Hi-Res Download News (HDTracks, ProStudioMasters, Pono, etc.) & Software/Mastering Part 12**

It's actual 24bit, the bitrate would show the same as the CD if it were fake 24 and only 16bits (because both are FLACs so the FLAC encoding would have done away with empty bits). It may be a new transfer, but it sounds darn near identical to me:

 

Imagine if it is Kevin Grey's L.P. mastering!

 

Anyone taken the plunge on this? Or should I take a hit (and the inevitable disappointment) for the team?

 

Ok Computer is only £9.59 on Qobuz

 

I'm late to go out, but it's loud.

Doesn't look like the 2003 remaster. All 7's and 8's. Two 9's.

 

Decade is 36 bucks for the 24/96 download at HDTracks. Too rich for my blood at the moment. Not available at NeilYoung.com as of yet but I'm willing to wait if it's significantly cheaper than HDTracks.

 

Keep an eye out on livedownloads.com as well. The rest of his albums are much cheaper on there than HDTracks as well

 

@c-eling, @art, and @Merrick

Finally bought Colour this AM from HDTracks (along with OK Computer), and, while admittedly not really having enough attention span to sit and actively appreciate it, I'm a bit perplexed right now. It's clearly not the 1997 re-master, with its horrible clipping and boominess, so, I'm guessing it was sourced from the original '86 release, but, something still feels different.

I'm certain someone mentioned this earlier, and I apologize for not giving proper credit, but, there was a DVD-A in 2012, right? I've never owned that, so, perhaps this is what I'm listening to?

Anyhow, it seems to have a slight or subtle improvement when it comes to instrumental separation. I guess "air" is what they call it on the best of hi-res releases? I'm not great with articulating using the accepted terminology.

I guess my main issue is how this was achieved with what has to be a digital master. I'm grateful for any production pros in here who care to chime in....thanks.

Hope this eventually helps folks reach a decision on this one!

 

This definitely occurred with Remain in Light! A curio for sure! Some different mixing choices are apparent on the 5.1 fold-down. It may not be "proper", and, it hasn't been fixed since being put up in 2011 (to my knowledge, anyhow), but, it sure is an interesting and unintended collector's item, of sorts!

 

Does anybody have a handle on Purple Rain...I understand it is 24/96 with about a third of the expanded edtion being 24/44.1.

 

For anyone using Tidal, the MQA Masters version is up for this one. Full 24/96 software-based decoding, no MQA DAC needed. Gonna have a listen a bit later.

 

It is available on livedownloads but only in MP3.
WTF is up with that?
24/192 is $46.98.
C'mon.

 

Looks like it. Any info on whether this album was originally all analogue or was it an early digital master? If it was all analogue there is no reason at all for doing 44.1khz.

 

I know, it is like $30 USD on 7digital France with conversion but 7digital has prohibited other country purchasing since 2016 even with a VPN.

I also don't understand why in the European 7digital stores customers can purchase high res track by track for a lot of the albums that are "Album Only" at the US 7digital store?

 

The download from Radiohead's website (24/96 wav file) seems to have demos substituted for the last four tracks of the album. Weird. Plus, it sounds loud and compressed on some of the tracks, like the opening song Airbag for instance. It's been awhile since I listened to the original CD, so maybe I should do a comparison.

 

I am not a DR person so my responses are usually based on my ears only, and I really do enjoy the sound of the 96/24 remaster. I like when you can hear a guitar being strummed so it says clear and crisp to my 53 yr old ears. The bonus tracks are exceptional as well in clarity and crispness.

It has been a while since I listened to OK Computer so to me, today's download of the 20th anniversary edition was well worth it. Disclosure, I am a Radiohead fan and will get all their stuff when the 24 bit version comes out. I also enjoyed In Rainbows in 24 bit when others on the site did not.

 

I'm with Deano. Radiohead may not play nice with a DR Meter, but, they do make pretty noise.

 

There was an SACD in 2003, with excellent DR values (10-17, average 13), distinct from the 1997 remaster. The mastering was reused for the DVD. I think that's what it is.

The master seems to be analogue, although there may be digital processes in there.

 

Thanks so much, Plan! Rock-solid as usual...

 

Looks like Purple Rain got compressed to hell:

Album details - Dynamic Range Database

Too bad. The earlier edition sold by HD Tracks supposedly sounds a lot better. Wish I'd picked it up now...

 

Not a third. 6 of the 26 bonus tracks on discs 2 and 3 combined are 24/44.1. 5 of the 6 are on the "vault" disc; 1 of the 6 is on the "B-sides and singles"disc. (The 7" edit of "When Doves Cry", only his biggest single ever. Way to go, WB.)

HDTracks now has an accurate accounting:

Purple Rain Deluxe (Expanded Edition) | HDtracks - The World's Greatest-Sounding Music Downloads

 

where has this been confirmed? - and are you referring to the album proper or the b-sides?

 

Excellent thank you for clarification.

Yes, I was surprised HDT did note the 44.1 tracks when first listed, they usually do.

 

False alarm. The audio connector from the output of my DAC was failing, and I wasn't getting the vocals properly. It was intermittent, but is now dead, so I will have to fix the cable. I compared the download file to the original CD from 1997. Apparently it's just a case of aggressive-sounding mixes on the louder, rockier tracks. Nothing particularly wrong with the new remastering.

 

Any spectral diagrams of the OK Computer 96/24 files?