| C_Matt 05.11.2013 23:47 |
Hi to everyone! Thanks for asking, Blaise! I'm having a hard time with a few songs (White Man, Drowse, You and I...) Anyway, here I bring to you Good Old-fashioned Lover Boy. This time, the changes are actually more general, since there are no biiiiiig problems in every song's mix (despite of annoying abrupt volume changes), but the problems are more general due the old mixing of the complete album, but in general is really good. General: -So much more clean sound. -Balanced volume between the different choruses. -Greatly reduced clipping and harshness during the song, specially at the ending. -Reduced the quantity of "false hits" (no coordination between Roger and John's playing hits). -Eliminated an abrupt cut at 1:55. Drums: -So much more clean sound. -Increased the hi-hat presence -Brighter cymbals. -Stronger snare. -Not so harsh toms. -No more carton toms. -No more clipping when the toms are played. Vocals: -Cleaner Freddie vocals. -Louder Freddie at the beginning. -More notoriety to Freddie. -Cleaner backing vocals. -Cleaned up big part of the mess at the ending. Guitar: -So much cleaner sound. -Expanded the guitar orchestra. -Reconstructed some key parts. -You can now distinguish lots of new sounds. -Smoother guitar solo. Piano: -So much cleaner and natural sound. -Increased piano role at key points (ex: 2:09, during the guitar solo). -The piano is more audible during the whole guitar solo. Bass: -So much more depth. -Not so muddy sound. -Explosive feeling given when needed. |
| DAZH 06.11.2013 07:23 |
Really like the sound of that especially the backing vocals |
| Vali 06.11.2013 07:47 |
wow wow wow !! Listening right now .... this is stunning ! Bravo Matt ! the work on the vocals is simply fantastic(those harmonies at 00:43s...yes!!) ... never enjoyed this song so much ! ooooh ... and the guitar orchestration.... f*ck !!! WELL DONE !! |
| Blaise Pascal 06.11.2013 09:51 |
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| Blaise Pascal 06.11.2013 09:51 |
Now Mike Stone seems really Mike Stone! xD Really good job done, especially the choruses |
| DragonflyTrumpeter83 06.11.2013 19:26 |
As always.... Excellent job, Matt! Now I can't wait to hear the rest of the album! |
| brENsKi 07.11.2013 13:19 |
fucking how the hell did you do that? bloody hell!!! so clear - love the hi-hat....christ-on-a-bike nice one |
| Haystacks Calhoun II 07.11.2013 17:10 |
Awesome! As usual, you have outdone yourself. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album! |
| drmurph 07.11.2013 17:36 |
Unbelievable work again. I just want to add my appreciation and thanks. I'm looking forward to hearing your finished version of the album. |
| Chief Mouse 09.11.2013 09:19 |
Thank you for this, Matt :-) |
| Back2TheLight 09.11.2013 18:24 |
I've never been a big fan of this song, not one of my favorites honestly. But...I can safely say that hearing your work made my day...the drums sound cleaner, the harmonies, guitar orchestras...everything...absolutely stunning! Give yourself a pat on the back...your mixing abilities are like a fine wine that just get better with age good sir! My first initial reaction when the vocal harmonies first came in: "Holy shit on a slice of toast!" |
| Lord Fickle 14.11.2013 16:36 |
Very nice, Matt. This is one of my favourite albums, so I'm looking forward to hearing the rest. :) |
| PiotreQ 14.11.2013 17:37 |
Very well done, Matt. Can't wait for the rest of the album. Keep up the good work! |
| C_Matt 02.12.2013 20:46 |
Wow! First of all, thank you so very much for all your comments! I can't really say how much happy thay made me today. Makes me want to finish the album once for all. I'm really sorry I couldn't response before, I've been very busy this last month, finishing my last university year, and now I have a more time. Now I'm working better with the album, more into it, to finish the last three songs. I don't know very well which extras I'll put, but I'll see that in a few days. I want to upload a new song, and I'm between 'StL', 'Long Away' and 'The Millionaire Waltz'. Now I'll upload this last one. I'm pretty sure I'll finish and deliver the album before Christmas. Now, put your headphones on and turn the volume loud to enjoy better the experience with TMW: General: -Balanced volume levels during the song. -Explosive hey