| Soundfreak 17.03.2011 08:54 |
How can you better perfection ? In fact you can't ! And probably this is the reason for the big surprise with "A Night at the Opera". In this case I compared it with the 30th anniversary Edition of EMI. And: It's absolutely identic !!! The Island Remaster is "bit by bit" identic to the 30th anniversary remaster. So there is absolutely no reason to buy this one again - except for maybe the bonus tracks. And sadly what is supposed to be the most important or best Queen album has the most unimportant bonus tracks. Fans will already have the retake of "Keep yourself alive", the live version of "Love of my Life" is from Live Killers, three stripped down tracks from the album are pretty pointless. Leaving "39" from Earls Court 77 the only recording of interest. But it's not really essential, quite close to the Live Killers-version. As I said before, these remasters are just made to replace the slowly disappearing EMI versions. So they are no "new product", they are just replacements and especially this album is the best example. P.S.: I'm looking forward to reviews of this album, where people pretend to hear new details or bigger seperation....or whatever...;-) |
| cmi 17.03.2011 09:37 |
It's not a surprise really, the same album - the same engineer. I don't think he will make it better five years later :) Also we see that QPL/Island to make this reissue camapign as cheap as possible... And can you clarify is there any differences in booklet artwork between Island 2011 and EMI 2005 version? Thank you. |
| Silken 17.03.2011 10:00 |
Thank you for your reviews! I think I'm not buying the remasters after all. The bonus tracks will eventually be available somewhere on the internet. |
| Soundfreak 17.03.2011 10:42 |
And can you clarify is there any differences in booklet artwork between Island 2011 and EMI 2005 version? Thank you. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The pictures are the same. Although the new version shows them in a different running order and some of them in smaller size, as the new booklet uses two further pages for information without having more pages added. |
| rhyeking 17.03.2011 11:53 |
In the new liner notes, is there new, specific information about the Long Lost Re-Take of KYA? What I mean is, does it describe the session in 1975? The studio used? The engineers and producer (I'd assume Mike Stone and RTB)? An exact recording date? I'm hoping it clarifies the confusion about exactly when the LLRT was recorded, since I'm divided as to whether to believe it was put down in 1972 during the Queen 1 sessions or as a one-off in 1975 between SHA and Opera. If it can definitively establish one or the other, it would go far to broadening our collective knowledge. |
| Soundfreak 17.03.2011 13:28 |
The liner notes do not give any information about the recording of this track. The only "new" information is, that for the first time they used a "computer assisted mix system" which in the end completely failed. Later in the additional production notes you find "Bonus Track 1: Produced by Queen and Roy Thomas Baker. Engineered by Gary Lyons". That's all there is...don't blame the messenger.... |
| rhyeking 17.03.2011 13:51 |
I blame YOU, Soundfreak! Ha ha, just kidding... Thanks for the update. Gary Lyons engineered KYA LLRT? Interesting. He was one of the engineers on Opera, as well. |
| smilebrian 17.03.2011 15:09 |
Very disappointing that they used the 2005 for this, as to my ears, it's atrocious, way too loud, my ears almost bleed when I listen to this release. DCC release is just so far superior it's embarrassing to Ludwig. |
| GinjaNinja 17.03.2011 16:43 |
The tape box for the Long and Short versions of the Retake at the Stormtroopers Exhibition had a date of 2/7/75 (D/M/Y). |
| Soundfreak 17.03.2011 16:51 |
smilebrian : Very disappointing that they used the 2005 for this, as to my ears, it's atrocious, way too loud, my ears almost bleed when I listen to this release. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Are you sure we are really talking about the same version? The 2005 remaster from the EMI box with the DVD has all the dynamics intact, there is no visible nor audible limiting of the louder parts. Compressed loud tracks look completely different in the graphics. |
| rhyeking 17.03.2011 17:17 |
GinjaNinja wrote: The tape box for the Long and Short versions of the Retake at the Stormtroopers Exhibition had a date of 2/7/75 (D/M/Y). ***** Thanks, Ninja. July 2nd, 1975 would place it after the SHA tour ended in May, 1975, before the KYA re-issue single (July, 1975, assuming the single wasn't released on the 1st or 2nd), and before the Opera sessions started (August, 1975). Add to that, the presence of Gary Lyons as engineer, as he was also on Opera, and I think we might have to definitively say the Long Lost Re-Take was without a doubt recorded on or just before July 2nd, 1975 (that could be the mastering or mixing date). |
| deleted user 17.03.2011 17:23 |
Soundfreak wrote: smilebrian : Very disappointing that they used the 2005 for this, as to my ears, it's atrocious, way too loud, my ears almost bleed when I listen to this release. Reply: I've got a volume control on my Hi Fi |
| smilebrian 18.03.2011 05:18 |
