This thread is meant to discuss the early CD versions of the Kraftwerk Catalogue albums. The aim is to identify the various CD releases/masterings and, possibly, the best sounding one per each album. Given that Tour the France Soundtracks hasen’t changed mastering in the 2009 release, the thread will focus on the following albums: - Autobahn - Radio-Activity (ENG), Radio-Aktivität (GER) - Trans-Europe Express (ENG), Trans Europa Express (GER) - The Man-Machine (ENG), Die Mensch-Maschine (GER) - Computer World (ENG), Computerwelt (GER) [unsure about the existence of the French and Japanese versions of ‘Pocket Calculator’ on CD] - Electric Café (ENG, GER) [unsure about the existence of the Spanish version on CD] - The Mix (ENG, GER) [ADD] A preliminary list of albums with respective EAC and DR values will appear below in a separate post. The data contained in the post was drawn from the following two threads: “Kraftwerk: Were the Capitol reissues from 1995 remastered?” “Kraftwerk 2004 The Catalogue Sound quality compared to original Cd's” Please post in this thread if: - you are aware of a CD version that is not listed below - if you have data for a specific CD release (EAC and DR value); - you find errors in the posts below and you’d like to amend a post; - you want to post a short audio sample of a CD release and discuss it. Please do not post in this thread if: - if you want to discuss the 2009 remasters. This thread is meant to discuss the early CD versions only. However, comparisons between early versions and the 2009 remasters might be relevant in some specific cases;
Autobahn (EMI) EMI Swindon CDP 746153 2 AR 2:8:3 EAC; 86.6 / 73.4 / 74.5 / 75.2 / 58.2 DR; 14 / 14/ 12 / 14 / 14 (@Mbe) Elektra SRC EAC; 100/84.3/85.6 (@c-eling) Kling Klang – CDP 564-7 46153 2 EMI Electrola , SONOPRESS B-2644/ 7461532, barcode 0 777746 153276, West Germany EAC; 59.9 % /50.8 % / 51.5 % / 50.8 % / 40.2 % DR values as above, EMI Swindon (@Front 242 Addict) EMI Electrola (@Plan9, do you have data? Is it like the version above?) Radio-Activity (Capitol) EMI Swindon CDP 746744 2 2:2:3 EAC; 42.5 / 79.1 / 71.8 / 97 / 37.7 / 74.8 / 20.9 / 100 / 69.5 / 59.1 / 61.0 / 60.3 DR; 15 / 12 / 11 / 11 / 7 / 13 / 10 / 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 11 (@Mbe) (same as UK NL IFPI @c-eling) Capitol Records – 0777 7464742 7, Capitol Records – 0777 7 46474 2 7, EMI – CDEMS 1524 Same as above. (@The_Windmill) Radio-Aktivität 1986 German CD EAC; 44.6 % / 61.4 % / 57.2 % / 82.4 % / 18.4 % / 51.3 % / 12.7 % / 72.2 % / /43.7 %/ 40.5 %/ 46.0 / 56.8 DR; 16/ 11 / 11 / 12 / 4 / 12 / 12 / 10 / 13 / 11 / 10 / 11 (@Front 242 Addict , do you have more data about this release?) Trans Europe Express (Capitol) 746473 @ 1 1-3-18 NL EAC; 100 / 96.3 / 100 / 93 / 93.7 / 57.6 / 88.2 DR; 15 / 14 / 14 / 13 / 12 / 10 / 14 (@Mbe) US Capitol JAX pre IFPI press (same as above) EAC; 100/96.3/100/93.0/93.7/57.6/88.2 (@c-eling) Capitol "made In EU" 72435816825 matrix 746473 @ 1 Same as above. (@The_Windmill) EMI Electrola (@Plan9, do you have data?) Trans Europa Express German CD 1994 REISSUE CDP 564-7-461332 KLING KLANG EAC; 98.0 % / 98.0 % / 98.0 % / 98.0 % / 98.0 % / 98.0 % / 56.9 % / 92.0 % DR: 15 / 15 / 15 / 16 / 12 / 12 / 10 / 14 The German cd divided to 8 tracks and not 7 like the Capitol NL CD (@Front 242 Addict) The Man Machine (Capitol) 746039 @ 3 010207 EAC; 81.5 / 69.2 / 64.7 / 71.4 / 77.4 / 67.1 DR; 15 / 14 / 15 / 13 / 17 / 15 (@Mbe) Capitol JAX (same as above) EAC; 81.5/69.2/64.7 (@c-eling) (Klingklang) A981035-01 Manufactured by Optimal Media Production EAC; 98.1 / 98.1 / 98.1 / 98.1 / 98.1 / 98.1 DR; 9 / 9 / 11 / 10 / 13 / 11 077774 60392 8 UK:CDEMS 1520 ///EMI United Kingdom Interruption on ‘Spacelab’, between 2:12-2:14 (@Front 242 Addict) Die Mensch·Maschine CDP 564-7 46131 2, EMI Electrola, Barcode: 077774613125, Made in Holland EAC; 65.5 / 56.8 / 58.7 / 74.1 / 76.7 / 50.9 Code: DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR17 -3.67 dB -23.59 dB 6:14 1-Die Roboter DR15 -4.90 dB -22.94 dB 6:03 2-Spacelab DR16 -4.62 dB -24.01 dB 