| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
btswire
gimme a little kick & snare
Joined: 24 Oct 2003
Posts: 93
Location: San Francisco
|
 Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 8:27 pm Post subject: MBV Loveless Remasters |
  |
|
So after all these years, My Bloody Valentine's Loveless has been remastered. Most of us never thought this would see the light of day, as rumor had it that this would happen years ago.
It was released as a two disk set, with one disk being a remaster from the 1/2" mixdown, and the other being essentially (from what I've gathered) a normalized version of the original CD (the original CD was mastered from a DAT mix.)
To quote Kevin Shield's Pitchfork interview:
"...the processors in CD players and most digital playback systems operate at their best in the top three dB-- the player acts like all the stuff below that level isn't as important, so it won't process it as heavily.
So, of the two Loveless CDs that are coming out, one of them is exactly the same as the original, but everything's brought up to zero without crushing it with digital limiting."
First off, I think Mr Shields is quite a genius, but I'm not sure if he's got his facts straight on this one. As for the digital information on the CD, there can't be any additional information added, since the full 16 bits were never used in the first place due to the low levels on the DAT, correct? As for CD players, another poster on this forum had mentioned less than optimal performance once the converters hit around -3 dbfs. Anyone care to chime in on this?
In addition, it should be noted that Sony apparently labeled disk 1 as disk 2 (and vice versa.) It's also been said that there is a terrible digital glitch on the 1/2" analog remaster, the only one that really seems deserving of a listen.
I'm pretty bummed out, as I was really curious about this release, but shelling out close to $30 for this is a tough sell. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
MoreSpaceEcho
on a wing and a prayer
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 5780
|
| Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 11:45 am Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
| btswire wrote: | | but I'm not sure if he's got his facts straight on this one. |
he doesn't. he's talking crazy.
| Quote: | | As for the digital information on the CD, there can't be any additional information added, since the full 16 bits were never used in the first place due to the low levels on the DAT, correct? |
correct. regardless of how many bits were used on the DAT.
| Quote: | | As for CD players, another poster on this forum had mentioned less than optimal performance once the converters hit around -3 dbfs. Anyone care to chime in on this? |
probably more like -.3
| Quote: | | It's also been said that there is a terrible digital glitch on the 1/2" analog remaster, the only one that really seems deserving of a listen. |
annoying....and you wonder how that got past Mr Perfectionist, but that really shouldn't be too hard to fix...i'm looking forward to hearing it.
_________________
www.oldcolonymastering.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
frans_13
alignin' 24-trk
Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 62
Location: Bavaria, Germany
|
| Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 4:02 am Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
Duh! I still got the CD they released back then... do you think there really will be a new MBV record soon? Or what's the reissue for if not drumming up some press to prepare for a new CD?
In the meantime you could listen to the Fleeting Joys, maybe the only MBV 'clone' that nailed the sound and took it further. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Osumosan
takin' a dinner break
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 157
Location: New York
|
| Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
| I don't need a redo at all on either Loveless or Isn't Anything. Perfect as is. Maybe Mr. Shields and his business associates need it, though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rolsen
steve albini likes it
Joined: 28 Sep 2004
Posts: 337
Location: Tacoma, WA
|
| Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
I've had a couple beers so I'll admit this: I've always thought the production of Loveless was kinda sucky, thin and lifeless. I'm into the MBV thing and all things shoegaze, but comparing Loveless to, say, Swervedriver's Mescal Head or Catherine Wheel's Chrome, Loveless sounds like frayed paper, to me anyway. Hopefully the remasters add some beef.
_________________
http://www.myspace.com/thevarietyhour |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xpulsar
takin' a dinner break
Joined: 17 May 2003
Posts: 197
Location: Detroit,MI
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 12:40 am Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
| Rolsen wrote: | | I've had a couple beers so I'll admit this: I've always thought the production of Loveless was kinda sucky, thin and lifeless. I'm into the MBV thing and all things shoegaze, but comparing Loveless to, say, Swervedriver's Mescal Head or Catherine Wheel's Chrome, Loveless sounds like frayed paper, to me anyway. Hopefully the remasters add some beef. |
Agree!
Loveless is one of my favorite albums but it is lacking in low frequencies and transients in the lows and transients in general. It is hard to listen to it loud on studio monitors and my AKG K240's which are pretty flat headphones and not hyped in the highs.
-Collin
_________________
https://www.facebook.com/CollinDupuisMakingRecords
https://soundcloud.com/collindupuis
http://collindupuis.tumblr.com
dupuispro@gmail.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Osumosan
takin' a dinner break
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 157
Location: New York
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:10 am Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
| Damn. This album never bothered me until now! So I tried a remaster of "Only Shallow." Hey the transients are in there somewhere. Y'all should try it if you're not happy with the album as is. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fossiltooth
carpal tunnel
Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 1697
Location: Brooklyn, NY
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:34 am Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
| Rolsen wrote: | | I've had a couple beers so I'll admit this: I've always thought the production of Loveless was kinda sucky |
Thinking that Loveless is a totally weird, f*d up and frayed-sounding record is not a shocking or novel position, and requires no beers to say in mixed company. I mean, it's clearly a mess from a traditional production standpoint. Some people like that about it though.
Loveless is an acquired taste, like liver and onions, or gorgonzola cheese, or more accurately, some type of food that requires massive quantities of pot to learn to enjoy. (Party mix made from Doritos and Skittles; Cold pizza with maple syrup, something like that.)
In any event, it's a seminal record and it deserves our respect, if not our sonic emulation. Definitely not that. It's a record that without fail, makes stereos sound broken.
I'd be curious to hear what the remaster sounds like.
_________________
Justin Colletti
Audio Engineer, Journalist
Read "Trust Me, I'm A Scientist". It's good.
Also: sign up to win free audio gear @ SonicScoop |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MoreSpaceEcho
on a wing and a prayer
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 5780
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:18 am Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
ms. morespace gave me the remaster for my birthday yesterday, only had a chance for a quick listen, but on first inspection i gotta say the 1/2" analog master sounds AMAZING. pick your adjective: warmer, fuller, rounder, deeper.
the severely pushed high mids on the original seem completely absent, which means you can listen to it loud without wanting to die. it really is so much nicer and more engaging to listen to. i was surprised at how different it is.
and amazingly enough it's not limited AT ALL. peaks look entirely untouched. if i could make every record as loud as this one life would be incredible.
_________________
www.oldcolonymastering.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fossiltooth
carpal tunnel
Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 1697
Location: Brooklyn, NY
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MoreSpaceEcho
on a wing and a prayer
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 5780
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: MBV Loveless Remasters |
|
|
you know, it actually sounds a lot more...normal. you get more of a sense of instruments being played in rooms. really!
what's really interesting to me is the difference between the two masters changes from track to track. some are more different than others. which seems weird...
_________________
www.oldcolonymastering.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
