Remaster of a Remaster of a Remaster...too much of a good thing?

[Riff Raff]

^^In theory a remaster is supposed to do a better job converting the old analog master tapes to a digital format. As technology has improved since the CD was invented all kinds of new remasters have been released.

When done with the attention to detail that Rush's album was, then it is a big improvement, and they didn't screw up any of the balance or loudness levels.

Other times the differences are so slight that it's obviously a way for a record company to get you to buy yet another new edition of an old classic.

Ah cheers, learnt something new.
Maybe I was thinking of remixing before. But glad I actually know now what remastering does.

 

[Hardnecker]

Rush is also remixing their Vapor Trails cd. The original release was mixed so poorly that all of the individual tracks sound like they were all pegged. The result is a loud, harsh sounding listen to my ears and obviously the bands ears as well. There is also some clipping. I was beyond surprised when I had my first listen on headphones. Rush has always delivered when it comes to sound quality and Vapor Trails certainly is an exception. Hopefully, they release it in a format like the new Moving Pictures release or like the Snakes and Arrows MVI. Vapor Trails has very strong songs and layers of music that was crushed by the initial mix. Rich Chycki aleady remixed two of the songs for a compilation and they sound much better.

 

[LG]

^^I think they should just redo the entire album, rather than a remix. If the settings were "way off" on the original tapes it will be almost impossible to really do much with them. Moving Pictures was a phenomenal sounding vinyl record, good on cassette and transferred well to CD. The new one I bought after you recommended it Hardnecker is excellent, but I expected that considering the quality of the original.

We'll see what Vapor Trails sounds like when it is re-released. I wonder if Rush would allow us to send in our old CD"s and get new ones for just the shipping charges...

Not likely.

 

[Riff Raff]

Master of Puppets needs remixing, not the actual music quality but how quiet it is, I hate needing to turn the speakers way up to hear it. And everyone already knows what I think And Justice For all needs.

 

[LG]

When a band like "Warbringer" who have released two albums I think, Mud or DKW can correct me if I'm mistaken, can record "War Without End" and it's better than almost anything production wise Metallica has ever done, it makes you wonder.

I've come to the conclusion that James and company only want to hear their guitars with as little interference from the percussion or bass guitar as possible without eliminating them altogether.

 

[Hardnecker]

^^I think they should just redo the entire album, rather than a remix. If the settings were "way off" on the original tapes it will be almost impossible to really do much with them. Moving Pictures was a phenomenal sounding vinyl record, good on cassette and transferred well to CD. The new one I bought after you recommended it Hardnecker is excellent, but I expected that considering the quality of the original.

We'll see what Vapor Trails sounds like when it is re-released. I wonder if Rush would allow us to send in our old CD"s and get new ones for just the shipping charges...

Not likely.

Alex said nothing will be re recorded. My concern is if the individual tracks were clipped then this won't fix anything. If the levels were maxed out during mastering and clipped then, remixing and remastering will fix it. Their last compilation has two of the songs already done. I don't buy compilations so I have not heard them. Obviously the band liked what they heard and moved forward with it. Maybe we can turn in the originals we bought for the new version? I love the material on there so I'll buy it regardless. A 5.1 version would sound great I bet. Glad you liked the Moving Pictures 5.1 release. Sounds wonderful on my home theatre system.

 

[LG]

^^You are right MP sounded awesome on my HT rig as well.

I hope you are right about the levels being maxed out during the mastering, not during the recording...I would settle for a "Live" album of Vapor Trails, done in sequence of course.