C_Matt 31.03.2014 13:49 |
Hi all, I bring to you 'One Vision', the album version, almost finished, with a fresh sound. I hope you really enjoy it, and here you have the changes list if you want to check: General: -The intro sounds cleaner, you can find sounds that already were there but were inaudible, and understand better some things, like Freddie's panned "I had a dream" at the intro. -New priority to the intro sounds, you'll hear them a bit different. -More depth to the intro kick drums. -Different things were changed for each version (extended, album & single). -Eliminated LOTS of clicks, mainly during the intro and the outro parts. -New things priority all over the intro, more prominent keys and other effects. -Eliminated that instruments cut which is made when Freddie starts to sing. -New deep and kickass chemistry between the drums kick and the bass. -Explosive jungle part start. -So much cleaner sound to the jungle part, which was really really muddy. -Explosive start to the ending part, it's a destructive rocking mess now! -New drums line and fill at the very end of the song, to give a stronger ending. -Extended outro. Drums: -More natural general sound and with more body. -More natural snare, new priority, leaving the whip one in second place. -The snare sounds stronger, it was like a whip, a weak whip, and in this song needs to kick asses. -A lot of depth to the intro drum kicks. -Cleaner drums start at the "But a cold wind blows" part. -Corrected some double hits between the kick and the snare at the 3:48 fill. -No snare reverb cut at the 3:52 "Ta-tah!", and added the kick at that part. Vocals: -More body to Freddie's vocals. -Stereo expanded some "two Freddies" parts. -Cleaner delay effects to Freddie vocals at the "I had a dream" and the "So give me your..." parts. -Cleaner "double tube effect" to Freddie at the "Look what they've done to my dreeeeeams". -No "double tube effect" to the "Whoa whoa who..." part at 3:43. -No Freddie muddy delay at the 3:34 "One vision!". -Stronger backing vocals at the 3:34 "One vision!" -Cleaner "One one one one" vocals at the 3:51 part. -Really noticeable vocals and screams at the jungle part. Bass: -More kickass string sound. -Deeper feeling. -Restored the muddy and lost bass after the jungle part. -Solid as a stone. Guitar: -More body. -Cleaner sound. -Louder guitars, Brian was really sunken. -Explosive sound at key parts. Keyboards and Synthezisers: -Cleaner and deeper sound to the keyboards. Total immersion. -Panning to the intro magic brights sound at 1:00. -More audible sequencer. -Kept the 2:16 cheap drum sound panned to the left, but lowered down the first one. -Cleaner cheap low drum sound at the "So GIVE me..." at 3:19. -More depth to the low explosion effect at 2:44 -Kept the 'Extended Vision' broken keyboards at the 3:51 cut with the "One one one...". Enjoy! |
Blaise Pascal2 31.03.2014 14:17 |
Good job, it's fantastic! |
ActionThisDay 31.03.2014 17:13 |
Now that IS nice. A great job. |
HyperBoy 01.04.2014 11:50 |
One vision... revisited. Awesome. |
Lord Fickle 02.04.2014 15:31 |
That's quite an overhaul! The drum sound is very '80s', and it reminds me of Rio era Duran Duran in places (co-incidentally, their drummer is another Roger Taylor!). It's not unfitting with the track, but personally I would have used more of the 'Room' drums from the stems to get an even more natural sound. I like the lifting of some of the vocals, and the guitar sound is good. I'd say this is probably more of a radical remix than some of your other more subtle work, but all in all, a nice job. :) |
Vali 02.04.2014 17:49 |
This is, as usual, AWESOME. you're great Matt, really, really great, and we're so lucky for having you on board QZ thanks a trillion !!! |
Back2TheLight 07.04.2014 23:59 |
Lord Fickle said it best when he said this was an overhaul. He was correct...but it made me wonder. I downloaded it and heard it on computer speakers. Wasn't sold. But...I put it on a CD along with some other songs...all I gotta say is HOLY SHIT this is EPIC! You're timeless! I've heard some other great mixes of this song in the past, and yes they were great. This mix takes the song to a whole new level dude! Can't wait to hear the rest of this! Greetings from sunny Southern California! :) |
cmi 08.04.2014 02:22 |
Absolutely fabulous!!! I like the drums sound. Hope there will be a flac of the whole album in the nearest future :) |
Vali 08.04.2014 03:14 |
cmi wrote: Hope there will be a flac of the whole album in the nearest future :)of course !! Matt never fails to deliver the best sound quality !! :-) |
BETA215 11.04.2014 00:41 |
QPL should hire you to remaster all the CDs, would be great remasters! |
Elektra 11.04.2014 02:43 |
Matt Im Dying for the Next one! |
C_Matt 15.04.2014 01:24 |
Hi, I'm back! Working a lot with the album. Thanks for the replies! I'm happy to read all this. I really like how it sounds now too. Fickle, I can see what you say. It sound more like 'Rio' drums, it's true hahaha. The drums needed more power, the snare was a bit weak, the bass was like a matress, and the guitars were a bit low. They work now like alloy steel together. I wanted for the drums a more natural sound, but I wanted to enhance the snare and the kick to make it more punchier. Giving more room to the drums would make it feel even more natural, but it would sound a bit more raw, like NotW drums, more like a band rehearsing, a one take thing. I don't thing this was the idea for the song. I thought like if it asked for a punchy but heavy sound which give that silly jam feeling, like "We are in the best shape playing with new sounds and being totally free, no strict patterns, put this part here, and that one there", that feeling of joy and freedom that you get when you see the making of, which I think the entire album is mainly about. It would be nice to experiment with a more raw version of this song too. Bambams, those are good news! The overall mixing of the album songs are fine for me, but it sounds a bit muddy, a thing that is hard to understand for me, having other bands like 'Go West' or 'A-ha', from the 80's, having a really clean sound. It goes with tastes I guess. Anyway, I find the album a bit sunken in the lows. The main mission is to give life to the hidden and lost sounds, which are a lot! The original mixes work well, but as you say, if you compare both of them, the