Me neither. I thought I heard something, then upon repeated listening, and putting it through an RTA, they were indeed the same mastering. I would challenge anyone to tell the difference, even knowing which one was which. No trickery here.
Are you talking about the remasters that came out after the box set? Or was there a "silent" remaster sometime before that?
Are you talking about the original masters he did in the early Eighties from the original tapes? As far as I know, he only mastered the albums twice - in the early Eighties, for the initial batch of CDs, and again in 1999 or 2000 for the current batch.
I can remember in ICE magazine around 1990, saying that Nichols was going to remaster these, and in 1991, the new ones came out with the 'remastered' sticker on them. This was at least a couple of years before the box set was released.
I have a variation of Mastering No. 6. To me it sounds identical to my made in JAPAN for US copy. Details are: On back inlay at upper right corner: MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 There is a barcode ABOVE the 2 above numbers. On the spine: MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 On the cd: MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 at about 2:00. Matrix: Made in Germany MCD 01745 50169033 01. CD is also silver to the center. At 1:00 on the back page of the booklet, to the right of Fagen: MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 Hope this helps. Whatever the case, this is one nice sounding cd.
I've compared my copy of mastering 3 to Mal's sample of mastering 7 and I've switched back and forth for about half an hour, I couldn't hear any differences. If somebody can spot something, please tell me what kind of thing to listen to. Anyway, here's an update again. Mastering 1: 93.8/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.2 MCA Remaster 1999 (Made in EU) 811 745 LC01056 UN899 / Matrix: 50117 811745-2 03/(Made in Germany by Universal M&L) Columbia House ?? / Matrix: 088 112 0562R1 01$ Q (Etched on inner ring: MADE IN USA BY EDC / IFPI 0396) SHM-CD: UICY-90764 / Matrix: MVCZ-10077-1 5W V IFPI L244 Mastering 2: 81.4/99.6/89.1/97.2/100.0/89.1/95.0 MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD4109814 Y3C1C MFD BY JVC Mastering 3: 90.8/91.7/90.6/88.7/96.3/86.2/97.6 MCA Japan for USA 1984 MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-T5E21 MCA US for US MCAD 37214 DIDY 55 (no barcode) / CRC club version (Disc: MCAD-37214 above DIDY 55 above CRC) / Matrix: CI 5650-1 (plus another code that has been scratched out) MCA UK MCA DMCL 1745 (disc: MCA US MCAD-37214) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-1T24 MCA USA DIDX 55 / Matrix: DIDX 000055 3 Mastering 4: 81.4/100.0/100.0/97.4/99.8/100.0/90.4 MCA US MCAD 37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1C15 MFD BY JVC MCA Canada MCABD 37214 DIDX 55 ("Price Code I") / Matrix: MFG BY CINRAM #921120H MCA-37214 MCA Canada MCABD 37214 Cineram / Matrix: LT40 MCABD37214 #40830V04 11 MCA US MCAD 37214 (no DIDX anywhere on discs)/Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1C MFD BY JVC MCA US MCAD 37214 (no DIDX anywhere on discs)/Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1J MFD BY JVC Mastering 5: 66.7/62.4/85.8/72.2/79.1/57.6/85.4 MFSL Ultradisc UDCD 515 / Matrix: MANUFACTURED BY ULTECH UDCD 515 SMF8084-1A Mastering 6 (nearly identical to mastering 3): 90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.2/97.5 MCA Germany MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5627/MCD01745 A1 MCA Germany MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 / Matrix: Made in Germany MCD 01745 50169033 01 (same artwork, slightly different disc?) Mastering 7 (confirmed as Steve Hoffman's mastering, nearly identical to 3 & 6): 90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.1/97.5 MCA US DIDX-000055 / Matrix: MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 MCA UK MCLD 19145 "Mastered by Nimbus" / Matrix: A1388 DMCL 1745 : 1:0 IFPI L123 Mastering 8: 100.0/89.5/95.8/100.0/100.0/96.5/97.0 MCA Japan 1984, VDP-27 / Matrix: VDP 27 1 1
Brian Sweet's biography tells us the following things: - Roger Nichols transferred the original analogue masters to digital in 1981. - The original 1985 US CDs are from those masters (this thread would suggest that's not true in the case of Aja, as the most widely available unremastered mastering is the one identified by Steve as his) - When in January 1992 it was discovered MCA had been using inferior masters transferred from inferior analogue tapes (not the original masters), MCA promised them to reissue the discs 2 at a time with a "digitally remastered" sticker. No mention on who has done these. - The late 90s remasters are indeed from Roger Nichols.
