The Rush cd mastering thread (part 2)

Yep, the 40th Anniversary edition came out earlier this month. The bonus material isn't enticing enough for me to buy it, though.

 

Good to know!

@Ben C. , do you have any DR levels for the CD?

 

Sorry for the lateness - I had to figure out how to get that info, install foobar, etc.
Here we go:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Rush / 2112 40th Anniversary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR10 -0.14 dB -12.77 dB 20:39 01-"2112" (I. Overture, II. The Temples Of Syrinx, III. Discovery, IV. Presentation, V. Oracle: The Dream, VI. Soliloquy, VII. Grand Finale)
DR10 -0.44 dB -12.52 dB 3:35 02-A Passage To Bangkok
DR12 -0.41 dB -13.86 dB 3:19 03-The Twilight Zone
DR10 -0.40 dB -12.67 dB 3:53 04-Lessons
DR12 -1.63 dB -18.08 dB 3:34 05-Tears
DR12 -0.51 dB -14.20 dB 4:02 06-Something For Nothing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of tracks: 6
Official DR value: DR11

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 1411 kbps
Codec: CDDA

 

And while I'm here, the orig Anthem and MFSL info for comparison:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Rush / 2112 (ANC-1-1004)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR13 0.00 dB -16.17 dB 20:38 01-2112
DR13 0.00 dB -15.89 dB 3:34 02-A Passage To Bangkok
DR13 -2.43 dB -18.12 dB 3:19 03-The Twilight Zone
DR13 -1.27 dB -16.77 dB 3:53 04-Lessons
DR12 -5.24 dB -22.23 dB 3:35 05-Tears
DR13 -3.16 dB -18.34 dB 3:59 06-Something For Nothing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of tracks: 6
Official DR value: DR13

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 1411 kbps
Codec: CDDA
=================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Rush / 2112 (MFSL UDCD 590)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12 0.00 dB -14.92 dB 20:34 01-2112
DR12 -0.91 dB -14.56 dB 3:35 02-A Passage To Bangkok
DR13 0.00 dB -15.78 dB 3:19 03-The Twilight Zone
DR12 -0.36 dB -14.59 dB 3:52 04-Lessons
DR12 -2.86 dB -19.88 dB 3:34 05-Tears
DR12 -1.46 dB -16.19 dB 3:59 06-Something For Nothing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of tracks: 6
Official DR value: DR12

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 1411 kbps
Codec: CDDA
=================================================

 

Hopefully someone can help me as I'm about to lose my mind LOL

I'm trying to track down an original Canadian Anthem CD of Hemispheres, and I have not been able to find an original ANC pressing, but have come across a WANK 1014. The seller states the matrix reads:

Matrix / Runout: TV72<019> WANK1014 fabriqué par/made by DISQUE AMERIC CANADA

I realize there are other WANK 1014 pressings with this matrix info:

Disque Americ SMW1 019 ANC11004

So what I'm trying to figure out is do I need to find a WANK CD with the actual ANC matrix etching to ensure the original Anthem mastering, or do all WANK CD pressings contain the same early mastering?

I'd appreciate any help with this, thanks.

 

For Hemispheres, the ANC and WANK are identical.


Rush CD Mastering Comparisons »

 

SA-WEET! Many thanks! Just won auctions for Hemispheres WANK and 2112 VANK CDs, can't wait to hear them.

 

Nice! I have that Rush CD Mastering Comparisons chart saved to my bookmarks. A valuable resource for this confusing catalog.
I probably got it from the far reaches of this thread!

 

Tell me about it, excellent resource, thanks again for posting. Just bookmarked it.

 

1) Congrats on the WANK Hemispheres! I have the ANK (same as the ANC and WANK) and it is my favorite of all of the various the Hemispheres CDs.
2) Take the 'Preferred Mastering' section of the Rush CD Mastering Comparisons chart with a grain of salt. It's a very helpful guide, but I'd disagree with a few of the choices... personal preferences and tastes y'know. And then there's albums like RtB and Presto where I had to play with the audio and make my own 'versions' to make those albums work for me.

 

You will not be disappointed. Those are both my go-to when it comes to the CDs (I have the ANC for Hemispheres, actually). In fact, I consider the 2112 VANK to be the best sounding 2112 of all time (least bright/shrill version, no doubt). Enjoy, my friend

 

I pick them up tonight, as it turns out the seller lives in my city!