difference is noticeable. I'm really anxious to upload some new songs. Really soon! Blaise, Action, HyperBoy and Cmi, thanks for the reply! As Vali says, I'll upload a FLAC of the entire album as soon as I finish it. By the way, Vali, those words above were really nice, thank you very much! It's great for me too to share my passion with people that I know that are interested on it. BETA and Elektra, all I can say is that I love how it is sounding right now, the songs are going in a good path. AKoM is really catchy and punchy now with that hypnotic bass line and the drums line, OYoL is a pain to work with (the audio clip was like broken at some points) but it's sounding better and not so empty, PIsCTP is sounding clean and poppy to the point I can't stop singing it, FWBF is nicer and more powerful (I added what Blaise suggested, not the people choirs, but Queen choirs at the choruses except the first one), WWtLF just gives me chills at the final choruses and during some points, GtP... well... it changed, DLYH is more agressive and discovers a lot of unaudible sounds... and PotU... it just blows my head away. I'm happy with the album by now, but I'm working a bit slowly, as I experiment with 'Jazz' too, but putting 99% of my effort on 'AKoM'. A little... something: (I know it's a bit perfectionist, but I changed the place of the "Ha ha!" so the second "ha" goes with the snare) . |
Elektra 15.04.2014 06:38 |
OH MY GOD!!! sorry but I just Screamed out loud...simply Dying! its like a new Sound Fresh NEW QUEEN!!!! |
Chief Mouse 15.04.2014 11:25 |
I love what you did with drums here. Great effort Matt :-) Keep up the good work. What is gonna be the next album if I may ask? |
Back2TheLight 18.04.2014 00:59 |
Stoked! Can't wait for the full project! Bring it on man! :) |
Blaise Pascal2 20.04.2014 03:03 |
Happy Easter to all of you! |
C_Matt 27.04.2014 20:24 |
Thank you very much for the Happy Easter wishes! I was on vacation a few days, but now I bring some good news. This news need only one thing: PUT YOUR HEADPHONES VOLUME AT MAX. Also, Chief Mouse, I can't remember exactly why, but I selected 'Queen II' to be the next one. I'm a bit scared about messing with that one, and the same for 'Queen' and 'Innuendo'. It's gonna be really challenging, but I want to do it. Now: Princes of the Universe General: -No more noticeable backing track when Freddie says "Fighting for survival". -So much more embracing sound. -Cleaner general sound, you can distinguish better lots of sounds. -More powerful hits! Every "Prumm... ta-tah!" was enhanced to kick asses. -Holy shit! The choruses... -Corrected a tempo problem between the snare explosions part and the guitar solo. Drums: -Strength to the drums to keep the hits breaking all, not so sunken in the lows.. -Stronger kicks and more noticeable hit (I love how it sounds now at the 2:05 explosions). -More noticeable toms. -New motherfucker whip boxier snare on the front, not so flat (hear the choruses now). -Cleaner snare (ex. the "Take me to the future..." fill at 1:25 or at 1:54, or 2:08) -Hi-hat panned to the right, like in most Queen songs (ex: the choruses). -Bright to the cymbals, not so opaque, the drums come to life now. -Explosive entering to the choruses. -Exploding strength during the choruses "PUM PAHM PUM PAHM". -More noticeable cymbals play at 2:02. -Less carton sound to the ultra-snare-fill part at 2:30, and more "whip-full-box" sound. -The snare is in the front at that part. -Restored the kick at the guitar solo. -Added kicks at the final chorus to make a better hit with the last 4 snares. Piano and Effects: -Enhanced the piano, more audible. -Enhanced vocal "oohs" at 0:59 part. -Dynamic pan to the helicopter at 1:25. Vocals: -Wider backing vocals. -More aggressive Freddie with new embracing main vocal. -Paned both "Yeah!" at the "I have inside me blood of kings" part -Fixed the "Take me to the future..." at 1:22 so it doesn't sound like "Shake me to the..." anymore. -Eliminated some "Tph" sounds in the mic (ex. "People talk abPMHMout you, people say..." -More heroic backing vocals at "Cos I'm right FIRST TIIIIIIIIIME". Guitar: -New priority to the guitars, the song was consumed by the bass. -So so so much more open and embracing guitars (check the "tui tui tui..." at 0:26). -More noticeable guitars bits here and there (ex: 0:43, when Freddie says "And here we are"). -Exploding guitar at the choruses... they really explode now. -Cleaner sound at the guitar solo. -Explosive rhythmic and main guitar at the final chorus. -Enhanced guitar harmonies at the very end of the song. Bass: -Cleaner bass line. -Depth at required points. -Allow with the drum hits. (ex. every "Prumm... ta-tah!" or the choruses "Pum pahm pum..."). -More noticeable bass at lots of parts (ex. the last chorus). Enjoy! . |
Vali 28.04.2014 07:10 |
woaaaaaahhh !! Matt, been checking everyday for the past two weeks or so for an update and ..... I'm blown away !! more than ever ! what a joy !! can't wait for the complete album, can't wait for Queen II, can't wait for Innuendo... can't wait for whatever you put your hands on ! :-) |
HyperBoy 28.04.2014 12:02 |
Ass kicked N°2 here. Superb job, Matt ! I'm Going back to it right now. |
Chief Mouse 28.04.2014 12:44 |
Excellent. Can't wait for the whole thing :-) |
Lord Fickle 28.04.2014 14:21 |
Nice job. :) |
PabloArg 28.04.2014 17:53 |
Amazing! I hope you have an idea of how many people (like me) wait for news and listen to your work without posting replies here. Great, great work,I just hope you don't get tired before working on the entire catalog ;). I can see you've replaced the listening of official releases for many people (like me too!) |
Back2TheLight 28.04.2014 22:23 |
Un fucking believable! Lost for words...I was actually bored with this song. Until this... |
Back2TheLight 28.04.2014 22:26 |
Just like the poster above me, I've been waiting for this for some time. I've been a faithful follower since the beginning, and it just gets better with time! |
Vali 29.04.2014 03:30 |
bambams-paradise wrote: (...) and it just gets better with time!exactly, which makes me wonder wether Matt is considering re-re-visiting again his previous efforts (ANATO, Miracle, Works, etc etc) !! LOL !! :-) if Matt was paid for this, he would have a stable employment for the next couple of years, for sure !! you listen, QPL? ;-) to my ears, the past 2011 remasters pale in comparision ! of course it's a matter of personal taste and some folks may not like some of Matt's decisions / changes, but I personally LOVE everything he's doing. This is a fantastic re-discovery journey of every album that's been delivered so far. |