parts (ex. the heavy part, 3:55...). -More explosive ending. -Greatly reduced clipping at some saturation points. Drums: -A lot more of body. -Heavier drums at the heavy part. -More definition to the hi-hat -More powerful cymbals. -Weight, explosion and less carton sound to the toms. -No more "broken sound" in the cymbals (ex. 3:15 part ones o ending ones). Vocals: -Freddie dances to the waltz now. -So much more presence to Freddie's voice. -More body to that flat voice. -Stereo expanded backing vocals. -More presence to Freddie at the "now I am sad" part (1:25). -More body to the backing vocals when needed. (ex. 2:06 "Come back, come back to me." -More presence to Freddie at the heavy part. -More presence at the "old man" sounding part ("My fine friend..."). -Body to the final section backing vocals (4:00 till the end). -Role differences between the backing vocals (ex. 4:06). -Reconstructed the 4:32 "Cooooome back, come back to me!" Guitar: -Brighter and shiner guitars. -Not so muddy guitars. -More defined guitars (you can distinguish them better) (ex. 0:46, 3:05, 3:54, 4:00...). -Stereo expanded guitars. -Heavier guitars at the heavy part. -Brian's guitar dances too to the waltz at the guitar solo. Piano: -Eliminated a constant hiss in the piano track. -A bit more of body to the piano. -Not so "old and ill" piano sound. -Raised up the piano presence at the heavy part Bass: -So much more depth. -Not so muddy sound. -Explosive feeling given when needed. -Added extra depth to the 3:17 part. Enjoy! . |
| Vali 03.12.2013 11:09 |
oh my ..... ! Matt, as with the good wines, you're getting better and better .... this is probably my favourite Queen song and you've nailed it again ! loving how Freddie dances to the waltz !!! and the heavy part sounds amazing ! :-) |
| Haystacks Calhoun II 03.12.2013 16:15 |
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant! |
| brians wig 04.12.2013 04:08 |
Can't wait for the rest of it! Queen II next? |
| DAZH 04.12.2013 12:12 |
Thanks for this brilliant work |
| beatmichael 05.12.2013 14:45 |
Sounds really good. Can't wait for the whole thing! You're really good at this. I must say though that I don't love the panning of the vocal (Freddie does the waltz) or the guitar solo. I never cared for instruments to move around unnaturally in the stereo field too much unless you're shooting for an effect. Which I guess you are but here it just sounds unnecessary and a little rough. Great job overall though. |
| Blaise Pascal 06.12.2013 08:26 |
So lovely the sound of the drums at 2:30, it's all good... It's a pleasure hearing these songs ;) |
| HyperBoy 10.12.2013 11:55 |
You're a f***ing wizard ! Powerful work ! |
| C_Matt 24.12.2013 13:02 |
As always, thank you for your responses to all of you! Is always really happy to read your words. I thought I could be finishing the album for today, but unfortunately, I couldn't. Half 'Drowse' and half 'White Man' left. Today I finished 'You and I'. Anyway, I'll see if I can upload a song today. Brians Wig, The next album will be AKoM, as I promised to Chief Mouse, but I can do Queen II to be the next one. BeatMichael, I'm sorry to hear that, I thought it was a nice addition, but you gave me a great idea, I can include both versions, with panning on Freddie and the guitar solo, and the natural version without it! Merry Xmas to everyone! |
| Blaise Pascal 24.12.2013 15:01 |
Merry Xmas to you and to your family! Best wishes for the future! ;) |
| Chief Mouse 25.12.2013 09:52 |
ciber_mato wrote: As always, thank you for your responses to all of you! Is always really happy to read your words. I thought I could be finishing the album for today, but unfortunately, I couldn't. Half 'Drowse' and half 'White Man' left. Today I finished 'You and I'. Anyway, I'll see if I can upload a song today. Brians Wig, The next album will be AKoM, as I promised to Chief Mouse, but I can do Queen II to be the next one. BeatMichael, I'm sorry to hear that, I thought it was a nice addition, but you gave me a great idea, I can include both versions, with panning on Freddie and the guitar solo, and the natural version without it! Merry Xmas to everyone! Nice hearing from ya :-) I'm staying tuned. |
| Back2TheLight 25.12.2013 11:14 |
As am I...Merry Christmas to all! Looking forward to this masterpiece :) |
| Blaise Pascal 03.01.2014 09:22 |
