How about a good recordings thread???

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

When reading through some of the other threads, I've seen a lot of conversation about good quality recordings and thought it might be a good idea to start a thread on that very topic.

Or do you guys think that topic is too subjective???

I'm not talking about posting music that you like, but rather recordings that are of good quality. For example, I like a bunch of the Dave Matthews stuff, but the actual recording quality on a couple of their CDs really sucks...

This is probably another one of my lame ideas that won't get picked up, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway...

[wlrandall]

Believe it or not, hate them if you will but the Dixie Chicks have some of the best produced tracks that I've ever heard. Still enjoy Brothers In Arms from Dire Straights as well.

[gregure]

I think Jimmy Page did an exceptional job with all the Led Zeppelin remasters, especially How the West Was Won. Also, Dianna Krall's newest album sounds great.

[nadams]

God knows you can't beat 20 mins of nonstop Moby Dick!

How the West Was Won is awesome....

[Girl_Addicted]

Tatu's latest CD has some GREAT recording quality. Evanescence's quality is alright.

Since we are on the subject...Avril Lavigne's new cd has HORRIBLE recording. Good soundstage though.

I am done.

_Dezi_

[wlrandall]

Originally posted by Girl_Addicted
Evanescence's quality is alright.

Except for the vocals-that is the most doctored voice I've heard since Christina's "Beautiful". Give me the real thing that doesn't need the effects to sound "good".

[gregure]

I was pretty impressed with Franz Ferdinand's first album. The quality of recording is very good also. The bass intro on the first track is killer, a very big sound. The whole terracing of bass/guitars in the intro really gets the blood pumping.

[therockman]

Reading the original post, and following this thread, I get the feeling that what is meant is not actually discussing "good recordings" per say, but discussing good reproductions of well recorded music. Obviously most consumers will never know that much about the original recordings, i.e. microphones used, type of tape used, room acoustics and the such like that. What we do know about is the final sound we hear when we play recorded music in our systems. Thus, this thread is really asking for discussions regarding mastering techniques for our favorite recordings. Is a recorded track maximized? Does it have too much bass boost or to little bass? Does the trebel grate our speakers or is there too much noise reduction used? These are all good questions in duscussing any piece of recorded music, and I am open to being involved in a thread to share our feelings regarding the mastering techniques used on our favorite recordings.

Of course I am very concerned about how my discs are mastered. I do not like noise reduction, I would rather hear a little tape hiss than a reduced top end. I do not like mid-range boost, I would rather hear a straight frequency response across the audio spectrum. I do not like maximized music, or compressed music, which is how 90% of recorded music is reproduced these days. As a matter of fact, maximized and compressed mastering techniques can ruin the best recorded piece of music. I like a little headroom for dynamic extension on top of my music. But that is just me.


Rocky Bennett

[scottnbnj]

Originally posted by wlrandall
...Still enjoy Brothers In Arms from Dire Straights as well.

i know lots of dire straits folks don't, but 'love over gold' is one i go back to all the time,.. and probably won't be out of place in this thread.

)

[Zero]

Nickel Creek - This Side.

From up north, this small group of 3 (who's producor for this album is Allison Krauss) has a unique blend of alternative and blue-grass. I feel the recording is a *tad* bright but over-all, very well done.

Diana Krall - Live in Paris.

There arent many who havent heard of (let alone hear) this album. A few limitations, but can capture the over-all atmosphere incredibly well. The recording is nice, all you have to do is reach out and play it.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (sacd hybrid)

On SACD, this is just phenomonial . I can find no fault with this album - be it its recording or the music itself. Simply wonderful.

Dead Can Dance- Spiritchaser

Redbook CD that is very well done. Turn the lights out, turn it up, burn a candle or two - and let the music take over.

Worthy notables:

Nirvana - Un-plugged
Eric Clapton - Un-Plugged
Beatles - Let it be -Naked
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Blue Ridge Mountains

[nadams]

Having re-reviewed Let It Be - Naked, I have to agree that this is an excellent recording. The quality is top-notch. No audible hiss like most older recordings on my system.

[therockman]

A few observations regarding The Beatles LET IT BE-NAKED. This disc was digitally remastered through a 48khz 20 bit technology workstation wich employed the Sonic Solutions No-Noise algorithm technology. This combination of 20 bit technology and noise shaping application resulted in a very harsh and un-natural sounding disc. The equalization that was applied to compensate for the no-noise algorithm resulted in a boost in the lower trebel region so that listeners wouldn't notice that the higher trebel was totally shaped to elimanate the tape hiss. The resulting frequency curve of LET IT BE-NAKED is totally un-natural;

Boost in the mid-bass at 120 hz.
De-emphasis at 250 hz.
Boost at 1,200 hz
Big boost at 6,000 hz.
De-emphasis at 9,000
Boost at 12,000
De-emphasis at 15,000

This disc really does not have a straight line frequency response. Listen to the original CD of LET IT BE and you will hear the finest reproduction of these classic Beatles tunes. The original CD of LET IT BE was mastered straight from the 2nd generation safety tape straight to digital with no noise-reduction or eq added. It is really a sweet sounding disc.