Blaise Pascal2 29.04.2014 14:37 |
Vali wrote:Some songs sound very different from the ones of the official albums and this is fantastic ;)bambams-paradise wrote: (...) and it just gets better with time!exactly, which makes me wonder wether Matt is considering re-re-visiting again his previous efforts (ANATO, Miracle, Works, etc etc) !! LOL !! :-) if Matt was paid for this, he would have a stable employment for the next couple of years, for sure !! you listen, QPL? ;-) to my ears, the past 2011 remasters pale in comparision ! of course it's a matter of personal taste and some folks may not like some of Matt's decisions / changes, but I personally LOVE everything he's doing. This is a fantastic re-discovery journey of every album that's been delivered so far. |
Back2TheLight 29.04.2014 22:56 |
Vali wrote:From the 2 songs we've heard from this project, it would be difficult to find reason NOT to define this as the definitive version of AKOM. The sound quality alone on just these two songs has so much more in terms of audible difference with the clarity then the original one ever did.bambams-paradise wrote: (...) and it just gets better with time!exactly, which makes me wonder wether Matt is considering re-re-visiting again his previous efforts (ANATO, Miracle, Works, etc etc) !! LOL !! :-) if Matt was paid for this, he would have a stable employment for the next couple of years, for sure !! you listen, QPL? ;-) to my ears, the past 2011 remasters pale in comparision ! of course it's a matter of personal taste and some folks may not like some of Matt's decisions / changes, but I personally LOVE everything he's doing. This is a fantastic re-discovery journey of every album that's been delivered so far. |
Blaise Pascal2 06.05.2014 11:42 |
We want more! ;) |
Back2TheLight 06.05.2014 21:41 |
Lol...give it time! The man has a touch and I would not want him to rush it on account of us! But yes Matt, we are looking forward to it! :) |
Blaise Pascal2 07.05.2014 13:09 |
bambams-paradise wrote: Lol...give it time! The man has a touch and I would not want him to rush it on account of us! But yes Matt, we are looking forward to it! :)Lol, I did not mean to put him in a hurry! xD |
Haystacks Calhoun II 08.05.2014 14:38 |
I have not visited this site for 60 days or so...frankly, you are one of the only reasons that I still visit from time to time. All I can say is, WOW! Your mixes are like getting new Queen songs. They replace the originals on my Iphone every time. Bravo. |
darcy-wright 12.05.2014 01:20 |
im blown away at the awesomeness of these revisions. Far superior to the official versions and a breath of life into old songs without taking away the core structure of the songs themselves |
Back2TheLight 13.05.2014 22:25 |
If anything, he brings MORE to the core structure of the songs than anything. Far superior to the originals? That's a BIG yep right there! |
C_Matt 14.05.2014 16:37 |
Hi everybody! Wow, this post has grew a lot these days! I just post this short reply today, but tomorrow I'll be here again, I really want to read everything and upload a new song, but I've been bussy as hell these days, trough I could almost close DLYH, ADRRfMD and 'New York, New York'. See you tomorrow! |
Vali 14.05.2014 17:20 |
C_Matt wrote: ... and 'New York, New York'.You're our hero, Matt. This is f@@@ing amazing! |
C_Matt 17.05.2014 01:57 |
I'm really happy by reading all this comments. At the beginning I was doing all this as a personal thing, but now I have another reason to keep going with the project. Thanks to all of you, everybody, even (like PabloARG says) those who listen this works but don't comment. I'm having almost no free time, that's why I planned this album to be done in no more than three months, but it got really delayed. Still a lot of work to do, but some songs are already almost cooked. Then I have to balance the EQ and volumes between every song... uf! It took me like two hours to close 'DLYH' and upload it with this message, that's why I need time to do it, a lot of work to be heard only in 4:45 minutes lol, and not all the changes can be fully noticed without checking the list, that's why I write it, which is the more boring part. With the multitracks it would be soooo much easier to do everything. Might this next song doesn't reflects it, but entire days of work were put on it. I always think this, but this time I think is true: This is the first time I can fully enjoy an album from this revisions and call the songs, like Bambams said, as definitive versions. But just imagine all the things that still are hidden and can't be rescued or heard at all without the multitracks, things that are absolutely inaudible. I enhance them by using different sources, in 'DLYH' it was really healpful The eYe version of the song to have an idea of all the lost sounds I can. Again, thank you all for your comments, everyone of you, I read them all and think about them. Even Blaise's "We want more!" hahahahaha, I feel the same way here, want to bring a new song every moment! Haystacks, welcome again! I'm glad you decided to come back, just in time! And Darcy, I hope you enjoy these songs as if they were totally new, you got the idea! Like you and Bambams say, I try to maintain the central core of the songs and not drastically change the priority of the main elements. Now, I'm really thinking how I'll work with 'Queen II'... Mmmh... It'll be hard. With you, 'Don't Lose Your Head': General: -Eliminated a very annoying 15.600 Hz frequency during all the song, more audible after the 'Don't lose your head' second voice bits. -This song had a particular problem with the highs, a bit loud, a bit excessive, which make that sound which an old TV makes when you turn it on, the one that you can here if you put it in "mute". You know... -Extended intro. -New cut and aggressive ending. -More aggressive general sound. -Messy sound for the "guitar solo" at 1:00. -The "Don't drink..." part is more connected with the rest of the song, it had a drop at its start. -The song is more like "up", and not so sunken in the lows. Drums: -Restored and added some fill snares during