Bump AJA Mastering 1: 93.8/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.2 MCA Remaster 1999 (Made in EU) 811 745 LC01056 UN899 / Matrix: 50117 811745-2 03/(Made in Germany by Universal M&L) Columbia House ?? / Matrix: 088 112 0562R1 01$ Q (Etched on inner ring: MADE IN USA BY EDC / IFPI 0396) SHM-CD: UICY-90764 / Matrix: MVCZ-10077-1 5W V IFPI L244 Mastering 2: 81.4/99.6/89.1/97.2/100.0/89.1/95.0 MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD4109814 Y3C1C MFD BY JVC Mastering 3: 90.8/91.7/90.6/88.7/96.3/86.2/97.6 MCA Japan for USA 1984 MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-T5E21 MCA US for US MCAD 37214 DIDY 55 (no barcode) / CRC club version (Disc: MCAD-37214 above DIDY 55 above CRC) / Matrix: CI 5650-1 (plus another code that has been scratched out) MCA UK MCA DMCL 1745 (disc: MCA US MCAD-37214) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-1T24 MCA USA DIDX 55 / Matrix: DIDX 000055 3 Mastering 4: 81.4/100.0/100.0/97.4/99.8/100.0/90.4 MCA US MCAD 37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1C15 MFD BY JVC MCA Canada MCABD 37214 DIDX 55 ("Price Code I") / Matrix: MFG BY CINRAM #921120H MCA-37214 MCA Canada MCABD 37214 Cineram / Matrix: LT40 MCABD37214 #40830V04 11 MCA US MCAD 37214 (no DIDX anywhere on discs)/Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1C MFD BY JVC MCA US MCAD 37214 (no DIDX anywhere on discs)/Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1J MFD BY JVC Mastering 5: 66.7/62.4/85.8/72.2/79.1/57.6/85.4 MFSL Ultradisc UDCD 515 / Matrix: MANUFACTURED BY ULTECH UDCD 515 SMF8084-1A Mastering 6 (nearly identical to mastering 3): 90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.2/97.5 MCA Germany MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5627/MCD01745 A1 MCA Germany MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 / Matrix: Made in Germany MCD 01745 50169033 01 (same artwork, slightly different disc?) Mastering 7 (confirmed as Steve Hoffman's mastering, nearly identical to 3 & 6): 90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.1/97.5 MCA US DIDX-000055 / Matrix: MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 MCA UK MCLD 19145 "Mastered by Nimbus" / Matrix: A1388 DMCL 1745 : 1:0 IFPI L123 Mastering 8: 100.0/89.5/95.8/100.0/100.0/96.5/97.0 MCA Japan 1984, VDP-27 / Matrix: VDP 27 1 1
Actually, there's an ICE article in the Feb 1992 issue talking about the 'Steely Dan SNAFU'. Here's what it says in part (quoting Andy McKaie, of MCA Catalog Development): This, again, was in Feb 1992. Then, in the Oct 1992 issue, a CD watchdog answer from McKaie
To these you can add another UK CD: Catalog number: "DMCL 1745" (on CD) Bar code 08811 91452 3 Matrix: "DMCL 1745 1:2 Mastered by Nimbus" Total playing time in EAC: 39:54:02 90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.1/97.5
Another update: Mastering 1: 93.8/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.2 MCA Remaster 1999 (Made in EU) 811 745 LC01056 UN899 / Matrix: 50117 811745-2 03/(Made in Germany by Universal M&L) Columbia House ?? / Matrix: 088 112 0562R1 01$ Q (Etched on inner ring: MADE IN USA BY EDC / IFPI 0396) SHM-CD: UICY-90764 / Matrix: MVCZ-10077-1 5W V IFPI L244 Mastering 2: 81.4/99.6/89.1/97.2/100.0/89.1/95.0 MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD4109814 Y3C1C MFD BY JVC Mastering 3: 90.8/91.7/90.6/88.7/96.3/86.2/97.6 MCA Japan for USA 1984 MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-T5E21 MCA US for US MCAD 37214 DIDY 55 (no barcode) / CRC club version (Disc: MCAD-37214 above DIDY 55 above CRC) / Matrix: CI 5650-1 (plus another code that has been scratched out) MCA UK MCA DMCL 1745 (disc: MCA US MCAD-37214) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-1T24 MCA US DIDX 55 / Matrix: DIDX 000055 