| Queen Archivist 21.11.2006 11:54 |
Here's a serious question for QZ. I'm very much into 5.1 surround sound mixes of certain recordings. Obviously I have listened to the Queen GVH 1 & 2, Queen live DVDs and the various Freddie mixes, and I have The War Of The Worlds mixes I worked on. I also have a Police DVD with some 5 speaker mixes, which I still haven't heard, and the same is true of Natalie Merchant, Genesis, The Jam, Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Live Aid (box), Coldplay live, Roger Waters 'The Wall Live in Berlin', Evanescene and AC/DV DVDs I have. Tomorrow I'm going to listen to the new Beatles CD. I would like to know if anyone out there has heard, or knows of, ANY great 5.1 mixes of anything. It doesn't have to be a famous recording, it can be anything that's worth checking out. I would dearly love to know, for example, if there is a 5.1 mix of 10cc's (studio version, NOT live) 'I'm Not In Love', Spandau Ballet's 'Through The Barricades', any Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Kate Bush, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, The Who, Abba (now that would be great!), I know about Dark Side Of The Moon SACD, but haven't heard it. Have any of you?????? I will check out Sony's SACD mixes. Has anyone heard any of these??????????? Someone must SURELY by now have 5.1 mixed Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours', Frankie's 'Relax' or 'Two Tribes', Bob Seger, Foreigner, Phil Collins first two solo LPs (please God), John Lennon, Radiohead. Right??????? Some of these things must exist. WHERE, WHEN, ANY GOOD, OR NO GOOD???????? So... what do you know? What surround sound mixes have blown you away or disappointed you???? NON-Queen only please. Ta awfully |
| Deacon Fan 21.11.2006 13:16 |
I enjoyed both the Genesis "Video Show" and Peter Gabriel's "Play" DVDs because the 5.1 mixes are quite good and there's lots of center channel nearly-isolated vocals which is how I think it should be.. And recently I got the Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms" 20th anniversary dualdisc with one side in DVD-A and it sounds fantastic! A lot of Michael Jackson's 5.1 mixes have a capella centers but beyond that they are pretty boring. And there are none for ABBA.. at least not true remixes, only upmixes, sadly. Oh, and Live Aid isn't much of a thrill. Only half of it is true remixes and honestly there's just nothing exciting about them to me. In fact I'm not too impressed with any live 5.1s I've heard so far. They all seem to be pretty static and offer nothing more than you'd get from simply running the stereo versions through Pro-Logic. |
| Lester Burnham 21.11.2006 13:25 |
I believe Tommy is out on 5.1 CD, and Pete Townshend's going to (eventually) get around to mixing Quadrophenia into 5.1, which would just be amazing to hear. |
| Daniel vZ 21.11.2006 14:18 |
"Aero" from Jean Michel Jarre. It's specially made for 5.1 surround. |
| SK 21.11.2006 15:45 |
The Beach Boys Pet Sounds is available in 5.1 Surround Sound and it is amazing. Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde is also available in 5.1 Also Sony's SACD series are simply amazing, the sound is much close to vinyl quality and the clarity of the music is just amazing. Check out Abko's Rolling Stones SACD masters as well. Cheers |
| pma 21.11.2006 15:47 |
The Elton John SACD-releases with 5.1 mixes by Greg Penny are superb and I think his approach should be a standard of sorts. He treats the 5.1 as its own entity from the stereo mix, while some use the stereo-mixes pannings as a starting point. Penny made many songs 'rock' on the Elton albums, that simply DIDN't on stereo-mixes (with the emphasis mainly on Elton + piano and guitars buried in the back) Billy Joel's 'The Stranger' is also a good one in 5.1. The Carpenters' Singles collection in SACD also has some splendid mixes. The only real disappointment I've had has been the DVD-Audio of Eagles' Hotel California. Not daring enough considering the possibilities of the format. Way too conservative approach, compared to what G.Penny did with Elton John. |