all the song. Some of them were there but inaudible. -Stronger and boxier snare. -Reinforced the snare whip. -Deeper kicks. -More defined panning shakers. -More defined hi-hats. -More mechanic drums sound. -Shiner general sound. -Panned both hi-hats to different sides to combine them better when they are together (find them separately at the "Hear what I say" part and other at the "Don't lose your heart" part, both at the 1:28 part. -More whip like sound to the claps which starts at the "Don't drink and drive my car" part. Vocals: -Scarier monster "Don't lose your head" bits. -Cleaner Freddie. -No more ear-driller Freddie, especially during the long notes (ex. "tall", "wall", "all"...). -Lowered down and panned Joan's robot "Don't lose your head" bits, really loud, and must be just a detail. -Added reverb to the monster and Freddies voices. -Enhanced the 1:02 monster "Don't lose your head" bits. -Lowered a bit backing vocals, which were a bit loud. Guitar: -Cleaner and more understandable sound. -More dirty guitar at some points. -Enhanced lots of lost bits (ex. 1:42, 2:37...). -No guitar abrupt cut on the right channel at 3:49. -Electric start to the "Don't drink and drive my car" part. Keyboards and Effects: -Shine given to the keyboard, more 80's keys sound, not so muddy mids. -Panned main riff "Tutaru tacu taru" during the song. -More noticeable keys hits, mainly at the "Remember..." parts. -Enhanced lots of really almost inaudible whip bits during the song. -More embracing keys. -Enhanced that "twichi tichi wichi" effect going through the speakers. -Added a panned effect from 'ADRRfMD' at 1:11. Bass: -Not so mattress and muddy bass. -No more lost notes. -More defined sound. -More relaxed bass at the "Don't drink and drive my car" part. |
C_Matt 17.05.2014 03:50 |
Vali, I'm re-revisiting my past albums to do a real thing with them and not leave the first revision of them as the definitive versions. At the moment, I'm working too with 'Jazz' and 'The Miracle' as a rest from the main album. Trying new things with 'ADatR' too, but by now I have them all on stand-by, I barely have time for 'AKoM'. Here are a few examples, but be careful, the EQ diferences might make you think that one song sounds, for example, opaque. Have in mind the studio quality differences. |
Mr. Bed Guy 17.05.2014 14:01 |
Hi, great work again on "Don't Lose Your Head" !!! But there's a kind of "stop" after 10 seconds,isn't it?? Sounds like not wanted. |
C_Matt 17.05.2014 15:22 |
Hi! Mr. Bed Guy, well spotted. I forgot to put that on the changes. It would be something like "Enhanced the 0:10 stop". If you hear closely, the original song has that stop at 0:07 and every four times during all the song always that the main "riff" effect is being played. It occurs because the drum kick doesn't fill that. The sequence is like this: EFFECT: TU TA RU TA CU TA RU TU TA RU TA CU TA RU TU TA RU TA CU TA RU TU TA RU TA CU TA RU SNARE: PAF PAF PAF PAF KICK: PUM PUM PUM PUM The blank space between the 3rd and 4th "Tutaru tacu taru" is the blank space that you hear, because the drum line doesn't fill that space with its 4th kick, which is a bit after that. That pattern is repeated during all the song, but at the beginning of the song you can hear it better because there are only drums and no keys or guitars, etc... I enhanced specially that stop to give to the song a more abrupt and aggressive cut. I hope this explains why that cut exists! |
HyperBoy 18.05.2014 03:47 |
I'm more and more excited about your work, Matt. DLYH : Great job done on the drums ! They're less "messy" than before. They're actually sharper and much more balanced than on the 2011 remasters series. Gotta love the guitar bits during the last seconds of the song, too. It's much more "readable" and the new stereo panning really gives it some space. Freddie sounds absolutely gorgeous. You nailed it. Jazz and The Miracle 2nd revisions teaser : Excellent. The improvement is noticeable. The experience you gained from your previous projects is obvious. I Hope you'll carry on bringing us your miracles. Queen II is on your agenda next !? Hell yeah ! |
brians wig 18.05.2014 08:12 |
Yay! Queen II ! Thanks for not forgetting Matt :) I think QII will be your biggest challenge ever: it's so crowded with sounds it really should receive an official surround mix. Compared to the rest of the 2011 remasters, it's still quite a 'muddy' album, so it'll be interesting to see what you can do. |
brians wig 18.05.2014 08:15 |
Jealousy revisited. PLEASE remove that blasted Kick Drum. It wasn't on the original album and I'm peeved they fouled up and put it on the remaster by mistake. |
Chief Mouse 18.05.2014 08:20 |
Awesome, Don't Lose Your Head really sounds way more fresh :-) I like that you added the "cold" ending. I almost always prefer cold endings over fade-outs. Any chance that this Freddie's falcetto bit "ooouuh" at 4:26 can be brought out a bit louder? I always liked that bit. Other than that I love it. Keep up the great work! Wonder when it's Innuendo's turn? It's one of my top albums and I reckon it could sound a lot better :) |
Vali 18.05.2014 11:31 |
AKOM, QII, Innuendo being requested (I second Chief Mouse's petition!), revisiting the already revisited ..... and our friend Matt complaining for his lack of time !!! :-) such a pitty you cannot find the time to do what you enjoy the most .... because we suffer that directly, hahahaha ! Matt, Don't Lose You Head sounds incredibly well, best than ever !! AKOM is a very special album for me and I'm dying (as I did with ADATR) to listen to it in full glory once you've finished. This is not a much beloved album amongst most fans, but it was the very first Queen release I experienced. I was 10 years old and had discovered Queen through Radio Ga Ga & IWTBF a couple of years before, so this was the very first release I was expecting and fully enjoyed knowing that I was a Queen fan ! So I devoured every second of the album thousands of times before I started getting older albums. That's why AKOM always stands in a very special place for me. And, of course, now you're working on it at your prime since you started these revisions, so the output gets better and better each time. Queen II will be quite a challenge ... !! And thanks, thanks, thanks, for not forgetting your previous efforts ! You can clearly hear the enhancements !! Knowing that we'll get a Jazz 2.0 or The Miracle 2.0 in the future is exciting !! |
