Yes "Fragile" on MFSL Gold CD

My quote above is taken out of context. It was directed at Jaime, in fun.

He doesn't dig Tales or Relayer, but I'd bet if Steve remastered them he'd take another listen.

The Rhino versions you mention are pretty heavily limited, sorry to say. I prefer the originals on Atlantic.

 

Apology Jeff, didn't mean to de-contextualise your reply to Jamie.

So, do the original Atlantics "breathe" more than the versions (Inglot, I think) I referenced? I may look for them.

 

Yes, they have lots more breath, of course, since there isn't a hint of compression on discs mastered back in the 80s. Tales is pretty dull but the tapes very well might be that way.

Relayer was done by Zal and was apparently EQd to match the original Atlantic vinyl. The Marino remaster from 1994 is very similar.

 

You are a very smart man!

 

I have an early Relayer CD Manufactured in Germany. I have compared this to the original UK vinyl and the tonality is very close. Great sounding disc. I also think the original Tales sounds great.

 

I have the same one and it is great. This is identical to the US pressing.

Btw, the German issues of the stuff on Atlantic tend to have clearer artwork, which is the case here.

 

Don't encourage me.

 

As far as Relayer goes, I thought the original (domestic) CD was too bright in the treble and too thin in the bass. The edgy sonics made it impossible for me to get into the music. I ditched that CD pronto.

Even though it is compressed, I much prefer the new Rhino disk because it doesn't rip my ears to shreds. Relayer is the only Yes title in which I prefer the Rhino version to those that came before.

 

FYI:I believe that much or all Atlantic product that was mfg'td in Germany was of our NYC US masterings

 

Much consternation was spent on that release. The source tape we were supplied eeked of high end imbalance, which seemed that the previously released vinyl was ill of the same malady.

I proceded to try and match the vinyl as best I could.

Looking back, maybe the tape was CCIR curved vs. our US NAB inhibition.

But why didn't anyone else figure this out if this was the case....was the question I had then as I do now. So that probably wasn't the case.

PS> Matching the vinyl is not the best thing to do when the result is way off what you think it should sound like, but, again, the tape was a horrible obstacle initially and I DID try to overcome it to the extent I could.

 

the Mofi is the best CD! Period!!!

 

I bought the old Atlantic CDs of Topographic Oceans just last week. (All I had previously was the Gastwirt remaster).

I gave it another listen and didn't dislike it too much it's just there's so much waste going on. Endless scales and tangents that still aren't fully developed even after minutes of noodling. There are some great ideas in there, they're just so hard to get to.

 

Thank you, Jamie.









































































(Pssssst. Gastwirt.)

 

So far, every single one I have tested is digitally identical.

Did you send them glass masters in those days, Zal?

 

I've come to agree. It has just slightly less top end than the Gastwirt and that works well for me. When I compared the Gastwirt to a Piros-cut Atlantic LP, that was the one difference I really noticed. The Gastwirt was just a bit too crispy in comparison. The Mofi seems just about right to my ears.

Still, the original Atlantic is probably what the tapes sound like.

 

I hear the complete opposite. The MoFi is "sharper" and has more "bite" in the higher frequencies. Whereas the Gastwirt is "well-behaved" even - or especially - at higher listening levels.

Of course, YMMV.

 

Well, my Atlantic Gold (remastered by Gastwirt) sounds fine, but I do prefer the Mofi over the Gastwirt mastering (IMHO).

 

That's what I'm hearing too. The MoFi is a bit too bright and forward sounding. The Gastwirt has a more natural tone.

 

I'd have to revisit them but yes, I heard the opposite. Bruford's hi-hat on the Mofi, for example, sounds really crisp without being crispy, and the Gastwirt seems to take that sound just a tad too far.

 

Anyone try Gastwirts Yesyears

I know it's a box set compilation but It always sounded really good to me, and it was done when the master tapes were 20 years old or less. I just got my mofi Fragile today (my first cd version of it), I'm curious to see if "Heart of the sunrise" on the MFSL gold cd beats the one on Gastwirts yesyears box, which I think sounds incredible.

 

YesYears is no-noised and apparently the tapes are in great shape with no deterioration...(those that are actually found that is...side two of CTTE...I'm talkin' to you!!!)

 

so is the gastwirt '94 HOTS essentially the same the same as the '91 yesyears one? Generally I dont do a lot of comparing because I find it drives me nuts and leaves me not enjoying things , but I prefered the CTTE on yesyears to Atlantic 1st cd (Diaments, disc made in japan) and the rhino, it seemed like the yesyears had more hiss which is what I thought no noise removes?

 

The Gaswirt HOTS on the Fragile disc is a different mastering than the YesYears one...

You are in the minority with CTTE, though...the Diament mastering is generally thought to be the best so far...

Maybe someone who has done the specific comparison between these could help this person...

or you could just use the search function here...there are countless pages on this very topic...

 

Yes, it sounds very close to a UK vinyl album I have. Very dark/muddy but I like it.