Yes Live in Philadelphia 1979- WTF? Audio mangled?

[ZMOQ]

A week or so ago, I converted "Leaves of Green" to .Mp3 as a favor for someone. I used to have the videodisc, but no videodisc player, so I sweet-talked a coworker into dubbing it to VHS for me a long time ago.

So the song goes from laserdisc to VHS to .MP3.

The VHS tape had developed a few glitches over time, so my bro suggested that I rent it from NetFlix to see if it looks and/or sounds better on DVD.

After a mishap (cracked disc), Netflix finally sent me a playable one. At least the video looks better- less of the glowing blob/red phantom/blue phantom syndrome.

But, oh crap, what happened to the AUDIO? The sound was obviously tampered with to create a sort-of stereo from a mono source.

"Yes Live in Philadelphia" has re-channelled stereo all over it. And worse, one of the loveliest and most moving moments, the "Leaves of Green/Excerpt from the Ancient" had a hell of a lot of echo and reverb ADDED, and artificial audience noise overdubbed onto the track! Jon's introduction ended up garbled, "This song is for Jennifer, mumble... garble... echo..." (it used to be "Happy Birthday... sweet sixteen" before all this unwanted audio garbage got added in.)

Folks, it didn't ALWAYS sound like this. There used to be a time when "Leaves of Green/Excerpt from the Ancient" was actually a quiet, intimate moment, devoid of drunken audience yelling and whistling.

Choosing the "Track Selection" is now annoying. We didn't need the "tune into TV static" noises whenever we want to simply select a certain song. It's really unpleasant.

It's been ruined, sad to say. Grrrrrrr! [gnashes teeth]

[Meng]

It is so irritating when they do things like this.

I bought a Family live CD which was from a concert they did for the BBC back in 1973 in front of a small, enthusiastic studio audience. For the CD they shoehorned in crowd FX to make it sound like a much larger concert audience, and completely ruined it in the process.

I threw it in the bin and managed to get a bootleg of the actual recording.

[edarnold]

A week or so ago, I converted "Leaves of Green" to .Mp3 as a favor for someone. I used to have the videodisc, but no videodisc player, so I sweet-talked a coworker into dubbing it to VHS for me a long time ago.

So the song goes from laserdisc to VHS to .MP3.

The VHS tape had developed a few glitches over time, so my bro suggested that I rent it from NetFlix to see if it looks and/or sounds better on DVD.

After a mishap (cracked disc), Netflix finally sent me a playable one. At least the video looks better- less of the glowing blob/red phantom/blue phantom syndrome.

But, oh crap, what happened to the AUDIO? The sound was obviously tampered with to create a sort-of stereo from a mono source.

"Yes Live in Philadelphia" has re-channelled stereo all over it. And worse, one of the loveliest and most moving moments, the "Leaves of Green/Excerpt from the Ancient" had a hell of a lot of echo and reverb ADDED, and artificial audience noise overdubbed onto the track! Jon's introduction ended up garbled, "This song is for Jennifer, mumble... garble... echo..." (it used to be "Happy Birthday... sweet sixteen" before all this unwanted audio garbage got added in.)

Folks, it didn't ALWAYS sound like this. There used to be a time when "Leaves of Green/Excerpt from the Ancient" was actually a quiet, intimate moment, devoid of drunken audience yelling and whistling.

Choosing the "Track Selection" is now annoying. We didn't need the "tune into TV static" noises whenever we want to simply select a certain song. It's really unpleasant.

It's been ruined, sad to say. Grrrrrrr! [gnashes teeth]

I have the laserdisc. Haven't played it yet because I don't own a laserdisc player. I'll bet it is un-meddled with...
I'll see if Gerry can do a transfer for me soon.

[Doctor Flang]

I noticed the same thing. The audio on the original DVD was acceptable, but the new version sounds like only the ambience channel was used.

The audio has been "remixed" to 5.1. (no remixing as such, just mono to fake 5.1.) and there is no stereo option available on the disc. It sounds like my DVD player chooses the wrong audio channels. I have no 5.1. system so i can't tell how it sounds like.

Mind you, the visuals are a bit different too.

I wonder why nobody in the band pays no attention to check these kind of releases out before they are released.

[BEE]

There have been many many discussions and threads on this topic here and on many different Yes Sites!
Here is one lengthy post I made many moons ago!
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I attended one of the 3 Yesshows at the Spectrum in Philly in 79 and this video is only a small glimpse of the complete
"Yes in the Round"!

I have had the first Dvd (Blue Dean Cover) for about 5 yrs and it was a great improvement over the VHS tape I had for many years before.
I received the newer Dvd (Red Dean Cover) with the same but reversed image cover art for Christmas!

There are many differences that I will try to explain using (BDC) or (RDC) as a key!

(BDC)was the first release by Image Entertainment and has a much better sound quality than the(RDC).
Yessss the so called "remastered" Dvd by Sanctuary/BMG has sound that is worse than the first:more crowd noise interference,thin,tinny and echoes badly!
(BDC)actually has "good" sound and the (RDC) "poor" sound.

(BDC) opening has the original uncredited voice discussing the 3 night sellout,first concert to be filmed at the Spectrum and opens with the lighters in the dark,wide stage shot and small pictures of Yes being ID by the announcer.
(RDC) opening starts with the band entering from a backstage path to the stage.There is no announcer,but there are full screen overlays of each member during the opening CETK theme.

Siberian Khatru:
(BDC)Chris'bass thumps and Steve wails and much less crowd interference.The song ends with a distant stage shot.
(RDC)Sound muddy and ends with a close up of Squire.

Circus of Heaven:
(BDC)Very clear sound,Wakeman standsout with many unique sounds.The song ends and fades to black as Rick is still tickling lightly for about 30 seconds.
(RDC):ends a bit abrubtly and about 15 sec shorter.

Starship Trooper:
(RDC)has Drum solo/Ancient-LOG before STrooper.
(BDC) has a great Jon intro about the Philly Furys a soccer team(Rick part owned)that they played during the day.
(RDC) deletes this entire story!

Alan Drum Solo:
I believe this was part of the rare 'Arriving UFO".The end of the drum solo on both Dvds are different going into The Ancient-LOG.

The Ancient/Leaves Of Green:
Starts and ends with a bit different camera angles and shots.

Your Move/ISAGP:
(BDC)ends with a Squire freeze frame shot and no break before Roundabout
(RDC)has no freeze and a long stage exit/time before Roundabout.

Roundabout:
Begins and ends a very little bit different.

Credits:
(BDC):Lee Abrams(now owns XM radio)
Brian Lane as the Exec Producers.
Nigel Ruby(sound mix)
Michael Tait (lighting)
Clair Bros(sound)
Ed Sciaky(consultant).

(RDC):None of the above!

Summary:
(RDC) does have a few minutes of Chris Welch commentary,but nothing new here....If you do NOT have this disc and want a "quarter of the round",good versions of SK,CoHeaven and can find it at a decent price...Go with the Blue Dean Cover of YES in Philadelphia 1979!

We now know more film exists...
I am waiting for the full lenght concert version (YDC)
Yellow Dean Cover! :D
Well I hope this helps you make a decision.
It sure confuses the hell outta me ;)

[Meng]

As an addendum, my Sanctuary Region 0 "green" version

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/g/i/p/221672.jpg

appears to be the same as the RDC. Unfortunately.