| Penis - Vagina 14.02.2004 22:28 |
Having just finally obtained "Greatest Karaoke Hits" I thought I'd start sharing the tracks for anyone who may be interested. However, in many cases my files will be unique. These karaoke tracks were originally produced for a special Flix I & II laserdisc set (though not all songs/videos were included) therefore they follow the pattern of the video versions. Some were faded in or out rather quickly and of course, single versions were often used. For my project, I'm attempting to restore wherever possible, the original length of the songs while maintaining the instrumentality of the tracks. The karaoke mixes are not only instrumental, but in most cases the mix itself sounds slightly different so there will be subtle differences during my transitional edit points, but I think I'm doing a pretty good job. I plan to upload a new track on a daily basis, replacing the previous one. Files will be 192 kbps. Please see the new topic for latest files: link |
| Whatinthewhatthe? 15.02.2004 10:38 |
How many track are there total? Sounds very interesting!! |
| David Jones 15.02.2004 10:43 |
Sounds like a great idea! I'm interested! |
| Guy 15.02.2004 10:57 |
Thank you :) |
| Penis - Vagina 15.02.2004 11:23 |
Thanks for the responses :) There's 31 tracks on the CDs. Here is the way they are arranged: Disc One -------- *Bohemian Rhapsody *You're My Best Friend *Somebody To Love *Tie Your Mother Down *We Are The Champions *We Will Rock You *Spread Your Wings *Bicycle Race *Fat Bottomed Girls *Don't Stop Me Now *Crazy Little Thing Called Love *Save Me *Play The Game *Another One Bites The Dust *Flash *Keep Yourself Alive Disc Two -------- *A Kind Of Magic *Under Pressure *Radio Ga Ga *I Want It All *I Want To Break Free It's A Hard Life *Breakthru *Who Wants To Live Forever The Miracle *I'm Going Slightly Mad The Invisible Man *Hammer To Fall *Friends Will Be Friends *The Show Must Go On *One Vision * - has been shared in some form They are the length of the video versions since they were first released on a special Flix I & II laserdisc set. "Killer Queen" was not included so they added the video & karaoke of "Keep Yourself Alive" as a bonus. On Disc Two/Flix II "Innuendo" and "Headlong" are inexplicably (sp) absent as well. I'm making my own 2-disc set with the alterations I spoke of, plus I'm adding other instrumentals, like "Machines", "Seven Seas Of Rhye", maybe even "Chinese Torture" hehe. I'll probably just choose the tracks to upload at random, but I'm doing disc one first. Restoring "Fat Bottomed Girls" to the full-length version has been one of the most trying tasks but I think I've pretty much got it. That one will probably be next. Here's a link to the disc at CD Universe. It sells for $45.99 normally, until they're low on stock and then they raise it by about $10. A bit pricey, but it is a Japanese release (official) and quite unique. Mine is a regular full-sized 2 disc case with a 64 page booklet of lyrics in English & Japanese and an obi strip of course. I got the impression somewhere that there's a slim case version also, though they couldn't possibly fit the full booklet in there. link |
| John S Stuart 15.02.2004 12:21 |
Sorry if this feels like a dampner, but all of this has been done before. I (along with many others) have had the full "Keep Yourself Alive - cut 'n paste" instrumental since the karaoke discs were originally released about 10 years ago. Apart from the karaoke tracks, fully restored "eYe" instrumental versions (Such as "Modern Times Rock n' Roll", "Mother Love" and the full "Death On Two Legs" - to name a few) have all been completed also. Rather than re-invent the wheel, why not just search out what is already out there - perhaps the "hub" would be a good place to start - it could save you a lot of work. I admit it may be fun to do - but it just seems a bit redundant. |
| Daburcor? 15.02.2004 13:37 |
Nice editing job! Sounds good to me! |
| Penis - Vagina 15.02.2004 13:40 |
I understand what you're saying John, and I do in fact keep forgetting about the 'Eye' versions which I have yet to experience. But it's a fun project for me.. A) I love editing B) I just got these discs C) I'm sure not everyone has heard them or can/will access the Hub (I'm not really interested in it myself as I don't have enough unique stuff to share, don't care for live shows, shut down the computer frequently and often I'm working on rather large files and wouldn't want a sharing application running.) Besides I'm pretty darn good at editing so chances are my versions will be slightly better. :) And it can't hurt anyone.. if someone like yourself already has stuff like this you're welcomed to move on :) Edit: Thanks Danno! |
| Whatinthewhatthe? 15.02.2004 14:26 |
YOW!!! Those tracks sound VERY nice!! The ones I mentioned several threads ago about Queen The eYe are remixed and remastered, and some were even re-recorded. They really burn up the speakers! |
| Penis - Vagina 15.02.2004 15:02 |