| Rick 21.11.2006 16:41 |
SK<h6>Bob Dylan>Queen ;)<h6> wrote: The Beach Boys Pet Sounds is available in 5.1 Surround Sound and it is amazing. Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde is also available in 5.1 Also Sony's SACD series are simply amazing, the sound is much close to vinyl quality and the clarity of the music is just amazing. Check out Abko's Rolling Stones SACD masters as well. CheersI'll second the Pet Sounds DVD. It's fucking great. It also has a stereo and the brilliant mono mix. Brian Wilson's masterpiece. He is a genius. |
| SK 21.11.2006 16:45 |
<font color=blue>Rick wrote:^---He speaks the truth. Mono mix is the original, and the best! Long live vinyl(and DVD-A and SACD ;p)SK<h6>Bob Dylan>Queen ;)<h6> wrote: The Beach Boys Pet Sounds is available in 5.1 Surround Sound and it is amazing. Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde is also available in 5.1 Also Sony's SACD series are simply amazing, the sound is much close to vinyl quality and the clarity of the music is just amazing. Check out Abko's Rolling Stones SACD masters as well. CheersI'll second the Pet Sounds DVD. It's fucking great. It also has a stereo and the brilliant mono mix. Brian Wilson's masterpiece. He is a genius. |
| Penetration_Guru 21.11.2006 17:53 |
I have heard ALice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies The Donnas - Gold Medal ZZ Top - Greatest Hits Meat Loaf - Hits Out Of Hell Motley Crue - Greatest Hits The Carpenters - Greatest Hits Metallica - Black REM - Automatic For The People All were good, but the last two were the best. REM for Everybody Hurts, and Metallica for the sheer intensity of it. |
| onevsion 21.11.2006 18:05 |
I have heard some releases in the SACD format (Zappa, Pink Floyd) they sound pretty good. Also the new Beatles album in 5.1 is great! Cheers, Dennis |
| Deacon Fan 21.11.2006 22:48 |
I forgot to mention one brilliant exception to my statement about live mixes.. Pink Floyd's "Pulse" DVD is an excellent mix with some nice effects and even the promo video for 'Learning to Fly' included on the disc is a true 5.1 remix. 'Take it Back' sadly is only 2.0 |
| Jjeroen 22.11.2006 03:44 |
I've got the same fascination, Greg! ;-) It's always a blast to hear GOOD 5.1 (DTS!!) mixes. I've also hear quite a few by now, some have already been mentioned. I feel like mentioning some NOT so good ones first. Some that disappoint me - but maybe also because I am spoiled by some very good ones and my standard went way up high pretty fast ;-) The ones that dissapointed: *All The Zappa DVD-A's (neglected channels, flat sound, out of balance BUT that could be because of the age of the recordings and the way they were actually recorded back then.) *All the NIne Inch Nails - DVD-A/DualDisc - (flat sound and only 'up-mixed' stereo) *David Bowie - Reality (only 'up-mixed' stereo) *Porcupine Tree - Deadwing DVD-A (not bad, but boring as there is no real dividing in the different channels) - (In Absentia is a lot better!) * The R.E.M. ones - sound great and bombastic, but not realy very creative and interesting as a multi-channel mix. It's difficult for some other ones as there are a lot of live-recordings. Most of these sound awesome but most of the time the music is still just stereo with a little echo in the back and only the audience in full surround. I won't mention any live ones then. (But I understand you are also only after studio-albums :-) If not, check out for instance the 1st disc of Led Zeppelin's 'DVD' (Albert hall gig) or MUSE - Hullaballoo (NOT the Absolution one! - audiowise it sucks!) Man, do those have BALLSSS! The good one's: Agree on some that have been mentioned. Also: * Floyd - DSOTM = great! (But if you listen to the very old 5-channel mix by Alan Parsons, THAT one is already great - let alone the official SACD. * Bjork - Medulla (I'm not a Bjork fan but this one knocked my socks off ALSO audio-wise. Superb!!!) * But the very