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#511959 - 04/09/04 01:25 PM

"RE" Mastering by the majors?

soundhound555
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Registered: 12/27/02
Posts: 18
Loc: Houston, TX

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Anybody have any info on what actually goes on in the digitally remastering process these days at a major record label for CDs? it seems a lot of times they are basically just normalizing the audio or just slapping a sticker on it that says remastered. Is there any compression or eqing done generally? I mean in all honesty the difference it makes is VERY subtle at best. Like the Van Halen remasters are just as flat as they used to be in the 80s. Yes there are a few releases that have been an improvement sonically in my opinion. Some are Bob Marley, newer police remasters, Hendrix. the process has always intreaged me and I would like to know what is actually being done in most cases? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

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#511960 - 04/09/04 08:07 PM

Re: "RE" Mastering by the majors?

koolkid
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Registered: 06/04/02
Posts: 1083
Loc: NY METRO

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I found it interesting that the re-mastering process is probably more for preservation purposes than actually changing or enhancing whats already a magical recording

below is a clip from capitol records you might find interesting

http://www.capitolmastering.com/capitolmastering/rm.html

i think other than alot of noise removal and some eq ing like you said,they arent looking to make any radical changes to the records original sound

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#511961 - 04/09/04 09:49 PM

Re: "RE" Mastering by the majors?

natpub
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Registered: 11/25/03
Posts: 96
Loc: Austin, TX

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I am fond of the re-mastered editions of Frank Zappa and Yes done by Joe Gastwirt at Oceanview. I can assure you that much more than normalization occurred. He is a fantastic ME.

-KT

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#511962 - 04/10/04 02:08 PM

Re: "RE" Mastering by the majors?

soundhound555
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Registered: 12/27/02
Posts: 18
Loc: Houston, TX

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Thanks for the link koolkid! Great info. I also do really like the Zappa and Yes remasters. When I think of re-mastering, I picture them trying to make the older recordings more "current" sounding to a certain degree. Sounds like Capitol at least is doing that. I wonder if there is any kind of regulation or standard put in place to ensure that certain amount of RE-Mastering is actually being done? A lot of the time I feel like I wasted my money. Like with the essential Sly Stone 2 cd compilation that came out in 2002. It sounds very uncompressed and flat. Like all they did was resequence the tracks and slap a sticker on it saying beautifully remastered. I do understand the sh*t in Sh*t out problem though. And I wouldn't want them the squeeze the life out of it, but...
anybody have the same experience?

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#511963 - 04/12/04 02:10 PM

Re: "RE" Mastering by the majors?

Tedly Nightshade
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Registered: 01/03/02
Posts: 4649
Loc: applegate,OR,UNITED STATES

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usually the first re-mastering for digital was done in a big big hurry and very crudely- there's potential for doing it justice the second (third?!) time around, but usually it seems they squash the hell out of it, so I'm always trying to find CD versions from the 80s... quick and dirty as they were, they often sound much better than the latest and "greatest".

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