Hey, is everything ok? Can't waiting for the album! |
| C_Matt 04.01.2014 04:49 |
Hello everyone! Thanks for asking, everything is alright! As always, with delay. I just can't put concrete dates, things are always different as planed, a lot of things in the middle. I bring to you now a little preview (with raw cuts of every song), mostly to hear how they sound. I've been staying up all night making this one, trying to minimize the differences between the songs, very very hard, really. I'm having lots of problems with 'You and I' since I started it, it's mixing is very weird and requieres a lot of attention. Other problematic song were 'White Man' and 'Drowse', but I really like the result in both songs. Another tricky song was 'You Take My Breath Away', with that "ill" piano sound, but I really like how it sounds now, not so invasive to Freddie's ethereal voice. The album is now almost finished, just some bits in the songs mentioned up, finishing the notes, and the artwork. Now put your headphones a bit loud and enjoy this 11 minutes butchered thing: . |
| DAZH 04.01.2014 09:15 |
Thanks for this sounding great |
| Blaise Pascal 04.01.2014 10:44 |
Thanks for the preview, it's very good |
| Vali 05.01.2014 03:49 |
Alright Matt ... this is sounding terrific !!!!! it is worth waiting so long when the final outcome is so good ! |
| C_Matt 07.01.2014 15:33 |
Hey, I'm really glad you liked this preview! I'm sure I'll be finishing and uploading it before or by weekend. Thank you for your patience! Enjoy 'You and I', pretty sure it's finished: General: -Eliminated a constant hiss during all the song, which can be head on the quiet parts. -Reduced the snare wire sound which can be heard at some fills. -Reduced some clipping. -Extended a bit the ending till the fade out starts. -The song explodes more when it needs it. Drums: -Restored some shine. -So much cleaner fills and hits. -Cleaner snare and with more body. -Cleaner and more noticeable kick. -So much more cleaner hi-hat -Eliminated a strange "double snare" at 0:30 when Freddie sings "TOmorrow". -Exploding toms. -Cleaner ride bell. -Restored a barely audible fill when Freddie goes "Ooohh" right after "Laughter ringing...". Vocals: -Body to the ghostly vocals (ex: "My HEART's jittering", "'Cos then we will waiting...", lots...). -Eliminated a strange noise when Freddie sings "Music is PFHlaying in..." -Balanced volume during various parts (ex, between "tomorrow" and "birght" there's a drop). -Toned some Freddie vocals here and there. -Expanded backing vocals. -Life and strength to the backing vocals, they are more "sunny and bright" now. -Reduced those old feeling from some backing vocals. -Not so extreme panning to the vocals and backing vocals at the slower parts. Guitar: -Exploding guitars at the slower parts. -More rocker guitars. -So much more audible acoustic guitars in the background. Bass: -Enhanced the entire bass line, which was muddy and barely audible before Piano: -More body to the whole piano. -Presence at key parts. . |
| Haystacks Calhoun II 07.01.2014 15:53 |
Can't wait to listen on my way home from work tonight! |
| HyperBoy 08.01.2014 11:09 |
I'm espacially excited about the work done on the second half of the song. It blows me away. I've always loved that one song. Thanks for making me love it even more. |
| Elektra 08.01.2014 18:46 |
Ive always thought this song was very underrated such a lovely song by John once again you have made everything polished its a pity this song never had a nice ending instead of a fade out having said that I still enjoy it a lot well done cant wait for Drowse |
| Haystacks Calhoun II 09.01.2014 10:10 |
Awesome! Makes it seem like a fresh, new song! Listening to this, truthfully, takes me back to when I first discovered these wonderful songs, and, why I like this band so much. Nothing any other band does, or did, sounds like that. Now, what I thought was crystal clear 25-30 years ago sounds 1000% better. Bravo. |
| Blaise Pascal 09.01.2014 12:21 |
It seems to me that the piano is a bit slower, am I right? |
| C_Matt 13.01.2014 13:23 |