best REALY (and I don't say this as a fan but as an audiophiliac!!) the QUEEN mixes are far superior to any others I ever heard! GVH's are very much okay (I is great overall, II has some tracks that are good but not 'special') but in all honesty I have to say that the ANATO and The Game DVD-A's simply ARE what I expect from these kind of releases. They sound HUGE, they have power and they are very creative in using the different channels. BTW: the new Beatles-disc is indeed very very good (not only because of the 5.1 DTS mix ;-). Since it is the same recordcompany: what about it Greg? I assume something like this could be an idea for Queen as well? |
| Leaky Luke 22.11.2006 09:09 |
Isn't the new P.U.L.S.E. DVD by Pink Floyd 5.1? |
| Jjeroen 22.11.2006 09:42 |
Yes (but not DTS!) and it sounds fine. |
| Deacon Fan 22.11.2006 10:54 |
Bubbles, master of the pan flute wrote: I forgot to mention one brilliant exception to my statement about live mixes.. Pink Floyd's "Pulse" DVD is an excellent mix with some nice effects and even the promo video for 'Learning to Fly' included on the disc is a true 5.1 remix. 'Take it Back' sadly is only 2.0 |
| Penetration_Guru 22.11.2006 13:07 |
I forgot to mention Michael Jackson & Def Leppard also - Billie Jean sounds so crisp. As said above, there's a lot of live stuff in surround which isn't that exciting compared to the nuances that a surround studio mix can deliver. Has anyone heard the Motorhead DVD-A (speaking of nuances!)? I'm tempted by it, but the original production seems too muddy to make it worthwhile. |
| Rick 22.11.2006 16:49 |
Toto: Live In Amsterdam 2003 This band is perfect. Brilliant DVD, great mix. Going to see them in March 2007 :-) |
| Lisser 22.11.2006 17:30 |
<font color=blue>Rick wrote: Toto: Live In Amsterdam 2003 This band is perfect. Brilliant DVD, great mix. Going to see them in March 2007 :-)They are still touring??!! I'd LOVE to see them!!!! |
| Rick 22.11.2006 17:42 |
Lisser wrote:Yes. They had a new album this year. They already did a tour now in 2006, but they will continue touring next year. :-)<font color=blue>Rick wrote: Toto: Live In Amsterdam 2003 This band is perfect. Brilliant DVD, great mix. Going to see them in March 2007 :-)They are still touring??!! I'd LOVE to see them!!!! Musically, this band is really great. Great individual musicians and together even better. |
| Queen Archivist 22.11.2006 18:19 |
MANY thanks everyone for your very interesting and diverse responses. Some great stuff in there which I will check out. pma... I hate to say this - for some reason - but yes, The Carpenters... didn't they make some fantastic stuff! My God, Karen's voice was extraordinary. People never let it be known that they like this music. Not very hip or trendy, but fabulous songs and arrangements. Sod what the people say, regardless of the 'old bugger' comments I will doubtless get, I'm gonna go buy it. Karen Carpenter had one of the ALL TIME best voices. Floyd Pulse DVD, I'll check that too. Keep this great stuff coming please. Let's extend the net and try to mention EVERY 5.1 mix out there - good and bad, and Rolling Stones!!!! Regards |
| Lester Burnham 23.11.2006 02:43 |
The Rolling Stones only released their early catalog (from 1963ish to 1969, the last album being either Let It Bleed or Get Yer Ya Ya's Out!, as well as the compilations - Hot Rocks, More Hot Rocks, etc.) in SACD, but I have Their Satanic Majesties Request from the latest (2002) batch of remasters and it sounds great - well worth picking up any of them if you're into early Stones. |
| The Mir@cle 23.11.2006 05:11 |
<font color=blue>Rick wrote:I saw them in 2006 (in Zuidbroek :P) and it was stunning... what a timing, what a guitar play, what a drums... I loved every single second of the concert!Lisser wrote:Yes. They had a new album this year. They already did a tour now in 2006, but they will continue touring next year. :-) Musically, this band is really great. Great individual musicians and together even better.<font color=blue>Rick wrote: Toto: Live In Amsterdam 2003 This band is perfect. Brilliant DVD, great mix. Going to see them in March 2007 :-)They are still touring??!! I'd LOVE to see them!!!! I have the DVD as well, and Rick is right about that. |
