I would agree with this. They're pretty good, but I would have been more pleased if there was no additional compression. I've gone back to the original W. German for Brothers In Arms. I've sold the original WB pressings I had except for Love Over Gold, so I can't really compare them. IMO, they're all enjoyable.
I believe most of us are thinking of the 1996 remasters. That version of Brothers In Arms has a DR value of 12, which isn't as good as the original CD, but far from horrendous.
Hi! If you have EAC installed, you can compare it yourself Peak values for my unremastered German (not West) Vertigo: 100.0 %/85.1 %/100.0 %/100.0 %/100.0 % P.S. Merry Xmas
You must be thinking of the 2005 SACD Hybrid of Brothers In Arms, which was a one off, and yes, not very good. When I think of the Dire Straits Remasters I am thinking of the 1996 remastering of the entire catalogue. The 1996 Remaster of Brothers In Arms is quite good and while not as dynamic as the original mastering, better in all other respects including EQ.
Original Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms CD released and purchased in 1985 VS. 2005 20th anniversary remastered by Bob Ludwig Comparing the first track "So Far Away" Dynamic Range 2005 - 8 1985 - 20 Wave form Top is 2005, lower is 1985 Even without knowing what the DR was or seeing the waveform or having any prior knowledge of brick-walling I could hear something that was awful about the 2005 remaster. My 1985 version is a killer and sounds fantastic so I have no reason to chase after the elusive "good remaster". I've also done listening comparisons of Making Movies. Warner 2000 SBM remaster 1 47771-2 vs. an original Made in Japan (Sanyo) 3480-2 IMHO the original sounds much nicer and when I compared the wave forms I found similar to BIA comparison. I also have an original DS self titled and the Japanese SACD only version and in that case the original (not remastered) sounds good, but the SACD sounds better. So JJAY with all due respect your generalization is not true in my experience. I suspect that in some of these cases when a person thinks the remaster sounds great it is because their listening system is not good enough to reveal the truth. I should know because I used to have a fairly average system and in 2008 I upgraded to a much better system and I have since discovered that a lot of my original CDs purchased in the 80's and early 90's have hidden treasure I never knew was there.
Dumped my remasters some time ago and got the original Warner Bros. CDs back. S/T-Japan Target Communique-Japan Target Making Movies-Japan for US Love Over Gold-US WEA pressing Brothers In Arms-WG for US On Every Street- US WEA pressing Never let go of the Money for Nothing/Best of disc.
Post waveform first, read later. 1996 - original Bob Ludwig remastering of Dire Straits catalogue, pretty nice sound IMO. First album has complete tracks unlike some early discs (Vertigo Blue Swirl and Orange fan discs for example). 2005 - Brothers in Arms remaster - compressed mess with waveform sending people running into the streets. 2011, 2012 - DS catalogue up to Brothers In Arms on SHM-SACD - verdict is still out on S/T and Love Over Gold. Guessing the old discs win out as per usual.
I agree. It seems to me that Mark Knopfler's voice is slightly more prominent in this remastered version. And so you hear more texture and it sounds more lifelike, at least for the Love over Gold and Brothers in Arms CDs. I can't tell much difference for Making Movies.
Yeah. I'm not super impressed with the EQ moves on the original CD. It's not bad, it just sounds a little thin...not warm enough. But I would take that with all dynamics in tact over a compressed remaster any day, no matter how slight the compression is.
Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you as well! I do not have EAC installed to make the comparisons. A quick search revealed something called "Exact Audio Copy" - is this what you are referring to? I did listen to the Canadian Vertigo, and like it very much. To me, it sounded very smooth and dynamic. I also have a BMG Music Service version on Warner Bros. which appears to be a pre-remastered one, although I'm not totally sure. The booklet has that language you used to see on the early releases describing the CD format, which was generally not used for remastered versions. I'll have to do a listening comparison. I also have the LP on Quiex II vinyl which I picked up used in excellent condition a couple years ago for just a few dollars. This might just be one album where every version is a good one.
