Old music recording remaster process ?
Oct 24, 2012 at 2:56 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 31

JohnSantana

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Hi,
 
I'm confused and also amazed to how do Sound engineering people actually re-master old music back in the 70 and re-release the high bit rate music in the form of SACD, DVD-Audio or even HDCD ?
 
I used to listen to old rock metal songs in cassette tape, and now in Amazon they sell the SACD version of the same title, one of the example is Pink Floyd Dark Side of the moon: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Side-Moon-30th-Anniversary/dp/B00008CLOA/ref=sr_1_2 and this one Yngwie Malmsteen - Genesis http://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Yngwie-Malmsteen/dp/B00007AJQX/ref=sr_1_cc_1
 
I believe back then when I was a little boy the music was played and distributed in cassette format, and now those CD claims that sounds better than the cassette, I wonder what could be the source of the recording for the remastering and what they do in the "remastering" process ?
 
Oct 24, 2012 at 3:15 AM Post #2 of 31
I'm just guessing that the medium used to record albums was better than the one used to sell it (Its the same today).
 
Probably magnetic tapes. I guess the CDs of today can fit in a lot more data than a cassette.
 
Oct 24, 2012 at 4:20 AM Post #3 of 31
Many studios preserve the original multi-track tapes (1-2 inch magnetic media) that are used to prepare the original masters. When re-mastering, they typically go back to those original recordings and digitally capture them - then re-master the recording using that original, unadulterated source material and newer digital mastering methods.
 
If not those are not available, they'll use the best copies of the available master mixes they can (again, usually 1-2" magnetic tape), digitally capture it, and work from that data to make new masters (often just finding those master tapes that are less worn from being used in multiple vinyl pressings, lets them recover a lot of detail). 
 
Oct 24, 2012 at 4:48 AM Post #4 of 31
So in this case the source is still a magnetic tape ?
I see, thanks for the explanation.
 
Oct 24, 2012 at 8:07 AM Post #5 of 31
Yes, typically. But bear in mind those 2" tapes hold a LOT of information.
 
Oct 25, 2012 at 12:56 AM Post #7 of 31
A CD is able to contain all of the audible sound on a 24 track mixdown. I personally prefer CDs for legacy titles. There might theoretically be an advantage with DSD recordings, but I doubt you can hear it at normal volume levels.

A 2 inch tape contains 24 tracks, so the surface area of each track is about the same as 1/4 inch reel to reel which holds four tracks on a 1/4 inch tape. The difference is that a 2 inch master travels at 15 or 30 ips. Consumer reel to reels go 3 3/4 or 7 1/2 ips.
 
Oct 25, 2012 at 2:49 AM Post #8 of 31
Cool, thanks man !
 
Oct 25, 2012 at 8:09 AM Post #9 of 31
Oct 30, 2012 at 1:25 AM Post #10 of 31
Quote:
This is the Multi Channel SACD-DSD CD that I'm going to buy http://www.amazon.com/Giuliani-Concerto-Rodrigo-Madrigal-Giralda/dp/B000218YQO/ref=sr_1_8 hopefully my Westone W4 can clearly create the atmosphere like in the concert hall described by the buyer :)
 


Multi-channel (usually 5.1 or 4.0) doesn't do you any good if you are listening on headphones. It has to get converted to 2 channel at some point.
 
I have a SACD of E Power Biggs playing Bach's The Four Great Toccatas and Fugues on 4 organs (http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Four-Great-Toccatas-Fugues/dp/B00008PX99/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) that is considered one of the best multi-channel releases ever. It really doesn't do much for me when played back on headphones. It's just like the SACD you listed and was originally recorded in quadrophonic sound.
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 7:15 AM Post #11 of 31
Quote:
 
Multi-channel (usually 5.1 or 4.0) doesn't do you any good if you are listening on headphones. It has to get converted to 2 channel at some point.

 
It is possible to simulate multi-channel for headphone listening, by convolving each channel with the HRTF of the corresponding speaker location, Dolby Headphone does this, for example. Of course, not everyone will prefer this to listening to a simple stereo mix.
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 2:14 PM Post #12 of 31
Quote:
 
It is possible to simulate multi-channel for headphone listening, by convolving each channel with the HRTF of the corresponding speaker location, Dolby Headphone does this, for example. Of course, not everyone will prefer this to listening to a simple stereo mix.

 
Wouldn't this require computer playback or a special receiver? So unless you have the SACDs ripped with a PS3 or a DSD receiver with Dolby headphone, I don't see how this would work.
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 2:38 PM Post #13 of 31
Do multichannel simulators take multichannel input, or do they only create their own ambiences?
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 4:09 PM Post #14 of 31
Quote:
 
Wouldn't this require computer playback or a special receiver? So unless you have the SACDs ripped with a PS3 or a DSD receiver with Dolby headphone, I don't see how this would work.

 
Pretty much.  Or if you can get a line output for each channel, of course it is possible to process it with the right transformations to get the desired effect (either doing the HRTFs in hardware, or more likely, doing another A/D -> processing in digital -> D/A).
 
 
Do multichannel simulators take multichannel input, or do they only create their own ambiences?


 
Dolby Headphone can take 5.1 input.
 
There are plenty of surround sound downmix options for headphone (and even stereo speakers) playback, so you can at least use the information in the extra channels in some way when playing back a surround sound source like a movie.  It's been a while, but I tried the ffdshow audio filters stereo -> headphones, and that sounded not so good compared to just playing back the original stereo on headphones, but with a surround sound source the 5.1 -> headphones sounded okay and to me was better than just taking the stereo channels.
 
Conceptually, you're just looking at mapping X inputs (one for each channel source, corresponding to each speaker and its location for a surround sound setup) to Y outputs (one for each speaker or headphone transducer).  There is a transfer function for each input to each output.  At each output, sum the corresponding parts from each input and play that back.  You can use whatever transfer function you want, whatever number of inputs and outputs:  2 inputs to 2 outputs type of crossfeed for converting normal stereo speakers positioning for headphone playback, 5.1 inputs to left/center/right speakers, and so on.  It's just that the "correct" transfer function depends on the input's intended speaker positions and your output speaker/headphone positions (and also your head/ear/torso/etc. shape).
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 9:16 PM Post #15 of 31
Quote:
Multi-channel (usually 5.1 or 4.0) doesn't do you any good if you are listening on headphones. It has to get converted to 2 channel at some point.
 
I have a SACD of E Power Biggs playing Bach's The Four Great Toccatas and Fugues on 4 organs (http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Four-Great-Toccatas-Fugues/dp/B00008PX99/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) that is considered one of the best multi-channel releases ever. It really doesn't do much for me when played back on headphones. It's just like the SACD you listed and was originally recorded in quadrophonic sound.

Wow.... $299 for a [Super Audio CD - DSD] ?
 
I guess you are right, even if my IEM has got 4 Balance Armature, the sound could be different when listening with DTS 5.1 sound system.
 

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