| Penis - Vagina 08.03.2004 17:49 |
A Kind Of Magic was pretty awesome. The whole thing was a great improvement IMO. The Miracle is greatly improved and really kicks ass in places. There's things I'd never noticed before. The intro to 'I Want It All' really grabbed me and 'Chinese Torture' sounds amazing. In fact I'm going to upload a file of it if I can figure out where I have space. Innuendo is where the trouble starts. A couple of tracks seem to sound better.. Headlong & TATDOOL but for some reason the rest sounds the same as '91 or worse. 'I Can't Live With You' is particularly bad. Perhaps the high resolution just exposed how weak it really is. Also, the Innuendo disc is not amplified very much the way the others are which seems a bit odd to me. Something just doesn't seem right. I discovered that these do sound a little better going though analog cables btw. With other music, a digital cable usually sounds better but these are just the opposite. I'm sure Adam will explain why or tell me I'm nuts :-P |
| Penis - Vagina 08.03.2004 18:02 |
Here's Chinese Torture. Don't know if Rien already shared this one or not. See later message for comparison version |
| Adam Baboolal 09.03.2004 08:31 |
Hey dude. Well, I'm a little confused. I listened to that track in comparison to my HolRecrds version and I prefer the HR version! Now, I should explain that I've processed my albums to get more out of the sound. Nothing radical. I mentioned this last year to folks about more warmth. Anyway, even when listening to the basic cd for comparison I found myself letdown by the 2001 version. The mid-range has been greatly reduced, while the obvious highs and lows are punchier. I like those, but the mid-range really disappoints. The lead guitar sounds a lot thinner. I don't know what to say. I don't know about Innuendo. Maybe if you could post ICLWY to hear? Peace, Adam. |
| Richard Orchard 09.03.2004 08:43 |
it shouldn't sound that much different (if at all). The whole remastering process is a bit arbitary when the original source was digitally recorded in the first place. Hence, the biggest sound improvements can be heard in the earlier albums. For what it is worth, i prefer analogue recordings. They just sound better. Digital recordings sound too sharp for my liking. Roger Waters' last (only) live album was recorded on analogue equipment and sounds great. |
| Adam Baboolal 09.03.2004 08:57 |
Well here's the thing... Analog recordings have their high and low end cut down when recorded. And there's also some midrange build up. Slight. Nature of the system. While digital obviously preserves as much as the recorder used, will allow. Again, nature of that system. However, digital recordings sound too sharp because of this. Quite simply, it wasn't clear, and to some still isn't (!), that you can't represent all the components of the mix at full bandwith. There has to be a gap for all instruments to shine, but not all can exist in the same space. And a recording with too much highend is described as harsh. Sad really. Just listen to what's capable these days. And that's part of the reason for what happened with early digital. Not to mention the bad converters used while recording. Sometimes at least. And this is where the analog versus digital thing came from. Peace, Adam. |
| Rien 09.03.2004 10:37 |
For a short time you can find I Want It All and I Can't Live With You on my downloadpage. |
| Penis - Vagina 09.03.2004 10:49 |
Thanks Rien! I don't know what to say about the differences we're hearing or not hearing. I clearly hear a fullness and clarity to 'The Miracle' tracks that I don't hear on the Hollywood version.. and the Capitol version is absolute junk compared to these of course :) For my listening copy, I added some extra tracks such as the 12" Scandal from the Hollywood version.. amplified to the level of the original version remaster (but no compression tools or anything) and there's clearly a difference in quality. But these things can be quite subjective. You can take nearly anything and make adjustments to get it sounding good.. and then compare it to another version and be amazed at the difference. Here's a fun test for everyone.. open a favorite song in Winamp, adjust your volume, get it sounding right to you. Then turn on the EQ in Winamp and adjust it until you love the sound even more... then turn the EQ off and suddenly you'll realize how weak it sounded before, even though you were enjoying it. hehe |
| Adam Baboolal 09.03.2004 12:43 |
