Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime, what's the best sounding version?*

I personally enjoy recent Fates Warning albums a bit more, although I guess one could argue that albums like "A Pleasant Shade of Gray" and "X" aren't really metal albums.

 

Another vote against the 2003 remaster. Brickwalled and clipped.

 

The remasters are beyond terrible. Originals all the way!

 

Can someone post the EAC values for the Japense first pressing? I found a DADC for USA today and I want to see if they match.

Thanks!

 

Any opinion on the version released by Axe Killer? It was a 2 disc set with the second disc being the first EP. How does that compare to the other versions?

 

I found the Axe Killer to be worse than the remaster for compression, can't remember eq.

Anyone know if the Jpn BURRN! release from '96, TOCP-8391, uses the same master as the Jpn first cd release?

Too bad this wasn't recorded a little better, the music and playing is very good.

 

Here you go Chris.

Track 1
Peak level 30.9 %

Track 2
Peak level 74.3 %

Track 3
Peak level 94.7 %

Track 4
Peak level 95.1 %

Track 5
Peak level 89.4 %

Track 6
Peak level 93.7 %

Track 7
Peak level 94.0 %

Track 8
Peak level 94.8 %

Track 9
Peak level 89.7 %

Track 10
Peak level 89.0 %

Track 11
Peak level 94.0 %

Track 12
Peak level 97.0 %

Track 13
Peak level 30.7 %

Track 14
Peak level 54.1 %

Track 15
Peak level 96.3 %

 

I own an early copy of the Warning on Vinyl & that & the Cassette both sound great & much better than the cd's .
Rage for Order also sounds amazing on Vinyl .

Yeh , in the end the band was not happy looking back , Label hated it , Too bad as it's such a strong album , but as mentioned no "great" sounding verisons , allthough if i remember correct the VHS mindcrime home video's sounded really good ........but i have not heard it in a longtime .

 

Thanks Dave!

 

Thanks, the levels match with the 96/10/18 Japanese BURRN! Legendary Masters release (TOCP-8391), which also has a 94/10/19 date listed on the back.

 

My DADC results, looks like we have a match!


Track 1

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track01.wav

Peak level 30.9 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC BF888478
Copy OK

Track 2

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track02.wav

Peak level 74.3 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC EE11BB62
Copy OK

Track 3

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track03.wav

Peak level 94.7 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC A8AA9762
Copy OK

Track 4

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track04.wav

Peak level 95.1 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 9A6FF46D
Copy OK

Track 5

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track05.wav

Peak level 89.4 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 8FB1AAF1
Copy OK

Track 6

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track06.wav

Peak level 93.7 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC E090CDEF
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track07.wav

Peak level 94.0 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC D3F4546B
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track08.wav

Peak level 94.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 45D977D6
Copy OK

Track 9

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track09.wav

Peak level 89.7 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3F7007B1
Copy OK

Track 10

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track10.wav

Peak level 89.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 6EE6F3EE
Copy OK

Track 11

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track11.wav

Peak level 94.0 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 97D2A97A
Copy OK

Track 12

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track12.wav

Peak level 97.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC A40D2373
Copy OK

Track 13

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track13.wav

Peak level 30.7 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC EACADE9F
Copy OK

Track 14

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track14.wav

Peak level 54.1 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 7AA30B1D
Copy OK

Track 15

Filename C:\Users\Chris\Documents\Track15.wav

Peak level 96.3 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC E095ABF7
Copy OK

 

Doesn't really matter much, as the original CD sounds abysmal.

 

Two questions...what was implied by the early post about Dr. X only being on the original pressing? Why in the hell didn't they keep Dave Ogilvie of Skinny Puppy fame on board as engineer for Mindcrime? He was just coming into his own around this time and was fixing to show what he could really accomplish with Puppy's albums Last Rights and Too Dark Park.

 

It would take some pretty heavy EQ'ing to make this album sound good... any suggestions?

 

The first US CD pressing of Mindcrime was a picture disc with Dr. X artwork.

 

More bass, more presence, maybe a slight treble cut to. Might shock a few people but works for me, still not great but better:

For original US master of course

 

Hmmm... I'll give it a try. Not sure much can be done with it, considering that the original was done by Bob Ludwig. If he couldn't do much... makes you wonder if ANYONE can... there's probably a reason why Empire was chosen over Mindcrime by DCC.

 

I bought four Queensrÿche remasters (Warning, Rage For Order, Operation: Mindcrime and Empire). Warning, Rage For Order and even Empire sound pretty ok though they are compressed and VERY loud. But Operation: Mindcrime, it sounds terrible. It's nothing but digital clicks, pops and distortion all over the place. It really hurts my ears, awful. All I can ask is WHY they compressed this so much

Maybe I should buy the original CD. Fortunately the remaster wasn't so expensive

 

I have this on the remastered cd ugh, and the Back On Black double red vinyl and it sounds very good. About 3-4 songs per side. THIS is the way to go.

 

I'm coming into this thread a little late, but I just picked up the new vinyl pressing "from the original master tapes" (yes, I know it was all digitally sourced originally). I have to say that while I like the general sound quality, the "transparency" of the LP, the surface noise on this particular copy is just abysmal. Super loud. You have to crank it to get it to a decent volume, and the noise increases proportionately. My GnR Appetite and AC/DC Back in Black new pressings are whisper quiet, so I know it's not my particular system, just my particular pressing. Too Bad.

 

Yes I have this too and it sounds good. Although I believe they used the remaster CD as source. Managed to clean it up. Sometimes Back on Black is good for things and other times run away fast as in their Painkiller reissue. They used the painkiller remaster CD as source and nothing can save that mess.

I have a sealed copy of 1988 Mindcrime vinyl. Never opened since it was recorded digital and to long for an LP anyway. I am curious to compare to the Back on Black now.

 

Seems I'm the only one who likes the cold stark production of Mindcrime...it matches the subject matter perfectly as far as I'm concerned!

 

Since this is a lose-lose, I am going with the remaster since that is the one I still have.

 

I think it was just the way of these early all digital recordings. At the time the studio level digital gear was really expensive but all albums early digital sound cold and metallic to me. I remember the non pro gear really sucked with latency that made it near impossible to work with.

 

I have the original Mindcrime cassette and the original CD and I always listened to the original Livecrime CD more often.