C_Matt 25.05.2014 06:20 |
I've read all your replies, and I'm happy about them, thank you very much! Good to hear that you liked DLYH! I really like the new cold ending too, to me it's like a better introduction to PotU, and I like them more than the fade outs too. I made that falsetto a bit louder too ;) AKoM was one of my first albums too! But my very first no GH album was 'The Miracle', and that's my special one, then Innuendo (which scares me a bit), and then AKoM! I listened to late Queen before the 70's one. I remember being strangly attracted to DLYH and PIsCtP specially, two songs that I love despite all the critics. I don't know why I really like DLYH, it has very basic lyrics (related to the movie I think, until the "Don't drink..." part, and without those forced "Remeber, love..." parts). I think I really like the music. For some reason I mentally formed couples of songs on this album: OV/AKoM, OYoL/PIsCtP, GtP/DLYH and WWtLF/PotU. The only one which doesn't fits in the theme is FWBF. Hahahaha, I really love doing this... but love won't pay my bills. I really like my job too, but it requieres a lot of time. I don't know how to spell it correctly in English, but my job consist on walking on the street visiting food related places (like restaurants, grills, dietetic stores, vegan stores, hotels, etc...) to sell them spices, condiments, dry fruts, snacks, cereals, and more, and then distribute them. It's a self employement business that I started with a friend on Febraury, and it needs spent time to grow bigger. I really like it trough! I love the freedom it gives to me on my work time, own routine, own schedules, own prices, personal customer attention, possibility of permanent grow, etc... Anyway, let's go to the point. Here's 'A Kind of Magic'! General: -The general sound has more priority levels and a new depth feeling. -Not so flat percussion. -Powerful general base. -Powerful explosion and no cut after the 2:34 fill. -Less "Glub glub" sound after the isolated bass part. Drums: -New sound to the whole drums. -No more carton kick, now is deeper and punchier, like it was actually meant to be. -More body to the snare and a stronger snap to make a punchier pop base. -More audible panned cowbells during the whole song, and added some new ones. -Not so flat shakers, new pan. -More noticeable cymbals. -Added a new hi-hat to some key parts. -Enhanced double retarded snares at the "Is this a kind..." parts. -Not so loud drums after the isolated bass part. Vocals: -Depth to the initial "It's a kind of magic"s. -Wider Freddie main vocal. -More body to Freddie. -Not so loud "Will soon be, will soon be..." at 2:41. -More audible Roger at the 2:45 "Dooone!!". -New panned and clearer falsetto Freddie at 2:47. -More relaxed and panned Freddies at the isolated bass part. Guitar: -More relaxed sound and more body, not so harsh. -Separated and stereo expanded guitars to create a wider orchestra (ex. 1:48, 3:58...). -More silly and playful guitar sound at 2:11 part, like going and coming. -New pan to the guitar bits after the 2:34 fill. -Restored a guitar part to the three bits. -A bit more harsh but clearer final guitars (after the isolated bass part) and more priority. -Added the extended version guitars at the very end. Keyboards and effects: -Sharper sound to the finger clicks. -Deeper sound to the initial synthesizers. -More audible effects (ex. Now they keep going once the drums starts) -Louder and more ambient keyboards. -Restored some synths bits at 1:15 part. -Not so harsh panned flying magic thing at 1:34 -Restored some synths bits at 1:36 part. -Added a new reversed cymbal at 3:16 -More audible effects at the isolated bass part. Bass: -New volume levels to the bass, not so low at the beginning, and not so loud at the end. -After some seconds, the bass started to take over the song, now it's more balanced. -More rounded sound, not so carton. |
C_Matt 25.05.2014 06:22 |
And yes, 'Queen II' is next on the agenda, and 'Innuendo' then. Both a big challenge. With 'Queen', these three albums are the scariest to me to work with. I have a couple of ideas, but don't know how they will result. About the Re-Revisions, they will go slowly. With 'Jealousy' there will be both mixes: with and without bass drum, so don't worry for that! |
C_Matt 25.05.2014 06:31 |
And here's another old part of an experiment. |
Chief Mouse 25.05.2014 06:54 |
Good job man :-) Can't wait for the full album. |
Vali 26.05.2014 04:51 |
once again, great job Matt ! but you're teasing too much ! :-) I'm not sure wether I'd like to listen to another finished track , otherwise the nice experience of enjoying the complete album will be spoiled, hahaha ! do you have an estimate time for finishing and posting the album? thanks ! |
HyperBoy 27.05.2014 10:56 |
AKOM. My neighbours will kill me thanks to you. Love the drums. |
Back2TheLight 28.05.2014 11:26 |
DLYH is absolutely perfect! AKOM...some thoughts... The drums sound awesome on it! Congrats on improving that...this said, I've always particularly favoured the bass/drums and how they just ride together, and while you stated that you turned down the bass, it sounds like it's missing something being buried lower in the mix. I usually listen to 99% of everything in my car stereo first, and it just needs a bit more bass to it. Other than that, sounds great to me! :) |
C_Matt 07.06.2014 09:08 |
Hi, all! Almost finishing the album, only PIsCtP left and a few GtP and FWBF bits. About the teasing, I know lol, 4 songs are a bit too much for a total of 9, it's just that this is taking too long and want to upload something in the meantime for you to hear and show you how it is going, and for me because I can't hold the excitement of uploading it complete. Including alternative mixes, B-Sides and a few single and extended mixes, there are between 25 and 30 songs... I'm trying to deliver the album as complete as possible. As an estimated upload date... I'm hoping for June 16th as too late, but I recommend you to expect for my common delays. The longest job is writting all the changes. About AKoM, I will include this version, and one with an enhanced bass for all your needs! Thank you for the advice! This louder bass version is if you want to "pop the house" when you're alone. Updates coming soon! |