I remember you mentioning that Lisa. It's just one of those things that isn't screaming "buy me!" yet but I'm sure I'll want to get the set at some point, probably when it's even harder to find :-P I just found this book & one-disc preview which I hadn't heard about before: link Looking at completed items, the game itself seems to sell anywhere from $10 to $70. There's also an (obvious) bootleg set of just the music. |
| John S Stuart 15.02.2004 17:32 |
Good for you DF: Don't know about "my versions will be slightly better...", as the versions I refered to were completed by studio professionals on studio equipment, but if "it's a fun project", and you "love editing", hey that's what I call entertainment! |
| Adam Baboolal 15.02.2004 17:39 |
I keep forgetting about the hub. I really need to get back on there. And yes, I agree with John. There are definitely plenty of these tracks on there. That's where I got the karaoke tracks. And I have 4 out of the 5 eYe discs. Again, also available on the hub. Save your webspace dude. And why bother messing with FBGirls? I love the single version. Also, it's easy to get on there from what I remember. peace, Adam. |
| Penis - Vagina 15.02.2004 18:07 |
"completed by studio professionals on studio equipment" That's not saying much. I've corrected tons of 'professionally produced' bad edits. My skills are somewhat futile to others though, as most people don't seem to notice flaws as well as I do :) It's a curse actually. I wish I could just ignore that stuff and enjoy the music sometimes. |
| Adam Baboolal 15.02.2004 18:26 |
Yes, I too understand "the curse"! Friends and family bother you to do jobs for them etc. "I've corrected tons of 'professionally produced' bad edits." But let's not judge those involved. Sometimes these things happen. Just think of all the jobs that get sent their way. There's always going to be something that slips through. Adam. |
| Penis - Vagina 15.02.2004 18:56 |
"Fat Bottomed Girls" (full-length instrumental) was the file this day. No longer available. |
| Arnaldo "Ogre-" Silveira 15.02.2004 18:58 |
Thank you, Deacon Fan! And thanks also to John and the others that worked with him. I have many of those, gotten from the hub. Cheers, Ogre- |
| Whatinthewhatthe? 15.02.2004 19:49 |
"I just found this book & one-disc preview which I hadn't heard about before:" Wait -- please don't pay that exhorbitant amount!! There's a website that has it MUCH cheaper, same book: link |
| Penis - Vagina 15.02.2004 20:19 |
Thanks for the link. I wasn't thinking about buying it, just thought it was interesting. What would you say the game is actually worth? I couldn't find it at the Picture Hall. |
| Adam Baboolal 15.02.2004 21:51 |
"PS- If you're not interested, don't download. I wasn't aware of any restrictions around here on people sharing their creativity. If this topic is taking up precious space that could be used to discuss Britney Spears' singing abilities, I deeply apologize." Why say that? |
| Penetration_Guru 16.02.2004 06:33 |
Because he's feeling that the other posts in the thread are critical of his choice of activity. Although reading as a third party, it doesn't look intended particularly harshly. |
| Sebastian 16.02.2004 06:41 |
So called professional mixes often have mistakes. The fact that those people work in a studio doesn't mean they can mix better than DF. Perhaps there's a better drummer than John Bonham rehearsing in his garage and nobody has heard of him, and it doesn't mean he isn't good |
| John S Stuart 16.02.2004 07:58 |
I agree Seb, and I think if DF is deriving enjoyment from his project (and others share that enjoyment too) then I fully support him (or her?) 100%. I only mentioned the previous attempts to save DF some work - not as a criticism (Sorry if it appeared that way DF) - but, if he is willing to continue with his labour of love - GOOD on him - for that is what the true spirit of this board is about, and ofcourse they should be posted here, where even I can enjoy them! However, "The fact that those people work in a studio doesn't mean they can mix better... Perhaps there's a better drummer... it doesn't mean he isn't good" I don't know if we can really say that. I accept what you guys are saying is theoretically correct, but having listened to literally (for example) thousands of drummers - all of whom THOUGHT they were better than JB - I have still to meet the one who actually was (try watching Pop Idol!). All I am saying is that just because someone is a gifted amateur - it does not automatically mean that they are better than a professional. Nevertheless DF - quite impressed with the first two! |
| Sebastian 16.02.2004 10:28 |