yep, it's exact audio copy. Need help? This thread can give you the answers! http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=184533&highlight=eac
I must admit, I'm a little confused about the "remastered" status for Brothers In Arms. As has been observed in the thread about the HDTracks "24/192" version of this BIA was originally recorded in Redbook digital. So, you're not going to get a "remaster" of it in the way you'd get a remaster of an album recorded in analog, such as the Beatles' 2009 sets or SH's work with Audio Fidelity. What you'd be getting could probably be better described as a "re-tweaking" of the original digital files. And what sort of re-tweaking was done? Well, to start off with, let's see some Dynamic Range Meter results. First up is the plain generic U.S. Warner Brothers original release (which just happens to be the first CD I ever purchased): Code: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Dire Straits / Brothers In Arms (Original CD Release) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR20 0.00 dB -21.95 dB 5:13 01-So Far Away DR19 0.00 dB -21.38 dB 8:26 02-Money For Nothing DR13 -5.95 dB -21.49 dB 4:12 03-Walk Of Life DR14 -7.78 dB -24.88 dB 6:34 04-Your Latest Trick DR13 -12.70 dB -28.90 dB 8:31 05-Why Worry DR17 -2.43 dB -23.32 dB 6:58 06-Ride Across The River DR14 -2.18 dB -21.78 dB 4:40 07-The Man's Too Strong DR18 0.00 dB -20.38 dB 3:41 08-One World DR15 -4.00 dB -23.49 dB 6:56 09-Brothers In Arms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 9 Official DR value: DR16 And now, the remastered version: Code: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Dire Straits / Brothers In Arms (2006 Remaster) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR14 -0.20 dB -15.66 dB 5:12 01-So Far Away DR11 -0.20 dB -13.64 dB 8:26 02-Money For Nothing DR10 -0.20 dB -12.81 dB 4:13 03-Walk Of Life DR13 0.00 dB -14.77 dB 6:34 04-Your Latest Trick DR12 -3.01 dB -18.47 dB 8:31 05-Why Worry DR12 0.00 dB -15.19 dB 6:58 06-Ride Across The River DR12 -0.20 dB -16.08 dB 4:40 07-The Man's Too Strong DR12 -0.20 dB -13.79 dB 3:41 08-One World DR12 -0.20 dB -16.01 dB 7:00 09-Brothers In Arms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 9 Official DR value: DR12 Yikes! Does the term "squashed flat as a pancake" seem an overstatement? Considering that some here have professed a love for the remaster, I wonder if this could be "Exhibit A" for SH's contention that people actually prefer their music to be somewhat compressed? Oh, well, I suppose that all those listeners (if any) who complained about Why Worry being "too damned soft" will be happy now. And I'm sure the whole remaster sounds a lot better on iPod ear-buds...
Not when compared to DR16 for the same source. And look at Money For Nothing. DR19 on the old CD, DR11 on the new one!
If you thought the 1996 remaster of BIA (not 2006 as you stated) was 'squashed', then take a look at 2005 BIA 20th Anniversary Edition HDCD (RBCD layer of hybrid SACD): -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Dire Straits / Brothers In Arms [2005 Remaster] (HDCD) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR8 -6.12 dB -15.53 dB 5:12 01-So Far Away DR7 -6.12 dB -15.64 dB 8:26 02-Money For Nothing DR6 -6.12 dB -14.20 dB 4:12 03-Walk Of Life DR8 -6.12 dB -15.85 dB 6:34 04-Your Latest Trick DR11 -6.12 dB -19.46 dB 8:31 05-Why Worry DR10 -6.12 dB -18.73 dB 6:58 06-Ride Across The River DR7 -6.12 dB -17.24 dB 4:40 07-The Man's Too Strong DR8 -6.12 dB -15.89 dB 3:40 08-One World DR8 -6.12 dB -17.07 dB 7:00 09-Brothers In Arms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 9 Official DR value: DR8 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 24 Bitrate: 760 kbps Codec: FLAC ======================================== ======================================== Pushed even further by Bob Ludwig (who incredibly mastered all 3 BIA CD versions, I believe)...
