The Rush cd mastering thread (part 2)

Minor clip missing some amplifier noise.

 

Thanks a lot for this detailed answer!

I have questions about these two:
Do you disregard the Hi-Res Magee remaster of GUP because of the watermarking? or why do you prefer the Sector 3 remaster?
For RTB have you compared the Magee to the AF SACD and why do you prefer it?

 

The watermarking on the GUP download wasn't a huge issue for me. I just happened to like the Sector's EQ better as it's more similar to the Magee vinyl. I do agree that it could've been less compressed though.
I would've went with the 2015 vinyl for Power Windows as well, but because my copy is either warped or off center, the pitch wavers during the last track on each side. I'll have to get another copy.
I no longer have the AF RTB. When I compared it to the Magee download, I thought the latter had better midrange. Maybe I'll pick it up again somewhere down the road, but I am fine sticking with the Magee and original CD for the time being.

 

Thanks for the clarifications.
And when you mention "original CD" is it one in particular or do all the 80's CDs share the same mastering?

 

Any of the CDs where I specified the original are the same worldwide. I know Fly by Night, Farewell to Kings, Exit Stage Left, and Power Windows are also the same aside from level shifts, though the latter has unique transfers on Marathon and Mystic Rhythms. That's a good thing as it saves time and money that would've been spent tracking down an elusive Canadian or Japanese CD.

 

Indeed. That's what I assumed. Thanks again! That's the kind of posts I like to see on the forum.

 

Time Stand Still (US Single): The full length version of the song is identical to the one on the original Hold Your Fire CDs. The edited version comes from the same digital source (no changes to the mix), but it has rolled-off bass.
This is the first Rush single edit I've heard. It's very weird to hear the song slightly hacked up to say the least.

 

Fly By Night is interesting in that on every original that I've heard the only one that doesn't sound very bright and smeared in the cymbals and actually sounds like a cymbal being hit is the Disque Americ Canadian original pressing. The USA, either Atomic or Silver faced Mercury, is very bad in comparison as is the Germany Atomic. There is a possibility that the Canadian ANMD or WANK pressings might be ok, but I haven't gone there.

 

You’d love the Spirit of Radio 7” edit, then. Probably the worst ever butchering of a Rush song!

 

Never knew about this one. That's a pretty lazy edit; they didn't even try. The edited Time Stand Still sounds at least somewhat professional in comparison.

 

I don’t remember hearing it on the radio that way, but I remember in about 1990 hearing the single edit on a K-Tel compilation album.

 

That two-track single is the first Rush promo CD ever issued.

 

Is this the version these used for Top Of The Pops?

 

Maybe, because it starts the same, but the Top of the Pops video then cuts the song off 40 seconds before the end of the single edit.

There is also a Canadian promo edit that is different than the single edit, slicing and dicing different parts of the song, keeping the full intro but removing the second “invisible airwaves” section.

 

Is that the ANC-1-1002, Dave? I've been using the AMCY-315. It sounds pretty good to me.

 

Yes Gerry it is. Glad you like yours.

 

Interesting. RTB is the album that got me into Rush, I've given every available version a lot of listening over the years. In my own opinion, there isn't a single remaster out there that actually sounds good, all of them have way, way too much midrange.

I made my own personal remaster of the album recently using the AF disc as a starting point (since it was the warmest of the available masters and the closest to how I thought it should sound), and I still ended up cutting about 2 dB @ 3400 Hz with a very broad slope, and adding a bit in the cloud as well, at 150 and 250. It made a dramatic improvement to Geddy's vocals, they sound much more natural, and the drums have more body to them as well. I made very similar changes to Presto and got equally good results.

 

I was browsing thru part 2 of the Magee remasters thread and found this post from @Steve Martin:

That's another reason to get the Magee T4E.

 

Was able to acquire a NM Disque Americ Fly By Night and it definitely beats the W Germany Atomic! My go to cd! Now to acquire the rest. But these are very hard to come by.

 

Came upon this doing a search. I tried the AMCY of Caress of Steel (to get the full album artwork) and hear the bass rolled off a bit from my WG Atomic. It’s a bit brighter. If Signals AMCY is similar, I don’t prefer it. I have the MFSL & the 25.8P. Only one I need to track down is the Anthem ANC-1. But it may be tough.

 

My notes for CoS say: "WG At (= US At = US sf =AMCY 316)"

So I'm not really sure what you're hearing.

The original Canadian Anthems are different that that mastering though, and that's what I like the best. My notes says that one person likes the HDtrx version better though. I haven't compared that one yet.

 

Not just to me. Though peak values are the same and I am not saying it is a different mastering, but my WG Atomic Caress of Steel isn't as bright or has less bottom end as the AMCY. And I am talking a slight difference after several comparisons. I do want to go after those Anthems! Two down. several to go!

 

Are they just extended fades, or are there more substantive differences?

 

I would have to double check since I haven't heard the original CD in a while. I honestly forgot that the Magee versions of these songs were extended until I reread that thread.

 

But, I don't like mine now since you said one is better.