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Topic ClosedThe Beatles Remasters: Mono or Stereo
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Poll Question: Which mixes do you prefer on the 10 albums mixed in mono AND stereo?
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
13 [29.55%]
31 [70.45%]
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jammun View Drop Down
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Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 18 2009 at 21:42
Originally posted by earlyprog earlyprog wrote:

I usually don't pay attention to how many viewers a topic generates, but this appears to be one of the most viewed in PA's history Clap
 
I for one constantly return to read the responses. I will definitely get the stereo box but am also considering investing in the mono box.
 
I have listened to the entire stereo catalogue (or rather the 30 second samples) at the Beatles' website and most say that I was most thrilled by Magical Mystery Tour but to a much lesser extent by Rubber Soul and Revolver. I wonder if the mono box actually solves some of the panning issues.
There's no stereo panning on the mono versions. 
Can you tell me where we're headin'?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
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Points: 311 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 22 2009 at 07:01

This box set is ridiculously priced. Not for me.
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Points: 20030 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 22 2009 at 07:08
Originally posted by jammun jammun wrote:

Originally posted by earlyprog earlyprog wrote:

I usually don't pay attention to how many viewers a topic generates, but this appears to be one of the most viewed in PA's history Clap
 
I for one constantly return to read the responses. I will definitely get the stereo box but am also considering investing in the mono box.
 
I have listened to the entire stereo catalogue (or rather the 30 second samples) at the Beatles' website and most say that I was most thrilled by Magical Mystery Tour but to a much lesser extent by Rubber Soul and Revolver. I wonder if the mono box actually solves some of the panning issues.
There's no stereo panning on the mono versions. 
That's because they're mono.
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JLocke View Drop Down
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Points: 4900 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 22 2009 at 14:31
Originally posted by ZowieZiggy ZowieZiggy wrote:

This box set is ridiculously priced. Not for me.



Right. You can't buy it used, or anything. Wink

Look, the mono just sounds better when it comes to Beatles music. I have changed my vote on here after listening to Sgt. Pepper for the first time in mono. I couldn't believe how much more was there! So, I began this thread on the side of the stereo set vote, but after experiencing mono firsthand, I have changed my mind completely.

Trust me, the higher price tag is 110% worth it.
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jammun View Drop Down
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Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 22 2009 at 22:39
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

Originally posted by jammun jammun wrote:

Originally posted by earlyprog earlyprog wrote:

I usually don't pay attention to how many viewers a topic generates, but this appears to be one of the most viewed in PA's history Clap
 
I for one constantly return to read the responses. I will definitely get the stereo box but am also considering investing in the mono box.
 
I have listened to the entire stereo catalogue (or rather the 30 second samples) at the Beatles' website and most say that I was most thrilled by Magical Mystery Tour but to a much lesser extent by Rubber Soul and Revolver. I wonder if the mono box actually solves some of the panning issues.
There's no stereo panning on the mono versions. 
That's because they're mono.
That's what I meant: the mono box does solve the stereo panning issues, obviously.
Can you tell me where we're headin'?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
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Points: 1695 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 23 2009 at 17:22
Well, I'm now listening to the White Album mono which I've never heard, so far not too much noticable differences between the 2 mixes. Don't Pass Me By sounds a bit faster. There's a different coda ending with the fiddle though.
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Points: 1695 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 23 2009 at 17:40
With a mono version of Rubber Soul available now, I would be interested in hearing that since the stereo mix sounds like crap. Also would like to hear the original 1965 stereo mix of it that's supposed to be different from the current mix. Anybody listened to either of them?
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Points: 1695 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 23 2009 at 17:52
I just listened to Helter Skelter mono and it has some squeekes and bleeps in it plus it doesn't fade-out and then come back. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this mix included in the Beatles Rarites LP? Ages sinces I heard that album.
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jammun View Drop Down
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Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 23 2009 at 19:57
Originally posted by marktheshark marktheshark wrote:

I just listened to Helter Skelter mono and it has some squeekes and bleeps in it plus it doesn't fade-out and then come back. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this mix included in the Beatles Rarites LP? Ages sinces I heard that album.
Yes, there's a mono version on Rarities.  I assume it's the same as what's on the new mono disc, which I've not heard and apparently cannot buy. 
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Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
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mystic fred View Drop Down
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Points: 4252 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 24 2009 at 11:47
this is what George Paul and Ringo had to say about mono - stereo..
 
 
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Matthew T View Drop Down
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Points: 5291 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 24 2009 at 15:26
Originally posted by mystic fred mystic fred wrote:

this is what George Paul and Ringo had to say about mono - stereo..
 
 
Great Interview,love the bit as well on who played bass on Golden Slumbers?
Matt

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Points: 25210 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 24 2009 at 16:23
Originally posted by p0mt3 p0mt3 wrote:

Originally posted by Padraic Padraic wrote:

Originally posted by mystic fred mystic fred wrote:

Originally posted by Padraic Padraic wrote:

Originally posted by Negoba Negoba wrote:

I heard some limiting was done, which makes me nervous....
 


I think I read somewhere (please don't quote me Embarrassed), that at least on the mono version, absolutely no limiting was done.  May also be true for the stereo version, but I don't know for sure.
 
 
putting  24bit remasters on 16bit CD's must  involve some limiting
 


It doesn't.


Well, it doesn't NEED limiting, but I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that they did use some limiting on the stereo releases to created the illusion of 'fullness' to compensate for the lower bit rate.

I could be crazy, though. Who knows.


