"A Charlie Brown Christmas" CD remaster.

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Mattb, Oct 10, 2006.

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  1. Mike Dow

    Mike Dow I kind of like the music

    Location:
    Bangor, Maine
    Jaime-

    Thanks for doing the shootout! I'm hoping to do a similar comparison using...

    1986 Fantasy CD
    1988 Fantasy CD
    SACD
    Monster Remix (stereo mix)
    2006 Concord/Fantasy remix

    It's interesting that you suggest that the new remix might be a fold down of the Monster MC DVD. This afternoon, a friend was wondering if they were related somehow. It is possible, right?

    How does "Linus & Lucy" on the Monster remix stack up with the alleged alternate take on the new disc? Are they one and the same?

    I'm glad that I'm not the only one who hears NR artifacts on the 2006 disc.

    The new disc is seriously lacking high end. I listened to it on three different systems and tried adjusting the EQ on each to compensate for the lack of treble. It did make a difference but it still sounds unnatural. The best version of this album that I have heard (keep in mind, I'm still waiting for Steve's vinyl mastering) is the 1988 edition. From what I can tell, the mastering on the '88 does not differ from the '86 version but it is louder and it gives you an extra cut. After a careful 86/88 A/B comparison, I give the edge to the 1988 disc. It isn't perfect but it's the best I've heard so far.

    Now, if we're lucky, we'll receive Steve and Kevin's 45 RPM mastering before Christmas this year! :)
     
  2. Jamie Tate

    Jamie Tate New Member

    Location:
    Nashville
    There really isn't that much that's different between the two. The SACD is a bit louder and sounds like the bottom and top end have a slight amount of EQ added. Nothing big. Seeing as they're both from the same analog tape transfer (so I assume due to their sync) I'd go with the earlier CD. it's cheaper and is probably less tinkered with.
     
  3. Mike Dow

    Mike Dow I kind of like the music

    Location:
    Bangor, Maine
    I don't really care much for the SACD. It isn't horrible but it sounded too bright to me.
     
  4. Jamie Tate

    Jamie Tate New Member

    Location:
    Nashville
    It's the same mix. I'm not sure why they don't sync up exactly. It's close enough to assume they're the same. For the split second they do sync up they mostly cancel each other out once you bring the new CD down about 1.5dB. The new CD has a different mastering than the Monster disc.

    Listening to them they seem to be the same although I didn't put that song in the computer.

    Nope.

    And low end. The bass is lower and thinned out on the new mix.
     
  5. stereoptic

    stereoptic Anaglyphic GORT Staff

    Location:
    NY
    yeah, and when??? Christmas?? :)
     
  6. Jamie Tate

    Jamie Tate New Member

    Location:
    Nashville
    He did it before last Christmas. Maybe we'll get it next summer. :laugh:
     
  7. Grant

    Grant Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me!

    After all this, i'll just stick to the original Fantasy CD.
     
  8. rhkwon

    rhkwon Forum Resident

    Location:
    Houston, TX USA
    And I'll just stick to the LP. Sounds good enough for me.
     
  9. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    :agree: I just listened to mine yesterday for the first time and it does sound really good.
     
  10. AndrewS

    AndrewS Senior Member

    Location:
    S. Ontario, Canada
    That's fine if you only want the original mix/takes, but then you're ignoring alternate takes, which is my point in picking this up (still waiting for delivery). I had suspected it might be the same takes as the Monster DVD. That's okay though, since the redbook disc that came in that set was just the standard release that I already had. I was hoping it would be a stereo version of the alternate takes. I guess this disc is what I was looking for then, to some extent. Although, it would've been nice to have yet another set of alternate takes. :)
     
  11. Mike Dow

    Mike Dow I kind of like the music

    Location:
    Bangor, Maine
    Absolutely. One of the highlights of this music is Fred Marshall's standup bass. On this remix/remaster, you can hear a bass in there somewhere but you can't "feel" it. The old CD has a nice bass sound and it's much more present in the mix.
     
  12. tomcat

    tomcat Senior Member

    Location:
    Switzerland
    Are these quality issues throughout the disc, or does this only apply to specific tunes? What's the sound quality judgement for the instrumental "Christmas Time Is Here"?
     
  13. Taxman

    Taxman Senior Member

    Location:
    Fayetteville, NY
    I admit I would not know artificial room algorithm or a NR artifact if it bit me in the posterior but I have had the 1988 edition for years and I am thrilled with this new release. For the $11.99 (cheap) it costs at Target, the premium packaging and the alternate takes, some need a lot of convincing this release is worth their money. I've put this on everyday while I'm at work. I think it sounds airy and open with plenty of stand-up bass.
     
