D'Angelo - "Black Messiah" (15-Dec-2014)

Russell Elevado @RussElevado
Thnx to @philipmcardle who told me #BlackMessiah is available to own in hi res 96k audio. http://www.hdtracks.com/black-messiah-209416… @HDtracks @questlove @RBMA

Russell Elevado ‏@RussElevado
for those buying the hi res 96k version of #BlackMessiah select the WAV format, the original format we used. @questlove @RBMA @okayplayer

1. 
   
   Philip McArdle ‏@philipmcardle
   @RussElevado Aw, I already went with ALAC. Definitely worse, or is it just safer to avoid an extra conversion if you can?
   
   
2. 
   
   Russell Elevado ‏@RussElevado
   @philipmcardle exactly, avoid another conversion. we haven't approved any hi res formats other than WAV which means they're converting them.

Well, that's interesting. But I don't really understand. If you convert a lossless file to another lossless file, it should sound the same, shouldn't it?

 

Spyder ‏@djspyder
Hi @RussElevado -can you confirm if Black Messiah vinyl will be a single or double LP? Also, which pressing plant will be making it? Thanks

>>>

Russell Elevado ‏@RussElevado
@djspyder yes double vinyl. manufacturing will be at RTI

 

Bought the 96/24 from HD TRACKS last night. Have to listen more closely, I hear some improvements but that pino bass is in the way.... so drudgy. I love the guy and his basslines. I really just wish his sound was less flatwound old dead strings plucked with thumb dub reggae, it has bother me for years since he left fretless world. even on the trio John Mayer album too.

 

" Russell Elevado ‏@RussElevado
@philipmcardle exactly, avoid another conversion. we haven't approved any hi res formats other than WAV which means they're converting them."

Does this guy know anything about lossless compression?

Loving the album, BTW. Pop music sorely needed this.

 

Apologies if this has already been posted, but as I rip my CD, I noticed in the liners (verbatim):

No digital "plug-ins' of any kind were used in this recording. All of the recording, processing, effects and mixing was done in the analog domain using tape and mostly vintage equipment. For best results, listen at maximum volume.

 

Can you post the dynamic range numbers? If you don't know how, just send me a pm.

 

Questlove has replied to more questions since my last post >>>

"will we see, much like the soulquarian movement late 90's early 00's,
Other artists with the Vanguard
Like Common, Badu, the Roots)

(Voodoo, Mama's Gun, LWFC, TFA)"

Questlove: "did some drumming on Erykah's new jawn, the Roots will be taking it back to square one and start recording in jan. who knows?"

---

"why hasnt D done all vocals? is it really because he wanted the Vanguard to get credit or did D take too long to finish/redoing his vocals?
for instance, it's a shame Another Life wasnt entirely done by D imo."

Questlove:
"think of it as 1999.
Another Life is all him.
Charade is all of them tho.
he wants to present it like a "group effort" but this is really him at the center"

---

"1000 deaths, the demo showed a lot potential.
was D in the driver seat for the current remix? or was it you/russ that changed this using the original demo tapes?"

Questlove: "
potential?
don't get nothing twisted. this was his vision.
the only thing not executed were strings on another life.
and the cover.
but yeah this aint no chinese democracy"

---

"2011 to now, how much changed in the sound/mixes of the songs before the Euro tour up till now?"

Questlove: "
small changes in my opinion.
like replacing rhodes for piano in sugar daddy
or adding a vocal part in "1000"
or scrapping drums in "back to the future"
its always a work in progress. just a slow cotdamn work in progress"

 

Awesome to hear double LP and also RTI - doing things right!

Still curious to know if the LP will be using a digital master or was it a straight analog (AAA) transfer? In keeping with the tradition of other elements in the album, recording / mixing in analog, you would think for the LP they would go AAA all the way!

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed folder: /Users/gabe/Music/HDtracks/D'Angelo/Black Messiah
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR8 -0.30 dB -9.72 dB 01-Ain't That Easy.m4a
DR6 -0.30 dB -8.15 dB 02-1000 Deaths.m4a
DR6 -0.30 dB -8.58 dB 03-The Charade.m4a
DR8 -0.30 dB -10.12 dB 04-Sugah Daddy.m4a
DR7 -0.30 dB -10.20 dB 05-Really Love.m4a
DR8 -0.27 dB -9.63 dB 06-Back to the Future (Part I).m4a
DR8 -0.30 dB -9.94 dB 07-Till It's Done (Tutu).m4a
DR8 -0.30 dB -9.60 dB 08-Prayer.m4a
DR7 -0.30 dB -9.80 dB 09-Betray My Heart.m4a
DR9 -0.30 dB -11.63 dB 10-The Door.m4a
DR7 -0.30 dB -9.49 dB 11-Back to the Future (Part II).m4a
DR7 -0.30 dB -9.06 dB 12-Another Life.m4a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of files: 12
Official DR value: DR7

==============================================================================================

 

I'm guessing D'Angelo told Pino to play that way. When you read Quest's comments about recording Voodoo, D'Angelo constantly had to tell him and Pino to play behind the beat and make things murky.

 

Someone should just ask Russ Elevado that question on Twitter. I'd do it myself, but I don't have an account.

 

That's even a little worse than the CD dynamic range-wise. How do you like the sound (compared with the CD)?

 

Those numbers confirm my initial impression of the 24 bit Qobuz FLAC download ie nothing to write home about. Five star album but I am a bit let down by the sound (Naim/Linn DS playback).

Someone posted a tweet from the engineer stating the only hi red download they approved was WAV - all others are conversions. My Qobuz FLACS are not "conversions" - They should be identical to the WAV's

 

Good to here- I have a CD waiting for me at the Post Office. I want to see if it sounds better than my Qobuz 24 bit download

 

I don't have one either.

 

I think it sounds fine, but I don't live and die by DR numbers. Especially in this case, you can bet the dynamic range in the result of an artistic choice. Whether that choice is good or bad is up to the listener, of course.

 

Ok, I just asked him via Twitter. I'm not into LPs but I felt like helping you guys...

 

Man, can't get that nasty funk of "1000 Deaths" outta my head. What a statement to put that track second on the album. I don't think I've ever heard a dirtier groove. Filthily infectious!

 

Much appreciated!

 

Been stuck in my head for two days straight. The chorus section takes it to the next level for me. And also the glitchy / bass guitar muted noise makes the track too!

 

That's great. I'm curious which version you're gonna prefer.

 

Good news indeed. This just went from "wait for reviews" to "preorder now" for me. And if it turns out to be AAA 2LP for $24 I'm going to be super stoked.

EDIT: Preordered! $29.97 shipped ($23.99 + $5.98) from D'angelo official. That seems like a completely fair price with reasonable shipping.

 

It's on Spotify.

 

He replied. Here you go >>>

Russell Elevado ‏@RussElevado
@dagroovologist we cut laquers with the 96k digital album master. We had to slightly adjust the EQ for the vinyl.

 

Awesome, thanks for the information!