Sinatra / Capitol Sound Quality etc.: "This is Sinatra" - (rec. '53-'55, released 1956)

Does This is Sinatra, Volume Two also have two numbers for the Dell LP in the UK? Here's the label from my copy, with the long ED-yadayada number:

 

Could you guys make this thread any more boring? Geez!

 

I think you mis-spelled "meth."

 

Nothing wrong with being a layman, says this layman.

You are confusing/conflating compression of data with compression of dynamics (difference between loud and soft within the recording). I can take a 24-bit WAV file and compress it's data to, say, a 24-bit m4a file, which uses a different (data) compression algorhythm, and it will still have all the dynamic range (louds and softs) of the original, but in a smaller data footprint that should be audibly equal to the 24-bit WAV file. That's different data compression (or lack thereof). I can also take a decent-sounding mp3 file (good dynamics and small data size) and change its format to be a 24-bit WAV file (large amounts of data, by comparison), but then compress the dynamics (not the data), resulting in a 24-bit file that is brickwalled (smashed dynamics). That would be a large, (essentially) uncompressed DATA file with very compressed dyanamics.

The two types of compression function different and separately, although it is not uncommon for high bit rate WAV files to have great dynamics and low-bitrate mp3s to have squished (compressed) dynamics. There's no law saying it has to be that way.

As far as why audio (not data) compression was applied to LPs and 45s, there are many reasons for it, and they range through: 1.) It may just sound better to most people that way; 2.) It may "pop out" better on the jukebox speakers or radio; 3.) It overcame noisy vinyl (to a degree); 4.) tube-based cutting systems were used; and on and on and on.

 

Funny you would mention that. Yesterday I saw an episode of Bewitched in which Darren created a TV commercial for a pizza company, and twice in the episode, people were shown turning on their TVs, and both times reference was made to waiting for "the set to warm up," and I thought: Do any kids today have a clue about what that means?????! Talk about an archaic concept, and in only a few short years (or so it seems)!

Back to the topic at hand: I have nothing new to add, so I'll throw out a discussion point that nobody has picked up on yet. On the linked page in post #1 (link) I tried to lay out a reasonable way of grading the assorted 12-song editions of the "This is Sinatra" compilation, grading each track on each version on a 1 to 5 scale, then trying to mathematically calculate the "best"-sounding version of the collection as a whole, based on the numbers. Here's what came up:

I realize that it's not a perfect system, but ya know....those two UK editions scored pretty darned well (at the top or close to it) on all twelve songs, at least to my ears. Any thoughts? (Criticisms are always okay in my book. That's why I post clips, so we can talk about the sound.)

If you need to go back and listen to some clips from assorted singles from the album, links to each track are at the bottom of the page.

 

Regarding the new hi-res digital download that is available here: http://www.prostudiomasters.com/search?q=sinatra#quickview/album/2172

This strikes me as pretty unspectacular, uninvolving, and "vanilla," possibly because so many if not all of these tracks have already appeared in excellent digital masterings (thanks largely to the work of Ron Furmanek and Larry Walsh around 25 years ago). None of these new tracks strikes me as being as good as those (and some other) versions.

Also, I'll say this until my dying day: The number one thing that influences my opinion is TONE. The tone here is....meh (IMO). It's mediocre. It's not all that great.

Also, in terms of dynamics, these new "hi-res" (whatever the **** that means) transfers really take it squarely in the shorts compared to other, already available versions.

Here are two columns of DR information:
Left= the new prostudiomasters.com downloads
Right = my go-to copies


Not impressive. Not worth the $$$, IMO. My thoughts that have already been posted at my site remain my thoughts after hearing the new set. (Link fixed. Thanks @Simon A .)

Need all twelve tracks in one convenient digital package? Get yourself one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/This-Is-Frank-Sinatra-1953-1957/dp/B000003PHG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412756699&sr=8-1&keywords=sinatra 1953-1957

 

Nothing caught my ear, no, but I haven't played all the tracks straight through. I just spot checked some things for now. 3:39 AM here; deeply diving into this gets to wait! (I heard enough to figure out there wasn't much to hear here!)