Hi guys, thank you as always for your responses! HyperBoy and Haystacks, I agree with you, I really like this song too, and I'm really happy to hear you liked it! The description Brian gave about 'Teo Torriatte' 2005 HD Mix is very accurate and reflects what I'm trying to reach here: "It will sound just as you perhaps thought the old mix sounded, but comparing the two, it will be as if a veil had been lifted!". Elektra, your wish may come true, I'll include in the "extras" a version with a new ending, without fade out, which I hope it works right! Blaise, it could be because the 2011 remasters are a bit (and just a little tiny bit) slower than other versions of the album, but the piano in this uploaded version is at the exactly speed as the 2011 version. Anyway, For the album I speeded it up a little bit (like almost all the songs) to put them in the right tones. Today is the big day! Here's the cover, which was a really bitch to work with, and couldn't put too much time on it because I can't delay this any more. Thank you very much for waiting! |
| Vali 14.01.2014 17:06 |
Hi Matt ! well, I downloaded the album a few hours ago and ... shit, what can I say? you're pure genius, really. ADATR has been always, by far, my favourite Queen album; the one I've listened to the most. Every single note, word or sound has remained deep inside my head for many years .... until today, you bloody bastard !! I've put my headphones and right from TYMD my mouth has stayed wide open until the very last second of the last bonus track. I remember being astonished by the HD mix of Teo Torriate when Dr. May crafted it several years ago, and always wondered (and desired) how would the whole album sound if every track was given that treatment. Well, I can safely say that you have made my dream come true ! Crystal clear sound everywhere. Little and not so little details I never noticed now surfacing so surprisingly, out of the blue TYMD, a song I was so bored of, and now is so enjoyable.again thanks to your version .... and of course the same can be said about STL (the very end of the song pays all your efforts off !!) And even the bonus songs: tell me, how did you you that with GOFLV (Top Of The Pops version) ??? I can picture anybody at QPL listening to your mix of that song and scratching his head, wondering how on earth it is possible that a "mere" fan made this, while many mortals will have to live with the poor mono version included in the bonus disc of the 2011 remaster ... ? I say it again: you're pure genius. Every delivery is much better than the previous one. Amazing job.. Now I don't care if your next work will be on this or that album. I will devour and enjoy it immensely. cheers !! Vali |
| drmurph 14.01.2014 17:28 |
Wow, hey, hold on there. Have I missed something? Has the full album been posted? I've been returning to this topic daily awaiting it but I still don't see a link, only for the three songs (which sound stunning, by the way), the preview and the album cover. Please help. |
| Vali 14.01.2014 17:48 |
of course ! :) you better go to Matt's other thread, the general one for his HD revisions, and follow his skydrive link in the first post. There you have it ! since he said a couple of days back that the big day had arrived, I've been checking any update directly there at skydrive. And finally today .... BINGO ! enjoy the album; it's Matt at his best !! |
| C_Matt 14.01.2014 20:30 |
Hello all! I'm sorry for the delays and the confusions! The thing was that I uploaded the album yesterday and in the meantime complete and finish the notes for the album, but I didn't finished and went to bed. Today I finished the notes and I was going to post the link, hahaha anyway, I'm really happy that you discovered and liked it Vali! Now I'm going to update the general post so everyone can download it and listen relaxed. Please, read the instructions in the notes, you have to relax, put your headphones loud, close your eyes, and let the journey begin. Also, as always, you can check the difference in every song to get the best notion of what have been done. Here's the link to the link to download the album. Please, enjoy it very much! link |
| Back2TheLight 15.01.2014 01:05 |
At last! I will be listening to this on my way in to work tomorrow! With previous works you've done, you've never failed to absolutely make some shit sound good...I'm 1000% confident this one will sound nothing short of EPIC! Thank you good sir for all of your hard work and perseverance! |
| HyperBoy 15.01.2014 10:51 |
