Richard
1.What types and band/artists and music styles do you like?
2. What hi-fi equipment do you have and use to listen to at home?
3. How long should a CD last? (as some Bruce Springsteen CD'S apparently have been rotting or have quality issues that were pressed in the 80's and are no longer playable).
4. Do you listen too and have in your collection high resolution formats like SA-CD or high resolution downloads?
5. Is there any of your favourite artist/band that you would like to re-master their work?
6. How much of Matt's work have you re-mastered at 24bit and what does compare like to the CD release?
7. In General what do you think of CD pressings during the 80's. Do you think the sound quality was of a high standard as many seem to be re-mastered nowadays or were many just issued quickly as Music labels looked to cash in on the new format?
8. Would you say that in general Japanese pressing of Lp's CD's and Laserdiscs tend be well manufactured compared to other foreign counterparts?
A few music questions for Richard
A few music questions for Richard
Last edited by cyp21 on Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: A few music questions for Richard
Like the questions. Looking forward to Richard's reply! 
Re: A few music questions for Richard
When Richard has a spare three or four hours to spare 
"My Tears Will Fall Now That You're Gone,
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On"
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On"
Re: A few music questions for Richard
Richards gonna love me I've just added another 2 questions. Maybe I should of called it "quite a few music questions for Richard" haha. Im looking forward to Richards response too I think it will be interesting.
Re: A few music questions for Richard
Hey Cyp 21, how's it going? Love the questions and will be interesting to see Richard's response.
Re: A few music questions for Richard
It wasn't just Springsteen's cd's that rotted, I had several that looked like someone had etched a sketch on .
them, there was a company PDF or something you returned them to and they sent replacements.
THe dodgy discs all seemed to be form the Universal company (i.e. Polydor etc) But an Alma Cogan EMI set also went strange.
However that problem seems to have been overcome.
them, there was a company PDF or something you returned them to and they sent replacements.
THe dodgy discs all seemed to be form the Universal company (i.e. Polydor etc) But an Alma Cogan EMI set also went strange.
However that problem seems to have been overcome.
Re: A few music questions for Richard
Im fine thanks! How's things with u?Eman wrote:Hey Cyp 21, how's it going? Love the questions and will be interesting to see Richard's response.
Looking forward to Xmas day and more so xmas meal.
Re: A few music questions for Richard
Sorry guys up to my neck with Christmas things. Will get this answered soon!
Re: A few music questions for Richard
No problem Richard. Thanks for letting us know.
We wait with anticipation.
We wait with anticipation.
Re: A few music questions for Richard
Sorry for the delay -
OK
1.What types and band/artists and music styles do you like?
Too many to list, it's easier to say what I don't like - Heavy metal, punk, Rap etc. But if pushed my favourite era is the 60's and I'm a Beatles nut.
2. What hi-fi equipment do you have and use to listen to at home?
My Hifi and transfer equipment are all based in my studio and includes vintage (1980's) Technics Amplifiers & turntable, Nakamichi Cassette player, Teac X10 & Studer A80 reel to reel machines and Mackie desk amongst other things, with some 1980's Castle speakers. I don't hold with the idea that you need to spend ridiculous amounts of more on hi fi equipment. My old Technics turntable that i've had since I was about 15 has been used to transfer a large number of discs which have been mistaken as coming from master tapes so I see no reason to buy a £1000 turntable!
3. How long should a CD last? (as some Bruce Springsteen CD'S apparently have been rotting or have quality issues that were pressed in the 80's and are no longer playable).
All PRESSED CD's should last a very long time. The rotting CD problem is down to a silver formulation used in some discs particularly in the late 80's which used to tarnish if any air got through the plastic coating. A company called PDO made discs that particularly had this problem. I haven't heard of any discs since then with any problems. CD-R discs however are less stable, some will last for a great many years, others will last only a few especially if not stored properly
4. Do you listen too and have in your collection high resolution formats like SA-CD or high resolution downloads?
No I don't! I don't have time to just sit an listen to music and there is very little point in listening to Hi-rez when you're out and about in the car or on my ipod. However the majority of my work is done at hi rez sample rates.
5. Is there any of your favourite artist/band that you would like to re-master their work?
Yes, I'd love to re-master the complete Ella Fitzgerald Catalogue, Nat Cole, Sinatra. I also love mixing material into stereo for the first time. There are a great many artists who's catalogues are in need of a spruce up and i'd be happy to work on anything required, given half a chance!
6. How much of Matt's work have you re-mastered at 24bit and what does compare like to the CD release?
Everything I've done since the Singles Collection onwards from an EMI or Capitol mastertape is mastered in 24bit and often 24bit 96K. I really think that most people won't hear an enormous amount of difference between the hi rez and versions of the masters due to my mastering techniques unless they are listening on a VERY good system. I've had comments from as far as Japan saying that they never thought a CD was capable of the sound quality i've achieved, so it's good to know I'm getting something right!
