Lizzie still going to have that odd reverb on John's vocal? That was not one of the sample tracks. You only have to wait two more weeks to find out!! And I will find out in 2 weeks when I purchase the Stereo box set. Whenever I'm in the mood for the first 2 CDs, I'll listen to the mono, then switch to stereo for the remainder of the catalog.
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lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Aug 26, 2009 23:26:46 GMT -5
Hey lowbasso, did you listen to STEREO and MONO remasters? I'm leaning toward getting the MONO box now and just picking up YS, LIB and AR in stereo individually. . . Are the early records still mixed with the vocals and instruments in EXTREME separation or are they more balanced down the middle? That's mainly my worry with the STEREO box, that the Stereo mixes of the early records will be too fragmented....THOUGHTS? Anyone with me on getting the Mono box then YS, LIB and AR separately or is that a bad idea? Looking for advice! The 30 second sound clips of 43 songs were from the stereo box. They mostly comprised of songs from "Please Please Me", "Sgt. Pepper", and "The White Album". If you go to the Amazon website for the Beatles Remasters, you'll find the interview with Allan Rouse and Paul Hicks as well as the 43 clips, so you can hear them for yourself. I only listened to them on my laptop so I heard them thru the simple speakers on my laptop. But what jumped out immediately is the vocals are much crisper, clear, and better balanced. On all the clips. This makes The White Album remaster sound 1000% better than the crappy '87 CD which was badly made. I did not discern any "extreme separation" on any clips but very balanced vocals throughout all the clips. The harmonies are so crisp I could easily discern individual voices inside the harmonies, something I could not often do on the old CD's or the vinyls. The instruments are also quite crisp but they never overshadow the vocals. Based on this short hearing, even on an average sound system with middling speaker quality, I think one of the real merits of these new remasters will be how well the engineers re-balanced all the elements of each track so well, that your ear can isolate amoung the voices or instruments whatever you choose to focus on, and you will be able to appreciate aurally all the layers that make up each song. This is something that was just not possible on vinyl nor with the technology of 1987, when the Cd's came out. I think that is the goal of a remastering process that does not include re-mixing. I do not plan to buy the mono box, at this time. But from what I heard, the early albums should sound pretty well balanced in the stereo versions. I think the Mono's are for the purist fan who want the music exactly as the band heard it back in the 60's when they listened to the playbacks in the studio. I prefer to hear the music in its stereo versions, and I trust the engineers at EMI to have taken the original tapes and balanced each track using digital 21st Century technology to make them sound as though they were recorded in 2009, in stereo. It's a matter of taste which way you prefer to go. There is no wrong or right choice. There is the matter of the cost, so most fans will opt for one or the other probably based on that. If you have deep pockets, then get them all. But most of us will certainly be happy which ever way we decide to go.
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Post by tonepub on Aug 28, 2009 0:27:34 GMT -5
for any that are interested, we've got the full review of final product up now... They are both excellent, even when compared to some of the best old UK vinyl. I think you will enjoy these. Just click here: www.tonepublications.com/musicthanks and enjoy!
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Post by titaniumman on Aug 28, 2009 4:28:52 GMT -5
I'm leaning toward getting the MONO box now and just picking up YS, LIB and AR in stereo individually. . . This is what I'm basically doing. However, the four "new" Yellow Submarine songs are actually included on the Mono Past Masters, so you don't need YS (unless you want the George Martin score). You will however need the Stereo Past Masters, to have the following in your collection as 2009 re-masters; Let It Be (single), Ballad of John and Yoko and Old Brown Shoe. These are not included on the Mono version of Past Masters.
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Post by beatleroadie on Aug 28, 2009 7:36:24 GMT -5
That's so true Titanium. And I've already got the YS Songtrack...but I can't live without a remastered Ballad of John and Yoko and Old Brown Shoe, two of my favorites and very underrated Beatles songs!
