US version of Singles comp.

The US version of Singles comp, some sites are claiming it is "remastered"... so is this "remastered" any different from the UK version other than the extra track?

of course "remastered" doesnt have to mean that it was mastered well

I would also like to know. I just read a review at Amazon.com that claims that the USA version has a better remastered sound than the UK/European version. Has anyone bought both the USA and UK versions to do a comparison? I'm curious. I already imported the UK version a while back and will get the USA version if it is better sound quality yet (although I find the UK version impressive as it is).

Don't waste your time. The US version is even more compressed than the UK version and it sounds it too. I loaded up "Ceremony" in Audition to see what the wav looked like, because I didn't like how it sounded, and it was completely brickwalled (meaning they sucked all the dynamics out of it). Far more so than the UK version. I'll post screenshots at some point if I remember to do so...

edit: Screenshots below, first is UK, second is US version, third is from EFR - by far the best dynamics of the bunch. It's a shame really...

UK Singles version

US Singles version

Excerpts from Recycle version

drew

These WAV pics mean nothing really, quality-wise. Try TF-94 or any other track off the English Best Of (1994). You'll see the same, but you can't deny the quality of the tracks, right? :)

Well, thanks for the screen caps and info! The 'Recycle' version may look like it has more range, but how is the sound quality? Just because the US version looks highly compressed doesn't mean the quality is bad. A lot of the earlier recordings from the 80s and 90s are very flat and dull in sound in which you have to turn your volume on your stereo way up to hear them. I've heard arguments either way regarding remastering. :)

In the UK edition I can't find any credits to who did the mastering. I'm assuming the US version (released by Rhino) was probably mastered by Rhino's mastering team of Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch, who usually do an excellent job. Does the US edition list who did the remastering? I'm curious. Also, if anyone knows who did the UK mastering I would like to know as well.

Thank you.

TheRain1981 wrote: Well, thanks for the screen caps and info! The 'Recycle' version may look like it has more range, but how is the sound quality?

I can easily pick out the EFR version from blind listening. It sounds a hell of a lot "better" than the Singles versions. Singles versions sound muddy, especially in the verses - while EFR's version sounds clean. The EFR version is a professionally-mastered vinyl transfer, not just some yahoo hooking up his Sears turntable to the computer.

It's not exactly audiophile, but I can't listen to the Singles versions on my iPod without cringing. EFR's version, on the other hand, gets me jumping for joy every time.

TheRain1981 wrote: In the UK edition I can't find any credits to who did the mastering. I'm assuming the US version (released by Rhino) was probably mastered by Rhino's mastering team of Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch, who usually do an excellent job. Does the US edition list who did the remastering? I'm curious. Also, if anyone knows who did the UK mastering I would like to know as well.

I don't know who did the mastering for either version. However I don't think Inglot or Hersch have touched any of Rhino's NO product, to be honest with you. I've been very pleased with everything I've heard with their names in the credits - they're judicious with what they do, they don't maximize the hell out of things just to be loud, etc etc - they're among the most respected mastering engineers out there. But lately I've not been impressed with Rhino's NO product, while on the other hand other recent Rhino product like the Bunnymen remasters from a couple years ago - with Inglot/Hersch in the credits - sound (and look, when you look at the WAVs) amazing.

Finally, I suspect Inglot/Hersch would demand the original master reels to work from, where they'd most certainly notice the channel reversal that's not been corrected with the US version.

drew

Well, thanks for the info.

I have the 'Ocean Rain' Echo & The Bunnymen reissue and I, personally, didn't think the volume was loud enough. "The Killing Moon," for example, seems too low and I even cranked the volume 150% in Goldwave to bring it up. Maybe I just like my music loud.

ok so it was not my imagination-the "remasterted versions sound very compressed as compared to the vinatge records I have. Listen to say,the "Confusion version, where the drums are practically "BOOM"y as where they jump out and seem to overwhelm the rest of the track ...

noticed also on "True Faith" "World" and a LOT of the other tracks-the master volume got cranked WAAAYYYY up.

as compared to the older original albums and other comps I was like "this just sounds-OFF" like the drum and bass were pushed way to the front and the other levels were pushed up to compensate and unbalancing the mix

Spotnick wrote: Yeah it's remastered... although they swapped the channels

How do you identify the channels are swapped? Which track(s) does this occur?