I didn't see it as critisism, in fact I understood you wanted to save him some time. Anyway, I don't think "gifted amateur" is a proper substantive here. The fact someone doesn't work in a studio doesn't mean he doesn't know. Of course in 90% of cases the "academic professional" (the one who studied in college etc) knows more than someone who learnt it his own way. But there's the other way around too. Take Jimmy Page for example. Even though he could play bass, he never did in Led Zeppelin because a) he was the guitarist, b) they already had a bass player, c) LZ is in essence a live band so they recorded guitar bass and drums at the same time. That doesn't mean he's worse bass player than Mark Hoppus (Blink 182), Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) or Mike Dirnt (Green Day), just because they played bass on stage many times. In a similar way Brian didn't/doesn't play piano very often (except in some Queen tours), but still he's - in my opinion - a more accomplished pianist than Axl Rose, who played almost evey night during three years. Moreover Duff McKagan, who played drums very scarcely on the recordings and on stage, is (also imho) better player than Ringo, who has played in hundreds of recordings and concerts. But you're right that those cases are very very rare. Anyway there are not only "gifted amateurs", there are also "self taught professionals" |
| Penis - Vagina 16.02.2004 10:45 |
"Because he's feeling that the other posts in the thread are critical of his choice of activity." Exactly. It comes across to me more like "What you are doing is useless, it's been done before, stop doing it" which I don't see a point in. It's been pointed out that similar things have been done before. Fine. Point taken. It's not going to stop me from giving it a go myself. I paid the $50 for the discs, decided to work on the songs a bit because I'm slightly disappointed in the original project. When Justin had the opportunity to access the multi-tracks for this project, he first should have saved everything in full-length form without the lead vocals, and then recreated the video versions. Perhaps he did, but why weren't the full-length versions used for the CDs then? The video versions were necessary for the original laserdisc project but when the time came for a CD release, versions closer to the original should have been used. And before someone gives me the link, I've already read Justin's notes about this project and how he only had a few hours to prepare each song, but still I would hope he saw the future opportunity for these tracks and saved them properly to begin with rather than editing on the fly. He also either didn't get the original sound very accurate, or deliberately changed the mixes, particularly the ones for the first disc. AOBTD sounds like a hell of a lot more than just the vocal was stripped out. But I got a bit sidetracked here.. So I bought the discs, decided to restore wherever possible for myself, and as far as other people's attempts to do the same sort of thing with tracks from The eYe or whatever, I don't have tracks from The eYe myself and would prefer to have CD quality versions, not mp3s from the hub, so I'm doing this instead for now. I'm sharing mp3s but my personal discs are being burned from raw wavs. So I just figured since I'm doing this anyway, I might as well share. You can take it or leave it and I welcome criticism or praise about the work itself, but not about the project. It's pointless because I'm doing it anyway, and who am I hurting by sharing the results? John seems to understand this now, so thank you John for that and also for reminding me about other versions to explore in the future. Adam and I haven't gotten along since day one. It happens with some people. So I would simply suggest we avoid each other's threads :) I have nothing against you Adam, you're a talented guy. I've read some old threads and listened to your work. You're even kind of handsome except for the long hair. |
| Lester Burnham 16.02.2004 11:00 |
I find these fascinating. I appreciate the work you've been putting into these, DF! |
| Bohardy 16.02.2004 11:11 |
Just keep on doing what you do best DF, and you can't go wrong. You very obviously get enjoyment out of doing these things, and practically everyone that's posted on this thread - myself included - is enjoying the results of your work. I've already got the Karaoke and eYe instrumentals, but that's not gonna stop me from listening to and appreciating your mixes. It's blatantly obvious how good what you're doing will be for people who don't already have these instrumentals. Just because these instrumentals are already out there, it doesn't mean you shouldn't make it easier for people to find them does it? Good work. |
| Adam Baboolal 16.02.2004 11:12 |
Dude, I think you've got me wrong. I don't have a problem with you or your stuff. In fact, it's one of the most enjoyable things to read about on here. I just reiterated what John S said about the hub etc. Btw, the karaoke versions of the tracks had to be changed for karaoke performances. So a removal of a certain f-area for both female and male singers is made. And possibly removed the lesser necesary backing vox. Peace, Adam. P.S. I don't have long hair anymore. My old site hasn't been updated for yonks! |
| David Jones 16.02.2004 14:43 |