Soundfreak, yes, I'm talking about the same release. I don't look at sound on my computer, so couldn't tell you about waveforms etc. Have you listened to the DCC release? The Ludwig remaster is much brighter, and the dynamic range definitely sounds compressed in comparison. The DCC is superior in every single aspect in my opinion. It's the absolute definitive release (and even better on vinyl). Instruments sound natural, dynamics are far broader, Freddie's vocals just sound more right. The Ludwig to me, is just way too overblown. If you like that style, then sure, the 2005 may suit. The DCC is just so natural and has that wonderful analogue feeling that I just love. It's really night and day in difference to me. It's a crying shame that Hoffman didn't do the catalogue. |
| Soundfreak 18.03.2011 06:05 |
I do not have that DCC version, so I cannot comment. But I have no doubt, that it's good. I am quite happy with the 30th anniversary remaster, I had the Hollywood version before and to me it's an improvement. But - there is no such thing as a "Ludwig remaster" as you write. The new one is exactly the same as the 30th anniversary version. And in those liner notes I can't find the name Ludwig at all. Strangely the new booklet makes it look like a Ludwig remaster, I guess that was a mistake in communication. |
| smilebrian 18.03.2011 08:05 |
Inside back cover: "Mastered by Bob Ludwig, Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland ME." Here is part of the press release from Brian's page, dated 14 November, 2005: "A landmark release, this special edition features both the new CD and DVD formats of the album completely restored from original analogue tapes and digitally re-mastered by Bob Ludwig......" Agree that the Ludwig 2005 is superior over the Hollywood, everything is superior over the Hollywood! Track down the DCC version (it's hard to find for sensible money unfortunately) for the definitive version (CD & Vinyl). |
| Rick 18.03.2011 09:23 |
Well, since you have this DCC version...care to post a snippet of a song? Just for comparison. |
| Goodoldfashionedloverboy 18.03.2011 14:02 |
For someone long awaited for someone became a disappointment. But we can not accept that it's better than nothing. |
| smilebrian 19.03.2011 22:30 |
Rick, I've never posted samples before. How would I do that? If you can send me a "how to", I'll have a go. What would this achieve though? The quality would be diminished wouldn't it? |
| The Real Wizard 21.03.2011 21:42 |
Not at all. If you rip a CD to WAV format, the quality will be identical. If you're using a PC, you can use Windows Media Player to do a quick rip of a track. From there you can use a freeware program like Audacity to cut out a part of it. |
| ShortSharpShock 22.03.2011 15:59 |
Here are some soundsample's from the DCC 'A Night At The Opera' Judge for yourself about the sound, but I think this a way better than the 2011/2005 remaster. But that's just an opinion! |
| ShortSharpShock 22.03.2011 16:12 |
And here is a link from Steve Hoffman website: link In this forum the Steve Hoffman remaster is discussed against some other remasters of the same album. |
| TyphoonTip 24.03.2011 19:51 |
A have no issue with them using the 2005 remaster for the 2011 release. However, the fact that they appear to be trying to cloak this fact is despicable. At least with the pointless Deep Cuts release, fans can quickly scan over the tracks, instantly realise that it serves no real purpose, and choose not to buy it. However you don't have that luxury with ANATO 2011. It bothers me greatly that the it says explicit that it's a "2011 remaster". I can't help but think it's simply an underhanded and dishonest ploy to dupe fans into buying something they don't need. ....and the music industry wonders why people download.... :-X (Hi all, by the way!! This is my first post.) |
| Benn 25.03.2011 01:08 |
......and you're surprised by this? After all, it's the Queen catalogue we are talking about here - a joke. The funniest thing of all for me is that they have used the term "Bonus EP" for the additional tracks on the Deluxe editions. Given Brian's amazing dedication to saving or reducing the impact on the world's natural resources, surely they could have simply added the bonus material to the disc that holds the original album tracks and prevented needless waste........ |
| TyphoonTip 28.03.2011 09:22 |
Apparently badgers and foxes use discarded CDs as nesting material during the cold winter months. Brian's always thinking ahead. |
| GratefulFan 28.03.2011 15:20 |
^ Making the title 'Deep Cuts' somewhat prescient. Poor foxes. Poor badgers. Sniff. |
| TheLastHobson 25.05.2011 01:00 |
Hey guys, I've been browsing around trying to see what others are thinking about these remasters... I wasn't aware that this wasn't a 2011 remaster until I just read it here, but regardless, I'm hearing weirdness already just quickly listening through "death on two legs"... anybody notice that the drums sound screwed up when they first enter? sounds like a bad edit, or tape gone bad, or who knows... it just sounds wrong. I checked the hollywood release and it's fine. |
| atom murray 26.11.2012 10:34 |
The 2005 Opera remaster was done by Bob Ludwig. I have the 30th Anniversary. The DVD version and the single CD version. I didn't buy the LP unfortunately but this was the start of the Ludwig remastering program I'm pretty sure! So the 2011 remaster is the 2005 EMI remaster in new clothing! While the standard CD version sounds good, the DVD-A is stunning! |
| atom murray 08.12.2012 15:20 |
I just listened to A.N.A.T.O. 2011 and it is the best of the all the remasters. I really enjoyed it like never before! I even played the 'Prophet Song' to my 13 year old daughter and she liked the vocal section an was probably amazed or probably disturbed! |