Thanks for those Rien. Again, I'm baffled. I hear what DF is talking about with ICLWY. And I just can't believe they've been remastered this way. It's really bad. Just listen to how thin Freddie's voice is and then compare it to the mix we all have from before. You see, again there's a huge hole in the mid-range. And Freddie's voice, our main focus, suffers greatly because of this. NOT PLEASED... But IWIA doesn't sound as bad. But still, it's not great. I'm starting to wonder why JSSmith has done this. I've always supported the changes he made for the DVD-A and dvd vids. But these two titles don't seem as good as the earlier ones. Just some info from me - I'm using 2 sets of studio speakers to listen with. One active and the other passive. Peace, Adam. |
| inu-liger 09.03.2004 13:57 |
I know what you're talking about, DF. I used an effect I came up with the EQ on Nero burner for CD Audio which I named "Dark" :P, where I turned up both bass and treble, which actually gives some songs a better sound, clear-wise. If I had some CD-R's, I could make some songs this way and upload as MP3s in the future sometime |
| Rien 09.03.2004 14:15 |
I've just listened to the two versions of ICLWY and I must say that the 2004 version sounds much clearer to me. All different instruments and left-right sounds (to put it very simple) can be heard much clearer than on the old cd. |
| Penis - Vagina 09.03.2004 14:32 |
Here's 29 seconds of 3 editions of 'Chinese Torture' back to back and at 320 kbps. I haven't done any tampering. The first is the U.S. Capitol CD from 1989, then the U.S. Hollywood remaster from 1991, and finally the 2001 Toshiba/EMI from the 2004 card sleeve. Obviously the volume level has been increased a bit, but ignoring that, I still think there's a much fuller sound. **switched to A Kind Of Magic, see below** I've also just noticed that all 3 versions have a slight 'drop-out' just after the first drum crash. |
| Penis - Vagina 09.03.2004 21:09 |
Hey, Adam or anyone.. listen to that file and tell honestly which of the 3 sounds best, so I can delete the thing :) |
| pma 10.03.2004 04:40 |
Listened to it a few times in Winamp (no eq), small Labtec speakers. To me the Hollywood Remaster sounded the best. |
| Adam Baboolal 10.03.2004 07:36 |
Definitely the one in the middle. In comparison with the other two, like I've said before, there's more mid-range. A VERY important part of the sonic picture when it comes to Brian's guitars. Ah well... Peace, Adam. |
| Penis - Vagina 10.03.2004 07:48 |
I think I must have a midrange hearing problem. This is not the first time it's come up. I've had a friend comment on early attempts at 'remixes' "where's the midrange?" and I recall that while growing up, the EQ setting that always seemed right to me was a V shape. LOL This is why I try not to mess with stuff when I'm doing my little edit jobs. I do sometimes do a little bass boost to try and make something match. This blows. Stuff I do might sound horrible and I'd never know it :-P |
| olifaust 10.03.2004 10:08 |
Hi, just got my first two Cardsleeves: Innuendo and Sheer Heart Attack, SHA is amazing, sounds wonderfull, but from Innuendo I'm a little disapointed, too, but it sounds slightly better than the older version anyway so little improvement |
| inu-liger 10.03.2004 10:21 |
HR version |
| Penis - Vagina 10.03.2004 10:45 |
Okay, I listened again.. this time specifically to hear whether something seems to be missing from the 3rd.. and now I hear what you guys are saying. It still seems to have a bit more 'punch' but I agree there's something more to the HW version. Oh well! And I agree there's something wrong with Innuendo. To me, a couple tracks sound only marginally better but the sound is uneven between tracks.. I mean, some sound okay, some not so great. And ICLWY is definitely worse. It really struck me as sounding bad when it came on. At least the packaging is cool :-P |
| Penis - Vagina 10.03.2004 11:41 |
Edit: Had to delete this in order to put up another file. |
| Rien 10.03.2004 12:09 |
To me the third sounds the best. |
| Adam Baboolal 10.03.2004 12:10 |
Not too bad. But JSSmith seems to have thinned this one too. Hmm... I compared DSMN when that was posted and there was a definite improvement there. But I wonder... I mean, the analog recordings benefit from this kind of remastering. But I'm not sure the digitally recorded albums are going to be as "happy" with this processing. I know that digital type recordings started with The Works onwards, even though it was still dealing with tape. How strange. Peace, Adam. |
| Adam Unger (QueenVault.com) 10.03.2004 12:11 |