| Penetration_Guru 23.11.2006 16:30 |
Anyone know if the new Abba DVD has surround mixes? |
| Deacon Fan 23.11.2006 18:06 |
LOL |
| Penetration_Guru 24.11.2006 13:45 |
It wasn't a joke. |
| Queen Archivist 07.12.2006 06:20 |
COME ON!!!!!!.......... Is this all you have? There's some very good info in this thread, but please keep it coming QZ-ers. Is there any AC/DC, Abba, Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush, Tori Amos SURROUND SOUND mixes, etc, etc, etc,??????????????? Keep it coming....... |
| Jjeroen 07.12.2006 09:47 |
Not sure about the others, but I do know there are no AC/DC and Kate Bush surround mixes... Did you have a listen already to some of the suggestions above Greg? If so, any thoughts on them? BTW: I mentioned Led Zeppeling 'DVD', collection of rare live material box set. When that came out we already discussed such a box set would be wonderfull for Queen as well. Now, last month KISS had a similar release: KISSOlogie, a double dvd set (with secret third bonus disc) also including rare and unseen live performances. Total of about 7 hours including all tv-appearances and no less then 4 full (or nearly full) gigs. I know KISS has a very loyal following, especially in the USA that all buy everything they release, they have a weak for goodies. But considering also the succes of Led Zepp's DVD - isn't it about time for Queen to do the same? Sure if LZ and KISS can do it... |
| Jjeroen 12.12.2006 10:42 |
GREEEEEG!!! Come on, man - this dropped to the third page already! Don't let this conversation die! ;-) |
| Micrówave 12.12.2006 12:53 |
The Neville Brothers Yellow Moon is available as a SACD and is one of the best "sounding" CDs I have ever heard. Why isn't the new Kate CD Aerial available in 5.1? |
| Penetration_Guru 12.12.2006 17:31 |
AC/DC's Stiff Upper Lip DVD has an excellent surround sound track...but it's a live DVD so that doesn't really count in the same way. their Family Jewels promo clip DVD doesn't have surround mixes (but is still well worth buying). ZZ Top's greatest hits is in surround sound if you get it in the states, and sounds ok. |
| Penetration_Guru 19.12.2006 15:51 |
Has anyone heard David Bowie's "Stages" album in surround? Tony Visconti's notes at dts' website say that he tried to put the listener in the middle of the band, with different participants given distinct positions in the surround spread. I thought it sounded like a really interesting approach to a live mix,but the setlist looked shite, so I wouldn't be buying it. Anyone else got a view? |
| Jjeroen 20.12.2006 07:49 |
Penetration_Guru wrote: Has anyone heard David Bowie's "Stages" album in surround? Tony Visconti's notes at dts' website say that he tried to put the listener in the middle of the band, with different participants given distinct positions in the surround spread. I thought it sounded like a really interesting approach to a live mix,but the setlist looked shite, so I wouldn't be buying it. Anyone else got a view?Yes, I've got both of them. The 'in the middle of the band'-thing, to be honest, is not realy very clearly audiable. Actually both recordings sound pretty much the same as any 5.1 surround mix of a live album. These discs are nice, but both recordings suffer from not so great sound on the original recording. Stage is a bit messy and a bit dense. (Though this one is very good improvement to the original and my opinion on this helped with the fact that I did not realy dig his band and live sound in those days) Live at the Tower is far superiour, I think. Sounds great but again as a surround mix it realy is nothing extraordinary. I'm very much looking forward to the upcoming 'Young Americans' 5.1 mix!! :-) |
| Jjeroen 21.01.2007 10:34 |
Another *BUMP* in hope that Greg will actually respond to what we present him. |