Rolling Stones London / Bowie RCA

Rspaight · Postby **Rspaight** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:59 pm

And the country of manufacture.

Ryan

Crummy Old Label Avatar · Postby **Crummy Old Label Avatar** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:43 pm

My advice to prospective music fans is to purchase esoteric pressings, memorize matrix numbers, covet obis, study waveforms, and quantify tape hiss levels. And be ever vigilant over possible NR artifacts (NR artifacts are not as hi-fi as unadulterated tape hiss). Really, do anything you can but listen to the actual music, as the music itself only distracts from what's truly important for "audiophiles" and "collectors".

Also keep in mind that if the tape hiss sounds good to you, there is undoubtedly a better sounding and more expensive version of the tape hiss in question, probably pressed in Madagascar or Moldova or on the moon. You need these at any cost. NEVER REST ON YOUR LAURELS. If you don't score these rare copies, someone else will.

If you take my advice, believe me, you'll soon achieve maximum enjoyment from those 17 different copies of Ride a Rock Horse you scored from ebay and estate sales.

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:54 pm

Crummy Old Label Avatar wrote:Really, do anything you can but listen to the actual music, as the music itself only distracts from what's truly important for "audiophiles" and "collectors".

Most of the time, trying to appreciate the music in my collection is unrewarding, as a sizeable portion of my collection consists of lousy/mediocre music that is well-recorded. Not only that, a great deal of my listening consists of doing some kind of f*cking A/B comparison. Makes it kinda hard to appreciate the music even when it's good.

Postby **lukpac** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:59 pm

Crummy Old Label Avatar wrote:If there's one thing that internet forums have taught me, it's that music doesn't matter. Mastering and the Holy Tape Hiss are the only things that count, apparently

Who said music doesn't matter? I certainly didn't.

Do you not enjoy good music more when it sounds better?

Postby **lukpac** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:04 pm

Dob wrote:Most of the time, trying to appreciate the music in my collection is unrewarding, as a sizeable portion of my collection consists of lousy/mediocre music that is well-recorded. Not only that, a great deal of my listening consists of doing some kind of f*cking A/B comparison. Makes it kinda hard to appreciate the music even when it's good.

I don't know if that's a joke or not, but I honestly can't say that's the case with me. I'd much rather listen to Aftermath or A Quick One than Dark Side Of The Moon, and you know what? I do.

krabapple · Postby **krabapple** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:19 pm

Well, I just spent 15 minutes comparing Paula Abdul's 'Vibeology' on the 'Spellbound' CD (75 cents on half.om) to the 'Hurley House Mix' of the same song from teh 'RuPAul's Go Go Box Collection' CD. For god's sake someone launch an intervention, please.

(In my defense, I am trying to put together playlists for my wedding reception)

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:23 pm

lukpac wrote:I don't know if that's a joke or not...

Well, I'm sure many folks would think my music collection is filled with lousy/mediocre stuff. And my wife would agree that it seems like I'm always doing a comparison, usually of music she doesn't care for, at uncomfortable volume levels (I gotta hear those differences).

I guess I'm "sort of" joking -- inside my exaggerations there is a kernel of truth. I admit I'm guilty of at least some of the things COLA alluded to.

Ess Ay Cee Dee · Postby **Ess Ay Cee Dee** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:48 pm

Phil Elliott · Postby **Phil Elliott** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:18 am

... anyway...

http://tinyurl.com/5d95n

MK · Postby MK » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:27 am

A long time ago Steve dropped a quiet bombshell on SH Forums regarding Fantasy Records.

This man has always preached against noise reduction (with the exception of de-clicking) in mastering, the guy's virtually a monk with this shit, but when someone brings up Fantasy and NR, he makes the one BIGGEST exception ever: the mastering engineers at Fantasy. Supposedly the ONLY ones who ever used NoNoise 'properly' and to Steve's approval. I'm surprised this didn't cause bigger waves, this is like the Pope coming out and saying "I'm against abortion, it's evil.....but I'll grant Dr. Nostrum over there sin-free approval of performing them on anyone, anywhere, that I can deal with."

So it goes to show you, there ARE exceptions. But the short answer for me is, no, screw NR, it sucks.

Postby **lukpac** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:01 am

Phil Elliott wrote:... anyway...

http://tinyurl.com/5d95n

ZETTERSTROEM wrote:in small amounts noise reduction can be useable.... but it will ALWAYS leave artifacts...

ammitsboel wrote:Yes, It's a big compromise.

I have a CD here with a ton of hum noise on it, but i wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Etc...

Postby **lukpac** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:02 am

MK wrote:the mastering engineers at Fantasy. Supposedly the ONLY ones who ever used NoNoise 'properly' and to Steve's approval.

Really? Is the thread still out there? Are any titles given?

Andreas · Postby **Andreas** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:36 am

MK wrote:A long time ago Steve dropped a quiet bombshell on SH Forums regarding Fantasy Records.

This man has always preached against noise reduction (with the exception of de-clicking) in mastering, the guy's virtually a monk with this shit, but when someone brings up Fantasy and NR, he makes the one BIGGEST exception ever: the mastering engineers at Fantasy. Supposedly the ONLY ones who ever used NoNoise 'properly' and to Steve's approval. I'm surprised this didn't cause bigger waves, this is like the Pope coming out and saying "I'm against abortion, it's evil.....but I'll grant Dr. Nostrum over there sin-free approval of performing them on anyone, anywhere, that I can deal with."

Yeah, could you find a link or a quote? I really doubt that Steve has approved of digital noise reduction in any way.

Steve did mention that he tried NR when doing the DCC Bayou Country (an album with a lot of hiss on the master tape), but he didn't like the results. Instead, he shaved off the top end on the DCC. An error that he corrected for the AP release.

J_Partyka · Postby **J_Partyka** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:52 am

Perhaps this post?
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showp ... ostcount=4

Postby **lukpac** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 11:11 am

J_Partyka wrote:Perhaps this post?
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showp ... ostcount=4

Yeah, it isn't really clear what he's talking about there. Films? 78 transfers? He starts out saying the CDs he's played match the tapes he's played...

I have to agree with this:

Steve Hoffman wrote:Urrgh, really? That's No-Noise at its worst. Those "underwater" fade outs bug the crap out of me (so to speak). Too bad.