I seem to agree with you DF, I think the Toshiba track sounds the best, but I think I might a possible explanation. I've noticed that perhaps Toshiba might be messing with some of the equalizer settings whenever they transfer the song to CD to make things stand out and give it a fuller sound. Maybe the Hollywood versions have the same quality but have a "flat" equalizer sound. I bet that if you messed with the equalizer settings on your stereo/winamp that you could get the hollywood version to sound very similar to the toshiba release. I noticed that with the Freddie Box set that it seemed to be similar to the toshiba releases in that it sounded better on my stereo if i had the equalizer flat. The Freddie box seems to have increased bass and whatnot. I could be completely wrong here (and it won't be the last time) but at least it's another idea for discussion. |
| Adam Baboolal 10.03.2004 12:30 |
Exactly. This is what I don't get. JSS dealt with the Freddie 2000 remasterings. And yet with similar kinds of recordings he's taken a very different approach. The Bad Guy stuff does sound a lot better than the initial release. But from what I'm hearing, the 2001 remasters, Works onwards, are not as well adjusted. Btw AdamUnger, Hi-Fi's NEVER have a flatEQ sound. The speakers are set to highlight certain areas of the sound range. And the EQ on the front of your hi-fi is also another factor. The changes made to the sound will undoubtedly include the EQ changes you mentioned. But the punchiness is from compression. And I don't mean like MP3 compression! :) Peace, Adam. |
| Adam Unger (QueenVault.com) 10.03.2004 12:35 |
Very interesting, I didn't realize this. Has JSS done any other releases (other than the DVDs)? |
| Penis - Vagina 10.03.2004 12:58 |
He did the karaoke mixes, which leave a lot to be desired... but to be fair, they were a rush job and actually done in like 1996 before they had better equipment. I assume he's done other solo stuff for the guys too. Maybe David Richards should have been present at least for the later stuff. I feel sorry for the guy. He's now got the contents of the former Mountain Studios in his living room and I get the impression he's been somehow discarded. link I take that back. It seems he was involved in the 46664 project and worked on it right there in his living room. hehe |
| Adam Baboolal 10.03.2004 13:11 |
Poor guy. That bloody casino! At least the main part of the mixing studio area is going to stay from what I've heard. Such a shame that they scrapped the recording room where Fred and the lads made the music. *Sighs* Adam. |
| Pim Derks 10.03.2004 15:23 |
Can anyone make some hi-res pix of some of the sleeves? I'm still thinking about buying them.... but it's an awful lot of money (esp. since I'm trying to slow down my Queen collecting - first have to complete my Beatles/PGabriel/Genesis/etc cd-collection).... |
| anato 10.03.2004 16:49 |
Go on PIM treat urself It is a lot of money but they really are worth ther money Listening to SHA at the mo...superb |
| Penis - Vagina 10.03.2004 18:15 |
I wish I could scan these, but for the last year or so I've been without a permanent scanner. I borrow one occasionally but I've only got 3 of the card sleeves so far so it's not worth the trouble yet. I would really like to see the inner sleeves scanned to see what they look like enlarged on the monitor. They are clear enough to read lyrics but extremely tiny text :-P Even with the apparent inconsistencies in audio quality, I'm going to continue buying them slowly.. 2 or 3 a month is all I can afford though. Incidently, for 3 of them to the U.S. from HMV it came to $92.10, shipped by FedEx rather quickly. They woulda been here next day (or 2 days after ordering) if not for a weather delay and a weekend getting in the way. |
| Pim Derks 11.03.2004 02:22 |
"Go on PIM treat urself" Problem is that I've done that way too much in the past :-) If I buy one cardsleeve, I want the rest too - so it's about $30 x 16 = $350 plus probably some taxes & stuff... And for stuff which I already have on cd/lp/mc/dvd-a that's a lot of money ;-) I'll probably end up buying them all though ;) :D |
| Penis - Vagina 25.03.2004 14:07 |
Here's a new comparison for "Princes of the Universe", since this subject has come up once again.. Capitol 1986/Hollywood 1991/Toshiba-EMI 2001 |
| Adam Baboolal 25.03.2004 17:51 |
Any chance of a MIH track when you have it? That album has always had an interesting sound to it. Peace, Adam. |
| Penis - Vagina 25.03.2004 18:05 |
Yep, I should have that by about Tuesday the 6th of April. Someone else will probably get it sooner.. comes out next week I believe. |