I'm in awe. So much work, such a sharp attention to details... And a real fresh vision behind the technical prowess. Don't thank us cause you're the hero here. Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart. |
| Fireplace 15.01.2014 16:12 |
Great job! I especially like the satin finish that you somehow put over the top, while getting rid of some of the harshness. How the hell did you change the structure of some of the songs without the multitracks? |
| C_Matt 17.01.2014 00:08 |
Well! i really appreciate your strong and honest words. It makes me really happy to read your comments, they make me keep wanting to share my hobby results with really good and nice people like you demonstrate you are (a hard sentence to translate specifically in English, sorry!). I'm always try to do my best with every album, and I'm happy you have high expectations, which I try to fulfill. I wish I have all the multitracks, but that's not the case. I have to work with what I have, which really limits me at the moment of changing the structure of some songs. For example, with GOFLB I would have loved to put some vocals on the left channel, some on the right, and some in the center and have a clean and clear vocal harmony, like the HD Mix of 'Teo Torriatte', or I would like to remix the entire 'You and I' instead of having to work over a strange and disbalanced mix, and create a really proper ending and not a simulated thing based on my imagination. Anyway, I really hope you enjoy the complete album and every little bit of each single song. Headphones, relax, eyes closed... this album is a complete journey, like SHA, ANatO, 'The Miracle, 'Innuendo' or 'Made in Heaven'. |
| Back2TheLight 17.01.2014 01:09 |
I hurriedly listened to this in the morning, and I can say your hard efforts paid off friend! I'm not gonna lie, lately I've been more hungry for listening to The Miracle, Innuendo, and MIH as opposed to the early stuff. But this sir, your work on this project was probably your best effort yet. TYMD about blew me out of my car, the diff. vocal bits, the balance of all the instruments, and how it sounds like a rediscovery of a new song, even one we've all heard millions of times (ultimately one of my many go to songs in listening and performing as well!). I can imagine having the original tapes and hearing them in the studio would probably equal up to your work demonstrated here. Once again, your work never ceases to amaze thee! |
| Blaise Pascal 17.01.2014 02:25 |
It's really a work of love... Thanks for these songs, are fantastic! |
| Haystacks Calhoun II 17.01.2014 14:21 |
Ah, yes. Having lost this CD some many years ago, it is an unbridled joy to have these songs again, but, to have them new, and fresh, and so powerful is just AWESOME! This is your best work to date. |
| drmurph 17.01.2014 17:36 |
I've listened to this non-stop since I downloaded it. Thank you again. Amazing job, and I agree it is your best work so far (though the rest are also excellent!). I absolutely love you and I, seems harder with more prominent guitars and punchier. |
| Adam Baboolal 18.01.2014 07:35 |
Nice work. Some very nice additions to the sound. However, just be careful of the low-lows and sharp highs. Millionaire Waltz, in particular sounded a teeny tiny bit tubby when the fast drums kicked in. I can only guess what could help there, bass excitation maybe, phase messing or perhaps some kind of Izotope RX messing, etc. Just some basic ideas. Still, wonderful job. Keep up the good work! |
| DAZH 19.01.2014 05:24 |
Thanks again for a great mix loved Tie Your Mother Down especially freddies vocals . |
| brians wig 19.01.2014 07:27 |
NIce work as usual Matt. Bit harsh on the hiss removal in places I think (White Man springs to mind). Brian's amps DO have that hiss when you see him live on stage - it's part of his "sound". |
| Lord Fickle 21.01.2014 16:14 |