6:03 3-Metropolis DR15 -2.60 dB -21.25 dB 3:44 4-Das Modell DR18 -2.30 dB -22.64 dB 9:01 5-Neonlicht DR17 -5.86 dB -26.03 dB 5:26 6-Die Mensch-Maschine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (@albertop) Manufactured By Sanyo Japan 7461312 508078 (@Theadmans , do you have EAC and DR values?) Computer World (EMI) EMI Swindon 746040 2 3:1:16 EAC; 72.2 / 78.6 / 67.1 / 69.2 / 68.1 / 60.8 / 49.7 DR; 15 / 16 / 17 / 14 / 12 / 15 / 13 (@Mbe) US, SRC (possibly this version? Kraftwerk - Computer World ) EAC; 94.4/99.6/85.8/88.9/81.3/74.8/72.0 (@c-eling) (WG Target) EAC; 86.1 / 90.8 / 78.2 / 81 / 74.5 / 68.2 / 65.6 (@Plan9) Elektra/ Asylum Records, 3549-2, Made in U.S.A by WEA Manufacturing Inc. EAC; 94.4 / 99.6 / 85.8 / 88.9 / 81.3 / 74.8 / 72.0 Code: DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR15 -0.50 dB -18.96 dB 5:08 1-Computer World DR17 -0.03 dB -20.47 dB 4:58 2-Pocket Calculator DR18 -1.32 dB -21.94 dB 3:21 3-Numbers DR15 -1.02 dB -19.83 dB 3:19 4-Computer World..2 DR13 -1.79 dB -19.36 dB 7:18 5-Computer Love DR16 -2.52 dB -21.49 dB 6:19 6-Home Computer DR14 -2.85 dB -19.98 dB 4:12 7-It’s more fun to compute -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Same as above. (@albertop) Electric Café (EMI) CDP 746416 2 AR 1:7:1 EAC; 86.8 / 100 / 100 / 89 / 80.3 / 69.8 DR; 16 / 15 / 17 / 15 / 16 / 14 (@Mbe) More data by @Mbe following these links (Nice images with disc pictures and waveforms): Discs 1- 4; http://i.imgur.com/weZzxkd.jpg Discs 5 - 8; http://i.imgur.com/blpHxQK.jpg
My Computer World cd EU 7 24358 16872 3 has the same peak levels and the same DR as the (EMI) EMI Swindon 746040 2 Which is mentioned by albertop in post 2 . My Man Machine cd 077774 60392 8 UK:CDEMS 1520 ///EMI United Kingdom has the same DR and peak levels as the Capitol US cd's, The sound is Glorious , the only problem is Spacelab ( yes, the evil glitch Here is more data from my Radio-Aktivität 1994 cd ( a reissue of the 1986 German cd ( The same mastering!) CDP 564-7-46132 2 KLINGKLANG/// LC 4513 BAR CODE; 0777 7 46132 2 4
I also have a Computerwelt (Capitol) CDP with the following values: 89.7 / 80.0 / 56.6 / 65.0 / 73.5 / 78.1 / 79.0
@sathvyre do you have EAC peak levels and DR values of your 1994 Trans Europe Express CD? I can see the waveforms here. I would be cool to discover other secret remasters from the 90s for the other albums.
I just want to say that I like the sound of both cds: Trans Europa Express 1994 Germany and Trance Europe Express US cd 1995 , they have different mastering but Both of them sound very good.
Nice, this is great way to start a thread and who knows we may even find a pressing of The Man-machine (eng version) without the glitches. Die Mensch-maschine which seems to fit-in with this Discogs listing; Kraftwerk - Die Mensch-Maschine IFPI L046 Matrix; EMI UDEN 7461312 @ 2 1-1-18 NL Same readings as already posted EAC; 65.5 / 56.8 / 58.7 / 74.1 / 76.7 / 50.9 DR; 17 / 15 / 16 / 15 / 18 / 17 The Man-machine EMI variant disc Kraftwerk - The Man Machine Matrix; 746039 @ 3 1-1-19 NL EAC; 81.5 / 69.2 / 64.7 / 71.4 / 77.4 / 67.1 DR; 15 / 14 / 15 / 13 / 17 / 15 EAC / DR also match Capitol 746039 @ 3 010207 which seems to fit-in with this Discogs listing; Kraftwerk - The Man•Machine 2009 on the list is a Remaster / mix The Man-machine (KlingKlang) A981035-01 manufactured by Optimal Media Production is a 2009 slip + jewel case edition (no barcode) which I do not see listed on Discogs. Front 242 Addict made us painfully aware of audio glitches on The Man-machine (Eng version) Hope these glitch samples are correct and comprehensive; timings may vary slightly dropcanvas - instant drag and drop sharing Track 2 – Spacelab, three glitches not heard on the German version (samples 01, 02, 03) 00.06 01.38 Click 02.12 dropout / glitch across channels continues (lesser degree) for some seconds clears at approx 02.18 Track 4 – The Model (glitch not heard on the German version or Compilation English version) 02.36 She’s posing for consumer products now and then (samples 04) Samples available for 7 days only.
