Kind of Blue Hiss-less recording

[uncletank88]

I am a huge fan of Miles Davis and John Coltrane collaboration recordings and Kind of Blue is my favorite album from this legendary collaboration. I own multiple recordings of this album from vinyl to CD re-masters. But every recording has a huge amount of hiss and since I've ventured into the headfi community the hiss has become more apparent and bothersome. Is there any recording of this album that doesn't have the amount of hiss present in the recordings i already own? Or is there a method of reducing the hiss without comprising the quality of the recording?

Thanks in advanced

 

[Sanddancer]

The magic, I believe, is in the tape hiss.

No useful advice, sorry

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncletank88 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am a huge fan of Miles Davis and John Coltrane collaboration recordings and Kind of Blue is my favorite album from this legendary collaboration. I own multiple recordings of this album from vinyl to CD re-masters. But every recording has a huge amount of hiss and since I've ventured into the headfi community the hiss has become more apparent and bothersome. Is there any recording of this album that doesn't have the amount of hiss present in the recordings i already own? Or is there a method of reducing the hiss without comprising the quality of the recording? Thanks in advanced

Unfortunately, there is no way at all whatsoever to reduce the hiss from Kind of Blue without seriously muddying the sound. The only release of that album which can be considered "hiss-reduced" would be the notorious Columbia Jazz Masterpieces CD of 1987, which (as we all know) sounds craptastic.

 

[LFF]

KOB is just one of those legendary recordings lots of us are trying to find a perfect copy of. There are tons of problems with all the KOB's out there. Some have the wrong speed, some are hiss intensive and some are hissless. Tape hiss is our friend. Too little or none - and you know there is something wrong. Too much, and you know something is wrong. There should always be a small amount of tape hiss on old recordings.

As far the best version - that's hard to say. My favorite version is a custom remaster I own. It fixes a lot of problems on the retail releases of KOB. However, for best retail version - my vote goes to the original SACD of KOB. It still has some problems, but nothing a good ear can't fix.

 

[uncletank88]

LFF, custom remaster you say? Can your elaborate more? KOB is probably my favorite album by a long shot and i would love to hear more about this remaster of yours.

 

[LFF]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncletank88 /img/forum/go_quote.gif LFF, custom remaster you say? Can your elaborate more? KOB is probably my favorite album by a long shot and i would love to hear more about this remaster of yours.

YES - custom! There really isn't much to elaborate on. You just need good ears and a lot of patience. Like I said before - the original SACD release is rather good.

 

[markl]

Ugh. Using No-Noise to strip out tape hiss is a BAD THING. You can't just remove tape hiss, you are removing music as well. No-Noised recordings have a distinct sound, and it's flat, airless, and "processed".

 

[soundboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFF /img/forum/go_quote.gif Like I said before - the original SACD release is rather good.

Japan Sony is reissuing, and possibly doing a remaster, "Kind of Blue" on hybrid SACD this coming October.

 

[DavidMahler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncletank88 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am a huge fan of Miles Davis and John Coltrane collaboration recordings and Kind of Blue is my favorite album from this legendary collaboration. I own multiple recordings of this album from vinyl to CD re-masters. But every recording has a huge amount of hiss and since I've ventured into the headfi community the hiss has become more apparent and bothersome. Is there any recording of this album that doesn't have the amount of hiss present in the recordings i already own? Or is there a method of reducing the hiss without comprising the quality of the recording? Thanks in advanced

If you want to hear kind of blue with less tape hiss, use a rolled off high headphone like the Shure E500s......though I think it sounds horrible

 

[Bluetick]

All I had was the original Columbia 6eye vinyl (woe is me, eh?), and when I heard the thing for the first time at the "proper" speed, I somehow felt less connected to it. It's pshycologial, I'm sure. Tape hiss is kinda like that- I say leave it in there! It adds to the mystique. Think of it as a subway going overhead in the summer night of a steamy city. Or the crackle of a fire. It's just too cool to eliminate. There's a lot of material embedded in that hiss, too. The little breath Miles takes in just before he puts his lips to the mouthpiece- gone with the hiss.

 

[bigshot]

I have some software and techniques that could probably help it a lot without compromising the sound, but the copy of that CD that I have is the "craptastic" late 80s one. If someone in the LA area has a better copy I could borrow I'll do a little work on it.

See ya
Steve

 

[markl]

Quote:

I have some software and techniques that could probably help it a lot without compromising the sound, but the copy of that CD that I have is the "craptastic" late 80s one. If someone in the LA area has a better copy I could borrow I'll do a little work on it.

Wow, this tells us a lot about where you're coming from. You obviously aren't concerned with pure un-adulterated sound.

You really believe you can provide a "better" sounding KOB by using your software to strip out tape hiss? If you belive that sincerely, it confirms for many of us what we've already suspected-- you just don't have good ears, or have no concept of what good, honest sound is. You must know some things that pros like Steve Hoffman don't who deplore No-Noise. Please enlighten us on how you can "improve" old recodings with your software.

 

[sno1man]

the versions of the music that are on "The Complete Columbia Recordings Miles Davis and John Coltrane" i think are a huge improvement over the 87 release and it is to my ears pretty good (yes there is hiss). Of coures it's pretty pricey just to get that small part of it.

But........
There is so much good music on that boxset I reccomend it just for the content

 

[bigshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by markl /img/forum/go_quote.gif You really believe you can provide a "better" sounding KOB by using your software to strip out tape hiss?

Sound restoration is my side business, in case you didn't know. I've gotten some very good reviews for my work.

See ya
Steve