I'm in support of this project! Its really great! The mp3s of the Karaoke versions I have aren't absolutely perfect (for a fuss pot like me!) so these encodings and remixes are great! I've never downloaded or seen another project like this, so for those of us who haven't, there really great and a nice change! Keep up the good work! |
| Penis - Vagina 16.02.2004 18:12 |
Thanks again :) "One Vision", (extended instrumental vision) was the file this day. No longer available. |
| John S Stuart 16.02.2004 18:23 |
Good mixes DF - but how about keeping them up for longer than a day? Perhaps as an alternative you could find a site - I am sure you won't be short of volunteers - who will host your files for you? That way, when those "absent" today return next week, you won't be submerged with requests for repeat postings! Just trying to help you out! |
| Daburcor? 16.02.2004 19:03 |
Cool! They sound great! |
| Penis - Vagina 16.02.2004 21:06 |
I meant to state earlier that you're all free to share these in the hub or anywhere else. Since I'm just messing with other people's work, I can't really claim any sort of ownership :) Besides I prefer to remain somewhat anonymous, unlike the folks at Fan Mixers for example. There actually aren't very many which will be dramatically different. Some are fine as they are, and with some I'm only removing the karaoke prompts and adding a few seconds of missing fade-out. I may have been a bit over-enthusiastic at first ;) It's funny that you'd suggest that though John, just as I did decide to use two different locations and leave them up a little longer anyway :) |
| Guy 17.02.2004 07:34 |
I can give you 30 megs of space for this project, let me know if you're interested (I sent you an e-mail on another subject so you have my address). |
| Penis - Vagina 17.02.2004 18:44 |
We took care of that in email, Guy (so people won't think I ignored you) :) Today's file was Spread Your Wings. No longer available. |
| Sebastian 17.02.2004 19:42 |
Perhaps Fred was singing at the time of the backing track recording and he got so excited that "screamed" that part and it can be heard through the piano microphones |
| Ian R 18.02.2004 10:44 |
If the multi-track tapes have been lost from the NOTW sessions, then how did they produce a karaoke version? |
| Adam Baboolal 18.02.2004 11:17 |
How do you think they released Freddie tracks from Mr Bad Guy if it was deleted? Because not all tracks are kept in just one place. No, that would be too organised! Adam. |
| Penis - Vagina 18.02.2004 11:37 |
Wow, that's the first I heard about them being lost. I did notice on GVH1 this track was noted as being 'upmixed' so it makes sense now. So I would have been a laughing stock had I suggested NOTW be the next DVD-A? ;) |
| David Jones 18.02.2004 14:03 |
Haven't the Japanese got a very sophisticated machine that was able to remove lead vocals? Thats what I was told anyway... |
| Adam Baboolal 18.02.2004 15:22 |
Keep dreaming David! lol |
| Penis - Vagina 18.02.2004 15:34 |
Well, there's a thing Justin has mentioned which isn't Japanese exclusive by any means, that he's used for the upmixes and comes probably as close to separating stuff as possible without the multi-tracks. I suppose that might come close to removing them, depending on the song. From: link "This was one of the times I used the TC 6000 'unwrap' setting. This is a clever program that can turn a stereo mix into a 5.1 mix, like a really brilliant version of what most domestic AV amps can do. We used it for Spread Your Wings on GVH1 and the entire Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert DVD, but we would normally prefer to remix properly from the multi-tracks when possible." |
| Penis - Vagina 18.02.2004 16:15 |
Here's a page at the TC Electronics site which shows the product and mentions the 'unwrap' function: link "UnWrap is a professional stereo to 5.1 conversion processor for the music and film industry. Stereo to 5.1 conversion is not a one-size-fits-all process, because creative decisions put into the original mix need to be reflected in the 5.1 version. UnWrap therefore provides the user with a palette of different solutions, optimized individually for different types of source material. Some of the solutions enable bit transparent reconstruction of the original stereo signal. Consequently, the output result is more stimulating than the original stereo version, regardless of the source material, if it is wet or dry, naturalistic or synthetic. UnWrap operates at Sample Rates up to 96 kHz." |
| Penis - Vagina 18.02.2004 17:25 |
Today's file was "I Want It All" ('Rocks' version instrumental). No longer available. |
| Penis - Vagina 19.02.2004 14:39 |
Today's selection was "A Kind Of Magic", extended instrumental version. No longer available. |
| Daburcor? 19.02.2004 17:34 |
Heeeeeeey... That sounds pretty cool! |
| ilizarov 19.02.2004 18:07 |
Hadnt paid much attention to this topic...just listened to your kind of magic mix....brilliant stuff! Just sorry I missed the other ones! |