Blaise Pascal2 07.06.2014 09:34 |
Good news! |
PabloArg 13.06.2014 10:27 |
Waiting anxiously... |
Vali 17.06.2014 07:22 |
C_Matt wrote: ... I'm hoping for June 16th as too lateoh Matt, we're gonna hate you forever and ever, you're already 1 day late !!!!!!! ;-) |
C_Matt 18.06.2014 21:49 |
June? I meant July! Lol, I'm full of things. Only PIsCtP left. I'll try to upload at least the main songs tomorrow. I'm always late... something I can't change. |
Vali 19.06.2014 15:51 |
C_Matt wrote: June? I meant July!LOOOOL :-) |
C_Matt 20.06.2014 17:42 |
I've been all day with the album, but couldn't finish it. I promise that tomorrow I'll upload the 9 songs, plus 'Forever', BV, ADRRFMD and NY. Extra tracks, i was thinking about: -PIsCtP (Single Version) -PIsCtP (Extended Version) -One Vision (Single Version) -One Vision (Extended Version) - or "Extended Vision" -Gimme the Prize (Shorter Mix) - without the movie sounds -Gimme the Prize (Extended Mix) -Who Wants to Live Forever (Freddie first verses) -Who Wants to Live Forever (Single Version) -A Kind of Magic (Highlander Version) Songs that won't be included: -A Kind of Vision (Demo) - Nothing to change. -AKoAKoM - Pointless. -AKoM (Extended Version) - Horrible mix. -FWBFWBF - Pointless. -Any other Highlander version, they are in poor sound quality and have lots of undeletable sounds over them. Songs that I'll see if I put them: -OYoL (Extended Version) -ADRRfMD (Extended Version) -OYoL, a new mix using the demo guitars. -Stripped mix including fragments of all the album songs. Tomorrow I'll be uploading it! |
Vali 20.06.2014 18:16 |
hurray !!!!!!! thanks a lot Matt !! :-) |
Back2TheLight 21.06.2014 09:59 |
Fuck yeah dude! Can't wait! :) |
C_Matt 21.06.2014 18:50 |
Ultra, ultra, ultra bussy now, I'm only here to tell you that the first CD is uploaded! You can find it on SkyDrive (now "OneDrive"). I hope you enjoy it very very much! The changes notes and 'Blurred Vision' for tomorrow! CD 2 and the HD album cover in a few days! |
Mr. Bed Guy 22.06.2014 02:10 |
Thank you, but where is the link? |
drmurph 22.06.2014 02:34 |
Thank You C_Matt, I'm listening to the album right now. Again amazing work. Great clarity between instruments and really brings out the details in songs. Things like bass guitar sound on pain is so close and Brian's guitar lines on FWBF and WWTLF. Mr Bed Guy, the link is on the first post in the C Matts HD revision thread. Just copy-paste and remove the gaps between the .com bit. (EDIT: sorry wrong spelling of BED guy - I see what you did there!) |
cmi 22.06.2014 05:30 |
2 C_Matt: Such a wonderful result. Great experience to listen to this new version. One Year Of Love, WWTLF, GTP are just fantastic! GTP middle section sends shivers down my spine :) I noticed that you've changed the last line of GTP with the different one. Which is the reason? :) It's a pity that FWBF is shorter about 10 seconds as I've waited for longer ending of this song (as you've done with OV and POTU) using Extended Version. |
Mr. Bed Guy 22.06.2014 06:46 |
Ah,thank you drmurph!!! |
ouhsammy 22.06.2014 11:57 |
Big Thanks to you, sounds like the album was launched yesterday!! I just love your approach in every track.... and "Gimme the Prize"!!! OMG!! Tanks for your hard and full of loving work. |
DAZH 22.06.2014 13:49 |
Thanks I will listen to it later |
Vali 23.06.2014 06:16 |
Matt ... superb job, as usual ! ok, I was already used to the amazing work done on OV, AKOM POTU and DLYH, but now I agree with the other comments above: OYOL, PISCTP, WWTLF, GTP ..... wow, wow, wow and WOW !!!! the bass in PISCTP is really insane !! and the guitars specially in GTP are mind-blowing ! other bits that have pleased me very much are Brian's vocal parts in WWTLF. Now we can hear his voice with a crystal-clear definition as never before. Amazing ! it's always a pleasure finding out the new elements you introduce, no matter if one agrees or not with your decisions. The end in GTP is an example, at first listen I went like "nooooo!!", but afterwards I went like "well, why not?" :-) what a joy to enjoy your love and dedication to this project, despite your agenda being so busy !!! thanks again, you're great !! |
PabloArg 23.06.2014 09:10 |
Amazing! As always, and getting better every time. You'd really be named as distinguished citizen here at QZ. |
DAZH 23.06.2014 11:40 |
Just had the chance to hear it really impressed brought new life to the album |
HyperBoy 23.06.2014 11:40 |
Let's get right to the point, Matt. You're a very generous and talented guy. Love your revision of the album ! Gimme the Prize and Princes of the Universe are just EPIC !!! Excellent job on all levels. You nailed it. People, don't miss the great over-the-top comics-like atmosphere during the movie dialogues and sound effects interludes ! In my humble opinion, what Matt made matches the band's approach to writing a (genre) (mad) movie soundtrack such as the Highlander one. AKOM : (Not my favourite song) Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I really like your version. I think it pushes the inner catchiness (no, that's not a bad thing... Ok, that depends...) of the song one step further. It makes me wanna dance. So I dance... But I can't. FWBF : Excellent job. Great and powerful choruses, love the guitars. Not my favourite song, but it's good you made me listen to it again... differently. It's still very fresh and I have to go deeper in discovering all the work you put into these new mixes. Thanks a lot for sharing your creativity, Mat(t)e ! |
Back2TheLight 23.06.2014 21:05 |
Your intricate work and the time you put into this project has really shown through. I could sit here if I had the time to make all the positive comments about everything that you've done, but I'd be here for 3 days probably. So please take my short comments as a big thank you. You've made this album truly sound like 'Magic' in the way you've paid so much attention to detail and thoroughness of the project. Even the couple songs that I'm not big on (One Year of Love and Pain is so close...) sound amazingly fresh. I'm looking forward to all the rest of the work, as I'm sure all of us are. You really have an ear for talent, and to me, this is the superior mix of this album. I'm astounded by the treatment you've given these songs and the added extra bits that you've come up with here and there. Simply put...WOW!! |
Mr. Bed Guy 24.06.2014 11:02 |
