AF to do Simon & Garfunkel's Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme

Kevin mastered this one....

 

it's still on the slip cover.................taking into account what happened in the past, I would have asked directly to AF before drawing any conclussion...anyway it sounds decent

 

couldn't it be they used the same analogue tape although not a master tape??

 

No, (assuming Jamie is correct of course) it would be impossible for the two to sync perfectly if it was an analog transfer.

 

It's not been on the last couple.

 

That's right. As I understand it, analog tape never plays back at exactly the same speed for a variety of reasons. So if two digital files "line up" without going out of sync within a few minutes, it's very likely they were digitized from the same playback session of an analog tape.

Obviously the biggest issue here is that A/D converters have advanced quite a bit since the 80's so, as with the Beatles Help and Rubber Soul stereo remasters sourced from 80's vintage digital, all the various Led Zeppelin remasters all sourced from the same transfer, etc., the result is not at all state of the art.

This is puzzling since Sundazed recently reissued this same LP from the original master tape, so it's not like the tape is missing and using the 80's transfer as a source is the only option.

 

Following this thread with interest.
According to AF website all of their releases have "from the original master tapes" on slipcover.

http://www.audiofidelity.net/

Then what happened? Do the images on the AF website differ from the discs that are actually sold?
Just asking

 

Playing with the EQ I can hear Homeward Bound had some work done around 3K and 200Hz. Those frequencies cancel out more when the polarity is flipped.

 

Of course, it could be argued that "from the original master tapes" still applies as long as the transfer was done with that original tape playing back and not a copy of the master. It's just that the transfer was done in the 80's and not specifically for this remastering. It's a technicality that won't go over well with audiophiles perhaps but it's still true in a sense.

 

D'oh! Sorry about that. You're right, it's on there.

I was thinking of the dynamic range maximization, brickwalled, limited blurb. That's what they removed, I'm guessing because of the Doors and Pretenders CDs that were run through a limiter.

 

It's on the slip cover of my copy of Parsley....

 

I have a feeling this is the future for small companies like AF. All those tapes in Black Mountain. It's probably easier to keep them there and have digital files on hand for licensing.

 

That's right but I figured Steve would know and I don't have Kevin's email.

 

In that case they shouldn't say it's from the original master tapes.

 

Yeah, see the post above this one. I was thinking of the dynamic range, maximization, limiting thing that was taken off the packaging.

 

I saw pictures from the Alice Cooper mastering session. You can see a sticker on the bottom right of the tape box that says "This tape has been digitally archived." I bet it's really difficult to get the actual analog tapes instead of that digital copy. Most people wouldn't care or even know the difference.

 

Has Steve done any AF discs since the problem with The Pretenders?

 

Damn right I care if "From The Original Master Tapes" is how they're advertising their product.

 

Yes, he's done quite a few since then. That was the only one where he worked with another mastering engineer. It involved compiling various sound effects and music on Pro Tools so someone else is co-credited with the mastering.

 

So does this thing sound better than the 80s cd? Sorry, don't want to go back and read every post. I've given up on worrying about if something is actually transfered from the original tapes. I just want to know does it sound the best or not?

Damn I wish AF would have just went ahead and did the mono. We wouldn't be scratching our heads. And I wish theyd take pics of every masterreel box so we could see what we are getting.

 

Stefan, Jamie: many thanks for your replies

 

Yes.

 

To my ears it does.

 

Well, thats good news. I don't have this album in any digital form. Well, I have the Friends boxset but those are remixes IIRC. So I guess eventhough this is digitally sourced( apparently) but probably is the best sounding original mix Parsely out there then it's very worth having.

 

lets see: Digital transfers that sound the best out there of any mastering. digital source fees are cheaper so more money for AF to do more titles? Maybe thats not a bad thing either? Or are we pissed? Maybe I am softening but I don't give a sh**. Just make it sound the best without glitches and problems and I am satisfied to a great degree. Well, other than the fact I miss the old DCC signature sound