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Post by Beatle Bob on Aug 28, 2009 14:34:51 GMT -5
for any that are interested, we've got the full review of final product up now... They are both excellent, even when compared to some of the best old UK vinyl. I think you will enjoy these. Just click here: www.tonepublications.com/musicthanks and enjoy! Here's another excellent review from Uncut Magazine: www.uncut.co.uk/news/the_beatles/news/13552Looks like the remaster team has done the Fabs right this time! Regards, Beatle Bob
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Aug 29, 2009 16:23:18 GMT -5
I've been listening to the snippets of the STEREO remasters, and they don't knock me out. They're much better than what we already have on CD, but I didn't like that the early tracks seem to be that "vocals one side, music on the other" crap. Even the later tracks don't astound me here.
I had intended to only buy the STEREO discs, but now I'm wondering if maybe the MONO's are the way to go (at least before REVOLVER)?
I dunno. I hate the extreme STEREO version of Revolution where the mono one "used to be a heavy record and they made it into a piece of ice cream" (quoting Lennon, about the Stereo version). I also despise the extreme STEREO version of All You Need Is Love, where the intro music begins and then shuts off abruptly as the "Love, Love, Love" chant resumes in the opposite speaker. I hate that.
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Post by Beatle Bob on Aug 29, 2009 19:21:41 GMT -5
I've been listening to the snippets of the STEREO remasters, and they don't knock me out. They're much better than what we already have on CD, but I didn't like that the early tracks seem to be that "vocals one side, music on the other" crap. Even the later tracks don't astound me here. I had intended to only buy the STEREO discs, but now I'm wondering if maybe the MONO's are the way to go (at least before REVOLVER)? I dunno. I hate the extreme STEREO version of Revolution where the mono one "used to be a heavy record and they made it into a piece of ice cream" (quoting Lennon, about the Stereo version). I also despise the extreme STEREO version of All You Need Is Love, where the intro music begins and then shuts off abruptly as the "Love, Love, Love" chant resumes in the opposite speaker. I hate that. The only true way to ensure you hear the remasters full potential is when you have the CD(s) playing it through your stereo system. On line samples, through your computer speaker will not show you the CDs full potential. Regards, Beatle Bob
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Aug 29, 2009 23:32:02 GMT -5
[ The only true way to ensure you hear the remasters full potential is when you have the CD(s) playing it through your stereo system. On line samples, through your computer speaker will not show you the CDs full potential. You are correct. I just wish I knew what the hell to do (Stereo vs. Mono). And it's even more frustrating now that the CDs are already sold out and I hadn't bothered to pre-order anything! I really wish each album would be available individually, in BOTH formats. That way we could cherry pick which albums we want & in which format. So what is the deal with PAST MASTERS? Are there two volumes again, or just one with everything? And will these be also offered in both STEREO or MONO editions? It really SUCKS that the MONO set is limited. And that you have to get ALL The albums that way, in one full set. I don't want any albums in MONO after 1965.
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Post by Steve Marinucci on Aug 30, 2009 0:53:16 GMT -5
[ The only true way to ensure you hear the remasters full potential is when you have the CD(s) playing it through your stereo system. On line samples, through your computer speaker will not show you the CDs full potential. You are correct. I just wish I knew what the hell to do (Stereo vs. Mono). And it's even more frustrating now that the CDs are already sold out and I hadn't bothered to pre-order anything! I really wish each album would be available individually, in BOTH formats. That way we could cherry pick which albums we want & in which format. So what is the deal with PAST MASTERS? Are there two volumes again, or just one with everything? And will these be also offered in both STEREO or MONO editions? It really SUCKS that the MONO set is limited. And that you have to get ALL The albums that way, in one full set. I don't want any albums in MONO after 1965. Yes, Past Masters is two discs. And I'll repeat a point that I wrote Friday: Sources have told me the 10,000 number used for the mono set is wrong. But with the reports of some dealers actually backing down on orders, I'm not sure what to say that's right. I'm hoping to hear more next week.
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