Really great work! Can't wait for the other versions/mixes/remixes of cd2!!!!! This is much more interesting than any QAL tour!!!!!!!!! |
cmi 24.06.2014 13:16 |
^ +1 |
Lord Fickle 25.06.2014 17:47 |
Matt, with regards AKOM (the track), you said you weren't going to bother with the 12" version, but have you heard my mix of it in the 'Fickle Archives' thread? It's what I would have guessed a 'full' version would have sounded like, with the unedited guitar solo, but without all the silly bits from the 12" mix. Is there any chance you could look at doing a 'complete' version of AKOM, with the full guitar solo, as it should be? I've always thought it should have been included on the album anyway, and I think it would be a nice addition to your version. :) |
Aaron Powell 26.06.2014 20:57 |
I agree that "A Kind Of Magic" should have the full guitar solo,I always loved it. Other than that,the whole album is amazing. Great work once again. |
Mr. Bed Guy 01.07.2014 11:39 |
Hi Matt, when can we expect CD2 ? |
Lord Fickle 01.07.2014 15:45 |
Leave the boy alone! Magic takes time to conjure up. ;) :) |
Mr. Bed Guy 01.07.2014 23:34 |
Hey, you know,there's always an urge in us waiting for new great releases :-))) And this is one of them! |
C_Matt 03.07.2014 19:43 |
I've been here a few days ago, but couldn't stop to read all and leave a reply. Thank you so very much to all of you for your comments! Por cierto, PabloArg, soy de Mar del Plata jajaja. Reading all of them makes me wonder things about you, like how old are some of you, what other things you do in your life, or how is the real face of every single person writing behind the screen. That's strange but cool at the same time! A lot of strange people from differents generations and places joint by a same great phenomenon: Queen. Is not that I don't have any time, but my free time bubbles during the week days usually aren't longer than 1:30 hours. And that is very little time to sit and start experimenting with the mixes and work on them. I changed the last line in GtP because I felt that it needed a bit more of energy. The original one makes a drop to me, the song comes really at a powerful top and this last line delivers a weak conclussion to the song. Again, this is what I felt, not that it is actually like this. Not to being boaster, but when I heard the new GtP mix at loud volume, I had a big shiver too! lol! Still, I would love to explore the entire world of possibilities that it's corresponding multitrack could give to mix. Imagine all the unnused sounds and bits! For FWBF, I used the GVHII 5.1 version to make this stereo mix. At first I was a thinking about those 10 seconds that this version doesn't has, but after all I preferred that the song had 10 seconds less, but work with some great quality "multi-tracks" than the muddy stereo original one. Despite spending some time deleting the crowd choruses, the quality of it allowed to get a better result. In conclussion of this reading, CD 2 will have a GtP mix with the original final line, and an extended AKoM mix, plus the original tracklist. Said that, I would think it's almost ready. Again, thank you very much to everyone of you! Trough I can't answer every single comment, I've read all the replies, one by one, and I really appreciate every word of them! So don't think you are writting to the air, because I take the time to read them all. This last days, I've been giving the final touches to the CD 1 songs, so I recommend you to download again the songs, which were re-uploaded with some new changes I forgot to do due the hurry. I've been finishing CD 2, and I've been working on this next track the last few days. To make less painful the delay, I upload it! Thanks for the patience, I hope you like it! . |
Blaise Pascal2 04.07.2014 01:23 |
I really like the new guitar and drums bits (around 1:54 and 2:52), where did you get them? |
C_Matt 04.07.2014 19:42 |
Blaise, those guitars are from OYoL demo, and I wrote the new drums line. Changed the drums pattern at some parts to give the song more strength, and at the 2:05 wanted to simulate that heart beat with the kick, without the hi-hat so you could hear it better. Cheers! |
Blaise Pascal2 05.07.2014 00:47 |
Thanks! |
Vali 05.07.2014 03:39 |
Wow Matt, you got me in shock once more! This new extended version of OYoL is brilliant! I enjoy so much noticing all the reworking that you're introducing here and there. Not only the most evident (like the guitar solo from the demo) but also those bits that can easily be unnoticed, like the percussion parts you commented above or some string layers that seem to be re-positioned throughout the song. Is it like this? At least that's the impression I've had in one particular moment of the track ! Thanks again man, sos más grande que Messi !! :-) |
Haystacks Calhoun II 05.07.2014 14:20 |
So, so good. Gimme The Prize? Holy Shit, dude...just had time yesterday to download the rest of the album. Have not had time to hear it all, but, good lord. That song made my Ipod skip to the next song, it was shaking the system so much. |
C_Matt 08.07.2014 22:37 |
Thank you! About this new version of OYoL, Vali, It's exactly like you say above, those orchestral arrangements were repositioned in different places to accompain Freddie and give more strength, and the drums are the original one's but with better clarity. And thank you too for that comment below! Also, you had in mind that I'm Argentinian and used "sos" instead of "eres", great attention to detail! Haystacks, the GtP shaking the system comment made me laugh! That song and WWtLF's climax have the most explosive and louder points of the whole album. The song has the original bass and lows restored and enhanced now, it makes my desktop to shake too lol! Just a few days and I'll upload it all! All songs ended, only notes and cover left. I leave you here the extended version of AKoM. Enjoy! . |
Blaise Pascal2 09.07.2014 01:08 |
Really impressive! Brilliant job as usually, the drums at 3:00 are really catching! |
cmi 09.07.2014 02:22 |
That's great! Waiting for a full set to enjoy. Thanks a lot. |
Vali 09.07.2014 04:17 |
you've nailed it again, Matt !! listened to the song 3 times in a row this morning, while driving to work ! yeah, those "new" drums and the extended solo bits are very enjoyable ! |
Vali 09.07.2014 04:20 |
