Neil Diamond - His 12 Greatest Hits Question

[audiodrome]

Why is it that the MCA 12 Greatest Hits CD sounds so much better than the same versions on the "In My Lifetime" box set? I think I read somewhere that the original Greatest Hits LP was remixed and these versions were also used for the CD, but for the box set, the original mixes were used. Can someone shed some light on this?

[Steve Hoffman]

Good question that I don't know the answer to. I'm sure someone here does.

[Grant]

I happen to think the tracks on the box sound better.

[Dave]

The 12 GH album was mastered by Glenn Meadows for the gold cd first and used the original master tape and the box set didn't use the master tapes.

[Grant]

Originally posted by Dave
The 12 GH album was mastered by Glenn Meadows for the gold cd first and used the original master tape and the box set didn't use the master tapes.

Are you sure? Where can I read about this to confirm this? Also, I did not like Glen meadows remastering because it was trebly to my ears, kind of like if Bill Inglot had done it.

[Dave]

Originally posted by Grant
Are you sure? Where can I read about this to confirm this? Also, I did not like Glen meadows remastering because it was trebly to my ears, kind of like if Bill Inglot had done it.
On the back of my gold cd it says "mastered from the original source". I would surmise that they (MCA) would use the same mastering for the regular release, post 1993, or is this sort of thing not common practice?

I would agree with you Grant that some, but not all, of Meadows mastering is high-end edgy, but not exactly ear-bleeder material either, as I've heard alot worse.

[peterC]

I was wondering what you guys think of the sound on the 2 disc Glory Road compilation?

I thought it was excellent when I first picked it up. Haven't played it for a while.

[Bob Lovely]

All,

I have the MCA Gold CD and it was definitely mastered by Glenn Meadows. I have always preferred this version for a more open, airy sound with deeper low end. The highs are slightly crisp but the original 45s and LPs sound the same way as well. I prefer Meadows mastered version to the Box Set versions that, to my ears, sound slightly more compressed. Packed away, I have an audiophile LP pressing, mastered in the early 80's, of this line-up that is very well done. I will have to pull it out for a comparsion.

Bob :)

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Bob Lovely
I have the MCA Gold CD and it was definitely mastered by Glenn Meadows. I have always preferred this version for a more open, airy sound with deeper low end. The highs are slightly crisp but the original 45s and LPs sound the same way as well.

That's interesting.

Glenn Meadows is a big fan of digital workstations and noise reduction. His version of Who's Next is bright as hell and has NO hiss. I remember listening and thinking "this isn't right".

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by lukpac


That's interesting.

Glenn Meadows is a big fan of digital workstations and noise reduction. His version of Who's Next is bright as hell and has NO hiss. I remember listening and thinking "this isn't right".

lukpac,

I do not care for his Who's Next either. His Buddy Holly is too bright on the Mono cuts. I do really enjoy his Patsy Cline and Neil Diamond. A question--are you a user of digital work stations? If so, no personal disrespect is intended by comments in this and other posings in other threads.

Bob :)

[audiodrome]

Glenn Meadows mastered an album that I engineered and produced for the Pousette-Dart Band back in 1994 and at that time he was very big on Sonic Solutions, but as I remember he did very little sonic-tweaking and didn't generally use No-Noise as a "rule of thumb".

[audiodrome]

Actually I was thinking of someone else, Glenn Meadows was using the SADIE system for my session.

[lukpac]

Originally posted by audiodrome
Glenn Meadows mastered an album that I engineered and produced for the Pousette-Dart Band back in 1994 and at that time he was very big on Sonic Solutions, but as I remember he did very little sonic-tweaking and didn't generally use No-Noise as a "rule of thumb".

Well, listen to Who's Next. The hiss is GONE.

[joelee]

Have only heard the original aluminum "12 Greatest Hits" and "Glory Road" and they sound Great.

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Bob Lovely
I do not care for his Who's Next either. His Buddy Holly is too bright on the Mono cuts. I do really enjoy his Patsy Cline and Neil Diamond. A question--are you a user of digital work stations? If so, no personal disrespect is intended by comments in this and other posings in other threads.

I wouldn't say a "big" user, but yes, I use Pro Tools on a Mac for some home projects. However, my point is less "I think digital workstations are great" than "it's more the person than the equipment." It seems as if people here like to think "if it was mastered on a digital workstation, it *must* be bad" - which simply isn't so.

[Grant]

I proudly use DAWs. There is nothing wrong with DAWs except for the person using it.

Many people are forgetting that it's NOT digital that makes the music sound bright, cold, lifeless, whatever, it is what the guy (or gal) behind it does to the sound, and believe me, they are screwing with sound at every turn!

BTW, just because a CD says it it made fron "original tapes" means nothing! An "original" tape could be an original copy of a copy, or an original cassette dupe copy, for all that phrase is worth!