Well I wouldn't be surprised if limiting was used to make it more palatable to today's audience anyway.
Technically, you wouldn't even have to do any mastering on a release if felt you preferred it that way.
The Iron Maiden album "A Matter of Life and Death" is completely unmastered, just for an example. Not a wise idea to leave it unmastered IMHO, but ah well, not me calling the shots.
The limiting aspect of mastering is quite useful in heavy metal and generally anything with high gain guitars (so even some instances of pop rock).
Contrary to popular belief this isn't done purely so it keeps in with the loudness wars, but because it pushes the mix engineers to get everything done as good as possible since the more limiting you use the harder it is to pull off a great mix.
Limiting (when applied correctly) also hopes reduce harsh transients from overheads and kick drums too, which is important in metal and stuff that is all about super clarity.
Of course in metal generally it isn't the most dynamic kind of music so it's not so much of a bad thing to limit it in the mastering phase pretty hard.
The Beatles on the other hand is probably not something which would be benefit from having the sh*t limited out of it, and even though I haven't heard the remastered I imagine they haven't been smashed.

Does limiting add fullness? I really don't think it does and if it does it's minimal at best.
Getting the fullness is all about getting it from where it really matters, the tracking and mixing phase (production), not mastering (post production).
Occasionally I will have obtained leaked albums and sometimes they are in fact totally unmastered.
I'll end up comparing them to the legit mastered copy later on and what I find is turning the volume up on the unmastered copy to match that of the mastered copy doesn't seem to yield a massive difference. The unmastered copy can still sound pretty punchy if the tracking and mixing phase were done right.
There might be a bit of mastering phase EQ, stereo image widening etc, but otherwise I don't find a great difference between the unmastered and mastered copies as I said.
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jammun View Drop Down
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Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 24 2009 at 20:18
Given that I spent the $ for the stereo box (which no regrets), this may seem to be making lemonade out of lemons, but...
 
On those crappy stereo mixes, if you have a nice speaker set up (no headphones), and if you position your physical self (ears will follow) either hard right or hard left to the speakers, you'll get a reasonbly decent  listening experience.
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Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
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Points: 3577 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 03 2009 at 23:18
I have heard the White Album

ufff powerful remaster in stereo sounds great to me.

BTW in Helter Skelter did you hear a a sound of a baby toy in 1:32 1:33 and then Paul laugh

amazing


Edited by Alberto Muņoz - October 03 2009 at 23:18




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Points: 4252 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 08 2009 at 13:02
i have been doing a few comparison tests with Beatles LP's vs. CD remasters and place the results as ...(stars out of five  only  my humble findings on my own system...)....SO FAR...
 
Equipment used - Roksan Xerxes turntable with upgraded Rega RB250 / Goldring 1012 GX, Marantz CD-67 Mk II, Cambridge Audio azur 540R amp, Castle Howard S2 speakers.
 
Sgt. Pepper MONO LP StarStarStar  - full natural sound, wide soundstage for mono, good bass and treble  detail, prefer the stereo version which opens things up though a little too much in places.
 
Sgt. Pepper STEREO DMM  audiophile  LP StarStarStarStar1/2  excellent soundstage and imaging,  sparkling quality, good bass and stunning treble detail, separation a bit over-exaggerated but deep, spacious "breathey" sound, very natural especially Paul's vocals, very involving performance.
 
Sgt. Pepper STEREO CD REMASTER StarStarStar1/2  - very "thick" sounding though not muddy, some exaggerated effects such as "billy shears" applause really jumps out at you, good detail though lumpy bass, somewhat harsh overall.
 
MMT STEREO LP StarStarStar1/2 - ever so slightly harsh though natural and balanced sound, good bass and excellent treble detail.
 
MMT CD REMASTER StarStar1/2 - rather harsh sounding, slightly gritty, Paul's voice on "Fool on the Hill" has clipping.
 
Abbey Road STEREO LP StarStarStarStarStar - excellent spacious stable sound and treble detail, solid bass, great imaging and depth.
 
Abbey Road STEREO CD REMASTER StarStarStarStar1/2 - quite possibly the best CD i have ever heard, slightly "thicker" than the LP but still very stable involving polished sound.
 
White Album STEREO LP StarStarStarStar - very natural and spacious sound, excellent bass though treble detail a little lacking on some tracks.
 
White Album STEREO CD REMASTER StarStarStarStar - very good quality for CD, very stable and spacious sound, not too thick, plenty of detail  - as good as the vinyl..?  very little in it, maybe lacking sparkle in places.
 
 
AMP SETTINGS - on the vinyl i had to reduce the treble and add a little bass, on the CD had to reduce the bass and add a little treble, the usual adjustments on most recordings.
 
 


Edited by mystic fred - October 10 2009 at 03:32
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jammun View Drop Down
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Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2009 at 23:42

^^that's interesting and then some.

My (stereo) MSFL copy of the White Album is far superior to the new CD version.  Is it just the vinyl (my system is adequate but far from high-end)?  Is it just not possible to get that sound from CD?  Just wonderin'...
Can you tell me where we're headin'?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
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Points: 16 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2009 at 21:49
Stereo, of course!
"And in the end,
the love you take
is equal to the love you make."
(Paul McCartney - Beatles)

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Points: 22989 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2010 at 06:35
JLocke's review here: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=269037

Probably the best product review I've ever read on PA (where reviews usually focus on the music).

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Points: 4900 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2010 at 10:15
Originally posted by harmonium.ro harmonium.ro wrote:

JLocke's review here: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=269037

Probably the best product review I've ever read on PA (where reviews usually focus on the music).

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Wow.  ShockedThank you, man. Embarrassed

Glad you liked it. Big smile I tried to be thorough. 
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^ I thank you. I now know how to irresponsibly spend 200 euros when I have them LOL
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