7. In General what do you think of CD pressings during the 80's. Do you think the sound quality was of a high standard as many seem to be re-mastered nowadays or were many just issued quickly as Music labels looked to cash in on the new format?
It depends. There are some great engineers out there who, as long as they aren't forced into over compression and limiting can do a far better job now. But of course there are some awful ones out there too. Some early CD's sound great because they are not messed with, just straight copies of the masters, but many old discs contain versions from 2nd or later generation tape, in some cases even from cassette tape or vinyl so it varies from disc to disc. In my opinion a clean transfer from the original master with no noise reduction and no pointless limiting is how it should be done.
8. Would you say that in general Japanese pressing of Lp's CD's and Laserdiscs tend be well manufactured compared to other foreign counterparts?
I doubt where they are made has much to do with it. I don't have much in the way of Japanese product to compare, but it's digital - ones and noughts - so they sound quality wouldn't be any better unless it was made from a better master. Apart from the PDO problem (all of which were replaced for free by the manufacturer) i've never had a badly made disc from the UK or anywhere else for that matter.
Feel free to ask anything else! - and a Merry Xmas to you all.
OK
1.What types and band/artists and music styles do you like?
Too many to list, it's easier to say what I don't like - Heavy metal, punk, Rap etc. But if pushed my favourite era is the 60's and I'm a Beatles nut.
2. What hi-fi equipment do you have and use to listen to at home?
My Hifi and transfer equipment are all based in my studio and includes vintage (1980's) Technics Amplifiers & turntable, Nakamichi Cassette player, Teac X10 & Studer A80 reel to reel machines and Mackie desk amongst other things, with some 1980's Castle speakers. I don't hold with the idea that you need to spend ridiculous amounts of more on hi fi equipment. My old Technics turntable that i've had since I was about 15 has been used to transfer a large number of discs which have been mistaken as coming from master tapes so I see no reason to buy a £1000 turntable!
3. How long should a CD last? (as some Bruce Springsteen CD'S apparently have been rotting or have quality issues that were pressed in the 80's and are no longer playable).
All PRESSED CD's should last a very long time. The rotting CD problem is down to a silver formulation used in some discs particularly in the late 80's which used to tarnish if any air got through the plastic coating. A company called PDO made discs that particularly had this problem. I haven't heard of any discs since then with any problems. CD-R discs however are less stable, some will last for a great many years, others will last only a few especially if not stored properly
4. Do you listen too and have in your collection high resolution formats like SA-CD or high resolution downloads?
No I don't! I don't have time to just sit an listen to music and there is very little point in listening to Hi-rez when you're out and about in the car or on my ipod. However the majority of my work is done at hi rez sample rates.
5. Is there any of your favourite artist/band that you would like to re-master their work?
Yes, I'd love to re-master the complete Ella Fitzgerald Catalogue, Nat Cole, Sinatra. I also love mixing material into stereo for the first time. There are a great many artists who's catalogues are in need of a spruce up and i'd be happy to work on anything required, given half a chance!
6. How much of Matt's work have you re-mastered at 24bit and what does compare like to the CD release?
Everything I've done since the Singles Collection onwards from an EMI or Capitol mastertape is mastered in 24bit and often 24bit 96K. I really think that most people won't hear an enormous amount of difference between the hi rez and versions of the masters due to my mastering techniques unless they are listening on a VERY good system. I've had comments from as far as Japan saying that they never thought a CD was capable of the sound quality i've achieved, so it's good to know I'm getting something right!
7. In General what do you think of CD pressings during the 80's. Do you think the sound quality was of a high standard as many seem to be re-mastered nowadays or were many just issued quickly as Music labels looked to cash in on the new format?
It depends. There are some great engineers out there who, as long as they aren't forced into over compression and limiting can do a far better job now. But of course there are some awful ones out there too. Some early CD's sound great because they are not messed with, just straight copies of the masters, but many old discs contain versions from 2nd or later generation tape, in some cases even from cassette tape or vinyl so it varies from disc to disc. In my opinion a clean transfer from the original master with no noise reduction and no pointless limiting is how it should be done.
8. Would you say that in general Japanese pressing of Lp's CD's and Laserdiscs tend be well manufactured compared to other foreign counterparts?
I doubt where they are made has much to do with it. I don't have much in the way of Japanese product to compare, but it's digital - ones and noughts - so they sound quality wouldn't be any better unless it was made from a better master. Apart from the PDO problem (all of which were replaced for free by the manufacturer) i've never had a badly made disc from the UK or anywhere else for that matter.
