Yesspeak DVD sound quality issues

[JFM]

I am posting this as a seperate thread to see if ths sound issues may just be with my copy - would be interested to know if others have noticed the same issues I have mentioned below -

OK, watched it last night.

First the bad news.

More sound problems. If you have a home theatre system, don't bother even turning it on. You may as well play it through your TV, which is what I ended up doing.

The sound levels between the band members dialogue, Roger Daltreys narration and the music are dreadful. And this is not helped by the fact that they often have Daltrey talking over the music, or the music plays while the band members are talking - and the sound levels of both tracks are the same. So effectiveley you are fighting to hear what is actually being said.

Traditionally the music plays in the background and is not too intrusive, but that's sadly not the case here.

Why? How difficult could it have been to have seperate, uninterrupted music clips? Did anyone actually listen to the finished product before release?

So, I gave up with the 5.1 and DTS and just played it through the TV, and it is easier to listen to. It is particularly bad for the first 30 mins, but it does get better, and thankfully it does settle down quite a bit later on. A great shame, though.

At one point I tried turning on the subtitles - but there are no English subs.

As for the doc itself, it is very good. It's probably the best insight we have had yet into the lives of the individual band members. Yes, some stories are repeated, but the real meat and potatoes are the individual profiles. The music clips (when they are not being talked over) are also very good, very well filmed. Lots of footage from different concerts, lots of backstage stuff, on the road footage - it has a very endearing, home movie quality to it.

I have to say I did not care for Daltreys narration. It sounds like he's reading it for the first time, and is desperately trying to inject some enthusiasm into it. It does not come across as natural.

But despite the problems, by the end of it I had enjoyed it immensely. I can live with not being able to play it in DTS, because it is a documentary after all.

I did check out the audio section, and that sounds fine, but I would have liked a 2.0 stereo option. I am sure most people will probably want to copy it to cd, minidisc or tape to listen to, and 2.0 stereo or PCM stereo usually sounds better on those formats.

I am glad I bought it, and it is very good as a band documentary - but bad marks for the sound quality on the doc.

[Andersonic]

I can't agree more...the content is great, the soundmix of music and Roger Daltrey should have been given more attention. I think Daltreys' voice isn't exactly a voice to narrate...If only Orson Welles was still alive...

[R'tanys]

Thanks for the tips. Hopefully they'll have a chance to clean it up and remaster the sound before the US release.

[JFM]

Thanks for the tips. Hopefully they'll have a chance to clean it up and remaster the sound before the US release.

Hey thanks, buddy. That makes me feel so much better...and you guys got a better cover too.

[Simon B]

JFM

Totally with you on the narrative, but I thought the audio mix was the best live recording of Yes I've ever heard and I can't wait to get on the train tonight to continue the concert!!

I have a Portable DVD into stereo headphones and the concert audio was crisp and well mixed - particularly the 3 vocals (Steve, Chris and the other one!).

As for Mr Daltrey - what do you expect, have you seen the film McVicar?

Total Mass :yesbird:

[JFM]

TM,

Yes the audio mix is very good, downloaded it onto portable minidisc from my DVD player (in PCM 2 channel stereo). Tried downloading it from my laptop, but it does not work.

Yes, I have had the misfortune to see McVicar.

I also once got told to f**k off by Roger Daltrey, but that's another story...

[capnkrk]

Love to hear that story JFM....

[yarstruly]

My DVD player is hooked up through a 2 channel stereo, regardless of what type of mix it is offered in...that's all I can afford to hook it up through at the present time, so I hope that the sound is listenable in my setup. I appreciate the head's up though...

BTW, Keys, House of Yes & Symphonic all sound great in my current setup.....

Can you tell us more about the CONTENT? Thanks. :D

[JFM]

The content is very good. Pic quality is fine, despite the aforementioned sound problems. Occasionally there are a few too many visual effects for my liking - B/W images, slowed down film etc.

But as a documentary on the current state of the band, it's very good.

Each of the band get an approx 20 minute segment just devoted to themselves, and some of these interviews, filmed in their respective homes (California, Montreal, Spain etc), and with their spouses and families, and are very revealing about the actual lives of the guys.

There is a short segment on the bands history, but as most of that was covered by the Yesyears doc, there is no point going over the same ground. That being said, a lot of the same old familiar stories are repeated...

There is quite a lot of on stage footage, but it's only excerpts, not complete songs. No problem, I knew that going in. And it is after all a documentary. But what you see is very good.

Lots of on the road stuff, backstage, on tour buses etc. Has a very home movieish feel to it.

I like the fact that a lot of the tour crew are given a decent amount of screen time and praise from the band.

One problem I did have was that some of the backstage clowning around, especially by Rick, just did not strike me as particularly funny. I actually found him to be more engaging when he was being serious in the main interview.

Just a shame the sound mix is so screwed up.

The audio concert is fine though, been listening to it on headphones on the way in to work today.