3 MCA US DIDX-000055 / Matrix: MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 Mastering 4: 81.4/100.0/100.0/97.4/99.8/100.0/90.4 MCA US MCAD 37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1C15 MFD BY JVC MCA Canada MCABD 37214 DIDX 55 ("Price Code I") / Matrix: MFG BY CINRAM #921120H MCA-37214 MCA Canada MCABD 37214 Cineram / Matrix: LT40 MCABD37214 #40830V04 11 MCA US MCAD 37214 (no DIDX anywhere on discs)/Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1C MFD BY JVC MCA US MCAD 37214 (no DIDX anywhere on discs)/Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1J MFD BY JVC Mastering 5: 66.7/62.4/85.8/72.2/79.1/57.6/85.4 MFSL Ultradisc UDCD 515 / Matrix: MANUFACTURED BY ULTECH UDCD 515 SMF8084-1A Mastering 6 (nearly identical to mastering 3): 90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.2/97.5 MCA Germany MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5627/MCD01745 A1 MCA Germany MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 / Matrix: Made in Germany MCD 01745 50169033 01 (same artwork, slightly different disc?) Mastering 7 (confirmed as Steve Hoffman's mastering, nearly identical to 3 & 6): 90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.1/97.5 MCA US DIDX-000055 / Matrix: MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 MCA UK MCLD 19145 "Mastered by Nimbus" / Matrix: A1388 DMCL 1745 : 1:0 IFPI L123 MCA UK DMCL 1745 / Matrix: "DMCL 1745 1:2 Mastered by Nimbus" Mastering 8: 100.0/89.5/95.8/100.0/100.0/96.5/97.0 MCA Japan 1984, VDP-27 / Matrix: VDP 27 1 1
I just purchased a 1977, 1984 "Aja" today. Unfortunately, I don't have another issue to compare with and it's not identified in this thread. The details: MCA US DIDX 55 / Matrix: MCAD-37214-A8E 1 2 (?) No barcode "Manufactured in U.S.A. for MCA..." printed on the disc The little "(?)" above relates to the "1 2" at the end of the matrix code. It's much fainter, appears to have been 'scratched' onto the surface of the disc (whereas the larger font of the rest of the code seems printed on a layer beneath the surface), and I'm not entirely certain that "1 2" are the characters printed. Any ideas?
Can someone put up a wav sample of the song "Aja" from a Steve mastered disc? Very curious to hear it. I recently did a "remaster" from the MoFi CD of the song...
Just checked my copy with EAC. Looks like it matches mastering #3. Peaks: 90.8/91.7/90.6/88.7/96.3/86.2/97.6 Disc info: MCA US MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214 3T21 MFD BY JVC (The "21" after "3T" is smaller and seems to have been printed seperately from the rest of the matrix).
I agree with Andreas. I don't think we have any basis for thinking that the DIDX 55 matrix is version 6. This was based solely on posts 21 and 24, where LP666 simply says that it is Steve's version. There are no EAC levels. Until someone posts them, this should be removed from version 6.
The disc that Steve shot down was one of the early Japan-for-US discs that had "CSR" embossed in the hub. The disc was manufactured by the Japanese CBS-Sony plant. And I have to say, he knew immediately that it wasn't his. I realize the differences that are shown in EAC between the various pressings appear to be minuscule, but Steve knew within about 10 seconds of the first track he listened to. And I think about 5 seconds of **that** was a "courtesy pause". Which just goes to show (as he's said before, repeatedly) the numbers don't tell the whole story. And in this case, unless you have have a disc that exactly matches the one he identified, it's not his work. It may be close, but it's not his work. And believe me, after seeing him display a level of discernment that is **that** precise, the idea of staying in the video business looks much more appealing... -Kevin