Feel free to ask anything else! - and a Merry Xmas to you all.
Re: A few music questions for Richard
Many thanks for replying Richard. i really enjoyed reading your replies.
9. What Turntable is it a Technics 1200?
10. Japan seems to releasing a lot of SHM CD remastered albums and re-issues of 60's artists and motown have you any and what do think of them or heard about them?
11. What do you think of the SHM and BLU-SPEC CD formats, are they just marketing gimmics and strangely only made in Japan i think?
12 (A) With you being a big Beatle fan what do pressings do you own all original 60s vinyl LP's. Also do know if the new Capitol Albums box set due out next year is re-mastered by the same person who did the Capitol Albums Vol 1 & 2? (B) How does the 60's pressings compare to the recent remasters?
13. Why is it some albums suffer Loudness why do they do this? Surely the listner could just turn up the volume instead of an sound engineer destroying the orginal recording?
My 1200 doesnt have a arm at present i would like to upgrade to a Jelco arm but that would cost about £500 all in i will do it some time. The Technics 1200 was a great record deck well built and super strong. I currently have a Systemdeck IIX 900 A 40 euro recent purchase quite reasonable.
I think the Japanese seem to do a good job on pressing CD's LP's etc. UK pressings of Laserdiscs many had/have issues with the glue laser-rot I havent come across this with any Japanese pressings as yet.
As for remastering 80's albums i hated A-ha's Hunting High and Low album on CD pressed by Warners but the recent 2010 re-release remaster is great. The LP pressed in 1985 is fine. I think the first press CD suffered from tape hiss and sounded a little dull to me and boring.
I dont mind a little loudness on CD release but was annoyed that a Natalie Imbruglia album was very loud. I checked the file in a sound program and couldnt believe how much it was chopped totally cut.
I think that an album well remastered will encourage you to play songs that you hadnt really liked as much when you first might of heard them. So in general im in favour of remastering sometimes though an album can be re-relaesed-remastred a few times so it seems the record companies are just cashing in and why wasnt it re-mastered well in the first place instead of cashing in on the public.
That's all the questions for now. Also id like to hear what other forum members have to say on any questions.
Yes HAPPY XMAS TO ALL!
9. What Turntable is it a Technics 1200?
10. Japan seems to releasing a lot of SHM CD remastered albums and re-issues of 60's artists and motown have you any and what do think of them or heard about them?
11. What do you think of the SHM and BLU-SPEC CD formats, are they just marketing gimmics and strangely only made in Japan i think?
12 (A) With you being a big Beatle fan what do pressings do you own all original 60s vinyl LP's. Also do know if the new Capitol Albums box set due out next year is re-mastered by the same person who did the Capitol Albums Vol 1 & 2? (B) How does the 60's pressings compare to the recent remasters?
13. Why is it some albums suffer Loudness why do they do this? Surely the listner could just turn up the volume instead of an sound engineer destroying the orginal recording?
My 1200 doesnt have a arm at present i would like to upgrade to a Jelco arm but that would cost about £500 all in i will do it some time. The Technics 1200 was a great record deck well built and super strong. I currently have a Systemdeck IIX 900 A 40 euro recent purchase quite reasonable.
I think the Japanese seem to do a good job on pressing CD's LP's etc. UK pressings of Laserdiscs many had/have issues with the glue laser-rot I havent come across this with any Japanese pressings as yet.
As for remastering 80's albums i hated A-ha's Hunting High and Low album on CD pressed by Warners but the recent 2010 re-release remaster is great. The LP pressed in 1985 is fine. I think the first press CD suffered from tape hiss and sounded a little dull to me and boring.
I dont mind a little loudness on CD release but was annoyed that a Natalie Imbruglia album was very loud. I checked the file in a sound program and couldnt believe how much it was chopped totally cut.
I think that an album well remastered will encourage you to play songs that you hadnt really liked as much when you first might of heard them. So in general im in favour of remastering sometimes though an album can be re-relaesed-remastred a few times so it seems the record companies are just cashing in and why wasnt it re-mastered well in the first place instead of cashing in on the public.
That's all the questions for now. Also id like to hear what other forum members have to say on any questions.
Yes HAPPY XMAS TO ALL!
Re: A few music questions for Richard
Cyp 21 Merry Christmas!
Growing up with The American Beatles lps, I found they were pretty good but some albums like Beatles 65 , Side 2 sounds like a sonic mess. The majority of the albums the instruments were mixed on the left channel and the vocals on the right! Although some people say it was the worst American Beatles album I'm rather fond of Yesterday and Today!
