Pretenders S/T SACD coming from MoFi

art · Nov 15, 2014

This SACD kills.

eelkiller · Nov 15, 2014

Espen R said: ↑

From Keith Hirsch CD Resource:
32XD: The catalog number prefix used for an early series of MCA and WEA titles issued in Japan. The “32″ in this prefix reflected the retail price of these discs, ¥3,200. While 32XP discs represent original U.S. issues modified for release by addition of an obi strip and Japanese lyric sheet, 32XD discs were custom releases for the Japanese market, meaning that the discs and inserts bear the 32XD catalog number.

I read great many times on this forum that japanese CDs ("ordinary" CDs), not SHM, XRCD, Blu-spec etc) are rated higher for sonic quality, compared to their counterparts from USA and europe.
Isn't that ironic knowing that USA and europe is located much closer to the original master tapes?
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All I said was I prefer the sound of the 32XD over the USA/Target mastering, I don't know how your post factors into what I said. The 32XD has slightly different numbers according to the DR Loudness web page.

deadcoldfish · Nov 15, 2014

art said: ↑

This SACD kills.
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Are all the effects in the "Phone Call" on the MFSL ? Did you compare to the original LP or CD release ?

007james · Nov 15, 2014

I have the Target version, somehow i don't remastering and/or format upgrade is going to help much, hopefully I'm wrong, really like this album........

Cowboy Kim · Nov 15, 2014

Let's just hope this doesn't end up like last time...

MilMascaras said: ↑

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Good question

Muzyck · Nov 15, 2014

KeithH said: ↑

I'll try to do that. The MFSL disc arrived today, but I'm busy with football right now. All I can say at this point is that there is no booklet with this disc.
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I'll be interested in knowing if The Phone call has the "flown in sound effects". Are they on the master, or not? In any case, I have this on order.

RubenH · Nov 15, 2014

Bender Rodriguez said: ↑

Not to mention the CTA and Chicago II discs. They've been in the pipeline so long they've gone from being gold discs to being SACDs.
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I think I mentioned elsewhere that a rep at Music Direct told me the Chicago releases were being held up for legal, not technical, reasons.

Steve Hoffman · Nov 15, 2014

Muzyck said: ↑

I'll be interested in knowing if The Phone call has the "flown in sound effects". Are they on the master, or not? In any case, I have this on order.
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This album. Geez. Good luck.

No, they are not on the master tape. They would have to be flown in from the EQ'd and limited production dub.

Muzyck · Nov 15, 2014

Steve Hoffman said: ↑

This album. Geez. Good luck.

No, they are not on the master tape. They would have to be flown in from the EQ'd and limited production dub.
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Thanks Steve, that is what I thought. I can't help but think that a number of members will assume that if it doesn't match the LP they are familiar with, it can't be from the "master". That's why I love this place. Live and learn.

Steve Hoffman · Nov 15, 2014

Muzyck said: ↑

Thanks Steve, that is what I thought. I can't help but think that a number of members will assume that if it doesn't match the LP they are familiar with, it can't be from the "master". That's why I love this place. Live and learn.
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There are many things missing from the final album that weren't on the actual master tapes. The first dub of it with everything we know and love on it was the British EQ/Limited dub, since lost or dumped. The US Dub of that Dub is the only tape that has the right stuff on it missing from the masters. It's 3rd generation but it's the tape I'd use to master this album with. Otherwise you'd have to extract the missing stuff from the dub and digitally dump it on to digital transfers of the masters. Dreadful sounding stuff could possibly be the result, or not..

Muzyck · Nov 15, 2014

Steve Hoffman said: ↑

There are many things missing from the final album that weren't on the actual master tapes. The first dub of it with everything we know and love on it was the British EQ/Limited dub, since lost or dumped. The US Dub of that Dub is the only tape that has the right stuff on it missing from the masters. It's 3rd generation but it's the tape I'd use to master this album with. Otherwise you'd have to extract the missing stuff from the dub and digitally dump it on to digital transfers of the masters. Dreadful sounding stuff could possibly be the result.
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Looks like I need to find a first UK pressing of the LP. I really do like this album. A "defining moment" for me. Hard to explain.

Channel Z · Nov 16, 2014

I think this album will never sound that great. I'll stick with my Rhino 2 CD with bonus tracks and original vinyl. Done.

Steve Hoffman · Nov 16, 2014

Muzyck said: ↑

Looks like I need to find a first UK pressing of the LP. I really do like this album. A "defining moment" for me. Hard to explain.
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One of my favorite albums of all time. The old Target SIRE CD was mastered from the USA EQ cutting dub/production copy, the only complete version of the album.

expo62 · Nov 17, 2014

Anyone care to post a review?

evad · Nov 17, 2014

Or sample?

mongo · Nov 17, 2014

Yeah, I thought Keith was gonna post a review?

eelkiller · Nov 17, 2014

Art posted a short review.

jsayers · Nov 17, 2014

eelkiller said: ↑

Art posted a short review.
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The shortest review in history, too!