Since we're throwing DR numbers around, here's the "early" European master (matrix 824 499-2 02 or 03) -- pretty much the same really: Code: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Dire Straits / Brothers In Arms [] 824 499-2 03 * [] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR20 0.00 dB -21.86 dB 5:12 01-So Far Away DR18 0.00 dB -20.62 dB 8:26 02-Money For Nothing DR13 -4.98 dB -20.62 dB 4:12 03-Walk Of Life DR14 -7.61 dB -25.12 dB 6:34 04-Your Latest Trick DR13 -12.86 dB -28.84 dB 8:31 05-Why Worry DR17 -2.78 dB -23.27 dB 6:58 06-Ride Across The River DR14 -3.21 dB -22.75 dB 4:40 07-The Man's Too Strong DR18 -0.95 dB -21.49 dB 3:41 08-One World DR15 -4.95 dB -24.21 dB 6:59 09-Brothers In Arms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 9 Official DR value: DR16 And the version of the nightfly's "Original CD Release" with the glitch on "Your Latest Trick" (which pushes the track from DR14 to DR15 in the space of just a few samples ): Code: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Dire Straits / Brothers In Arms [] 824 499-2 07 # [] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR20 0.00 dB -21.91 dB 5:12 01-So Far Away DR19 0.00 dB -21.38 dB 8:26 02-Money For Nothing DR13 -5.95 dB -21.49 dB 4:13 03-Walk Of Life DR15 -0.22 dB -24.88 dB 6:34 04-Your Latest Trick DR13 -12.70 dB -28.90 dB 8:31 05-Why Worry DR17 -2.43 dB -23.32 dB 6:58 06-Ride Across The River DR14 -2.18 dB -21.79 dB 4:40 07-The Man's Too Strong DR18 0.00 dB -20.38 dB 3:41 08-One World DR15 -4.00 dB -23.49 dB 6:57 09-Brothers In Arms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 9 Official DR value: DR16 Can anyone run the numbers on the fourth pre-remaster version (T1 peak @ 79.4%)?
^^^ Here you go: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Dire Straits / Brothers In Arms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR20 -2.00 dB -23.87 dB 5:12 01-So Far Away DR18 -2.00 dB -22.62 dB 8:26 02-Money For Nothing DR13 -6.98 dB -22.62 dB 4:13 03-Walk Of Life DR14 -9.61 dB -27.12 dB 6:34 04-Your Latest Trick DR13 -14.86 dB -30.84 dB 8:31 05-Why Worry DR17 -4.78 dB -25.27 dB 6:58 06-Ride Across The River DR14 -5.21 dB -24.75 dB 4:40 07-The Man's Too Strong DR18 -2.95 dB -23.49 dB 3:41 08-One World DR15 -6.95 dB -26.21 dB 6:59 09-Brothers In Arms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 9 Official DR value: DR16 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 16 Bitrate: 563 kbps Codec: FLAC ================================================================================
It seems I have the same one as member "testikoff". I added the matrix info. Code: foobar2000 1.1.10 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 log date: 2012-04-07 10:11:32 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Dire Straits / Brothers In Arms [matrix: 824 499-2 11 *] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR20 -2.00 dB -23.87 dB 5:12 01-So Far Away DR18 -2.00 dB -22.62 dB 8:26 02-Money For Nothing DR13 -6.98 dB -22.62 dB 4:12 03-Walk Of Life DR14 -9.61 dB -27.12 dB 6:34 04-Your Latest Trick DR13 -14.86 dB -30.84 dB 8:31 05-Why Worry DR17 -4.78 dB -25.27 dB 6:58 06-Ride Across The River DR14 -5.21 dB -24.75 dB 4:40 07-The Man's Too Strong DR18 -2.95 dB -23.49 dB 3:41 08-One World DR15 -6.95 dB -26.21 dB 6:59 09-Brothers In Arms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 9 Official DR value: DR16 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 16 Bitrate: 1411 kbps Codec: CDDA ================================================================================ I am quite surprised to see so many different versions of the pre-remaster. Isn't the Japan for US Warner Bros. different from these? Maybe someone could post peak levels of that version also.
