HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Can someone tell me why this latest remix record of The Wall they are selling on ebay is SHITE compared to the original.

It's not shite (if you mean the Bernie Grundman master from 2016) and I would place it close to the original. The previous version mastered in 2011 sounded limp.

I have the original which is getting noisy and I have just bought the 2016 version. I prefer the original and the noise. I don't think I ever heard the 2011 version.

The 2016 version has altered the balance, the vocals are severely recessed, it is all bonk bonk thump thump and helicopter noise. The vocals were always a bit recessed, but now it is worse. Was the guy who remixed it a bass player or a drummer, as that might explain it.

We talking vinyl here? Depends on the mastering engineer and his monitors. My original pressings of The Wall were cut by The Mastering lab (TML on all sides) and I still maintain Doug Sax had the best handle on PF recordings. Our shop demo discs had two sides cut elsewhere and these didn't sound as good when I compared them. I still rate Doug's digital masters from the early 90's too.

Surely today, it's best to buy the CD's as modern vinyl will come from heavily doctored masters bodged from the main now digital ones (there are places now, which specialise in making 'vinyl-ready' copies of the original recordings for easy record cutting, adding all the limiting, filtering and eq needed so yer needle don't jump). Vinyl pressing facilities may be using worn out tooling too although I'm not sure about that today.

You won't get a better master than the original. Lucky for you there a plenty of 2nd hand copies for reasonable money

Dr Bunsen Honeydew wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 1:38 pm I have the original which is getting noisy and I have just bought the 2016 version. I prefer the original and the noise. I don't think I ever heard the 2011 version.

The 2016 version has altered the balance, the vocals are severely recessed, it is all bonk bonk thump thump and helicopter noise. The vocals were always a bit recessed, but now it is worse. Was the guy who remixed it a bass player or a drummer, as that might explain it.

Differences can depend on system used but I won't deny the original UK can't be beaten. The new PF are remastered and transferred to hi-res digital by James Guthrie. Vinyl cutting was then done at Bernie Grundman mastering. I still think this is a good version and at least it's on quieter vinyl. I don't think balance is drastically altered. Some of the new PF pressings I found better than my early or original copies others not as good, the later including DSOTM which was remastered better in 2003 by Doug Sax (all analogue). Problem is digital is not quite the same but on some well done reissues can be close. Problem is with The Wall getting a clean original isn't cheap since the slurpers jumped on the vinyl bandwagon.

Digital *done right* should be identical to the master original - I've been shown that this is so, so I stand by that statement. When it goes wrong is when the pure digital master is 'sonically manipulated' in an attempt to sound more like the analogue record - bloating and mono-ing the bass up a bit, compressing a little and softening or 'de-essing' the highs.. Tiny bass-less monitors can also make mastering judgements in the bass not so hot unless the operator knows them inside out on good trusted mixes. Pink Floyd's output is one of the highly important ones and it's to be hoped that Guthrie hasn't effed it up. Once upon a time, I felt I could hear differences in the various DSOTM issues, but not sure I can now. Probably my ears as the CD player's the same one I had in 1994, but maybe I'm not listening to the 'sound' as much any more?

I believe that the 2003 vinyl was mastered by Kevin Gray at AcousTech Mastering

Dsjr as shown digital done right is identical to the mastertape. No need to listen then

Daniel Quinn wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:23 pm Dsjr as shown digital done right is identical to the mastertape. No need to listen then

I don't understand as that comment you made has no meaning for this thread that I can see and the comment I made was mainly about modern vinyl 'recuts.' I share my experiences and am trying to be as humble as I can. If you want to start taking the piss out of me all over again, it tells me you're recovering your faculties really well, which is a genuinely wonderful achievement for you (and it's not intended as back-handed ad hominem either). It also means I can't contribute here again without looking over my shoulder as I had to on AOS before I withdrew!

Sorry I spoke chaps. I'll learn not to at some point