Maybe that's true for Tour De France Soundtracks, but not for The Mix: Album list - Dynamic Range Database To my ears the original 1991 version sounds better than the 2009 version (I have both).
-Dentaku (the Japanese version of Pocket Calculator) was added as a bonus track to the Japanese version of Computer World from 1997 (Toshiba TOCP-8974); -The French version (Mini Calculateur) is not available on CD. It was on a 'Westwood One' radio CD, however; -The Spanish version of 'Electric Cafe' was not released on CD. The Spanish 'Sex Object' was on the Westwood One radio CD.
My 1991 disc, although bought in Europe in The Netherlands during 1991/1992 is actually a Canadian Made by Cinram release on Elektra. It's matrix is "CD-60869 MFG BY CINRAM #911201HH". EAC peaks: 99.2 / 99.9 / 99.9 / 97.7 / 87.0 / 95.4 / 71.7 / 79.5 / 81.3 / 95.4 / 95.4 Album DR is 14. Full info on the DR Database and below. Code: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed folder: /Kraftwerk/The Mix ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Filename ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR15 -0.15 dB -17.07 dB 01-01-The Robots.wav DR14 -0.00 dB -15.39 dB 01-02-Computerlove.wav DR14 -0.10 dB -15.76 dB 01-03-Pocket Calculator.wav DR14 -0.43 dB -15.90 dB 01-04-Dentaku.wav DR13 -1.20 dB -16.33 dB 01-05-Autobahn.wav DR14 -0.44 dB -15.99 dB 01-06-Radioactivity.wav DR14 -3.21 dB -19.99 dB 01-07-Trans Europe Express.wav DR14 -2.20 dB -18.33 dB 01-08-Abzug.wav DR15 -2.17 dB -19.11 dB 01-09-Metal On Metal.wav DR14 -0.40 dB -16.29 dB 01-10-Home Computer.wav DR15 -0.84 dB -17.47 dB 01-11-Music Non Stop.wav ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 11 Official DR value: DR14 ==============================================================================================
Thanks @Yost, nice! It's probably safe to assume there's only one mastering for The Mix CD (actually 2, 1 Eng and 1 Ger)? P.S. I've seen that release yesterday, in a Melbourne records store. I should probably get it.
Taking the year of release into account, I would also assume one master too. But there are a lot of different pressings, so proving they're all the same is difficult. One look on Discogs already identifies releases made by EMI Swindon (UK), EMI Uden (NL), DADC Austria, etc.
Level variations to the yellow faced EMI disc; Matrix CDP 796671 2 AR 1:4:6. EMI SWINDON (Images of disc and waveforms already posted) Foobar2000 v1.3.14 Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 Analyzed: Kraftwerk / The Mix (Dated 1991-06-10) DR15 -0.06 dB -17.07 dB 8:58 01-The Robots DR14 0.00 dB -15.39 dB 6:37 02-Computer Love DR14 -0.20 dB -15.95 dB 4:32 03-Pocket Calculator DR14 -0.60 dB -16.26 dB 3:27 04-Dentaku DR13 -1.60 dB -16.74 dB 9:28 05-Autobahn DR14 -0.80 dB -16.40 dB 6:53 06-Radioactivity DR14 -3.29 dB -20.37 dB 3:20 07-Trans-Europe Express DR14 -2.39 dB -18.62 dB 2:18 08-Abzug DR15 -2.19 dB -19.51 dB 4:59 09-Metal on Metal DR14 -0.80 dB -16.69 dB 8:03 10-Home Computer DR15 -0.80 dB -17.86 dB 6:38 11-Music Non Stop June the summer of 1991, traditional ‘House Music’ on the cusp of change developing into more of a electronic, techno, trance base for the mainstream. Kraftwerk must have thought wait a minute we were doing this years ago = THE MIX
The Mix was my first introduction with Kraftwerk , I went to one of the cd stores in Tel Aviv and asked the seller if he can recommend me on a kraftwerk album, he knew that I already like Jean Michel Jarre , Tangerine Dream , New wave, ebm music and electro-industrial. He gave me The Mix cd and said he is sure that I will love it and after listening I will buy all Kraftwerk cds, he was right I loved the music and I bought Radioactivity , I loved Radioactivity from the first listening, the music gives you the feeling that aliens are trying to communicate with you! then I bought all the other albums . P.S . I love Amersfoort , the city and the Netherland are like my second home for me, please say hello from me to Langegracht street and to the fortress
Agree that the 1991 edition of The Mix sounds better: it's more open sounding. But Tour de France Soundtracks also is a different mastering: the original has a digital glitch in the opening track, which got fixed in the 2009, hence I prefer the latter.
would you please share the details what kind of glitch is it? I totally agree, The Mix 1991 has fantastic Mastering, the sound is Clear and beautiful .
