[Zoomie]

OK, I've been lurking for a while, but I figured it time to start talking. So here is the first . . .

I am a huge connoisseur of Pink Floyd and recently invested in "The Wall Live" double CD set. Now the arrangement of the music itself is, I feel, superior to the original studio cut, however, I am sad to report that I think the recording of the live set is crap.

I have tried the CDs on a variety of sources and with two different sets of phones (HD590, HD600). There is an unmistakable buzz that asserts itself several times throughout the recording. I have isolated the problem to periods of exposed vocals. One of the worst instances is when Gilmore comes in with the vocals on "Mother".

I have been using a portable CD with a Headsave Ultra (but I get the buzzing with or without the amp) and HD590/600 phones. However, like I said before, even when I change the source to a PC or a different CD player - same deal.

None of my other disks have ever done this. Has anyone else experienced this with this recording? Most of all, can anything be done to help it?

Thanks.

 

[Kali]

Yeah its there alright.. most noticeable for me during the whole of Nobody Home, everytime Waters mic comes on theres a lot of hiss and a noticeable buzz, which diappears when switching off (during the solo parts of the song)... its nothing to do with the recording of the set I feel, more the actual live mixing.. remember The Wall Live was a huge huge production job, they had a large number of mixing channels for all the additional sound effects and audio sequences, plus allegedly the master tapes hadn't been kept in the best of condition.

 

[Zoomie]

Thank you for confirming the noise. I do feel better knowing that my equipment is not to blame, but I suppose that means there is not much that can be done to improve the situation. It's too bad because I like the arrangement a lot.

 

[fyrfytrhoges]

no doubt about it, there is a noticeable amount of hiss in both cases mentioned as well as some others as well. also worth mentioning is that this live album was put together from pieces of different shows supposedly using the best versions possible. I don't know who's opinion was used in this process but I would imagine given the age of the recordings that they really are the best sounding bits available. overall I would still rather listen to this compilation then any of the bootlegs I have of live wall shows. I guess there's only so much editing you can do to old tapes.

 

[spaceman]

Excuse the thread crap, but do any of you notice any hiss on Wish You Were Here? I do not have the remastered version, so maybe this is the problem. I know its not my rig. I just wish they would put their whole catalog on SACD.

 

[Kali]

On any specific track? I've never noticed any on my setup bar at the start of WYWH but thats intentional.

 

[Zoomie]

I haven't detected anything serious on WYWH and I don't have the remastered copy either. It may just be my less-than-favorable source actually doing me the favor of filtering it out.

I would, however, be quite interested to hear from someone who compared their old versions of Animals, WYWH, The Wall etc. with the newer remastered versions. I think they were all re-released in 2000. I am struggling with the thought of replacing the recordings that have been re-released or wait for the other formats (SACD, DVD-A) to catch up. Could be a big wait though.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Quote:

Originally posted by spaceman Excuse the thread crap, but do any of you notice any hiss on Wish You Were Here? I do not have the remastered version, so maybe this is the problem. I know its not my rig. I just wish they would put their whole catalog on SACD.

Yup. If you turn up the beginning to max volume, and fade it down as the music fades in, you can hear it quite audibly. And it's on the original source recording, it's not dither noise.

 

[spaceman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dusty Chalk Yup. If you turn up the beginning to max volume, and fade it down as the music fades in, you can hear it quite audibly. And it's on the original source recording, it's not dither noise.

Great. Thanks for comfirming that for me. I want SACD!

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Quote:

Originally posted by spaceman Great. Thanks for comfirming that for me. I want SACD!

I still want it on SACD (or unwatermarked DVD-A), too, but that won't help the hiss.

 

[spaceman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dusty Chalk I still want it on SACD (or unwatermarked DVD-A), too, but that won't help the hiss.

Isn't there anyway to remove that during the engineering process?

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Quote:

Originally posted by spaceman Isn't there anyway to remove that during the engineering process?

Not in any way with which a purist would be happy. Most remasterings that include a "denoise" step are hated.

 

[spaceman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dusty Chalk Not in any way with which a purist would be happy. Most remasterings that include a "denoise" step are hated.

I can live with it, but I really enjoy the total silence on a track just before the music starts. Oh well, I'm not about to give up my WUWH disk for such a minor detail. Thanks for educating me Dusty.