Growing up with The American Beatles lps, I found they were pretty good but some albums like Beatles 65 , Side 2 sounds like a sonic mess. The majority of the albums the instruments were mixed on the left channel and the vocals on the right! Although some people say it was the worst American Beatles album I'm rather fond of Yesterday and Today!
Re: A few music questions for Richard
9. What Turntable is it a Technics 1200?
No, I'm not at home at the moment but think it's either a SL-QX200 or 300
10. Japan seems to releasing a lot of SHM CD remastered albums and re-issues of 60's artists and motown have you any and what do think of them or heard about them?
11. What do you think of the SHM and BLU-SPEC CD formats, are they just marketing gimmicks and strangely only made in Japan i think?
I'm a bit on the fence with this. The manufacturing process is supposed to be better but once again when it comes to binary code there isn't much you can do, there will be less error correction but that is so good these days it's unlikely many would hear the difference.
12 (A) With you being a big Beatle fan what do pressings do you own all original 60s vinyl LP's. Also do know if the new Capitol Albums box set due out next year is re-mastered by the same person who did the Capitol Albums Vol 1 & 2? (B) How does the 60's pressings compare to the recent remasters?
I have some Beatles vinyl, but haven't played it for years. Its mostly 80's pressings. New Capitol set is by the team who did the 2009 UK remasters using a mix of US & UK tapes so will be a sort of hybrid.
13. Why is it some albums suffer Loudness why do they do this? Surely the listener could just turn up the volume instead of an sound engineer destroying the original recording?
I really don't know why it's done anymore, particularly with remasters. The original reason it was done was to make recording standout on radio until it got to the point that most 'chart' records have virtually no dynamic range, why it crept into back catalogue is a mystery to me - it certainly doesn't need it!
I'm no expert when it comes to tone arms, My technics uses the original tone arm that came with it and works like a dream, I certainly wouldn't spend £500 on a new one!
Once again I don't know anything about laserdiscs - i've never owned one so can't comment about gluerot.
80's albums sometimes used LP masters to make CD's which meant that compression and EQ choices weren't right which may have been the problem with the AHA album you mention.
I still use a little compression myself on re-issues if I feel the material requires it but there is NO reason to compress/limit something within an inch of it's life!
I often feel that constant remasters of the same material are an admittance by the record companies that the last version wasn't as good as it could have been. If it's done right then there is no reason to remaster again unless there is a major upgrade in technology. Likewise it annoys me when the same companies that keep remastering the same things but then with other recordings keep putting out the same old 1980's remasters full of noise reduction and other horrid processes which all could sound so much better with a new transfer.
Richard
No, I'm not at home at the moment but think it's either a SL-QX200 or 300
10. Japan seems to releasing a lot of SHM CD remastered albums and re-issues of 60's artists and motown have you any and what do think of them or heard about them?
11. What do you think of the SHM and BLU-SPEC CD formats, are they just marketing gimmicks and strangely only made in Japan i think?
I'm a bit on the fence with this. The manufacturing process is supposed to be better but once again when it comes to binary code there isn't much you can do, there will be less error correction but that is so good these days it's unlikely many would hear the difference.
12 (A) With you being a big Beatle fan what do pressings do you own all original 60s vinyl LP's. Also do know if the new Capitol Albums box set due out next year is re-mastered by the same person who did the Capitol Albums Vol 1 & 2? (B) How does the 60's pressings compare to the recent remasters?
I have some Beatles vinyl, but haven't played it for years. Its mostly 80's pressings. New Capitol set is by the team who did the 2009 UK remasters using a mix of US & UK tapes so will be a sort of hybrid.
13. Why is it some albums suffer Loudness why do they do this? Surely the listener could just turn up the volume instead of an sound engineer destroying the original recording?
I really don't know why it's done anymore, particularly with remasters. The original reason it was done was to make recording standout on radio until it got to the point that most 'chart' records have virtually no dynamic range, why it crept into back catalogue is a mystery to me - it certainly doesn't need it!
I'm no expert when it comes to tone arms, My technics uses the original tone arm that came with it and works like a dream, I certainly wouldn't spend £500 on a new one!
Once again I don't know anything about laserdiscs - i've never owned one so can't comment about gluerot.
80's albums sometimes used LP masters to make CD's which meant that compression and EQ choices weren't right which may have been the problem with the AHA album you mention.
I still use a little compression myself on re-issues if I feel the material requires it but there is NO reason to compress/limit something within an inch of it's life!
I often feel that constant remasters of the same material are an admittance by the record companies that the last version wasn't as good as it could have been. If it's done right then there is no reason to remaster again unless there is a major upgrade in technology. Likewise it annoys me when the same companies that keep remastering the same things but then with other recordings keep putting out the same old 1980's remasters full of noise reduction and other horrid processes which all could sound so much better with a new transfer.
Richard