C_Matt wrote: (...) and WWtLF's climax have the most explosive and louder points of the whole album.this, specially, is very true ! it gives me goosebumps every time I listen to your version. |
Mr. Bed Guy 09.07.2014 09:30 |
Great like always. But I have to say what nobody mentioned -til now: Your studio version of "New York" is great. Short and great. I always wished to have this in a good quality! Thanks! I |
Lord Fickle 09.07.2014 10:06 |
Good to hear the extended AKoM. I always wondered why they put the edited version on the album. My one slight niggle with this version is that the electronic 'snare' sounds slightly 'dry' between 3:12 and 3:27, and I would suggest that a little reverb might just heighten that a bit. :) |
Haystacks Calhoun II 10.07.2014 13:13 |
Mr. Bed Guy wrote: Great like always. But I have to say what nobody mentioned -til now: Your studio version of "New York" is great. Short and great. I always wished to have this in a good quality! Thanks! I+1 |
Vali 16.07.2014 04:04 |
Just in case many of you don't know it, I noticed yesterday that Matt has already uploaded Disc 2 in his Skydrive. A most welcome addition to the stunning work he's done on AKOM. Thumbs up, Matt !! |
Lord Fickle 16.07.2014 04:40 |
Maybe he wanted to announce it himself? ;) |
Vali 16.07.2014 09:08 |
Well .... :-) this is not the first time this happens, and knowing Matt's usual lack of time .... I guess he will appreciate that whoever notices this first, shares it here. If not, blame on me Matt ! :-P |
drmurph 16.07.2014 17:46 |
Nicely spotted, Thanks C_Matt (and Vali) I'm looking forward to listening to this. The work on the first CD was stunning, I'm anticipating the same again. It's not one of my most listened to albums but it's getting some love now thanks to you. |
BETA215 16.07.2014 19:43 |
Gracias Matt (¿Matías, Martín, Mateo?) por las revisiones en HD! Me encantan! El trabajo en estas revisiones es increíble, ojalá pudiera hacer lo que vos haces. Muchas gracias por todo el tiempo, esfuerzo y cariño que le dedicas a tus proyectos. Estas remasterizaciones son excelentes, todo lo que hacés sin siquiera tener la mayoría de los multitracks! Espero que cada disco que hagas vaya mejorando. Como desde 2011 dicen, cada vez esperamos con más ansias que hagas una revisión de Queen II e Innuendo. Saludos desde Mendoza. |
C_Matt 16.07.2014 22:33 |
Hello all! Fist of all, thank you for all the comments about AKoM extended! I totally forgot to thank Fickle! I took the structure of the song from his own mix. And I followed you advice about the snare, I changed its sound a bit for the final mix to get a less dry sound. Many thanks too for the appreciation of 'New York'! I wish I could have a better source to work with, since the movie music is not in a great quality. It could have been a lot better! Vali, a lot of thanks for telling about the CD 2! There's no absolute problem about that :) I uploaded it a few days ago and was going to announce it, but I didn't had time enough for that. Once that the album is uploaded it becomes a public download, so if I didn't announce it it's my bad after all. I completely understand the anxiousness about share it, the same I must feel! LOL! I'm really glad all you liked it! Tomorrow the notes and the cover will be uploaded in OneDrive. Thank you all for the good feelings! BETA215, ¡muchas gracias! Soy Matías jajaja. En el archivo de texto de cada álbum hablo un poquito de mi historia queenera al principio, y tengo datos de contacto o el Facebook al final. Me encantaría poder laburar de cero con unos multitracks copados, remixar las canciones bien en limpio, sin trabajar con audios algo gangosos. Siempre que trabajo un álbum nuevo me sorprenden a mí mismo los resultados, y los más viejos me parecen horribles jajaja. Eso es bueno, porque significa que el proyecto va para adelante. Ahora con 'Queen II' estuve viendo OB y SSoR, está tomando cierto color. Espero que no me lleve tanto tiempo como AKoM, pero eso ya no lo manejo yo. ¡Muchas gracias por tus deseos, posta! ¡Otro saludo grande desde Mar del Plata! Now I'm looking to finish the document notes, which takes a really loooong time. In the meantime, I upload the new cover for the album. It seems to me it has new lecture priorities now, and is abit more prolix without killing the party! John looks more like him, Roger has more aggressive glasses, Freddie has a less "tango" mustache and more "Freddie", and Brian, Roger and John have cooler hairs! (An advice: look or explore the image while listening to 'A Kind of Magic'! It gives some sort of joy feeling!) . |
Blaise Pascal2 17.07.2014 15:16 |
In my opinion, the fade-out ending in WWTLF single version is too "strong" and quick |
C_Matt 17.07.2014 23:59 |
Same here, I always prefered the album version! |
C_Matt 17.07.2014 23:59 |
Double Post |
C_Matt 23.07.2014 00:41 |
'A Kind of Magic' is fully uploaded finally, with notes, cover and the two CD's pack. I hope you enjoy it very much! |
Vali 23.07.2014 04:37 |
great !! thanks Matt, I can't stop listening to AKOM (and still ADATR too!) almost every day, LOL !! Brilliant, brilliant re-working on both albums, mate ! a new unnoticed detail emerges after each listening, and that's pure joy when we're talking about albums thta we've listened to hundreds and hundres of times ! all the extended versions on AKOM are, simply put, fantastic ! |
cmi 24.07.2014 00:45 |
C_Matt: Thanks a lot again for your version of the album. Just fantastic! Also it's a joy to read all your Notes about each song mix. |
PabloArg 24.07.2014 14:39 |
YOU ARE A GENIUS. Period. And thank you. |
C_Matt 27.07.2014 16:46 |
Many thanks to all of you! It makes me happy every time I read this comments! And I'm happy too to know that writting all the notes wasn't a waste of time. They are useful even in case I want to make a Re-Revision of some of this albums (which I want to do with almost all of them!). Thank you again! |
Lord Fickle 27.07.2014 17:57 |
If you're going to do Re-Revisions, I think you should give up your day job. Some of us are getting on a bit, you know - lol! ;) |
Mr. Bed Guy 03.08.2014 11:37 |
Thanks a lot! I made my own new Highlander / A Kind Of Magic CD last week....using only your versions & score of Michael Kamen! |
C_Matt 03.09.2014 15:17 |
Thanks a lot to you for keeping interested in my work! I would love to do this every day, but sadly, Queen doesn't bring the bread to the table lol! |