JohnT · Nov 17, 2014

I've enjoyed for quite some time the sacd version of Space Invader off the Sopranos disc mastered by Stephen Marcussen.

Eh, for anyone looking for a starting point to compare - just saying...

eelkiller · Nov 17, 2014

jsayers said: ↑

The shortest review in history, too!
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Nope, the GTR album got a shorter review when it came out. It went something like this, ahem "SHT".

reverber · Nov 18, 2014

Mobile Fidelity has a Facebook page.

NOS300B · Nov 18, 2014

According to Mobile Fidelity's Facebook page, "The Phone Call" does have the telephone sound effects and was taken from the production dub whereas all other tracks were taken from their own master tapes.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mobile-Fidelity-Sound-Lab/163182960445231?fref=ts

pahrumpf · Nov 18, 2014

eelkiller said: ↑

All I said was I prefer the sound of the 32XD over the USA/Target mastering, I don't know how your post factors into what I said. The 32XD has slightly different numbers according to the DR Loudness web page.
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...so what are the numbers for the 32XD? I don't see it listed on the DR Loudness site.

goodiesguy · Nov 18, 2014

As posted on the MFSL Facebook Page:

The Truth About The PRETENDERS (First Album) Master Tapes

Hello Everyone...I hope this writing finds all of you well and listening to something you love.

Like, hmm...maybe...one of our latest releases. I'm talking about one of my favorite recent projects: PRETENDERS

I'd like to take an opportunity to clear up some confusion that seems to surround this album in the audiophile world. It doesn't deserve to be cast in a shadow of supposition and misinformation.

As most of you probably already know, the master tapes for most single LPs, those that were released between the dawn of the long-playing phonograph record and the advent of the Compact Disc, exist on two reels of analog tape - one for Side One and one for Side Two. And, although the Pretenders' debut was recorded during this period, the master tapes are not so simply configured.

Here, once and for all, are the FACTS regarding these original master tapes.

"Stop Your Sobbing" was the first song recorded for the album. Recorded at Eden Studios in the UK, the master exists on a little 7-and-a-half-inch reel (recorded at 15 IPS) with no other songs from the LP on it. They continued (switching producers from Nick Lowe to Chris Thomas) at Wessex Sound Studios, also in the UK, with Bill Price engineering. Interestingly, each song recorded and mixed at Wessex exists on a separate reel, with separate calibration tones that are exclusively intended for that song. And, at some point near the end of the Wessex sessions, they went over to AIR Recording Studios, London and captured "Brass In Pocket". That's 12 songs, 12 reels of tape.

At the conclusion of all of these sessions, it was decided to create ANOTHER tape, one they would call the "Album Production Master". This was configured in the usual two-reel Side One/Side Two fashion. While making this tape, they sometimes applied equalization, compression and/or limiting...essentially mastering the album in the process...from which the original UK LP was cut. Luckily, MFSL were given direct access to the individual reels, as well...for each and every song...from which we mastered our releases.

All of the songs are in their finished, final form on these individual reels.....except ONE: "The Phone Call". It appears that at some point, it was decided that telephone sound effects would be added to the track. This was not added to the "Phone Call" reel, however, but added to the "Album Production Master". Therefore, one must use this tape for this one song in order to have the correct, final version. Since no earlier mix of the song contains these sound effects, the song as it exists on this reel is the MASTER.

As with all of our releases, nothing was spared in terms of expense or time in order to present this album to you at the highest possible level of quality, faithfulness and integrity. And, also as with all of our releases, we hope you get to hear and enjoy it.

With great respect and appreciation for your support,

Rob LoVerde
Mastering Engineer
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
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eelkiller · Nov 18, 2014

pahrumpf said: ↑

...so what are the numbers for the 32XD? I don't see it listed on the DR Loudness site.
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Sorry, I meant that I compared my disc to numbers posted on that page. Will send you numbers this evening.

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Pretenders S/T SACD coming from MoFi

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Pretenders S/T SACD coming from MoFi

art Senior Member

eelkiller One of the great unwashed

deadcoldfish Senior Member Thread Starter

007james Forum Resident

Cowboy Kim Forum Resident

Muzyck Pardon my scruffy hospitality

RubenH Forum Resident

Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

Muzyck Pardon my scruffy hospitality

Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

Muzyck Pardon my scruffy hospitality

Channel Z Forum Resident

Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

expo62 Forum Resident

evad Well-Known Member

mongo Senior Member

eelkiller One of the great unwashed

jsayers Just Drifting....

JohnT Senior Member

eelkiller One of the great unwashed

reverber Senior Member

NOS300B The Moon Queen

pahrumpf Well-Known Member

goodiesguy Confide In Me

eelkiller One of the great unwashed

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