Thanks, once again, for some great work, Matt. I haven't had a chance yet, to sit and listen to the whole thing, but have played bits and pieces. Whilst I love some tracks, like GOFLB, STL, YTMBA, I do agree with old Wiggy (above) that the 'hiss' in White Man was not just tape hiss, but the sound of Brian's amp, which made the track sound 'organic'. Totally removing the amp noise, particularly at the end before the 'BOOM', makes the track sound technically a lot cleaner, but it's too clinical and doesn't sound 'right', in my opinion. I did like the 'BOOM', though! :) I think you've done a great job with the BBC version of GOFLB, which has never sounded better, in my opinion, and your You & I (No Fade Mix) is superb. I hadn't actually heard that track for at least 20 years, but it's now firmly cemented into my iPod for regular listening. I'd forgotten that it's actually not a bad track, even though possibly one of the two weakest on the album, and having an ending makes it much better. Unfortunately, I have to disagree with some of the above comments on TYMD. It's good to hear a freshness to the track, but I think Freddie's vocal is just a little bit too loud on this occasion. I haven't bothered with Drowse yet, as you can't polish a turd. All in all, though, another sterling effort on your part, and you've given my favourite Queen album an interesting new treatment - well done! :) |
| Elektra 21.01.2014 21:53 |
Thankyou very much. 'You and I' is a stand out for me especially with no fade out so much better |
| brians wig 22.01.2014 04:57 |
Lord Fickle wrote: |
| Lord Fickle 22.01.2014 05:29 |
Lol, calm down dear! It's not that I don't like Roger's vocals, per se, I just don't like the track, and it's the weakest on the album, in my opinion. We all have our favourites. ;) And I said I hadn't heard You & I for 20 years, but it's NOW on my iPod, as I've rediscovered it, thanks to the new ending. :) |
| C_Matt 25.01.2014 22:30 |
Hello all! For those all who liked the album, thank you so very much for your comments! I'm really happy to hear you liked the songs. I can give the album a new listen too, a fresh new way to hear it. And plus to that is the fact that I really love doing this, so its double satisfactory and enjoyable to listen to this album in a cleaner sound and as a result of a hard effort and love dosis put on it. Obviously, thank you very much too all who said which aspects could have been better. Adam, thank you for recommending those ideas! Izotope RX made my life a lot easier! (If I only have known about it before...) Very soon I'll do some different mixes of TYMD and WM for those who think the vocals are a bit loud and the guitar need that hiss (which I removed because I heated it). But there's nothing written about how this things are meant to be. I think GOFLB, STL, TYMD, YTMBA and YaI (with the new ending) are the highlights on this album too! I like to the new way GOFLB (TotP) sounds, a really raw and strange experiment. And about 'Drowse' hahaha, I know it can be a bit monotone, but I suggest to give it a chance again, it sounds so much fresh to me. Again, thanks to all of you for commenting! Is always a pleasure to read your opinions and makes me want to continue with this! I started AKoM really entusiasmed! Working now with AKoM, WWtLF and DLYH. I'll post the alternative versions of TYMD and WM soon! And might I'll check again YaI and TMW for some clicking and harsh sounds removal. Cheers! |
| Lord Fickle 26.01.2014 05:28 |
I've now listened to MW more fully, and have to say, I prefer the 'non-dancing' version. For the most part, it sounds great, but there does seem to be a slight lack of 'body' to the piano intro. I did a quick mix of that myself, and found that adding a little reverb to the piano (biased slightly to the left channel) and centering the piano and bass a little, so that they are not quite so wide apart in the stereo mix, actually improved the intro, but it's all according to taste, of course. :) |
| C_Matt 26.01.2014 11:44 |
I agree at some point! I never liked the extreme panning on instruments (that's why I don't like most of Roy Thomas Baker's works), but I thought this waltz dancing mix was good because the bits are short enough to not give an artificial feeling, at least to me. What I don't like is the total panning for long times, like some 'Long Away' guitars, or like at the beginning of TMW, the bass at the left and piano right, like you say, but I think this is one strong trademark of the song and I felt it must remain untouched. I had that same tought that you too! About putting reverb to the piano or centering a bit the instruments, but I felt the thing here is to listen the isolated bass and piano. :) |
| Lord Fickle 26.01.2014 12:15 |
Yes, it's all down to personal preference at the end of the day, Here's a clip of how I did my intro: |