Jeff Allen Myers
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4/7/2009 6:52:41 PM
---- Updated 4/7/2009 6:55:38 PM
Beatles new catalog on the way... New Digital Masters!
I have mixed emotions about this, but it seems they have gone about it the right way by maintaining a sense of history on the historic recordings. I like that they worked at Abbey Road using some Vintage gear. Looking forward to the release.......There goes a few Hundred bucks!! :)
The Beatles Official Newsletter
7th April 2009
We are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles
catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for
worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (09-09-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game.
Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art,
including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner
notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be
embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same
date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.
The albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at
EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising
state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio
equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the
original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is
the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.
The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track
listings and artwork as originally released in the UK, and 'Magical
Mystery Tour,' which became part of The Beatles' core catalogue when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections 'Past
Masters Vol. I and II' are now combined as one title, for a total of 14
titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four
Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on compact
disc. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries,
will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.
Within each CD's new packaging, booklets include detailed historical
notes along with informative recording notes. With the exception of the
'Past Masters' set, newly produced mini-documentaries on the making of
each album, directed by Bob Smeaton, are included as QuickTime files on
each album. The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere.
A second boxed set has been created with the collector in mind. 'The
Beatles in Mono' gathers together, in one place, all of the Beatles
recordings that were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 of the
albums with their original mono mixes, plus two further discs of mono
masters (covering similar ground to the stereo tracks on 'Past
Masters'). As an added bonus, the mono "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" discs
also include the original 1965 stereo mixes, which have not been
previously released on CD. These albums will be packaged in mini-vinyl
CD replicas of the original sleeves with all original inserts and label
designs retained.
Discussions regarding the digital distribution of the catalogue will
continue. There is no further information available at this time.
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kurtkurtley
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4/8/2009 9:54:10 AM
I'm always (happily) amazed that a band that has been defunct for forty years still has such an enormous impact on the world of music.
To put this into historical perspective, when the Beatles were at their peak, music from forty years earlier would have included Rudy Vallee, a very young Bing Crosby and Lester Lanin and his Orchestra.
May they live in the hearts and minds forever!
Kurt
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Richard Scotti
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4/8/2009 6:13:28 PM
What exactly do they do when they "re-master" albums from the past. Do they just copy the two track master from the original tape and transfer it to digital with some enhancement like noise reduction, etc.? or do they use the multi track tape?
They don't actually change the mix in anyway, right? I've never quite understood this concept. If all the Beatles records are already on CD, how are they improving them?
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Jeff Allen Myers
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4/8/2009 6:48:02 PM
I would imagine they would everything in the modern "mastering" toolbox that makes sense...and will keep the integrity of the originals. I am sure this will include a bit of compression, normalizing,... There is a ton that they can do with eq's, aural exciters, etc. I did read they are using some vintage gear at Abbey Road, I have heard some of the equipment . though old, is quite good. I am sure the whole process will entail bringing over sound from the original Master tapes, cleaning them up, and enhancing the sonic quality. It will probably mean cleaning them up quite a bit as you will no doubt hear mistakes, bumps, and clicks a they move about Abbey road. The new "clarity" will no doubt bring these out. The many tape splices done at the time of the original recordings will need addressed as well.
The original digital cd's issued in 86/87 were just brought over quickly into the digital realm, plus...we know alot more now working with digital recordings. I have the whole catalog. They do not stand up well against other songs brought over from Itunes..for one the volume is a lot lower. They will no doubt increase this, while increasing fidelity. I think they are smart enough to stay clear of over compressing.
Paul was never happy with his Bass recordings prior to Revolver, it will be interesting to see if these are brought out.
The latest album "Love" is a great place to start to see how they may sound. The old recordings were remastered and newly arranged. They sound great...
I have a feeling this may be good...I have no doubt a new generation of Beatles fans will be born the day they are released. They are still infectious after 40 years....
The Beatles are "Relevant"......
Jeff
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