Yes, this is well known. When we talk about the Beatles being involved in mono mixes we are talking from Revolver on. Anyway, it's no secret also that Martin and his assistants saw mono as a priority, and dedicated more time and effort to those mixes. The first two albums is a good example: recorded on two tracks, Martin could have arranged the elements to obtain good stereo and mono mixes, but he just cared for them to make the mono mix easier. Or the fact that he was absent during various stereo mixing sessions of Help! So even when the Beatles were not involved, mono mixes were the definitive version of the album. And just in case, I'll repeat that doesn't mean it's better. I prefer the stereo Beatles for Sale and Help! from that era.
“SHM” Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” – A Behind the Scenes look at The Beatles Sgt. Pepper Sessions (And Yes, I’m Turning Japanese!)
I don't really want to go through 16 pages of discussion to find my answer, so what is the difference between each version? Is there enough difference between the two that I should get the 2009 mono instead? I'm starting to think I should get all the albums on mono vinyl while I can so that I can hear the way they were originally produced.
The 2017 CD is a flat transfer of the mono mastertape, while the 2009 CD had additional eq work done to match that of the 1967 vinyl records (mostly high-pass filtering) The 2009 CD has a little better frequency response in the high end and more obvious dithering. The 2017 CD has slight Channel imbalance, so isn't true mono on paper. (Not really audible though and an easy fix after ripping)
And also both versions don't run at the same speed ! One of them is faster than the other. Now which one is correct, 2009 or 2017 ? I don't remember ! (and I've read the 16 pages ).
The speed difference is negligable. I measured "Lucy" from Both cd's from a certain peak at the start and one at the end. 2009 = 3:21:998 2017 = 3:21:592 Not even half a second in 3 1/2 min
As a purist I chose the 2017 CD. If I want as "mastered for vinyl" version I can fiddle around with that myself. I only wish we had it in hi-res.
Not to mention that the 2017 CD doesn't have any of the "repairs" that the 2009 has. All the various clicks, bumps and pops.
So it does exists ! Don't you think it's strange ? And worth mentioning when someone asks "What are the differences between the two mono cds ?"
Frank , I hereby propose that every thread longer than five pages must have an accompanying Cliff's Notes version of that thread, for those here that can't be bothered doing their thread "homework" .
I don’t understand what’s wrong with asking for a short summary. It’s a request, not an order. Not everybody has the time to search through 16 pages of discussion in order to find one thing.
What an incredible thing to volunteer for, Glenn. The community appreciates it! "You had the time to create 16 pages, but my time is much more important than yours, so could you also take some of your less-important-than-mine time to write me a customized summary of them?" Do you see it now?
Thanks Frank ! I'll start getting my summarizing practice in, using your post. "Glenn is incredible, and appreciated " Yep, this Cliff's Notes thing might work!
I have just compared the two. There are no day/night differences, the SQ is very similar. But I would give the 2009 a slight edge. It seemed to have a little extra vibrancy and presence. The 2014 vinyl beats both of them, in any case.