| Penis - Vagina 19.02.2004 23:35 |
DeaconGone, I'll try to work out a way to repost any files requested. I'm not even sure how many more I'll share. There aren't many more that are very different from the original karaoke mixes. I might upload 'Tie Your Mother Down'. I've restored the guitar intro but it's only a matter of a few seconds restored.. And with 'Somebody To Love' I'm not having much luck getting the outro restored. (The karaoke mix fades) The mixes are too different. The rest of disc one are virtually unchanged from the karaoke versions so I think you'll all just have to find them elsewhere :-P As for disc two, there's still a few I'm considering trying stuff with. A headbanger's instrumental mix of Hammer to Fall perhaps? :) |
| Wilki Amieva 20.02.2004 06:51 |
1) If you listen closely, you'll notice that the SYW instrumental included in the GREATEST KARAOKE HITS it's not an instrumental mix of the album/single version. It comes from a different (most probably earlier) version of the song. Maybe they've just found that instrumental mix in the vaults and used it, or maybe they've found a work-in-progress 'bounce' multitrack with just a backing track and some overdubs and muted the vocals if any. BTW, you can spot the differences more easily in the guitar arrangements of the second verse. 2) DeaconFan: Have you tried using the 5.1 mix of STL? I suppose it's end will make a good blend with the karaoke version (if you first downmix it properly, of course). |
| Bohardy 20.02.2004 07:36 |
Very true point Wilki. It's been discussed on here a fair few times. For me, that's what makes these karaoke versions so great, as in a fair amount of cases there's actually stuff ADDED to the album versions, as well as there obviously being the vocals removed. Besides the extra guitar you mention in Spread Your Wings, there's also: - extra guitar parts towards the end of Friends Will Be Friends. - the glorious 3-part harmony run Bri does at the end of Bicycle Race - some extra (or at the very least more audible) drums in Somebody To Love I'm sure there's other bits and pieces as well, I just can't think right now off the top of my head. |
| Penis - Vagina 20.02.2004 11:20 |
Keep in mind also that some of the extra stuff is the result of the video versions being used, so yes, the FWBF mix changes and goes into the live crowd singing (I've actually eliminated this for mine and restored the album outro), The Miracle is about 10 seconds longer, Invisible Man has a re-edited intro taken from the 12" mix... all the result of being mixed to replicate the video versions. Long before the CD set in '98, these mixes were used on a 2-laserdisc karaoke set in 1996. link It had the original audio on the analog track, karaoke mixes on the digital, and burned-in subtitles with the lyrics. (Talk about the perfect project for dvd! A real lost opportunity) And in terms of the 5.1 mixes, I have yet to experience them as my receiver is only Dolby Digital and I don't have a DVD drive. |
| Wilki Amieva 20.02.2004 12:08 |
No, Bohardy, that's not my point... All the GREATEST KARAOKE HITS versions (except SYW) are based on the ones used on the videos, that's why you sometimes hear them so different from the album versions. And DeaconFan, I wish I could send you the ripped tracks... |
| Bohardy 20.02.2004 12:14 |
Well I can't remember any of the parts I mentioned occuring in the video versions. To my knowledge, the only video that had extra audio performed by Queen (as opposed to crowd noises etc) is the Headlong video that has that extra guitar refrain. I'm no video buff, and I rarely watch them really, but I remember the sheer delight upon hearing for the first time that major scale at the end of Bicycle Race on the Karoake CD. If it had appeared on the video version, which I'd seen numerous time prior to hearing the Karaoke versions, I wouldn't have been half so surprised to hear it then. And if SYW isn't based on the video version, is it not reasonable to say that BR, FWBF and STL may not be based on the video versions as well? |
| Penis - Vagina 20.02.2004 13:03 |
There's also additional piano under the vocals at the beginning of Bicycle Race, but I do hear the scale thing on the original too, just perhaps a different take/different key.. it's not as 'happy' as the karaoke version. I don't hear too much of a difference in SYW other than the general slight mix changes that comprise most if not all of disc one. The disc two mixes (except for special video versions) sound pretty close to the originals to me. I'll probably edit this later. Company just showed up so my mind isn't all here :-P |
| Penis - Vagina 21.02.2004 14:47 |
Please see the new topic for latest files: link |
| Simmer 21.02.2004 17:50 |
Very nice Deacon Fan... keep up the good work!! |
| Penis - Vagina 22.02.2004 13:25 |
Today we're having a buy one-get one free special. "Don't Stop Me Now" and Crazy Little Thing Called Love". No longer available Look for another thread with the same topic for further updates |