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Topic: Digitally Remastered CDs? (Read 4741 times) previous topic - next topic
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Digitally Remastered CDs?

I'm in the process of ripping my huge collection of Classic Rock from the 60-80's and some of my favorite CD's have now been digitally remastered.

It was a huge expense to convert my vinyl to CD in the first place, then to convert my CD's to the digital remastered versions was out of the question. 

However, now I'm considering replacing some of my favorites, like Led Zeppelin to the remastered versions.

Has anyone done this?  Is the quality significantly better in the remastered versions to warrant upgrading?

-Scott

Digitally Remastered CDs?

Reply #1 –
Quote
I'm in the process of ripping my huge collection of Classic Rock from the 60-80's and some of my favorite CD's have now been digitally remastered.

It was a huge expense to convert my vinyl to CD in the first place, then to convert my CD's to the digital remastered versions was out of the question. 

However, now I'm considering replacing some of my favorites, like Led Zeppelin to the remastered versions.

Has anyone done this?  Is the quality significantly better in the remastered versions to warrant upgrading?

-Scott
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=282169"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Anyone?

Digitally Remastered CDs?

Reply #2 –
Quote
However, now I'm considering replacing some of my favorites, like Led Zeppelin to the remastered versions.

Has anyone done this?  Is the quality significantly better in the remastered versions to warrant upgrading?
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

As a matter of fact, it can be worse. But remaster could sound better too, it depends on particular CDs. The problem of modern music mastering was discussed here a few times.
You may want to look [a href="http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17903&hl=]here[/url] for example...
Not really a Signature.

Digitally Remastered CDs?

Reply #3 –
If I was you, I would stay miles away from any CD that has the word "Re-master" on it. I went to the trouble of getting the Non-remastered versions of all Judas Priest albums, because the remasters suck. I wanted to buy the non remastered versions of all Iron Maiden (which happens to be my most favourite band) albums, but they are not available anymore. Trust me, keep the old ones. They sound much better.

Digitally Remastered CDs?

Reply #4 –
Is there any source for info about remasters vs. originals?

Digitally Remastered CDs?

Reply #5 –
Quote
Is there any source for info about remasters vs. originals?
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=282869"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Not that I know of. However, if you search around on this very forum, you willfind plenty of info about this.

Digitally Remastered CDs?

Reply #6 –
For pre-CD era recordings, the area is very difficult.

Sometimes it's best to visit fan sites for the particular artist or group, because then you'll find people who have bought every single version. Sometimes they have a useful opinion which saves you from buying every single version too!

Often, the opinion is to get a good copy of the original vinyl and copy it onto CD yourself! Not always though.

Likewise, some remasters are great (especially when the first CD release was quite poor), but others (often more recent ones) are terrible due to overcompression, or undesirable for true fans because the sound has been changed so much.

There is no hard and fast rule, so you really do have to try for yourself. If you can find people who have carefully labelled the tracks, this is where less legal methods of obtaining music really come into their own - download every version you can of a certain album from peer2peer, figure out which version is best, then go and buy it. Yes, I've done it! The only frustration is when you find a much better release of a track than you already own on CD, but can't identify the source. More frustrating still if it's a bad rip/encode of a good remaster! (Yes, you can tell).

Searching HA for the artist name might be a good start, but google and usenet (google groups) are great for anoraky information like which release sounds best.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
David.

Digitally Remastered CDs?

Reply #7 –
P.S. this was/is a great source of information...

http://www.bsnpubs.com/

...but is more focused on 1950s & 60s pop than what you're looking for. It's amazing how obscure the best release of a given track can be!

Digitally Remastered CDs?

Reply #8 –
Quote
Has anyone done this?  Is the quality significantly better in the remastered versions to warrant upgrading?

-Scott
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=282169"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


I guess it depends... I bought some of the remastered of the Pet Shop Boys CD, and I also have the original Cds... and the difference is outstanding! (the sound is much cleaner and pure). But I dunno if it's the same for all the remasters around