Beatles/Stones mastering comparrison

[Steve w]

This may not be a fair comparrison because they were done so far apart, but I figured I'd ask just for curiosity anyhow. Which mastering do you think was done better, the Stones German and Japanese pressings done by MFSL or the Beatles One CD?

[Matt]

Stones German and Japanese MFSL.

1 stinks.

[Joel Cairo]

I'm no fan of Peter Mew's work, either, but I just popped on my Japanese Stones pressings last night and was appalled at the quality of the mastering... I'm only going from memory, of course, but it seems to me that someone **did** play bass in that group-- though you'd never know from the crappy transfers that are on the CDs.

Even if they **are** in stereo. :D

-Kevin

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Matt
Stones German and Japanese MFSL.

1 stinks.

Matt,

Your are being too kind to Beatles 1. What really makes it so bad is the expectation of newly remastered Beatles. If the catalogue gets this type of treatment I'll just stick to the old releases. :mad:

[RDK]

Y'know, I've never heard "1." I know it's been discussed before, but just what's so wrong with it? The typical no-noising and compression, or something more? Beatles fans either love or hate this one.

[Ronflugelguy]

People who play this one in a cheap assed boombox, won't know the difference, but if you play it on good to semi great equipment, you'll hear how poor it really is. Want to buy one?

[Bob Lovely]

All,

There are at least several Forum members who could have done a better job on "1" without even mentioning a particular Forum owner!

Bob ;)

[Joseph]

The same cuts on Yellow Submarine sound much better...and even they are a disappointment. :(

[Ronflugelguy]

You're right Tangent, the Soundtrak Yellow Sub does sound better than "ONE" but they were jacked around and sound too modern in the mastering and EQ dept. When will we get our Beatles fix done with taste?????????????

[Matt]

Beatles 1 has Peter Mew's signature all over it. Just like the Bowie remasters on Virgin and Wingspan, it sounds unnatural. I always think "plastic" every time I hear CD's mastered by him. Sterile, ultra-clean, bright and boomy (probably from a U-shaped EQ). You know that sound you get when you denoise something and jack-up certain frequencies to "restore" the lost information? That's a big part of it, and it stinks.

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Matt
Beatles 1 has Peter Mew's signature all over it. Just like the Bowie remasters on Virgin and Wingspan, it sounds unnatural. I always think "plastic" every time I hear CD's mastered by him. Sterile, ultra-clean, bright and boomy (probably from a U-shaped EQ).

Actually, I wouldn't call it "U-shaped" - in particular, on 1, there actually seems to be a CUT in the high end. The mids have a glare to them, but much of the top-end crispness is actually gone, not added.