  14. stereoptic

    stereoptic Anaglyphic GORT Staff

    Location:
    NY
    :eek: Dave, it sounds even better after Halloween and Thanskgiving are over! :p You've neglected this classic for too long! :)

    IIRC, my copy mis-credits the bass to Monty Budwig (who plays on the bonus Greensleeves only) instead of Fred Marshall (same with crediting Colin Bailey (just 'Greensleeves') instead of Gerald Granelli.
     
  15. Mike Dow

    Mike Dow I kind of like the music

    Location:
    Bangor, Maine
    I should have been more specific in my earlier post. The bass is a bit more audible on the instrumental version of "Christmas Time Is Here" and, yes, I can feel it though not as strongly as on the old mix/master.
     
  16. Mike Dow

    Mike Dow I kind of like the music

    Location:
    Bangor, Maine
    I do believe its worth owning just for the alternate takes. I was planning on returning the disc for a refund but decided to hold on to it for the bonus tracks. The packaging, as mentioned earlier, is very nice as well.
     
  17. -=Rudy=-

    -=Rudy=- ♪♫♪♫♫♪♪♫♪♪ Staff

    Location:
    US
    Here's a comparison I did using Vegas. I stacked the '06 and '88 versions of "Linus and Lucy" atop each other, lined up this section (it's impossible to sync these 100% since there are human tempo shifts), and you can clearly hear two different piano solos going on. I panned the '06 to the left and '88 to the right for clarity. Enjoy!

    http://www.stevehoffman.tv/media2/LinusLucyCompare(06L88R).mp3

    http://www.stevehoffman.tv/media2/LinusLucyCompare(06L88R).wav

    (Try downloading the MP3 first; if that doens't work, try the WAV.)
     
  18. Mike Dow

    Mike Dow I kind of like the music

    Location:
    Bangor, Maine
    Rudy-
    Thanks for posting this file! I sent two files to Rudy today, each containing the "piano interlude" section of "Linus And Lucy". I used the 1988 Fantasy CD (as heard on the right channel of the above file) and the 2006 Fantasy/Concord remix (on the left channel). As both versions are roughly the same length (3:03), we are not hearing material simply edited from the original. We are clearly hearing two different takes. Sadly, this alternate take has been issued on the new version of the album as "The" take. Fortunately, the "master take" is easy to obtain. The old disc is readily available (and sounds just fine) and I'm sure I can assume that Steve and Kevin's upcoming 45 RPM mastering from Analogue Productions will use the master take (order it while you can!...and lets hope it arrives before Christmas!).

    Hearing the files separately was quite an ear-opener but hearing them simultaneously is proof that we have an alternate take on the new disc.

    My question now is...does the Monster remix from a couple of years ago also contain this alternate take of "Linus And Lucy"? If so, that would tend to make me think that the new disc is merely a new mastering of that mix.

    Thanks again Rudy!
     
  19. -=Rudy=-

    -=Rudy=- ♪♫♪♫♫♪♪♫♪♪ Staff

    Location:
    US
    Yes, it does! :thumbsup: I just loaded up my CD downsampling of the Monster 96/24 remix in Vegas to compare, and it's the same alternate take. Same piano solo.

    Definitely came from the same 3-track tape. I just wonder what the source was for the mix that was on the original album? (No doubt on another 3-track.) I do like the master take much better. This one, it seems like Guaraldi is a bit tentative in his solo; the original is more solid.
     
  20. dude

    dude Senior Member

    Location:
    milwaukee wi usa
    So the only version without the static interference type sound when the band kicks in on "O Tannenbaum" , is the original vinyl?
     
  21. Jamie Tate

    Jamie Tate New Member

    Location:
    Nashville
    It's the same but the new CD is about 1.5dB louder than the monster disc. They may have gone back in and tweaked a few things here and there but essentially it's the same.
     
  22. Mike Dow

    Mike Dow I kind of like the music

    Location:
    Bangor, Maine
    The new remix (or the Monster Music disc) does not have that noise. However, in comparison with the original mix, the bass is lower in the new mix and also sounds shaved off in the mastering.
     
  23. -=Rudy=-

    -=Rudy=- ♪♫♪♫♫♪♪♫♪♪ Staff

    Location:
    US
    Does the MP3 file work for anyone? Just curious...
     
  24. stereoptic

    stereoptic Anaglyphic GORT Staff

    Location:
    NY
    It worked for me, Rudy. I didn't try the .wav.

    Also, listen to the last 'clang' (is that a cymbal or a triangle?) - slightly different touch on each.

    Nice job with the clips, Rudy.:righton:
     
  25. Jamie Tate

    Jamie Tate New Member

    Location:
    Nashville
    The .wav link is great. :wave:

    The mp3 link, not so much.
     
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