Rocky Bennett

[therockman]

The worse thing about LET IT BE-NAKED is that it has been compressed and maximized. The natural dynamic range of the original 1987 CD has a 45 db dynamic range, this has been compressed down to 22 db for LET IT BE-NAKED. Not only have they compressed it, but they maximized the digital information to peak at 2VMRS. This combination of compression and maximization makes this disc very harsh.

You can compare the original LET IT BE CD from 1987 to the new LET IT BE-NAKED and hear how the original 1987 CD has a rich and dynamic sound to the piano and George's bass. This is how this music is suppose to sound. Pick up a copy of the 1988 CD THE BEATLES PAST MASTERS VOLUME 2 and listen to the song LET IT BE. This digial version is by far the best and cleanest version out there. They actually used the first generation original master tape for this 1988 CD. The LET IT BE-NAKED disc employeed the original master tape, but with the 20 bit 48khz digital manipulation, the final product was ruined.

Rocky Bennett

[I-SIG]

Later Pearl Jam stuff is pretty well recorded.
John Mayer's Heavier Things is quite dynamic and well recorded.
No Doubt's RockSteady is very dynamic clean.
Floyd's DSOTM


I'll think of more later...

Wes

[Kpt_Krunch]

I've said it before and I'll say it again :D - anything from AIX records will be and is the best recorded music available - you cannot record better than this as the technology is not here yet.

Oh, and ZERO remastering of this, no enhancements of any kind whatsoever, you just get straight 96khz/24bit music through DVD-A one side, and DD, DTS, and PCM stereo on the other (with video) in Stage & Audience mixes.

www.aixrecords.com

[therockman]

Wow, thanks for that link to aix records. I have been buying a lot of the DADs from Classic Records, you know thw 24 bit 96 khz discs. They sound phenomenal, so I think that I will check out a couple of these aix records titles.

Rcoky Bennett

[Kpt_Krunch]

Your most welcome rockman! Not sure the type of music you like, but Laurence Juber's Guitar Noir is a great DVD to try out, and you get a sampler for free (kind of, you do have a $4.95 shipping charge I believe). The sampler includes other acoustical music, along with classical and jazz. It gives you a real good sense of their selections.

I have 14 of their DVD's now and am not disappointed. I will be ordering another 8 or so shortly (being in Canada, the more I order, the better the shipping).

Let me know what you get and how you like it!

[Shizelbs]

Yeah, cool link Krunchman. Looks like a lot of their discs are compatible with DVD players, not just DVD-A. Thats good for me.

My contribution: many of the older Santana recordings really seem to come to life for me. They are some of the best recordings I have. Which albums right now I cannot remember.

[dorokusai]

AIX sounds interesting, although this issue is less than desireable..... :D

Paul Williams and Gonzo from the Muppets (http://www.aixrecords.com/catalog/paul_williams.html)

[Kpt_Krunch]

Originally posted by dorokusai
AIX sounds interesting, although this issue is less than desireable..... :D

Paul Williams and Gonzo from the Muppets (http://www.aixrecords.com/catalog/paul_williams.html)

LOL - I was wondering about that one myself!

[Shizelbs]

I was pretty impressed with Franz Ferdinand's first album. The quality of recording is very good also. The bass intro on the first track is killer, a very big sound. The whole terracing of bass/guitars in the intro really gets the blood pumping.

The SQ of their self titled album is maybe the worst I own.

[Midnite Mick]

Wow someone must be bored. I'll play.

Neil Young Unplugged.....very musical and open sounding. One of the best I have ever heard.

Mike

[ledhed]

Damien Rice's O

[madmax]

Believe it or not, hate them if you will but the Dixie Chicks have some of the best produced tracks that I've ever heard.

I bought their "home" lp right before they effed up with their political statements and truthfully had no real want to listen to it. I finally opened it up last night and put it on the table. Yes, it is among the best recordings I've heard. I guess I can give stevie nicks another shot at keeping her mouth shut... At least when she isn't singing. :D
madmax

[Shizelbs]

Beck - The Information, particularly track 3. Amazing.

[NeilGabriel]

I think Jimmy Page did an exceptional job with all the Led Zeppelin remasters, especially How the West Was Won. Also, Dianna Krall's newest album sounds great.

Slightly off topic, but since I am watching/listening to Plant and Page's No Quarter.....great audio and video....maybe a tad excessive on use of multi-channels...but at least you can make sure all of your HT channels are working...