Remasters In General

[ACK!]

This thread isn't specifically about CTTE. There's no "general" forum in the CD section, so I put it here.

Anyway, CD remasters came about primarily because many labels, in their haste to get CDs onto the market in the '80s, didn't always use the right tapes. They used 1st, 2nd and sometimes even higher generation tapes. A 1st generation tape is bad in this case because it's one generation down from the master -- in other words, a copy.

In the case of some Yes CDs, they used tapes that had been equalized for duplication on LPs. The original flat master two track tapes should always be used for CD duplication.

I had no problems re-buying certain CDs because the original releases had crappy sound quality. Journey's Escape album being a prime example.

However, some people (and I've been guilty of this) see the word "remaster" and automatically rebuy certain CDs.

What I've found, however, is that in some cases, the original CDs are better than the later versions.

If you're thinking about getting a remaster, ask yourself this question: Are you satisfied with the sound quality of the disc you have? If you are, then why would you buy the same thing over again? I'm talking about straight remasters with no bonus tracks.

If the remaster is an expanded edition with bonus tracks, ask yourself: Are these bonus tracks worth buying the CD again? In some cases, they will have remixes as bonus tracks. Remixes generally aren't my cup of tea, so if those were the only extra tracks, I'd pass. On the other hand, if there are unreleased songs, demos or live versions that you want, then I can see going and buying the remaster.

Remasters were a cash cow for the recording industry because they were making the consumer pay for mistakes they committed in the first place. They should have taken the time and effort to find the right tapes and make the best possible product they could.

However, some early CDs were done right the first time: The first pressings of Steely Dan's CDs on the MCA label are actually superior to the current remastered versions. Warm sounding and not maximized and compressed.

Just throwing this out there based on 22 years of CD buying...and rebuying!

[Meng]

If you're not already, you should become a member at Steve Hoffman's website. I've learnt a great deal about this particular subject over there. A lot of the early Yes CDs are pretty good - CTTE was mastered by Barry Diament and sounds great, even though he only had master tapes for one side of the album.

The Japanese mini-lp CDs, on the other hand, are a brickwalled mess and - packaging excepted - should be avoided. Too often these days mastering has become that famous Ian Gillan quote - "everything louder than everything else!"

[ACK!]

If you're not already, you should become a member at Steve Hoffman's website. I've learnt a great deal about this particular subject over there.


I've been over there for years. Seven, to be precise.

There is a lot to be learned on the subject, on that I'll agree. But I think that some people there rely too much on computer waveforms and not their ears.

I think if it sounds good to you, than it is good.

[CybrKhatru]

yeah, there is a lot of reliance on "visual evidence" to be sure. But I always rely on my ears too.

I thought I recognized your screen name from the Hoffman site. :D

[luna65]

I agree that people see the word "remaster" and automatically think it's going to be better...and at least half the time it is not. But there are certain people in the field who do an excellent job both the first time and with a remaster...James Guthrie, for example. Every remaster in the PF back catalog is wonderful, and as a whole the collection is often cited as an example of how it should be done.

[fovman]

Joe Satriani's Surfing with the Alien was well done and improved! Better EQ and clarity.

[ACK!]

Joe Satriani's Surfing with the Alien was well done and improved! Better EQ and clarity.

All CDs are different. I bought Journey's Escape CD twenty years ago and couldn't believe my ears. It sounded like someone threw a blanket over the speakers. I couldn't believe that I'd paid $15 dollars for this or that a major label would release a CD with such crappy sound.

In 1996, it was remastered and was vastly improved.

You have to take CDs on a case-by-case basis when it comes to original vs. remastered.