No NR? Good God, what will they think of next?
We've gone over the pros and cons of NR before, but I found one CD that's a good argument against: THE TURTLES GOLDEN HITS on Delta. Paid $5 for it used over the weekend, and I remember Ken McAlinden mentioning it positively, and I could hear why right away: no NR, the hiss levels evident but natural, but most of all, a good, crisp sound that lets you hear the music without thinking anything is amiss. It's ironic that when music like this winds up with a major label--which Rhino has been for years--some kind of Eq work or NR winds up being done, however miminally. Yet on small labels or the Special Products divisions of majors, the opposite seems to be true: not going to the expense of any special treatment, the music winds up better for not being heavily manipulated.
Amazing that special John Denver collections wind up NR'd, yet a special products issue like WINDSONG comes off sounding better for someone NOT taking the time to futz with it. A few sonic warts here and there are no big deal, and tape hiss should never be used as an excuse to fiddle around. I'd rather have the option of adjusting it myself, than have it done in advance, with no real recourse.
The recent Glen Campbell comp remastered by Bob Norburg is a travesty; NR'd to death, there's no life to the music at all. It's that sort of crap that can shake your faith in the majors and their approach to remastering.
ED
When remixing vintage tapes, imagine you are back in the time those recordings were made, and mix accordingly. forget Today's Sound Sensibilities....