[JFM]

Oh yeah...the Roger Daltrey story.

Not that great really.

I worked as a doorman in a cinema in Londons West End some years back, and they had the premiere there for Quadrophenia The Movie.

Unfortunately, the security staff hired for the night did not turn up, so us mere ticket tearers were designated as security for the evening.

As each of the band members came in, we had to grab hold of them, pull them away from the hordes of photographers and take them upstairs to a private bar.

Trouble is, they did'nt know this. So when Daltrey came in, he had some photo's taken, and then I tried to gently coax him up to the bar.

After a while he turned around and said "What the bloody 'ell are you doin', mate?". I told him I had been designated as security for the evening (at the time I was a somewhat timid, shy, bumfluffed naive youngster). At which point he laughed and said ;

"F**k off, mate".

I was quite proud of it at the time. After all, not many people can say they have been insulted by one of this countries greatest singers.

What was slightly more disturbing was the sight of a somwwhat late and very, very drunk Pete Townsend appearing in the middle of the foyer. The press pounced on him, realising he was half cut. So I just grabbed him and yanked him upstairs, telling him the film had started.

But he just said "Where's the bar?", and headed straight in and downed a couple of whiskies. Left after 10 mins, got in a limo and was whisked away.

Those were the days. Yes indeed. I've been sworn at, kicked, punched and had my hair pulled by more celebrities than you people have had hot dinners.

[SallyKhatru]

That´s a very cool story lol:-)
And I´m still looking forward to the Yesspeak DVD. Hope someone will choose it as a christmas present for me:-)

[stevepenn]

Well, I'm just glad Daltrey didn't sing. Holy buckets, did you hear the guy on that memorial show in New York awhile back. Ouch!

[ozwitch]

I posted in another thread that I found the sound quality weird.

When you watch the [minute] song clips the audio quality sounds wonderful - kind of whets your appetite for the live audio set. I was listening to Daltrey narrate over Awaken and it sounded fantastic, esp the middle section, so I thought, oh boy this is going to sound great on the audio set.

I have 5.1 so I was expecting a lot, but boy what a disappointment. I had my volume at 25 for the documentary, but had to turn it up at least ten notches to get equivalent volume and then it was plain MUDDY. On Awaken, Rick's keys completely disappeared, I could hear Steve's vocals but not Jon's, the instruments were separated but not in a good way, I mean they sounded disjointed instead of crisp and together. And I almost felt that the Awaken track sounded like the KTA one - not good.

I listened to another couple of tracks but it was the same. Very strange. Not a patch on the quality of Symphonic Live. I'm not sure if it's my system or the Region 2 mix, but I sure hope they fix this for US fans next year - you guys may benefit from our complaints hopefully!

My only thought is maybe bit budget problems meant they had to squeeze it all on and dropped the sound quality - that would explain why there are no English subtitles and maybe DTS took up more room and they had to cut quality elsewhere - but that is what dual layers are for anyway and if it means that only those with DTS can get good audio quality, it's a bad decision.

*Does anyone have DTS - can they comment on the sound quality?*

I don't know - I'm just so disappointed (sigh). Maybe it will improve with further viewings. I only know Yes Years shines by comparison in terms of sincerity and effort - this one feels a bit 'manufactured.'

[spock]

I got a Denon AVC-11sr amplifier and electrostatic speakers....and I wonder with this DVD why.....cause the quality of the sound-mixing sucks.
And then Roger : I wouldn't be suprised that Roger is a personal friend of Chris....and so....this would be a service of a friend ?
But his narration !!!....talkin' to kids Roger ?...this is not The Muppets! or is it ?
Anyway....turn it to stereo...and you'll be in a better position to understand what he's talkin' about....that is.....I wish I could turn off his comments.
spock aha spock

[yessongs72]

I got a Denon AVC-11sr amplifier and electrostatic speakers....and I wonder with this DVD why.....cause the quality of the sound-mixing sucks.
And then Roger : I wouldn't be suprised that Roger is a personal friend of Chris....and so....this would be a service of a friend ?
But his narration !!!....talkin' to kids Roger ?...this is not The Muppets! or is it ?
Anyway....turn it to stereo...and you'll be in a better position to understand what he's talkin' about....that is.....I wish I could turn off his comments.
spock aha spock
I found myself adjusting my speaker setting's and have come to the conclusion it's Roger Daughtry that screws this DVD up,other than the pr*ck tease of seeing footage and only to have it taken away.The audio sounds great though in DTS.I still don't understand still why they released a documentary instead of a documentary and DVD Video.They did have awesome footage so I don't want to hear the crap of,duh,we forgot to shoot it.Whoever manages,or is in charge of this area,well they have a headfull of screws loose.

[spock]

Do as I did : sent an e-mail to the CEO of Classic Pictures and ask for an explanation on the bad-sound-mixing..and hope for an explanation.