 

I've seen folks post samples before, so I'm assuming it's ok, as long as it's not the whole song or album.
Took a few minutes to truncate and upload some comparisons for 2112 and Hemispheres...

2112 - samples of "Something For Nothing" from the ANC-1-1004, MFSL, and 40th Anniversary:
http://www.bentox.com/2112samples.rar
Hemispheres - samples of "The Trees" from the ANK-1014, AFZ, and 1997 Remaster:
http://www.bentox.com/hemisamples.rar

 

I have the Hemispheres WANK and have a tough time telling it from the 2015 hi-res...quite good. Any thoughts on how the 2112 VANK compares to Sean's 2015 remaster? I find the hi-res still a little harsh at the top end...

 

It *may* be helpful with that sample comparison I posted... I know you're referring to a different Sean Magee remaster of 2112, but this one (for the 40th Anniversary CD) has been described as a solution for folks who thought his previous remaster was 'too warm'. Sooo... yea. I think it's too bright and harsh in to the top end - sounds similar to your impressions of the 2015 hi-res. Take a listen - would be interesting to hear your thoughts re: these 2 Magee remasters.

 

↑
Also, I forgot to add until later: rcsrich - on the slim chance that you didn't know - the 2112 VANK original release and the 2112 ANC are identical I believe. So if you want to get an idea of what the VANK sounds like, you can check the sample I posted

 

I got the chance to re-evaluate the '04 Counterparts remaster, and no surprise, it blows. The DR is the same as the original and Studio Albums remaster, but it's really inferior. Bright EQ and distortion are present, especially on The Speed of Love. The '04 remaster is an ear-bleeder, but that doesn't matter a whole lot since the AF SACD is the cream of the crop anyway. If you can't afford the AF, get the original CD or the vinyl reissue with the download code, You'd even be better off with the Studio Albums remaster, which I slightly prefer over the original disc. Just stay away from the '04 version unless you're a collector.

 

May as well post this here since my opinion on this CD still stands:

As controversial as it may be for me to admit this, I'm not a big fan of the Moving Pictures Atomics. While they're not outright bad, there are some things that I don't like about them. My first problem is that the fade-ins at the beginning of Red Barchetta and Vital Signs start about 2 or 3 seconds too late, though most people probably won't mind about this. Another problem is that the the vocals and drums sound a little thin in some spots, and the top and bottom EQ frequencies are a bit rolled-off to me. I should also point out that S. P. Honeybunch thinks the source used for the Atomics might've been an LP production tape. I have some evidence that might support this observation:

According to a frequency chart that I made earlier in this thread, it looks like the "02" and "03" Atomics have virtually no differences in EQ. While the "03" does restore Tom Sawyer's opening drum hit, Vital Signs and Red Barchetta still have the late fade-ins from the "02" Atomic. This may be a sign that both CDs were mastered from the same tape. I also have this old US cassette copy of MP, and guess what? The opening drum hit of Tom Sawyer is partially cut and the late fade-ins of RB and VS are present; just as they are on the "02" Atomic. So this means that the US cassette, the "02" Atomic, and possibly the "03" all came from that same tape.

Currently, my favorite MP mastering is the MFSL, though I'm really gaining some appreciation for the SHM and Anthem VANK-1030 as well.

 

Try the WG Green arrow. My preferred at the moment.

 

The ANC / VANK is the best version of 2112 out there.

 

Which cd version of Hemispheres had such loud tape hiss, you could barely hear the classical guitar at the beginning of La Villa?

I remember hearing that and thinking, wth?

 

Isn't the Green Arrow the same as the 02 Atomic?

 

On paper I believe they are the same mastering.

 

Same as the 01, and a poor mastering overall I feel, but is an extremely rare and very expensive CD - you know what that means on this forum.

BTW Unlike most collectors here, I do not let the cost or scarcity of disc factor into my SQ evaluations and believe me when I say if you dislike the 01 MP atomic then from a sound quality standpoint AVOID the Green Arrow. The CD I mean, as I enjoy the TV show.

 

I've said it before and I still stand by it: the ANC-1-1030 of MP is, IMO, the best CD version of this album, artifact and all. The 03 Atomic has never gelled with me. I absolutely hate the way Neil's drums sound on it compared to other versions. The MFSL is a strong second for me.