View Full Version : Magazine subscription recommendations?
Mattb
05-07-2002, 05:58 PM
Hi All,
As a newcomer here, I was wondering if there are and good magazines that discuss remastering (at least to some degree) and the like? I have seen references to Stereophile magazine and Ice magazine searching the forums here.
Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Matt
:)
jason r. baur
05-08-2002, 05:54 AM
Matt,
I recommend an in-depth, informative publication called ICE wholeheartedly. I swear I am not being pressured into saying that.;)
Bob Lovely
05-08-2002, 05:59 AM
Originally posted by jason r. baur
Matt,
I recommend an in-depth, informative publication called ICE wholeheartedly. I swear I am not being pressured into saying that.;)
:D :D :D
Bob
jason r. baur
05-08-2002, 06:00 AM
Bob,
I just couldn't resist.
BradOlson
05-08-2002, 06:00 AM
I like reading Goldmine as well. As far as general music fanzines go I will be getting a magazine devoted to only the country legends entitled Country Music Greats, for information on this magazine go to www.purecountrymusic.com which is the website for Catalog Music Co. in Nashville that publishes the magazine, plus you can order lots of hard to find country music as well.
TSmithPage
05-08-2002, 06:44 AM
I don't subscribe to ICE but have looked through several issues and believe it fills a niche that no other magazine fills re: new releases, remasters, bootlegs and errors in CDs. Unfortunately, the subscription cost is quite high compared to the number of pages you get which has discouraged me from subscribing to it so far.
As far as comprehensive reviews of all new releases and reissues, I find that the British mags, such as Q and Mojo, do a far superior job of covering this than do any american mags. They're also expensive, but you get a lot more content for your $, IMO.
It might be a good idea to find a local source for music magazines, buy a bunch over a few months and see what meets your needs or catches your interest. I don't subscribe to any myself but I am seriously considering Stereophile as Steve H. seems to be in there a lot! :)
I've read ICE and it seems to be a pretty good one too. But really it's up to you, dependant on your tastes!
Have fun!
Bob Lovely
05-08-2002, 07:01 AM
Originally posted by Gary
It might be a good idea to find a local source for music magazines, buy a bunch over a few months and see what meets your needs or catches your interest. I don't subscribe to any myself but I am seriously considering Stereophile as Steve H. seems to be in there a lot! :)
I've read ICE and it seems to be a pretty good one too. But really it's up to you, dependant on your tastes!
Have fun!
Gary,
Can I suggest Home Remodeling magazine?
Bob :D
BradOlson
05-08-2002, 07:05 AM
Exactly right, Gary. I wish this area were good to sample lots of music magazines other than the guitar rock mags and such fluff as Rolling Stone, SPIN, etc. I do buy Country Weekly occasionally on newsstands but they don't cover country reissues which I'm sure Country Music Greats does cover, Country Music Magazine also covers reissues as well if you are a member of their CMSA and get their newsletter which is worth the cost of the magazine alone but I'm sure Country Music Greats will do the best coverage of country reissues overall.
Originally posted by cbsolson
....fluff as Rolling Stone, SPIN, etc. I do buy Country Weekly occasionally on newsstands but they don't cover country reissues which I'm sure Country Music Greats does cover.....
I seem to remember Rolling Stone used to have a lot more substance in the "olden days" but I guess they have to change to compete. :( What this country needs (heck, make that North America!) besides "a good 10 cent cigar" is a serious music review of upcoming releases and remasters, who did them, the problems the engineer encountered, viewpoints from the band involved, etc. That way if something sounds..... ummm.... non audiophile-ish? (look Websters, a new word!) there would be a good explanation for it. Such as the original tapes are lost, best copy was a Japanese 2nd generation, this is the equipment used, we had to no-noise it because of a defect on the tape, etc., etc.
That way we'd know why so-and-so HAD to use sonic solutions, goose the - whatever - etc.
On the other hand, the poor mastering engineer may just say "Company Policy dictates these EQ settings" and that's that.
Anyway, it's just a thought.
lukpac
05-08-2002, 07:43 AM
Originally posted by Gary
That way we'd know why so-and-so HAD to use sonic solutions, goose the - whatever - etc.
On the other hand, the poor mastering engineer may just say "Company Policy dictates these EQ settings" and that's that.
The simple answer to stuff like this is the engineers really do think what they are doing improves the sound. Some mastering engineers simply feel that hiss is always bad, lots of compression makes things jump out more, and that a jacked up high end sounds good. This isn't some big conspiracy...
BradOlson
05-08-2002, 08:28 AM
I agree Rolling Stone was better in the olden days but I'm talking about the here and now which is fluff in it.
The only problem that I've encountered is that Stereophile tends to rate some equipment incorrectly. A buddy of mine purchased a Perreaux set-up based on what was said in Stereophile, years ago mind you, and I gotta tell you that his system sucks! So needless to say I've been kind of soured by that experience.
On a positive note they do seem to have pretty accurate album release info.
BradOlson
05-08-2002, 10:32 AM
Even a minisystem rated highly in Consumer Reports can actually sound better than a stereo that stinks that is rated highly in Stereophile.
Juan Borras
05-08-2002, 10:53 AM
ICE melts!!!
Just goes to show you that there is no substitute for listening for yourself. I'd use critics reports as a guideline only - for example I'd investigate Perreaux (or anything else), compare it to other set ups and go from there!
On the other hand if you don't know what you are listening for.... "shrug" :(
PS I actually have a system for movie critics: if they love the movie, I avoid it. If they hate it, I see it. Works pretty well!
Grant
05-08-2002, 01:17 PM
I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned the obvious chioces, EQ and MIX magazines. These tow mags deal with RECORDING and PRODUCTION of audio.
Claus
05-08-2002, 01:32 PM
Okay... my answer is MOJO!!! That's the best music magazine on the planet.
All serious music lovers should read this magazine... light years ahead from magazines like ROLLING STONE etc.
BradOlson
05-08-2002, 01:43 PM
I wish this area would carry it. They don't carry any decent music magazines in this area so if any of you who have my address is done with their Mojo's and you don't want a particular issue, please send me a copy.
Grant
05-08-2002, 01:48 PM
Well, the original question was about MASTERING magazines, not fan mags, music mags, audiophile mags, or collector mags. Doesn't anyone here read mags about music production? :confused: Great info in them about all aspects of it.
Paul Chang
05-08-2002, 01:58 PM
Matt,
I wish I could recommend these magazines but ... :(
The Tracking Angle
The Ultimate Audio
Fi
The Abso!ute Sound and Stereophile in digest size.
Mattb
05-09-2002, 07:22 PM
Thanks for all of the helpfull responses! I have much to go by (and go buy) now!
Matt
Sound
06-06-2002, 10:25 AM
Yes, The Absolute Sound.
AudioMedia also.
MagicAlex
06-06-2002, 11:26 AM
Is Tracking Angle still published? I haven't seen one in a long time and the website is gone.
Joseph
06-06-2002, 12:15 PM
Originally posted by Mattb
Thanks for all of the helpfull responses! I have much to go by (and go buy) now!
Matt
Matt,
I think the Steve Hoffman Music Forum is the best source for discussions about the sound quality of discs. Music magazines hardly ever touch upon the sonics of the discs in any useful way. Audiophile mags such as Stereophile are the exception.:)
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