Geez, the STAR WARS soundtrack! Has this EVER sounded good on LP or CD?

A couple of things to address here :

These are remixes despite what they were advertised as. I think we should refer to these as remixes to avoid further confusion. It is complicated enough as it is.

This is debatable. The 2016 are all taken from existing LP or CD masters (for the prequels), with added mastering on top. I think they sound acceptable but not as good as the '93 (or the original CDs for the prequels).
Again, the 2018 *remixes* I think are really good as far as sound quality is concerned (with the obvious exception of TESB), if you can disregard some different takes and weird/sometimes bad edits here and there, that is.
They are remixes so won't sound identical to the original mixes.

The '93 were not complete remixes from the multitracks like the '97 and 2018; the vast majority are the original mixes (soundtrack or film -a couple different takes) from varying sources.
And as far as I know noise reduction was not used on the '93 set, only used on the '97 ROTJ and the 2016 remasters.

 

That would be my dream too. Basically what the guys at La-La Land Records have been doing for years.
The complete score with no noise reduction and sympathetic mastering, good remixes... We almost got this in '97, but they had to be heavy-handed at mastering (and some questionable remixes).

 

Are you talking about the 1999-2005 prequels? Because I compared the original CD's with the 24/44 files on the Digital Collection and could not tell a difference... at all.

You are right about the 2018 being basically remixes. I just want to warn people about these discs whenever I get the chance When my favorite moment in Duel of the Fates was edited out, I literally threw the CD case against the wall!

The 1993 box set is enough of a Frankenstein creation for me to dismiss it as "original" anyhting. I had a long debate on FSM about 10 years ago about noise reduction being used on the on some of the film mixes (prompted by the mostly excellent Chris Malone analysis https://www.malonedigital.com/starwars.pdf), but of course these are minor (potential) issues compared to the grimness that was in store for us in 97 and 18.

 

From JWfan again

So the digital 24/44 Sony release from 2016 contains the original prequel "CD" masters (in 24-bit).

 

I just had to re-read the Malone PDF and can see that I misremembered John Neal's role in the 93 release (none at all). What a mess to dig through!

 

No, he is saying that this 2016 CD boxset contains, for the prequels only, the new 2016 remasters that were released as 24bit downloads, and not the original CD masterings (i.e. not clones of the '99, 2002 and 2005 prequel CDs).
Whereas inexplicably, in this same 2016 CD boxset, the OT CDs are clones of the double '97 CDs and not the new LP-configuration 2016 remasters.

 

It's been a while since I compared them but I seem to remember they had very slight EQ differences, like a low-medium boost, a low-bass cut and a high-treble cut to give the impression they were slightly warmer.
At least that's what they did on the 2016 OT soundtrack remasters.

 

My Star Wars UK Pressing on PYE records sounds fantastic on my system as does my ROTJ vinyl. The CD trilogy boxset is ok but not as good as their vinyl counterparts.

 

Well, a quick look in Audition at TPM (thanks to a FSM member for the 2016 CD track) suggests that the 99-05 CD's and the 2016 CD box versions are much closer to each other than both are to the 2016 24/44 (none of it really audible of course).

I might just trow in the towel on understanding the 2016 Sony release strategy, but I still like what they did with the OT LP masters.

Duel of the Fates:

1999 CD



2016 CD box:



2016 24/44 FLAC:

 

It doesn't surprise me as the 2016 use the older masters as sources.
I'm not sure how they differ (can't remember as I passed on the 2016s except for TESB), but you wouldn't see much with waveforms and spectros on that level of changes anyway; they'll all be similar even if not 100% identical.

 

I'm primarily interested in whether or not the 24/44 versions are CD upscales with EQ on top, or maybe simply the original digital masters (24/44 was not uncommon in 1999-2005) with a new EQ profile.

Again they sound more or less the same, but the best I can do is using the VST Bitter plugin to check the bit depth. No signs of upscales using that method.

 

I understand. I wouldn't be surprised if they used the original CD mastering and added mastering moves on top (that's what they did with for the OT soundtracks after all -from the LP tapes), but I hope they went back to the unmastered 24bit/44k sources.

(You couldn't see if they upscaled the 16bit CD mastering if they made any change to it since that would immediatly create a new file with a superior bit resolution, on any normal DAW, and appear as such on bit-meters. Only if they made no change whatsoever to the 16bit master apart from putting it in a 24bit container would you be able to see that it is a simple upscale.)

 

I guess we will never know, but it seems very weird that Sony would proclaim that the prequels had been remastered and placed on the CD set (despite almost no audible or visible evidence), yet they had no problem porting over the 97 discs for the same collection.

 

Yes their handling of the albums has been super weird.
Remember in 2004 they claimed to have remastered the 2-CD Special Editions... But they just took the '97 CD masters, converted them to DSD, back to CD, and voilà! You have a remaster!

 

ahhh but the smoothness of the DSD interaction makes the PCM files turn into butterflies!

 

Dyland, you may have a second chance at that TOS boxset. Although the entire box isn't being reissued, it looks as if the contents will be released as separate volumes. Check the following image from LLL's Facebook page and this from one of their emails:



STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES – THE 1701 COLLECTION VOL ONE: LIMITED EDITION (2-CD SET)
LLCD 1622
Music by Alexander Courage and Fred Steiner
Limited Edition of 1701 Units
RETAIL PRICE: $29.98

STARTS SHIPPING JULY 5

​

Order yours at www.lalalandrecords.com starting July 5 at 12 noon (pst)

La-La Land Records and CBS Studios proudly present STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES – THE 1701 COLLECTION VOL. 1, the first in a series of limited edition CD releases that showcase original score from the landmark sci-fi television series STAR TREK (1966-1969). Containing music originally from our long out-of-print 2012 Original Series Box Set, these exciting volumes utilize the same restored master as that acclaimed release, but feature new packaging by Dan Goldwasser, along with brand new, exclusive liner notes by film music writer and Trek historian, Jeff Bond. This ground-breaking, iconic music, from one of television’s most acclaimed and beloved series, is now again available for fans everywhere!

Vol 1 of the 1701 Collection focuses on the Trek TOS music of renowned composers Alexander Courage and Fred Steiner, containing original music from the classic episodes THE MAN TRAP, THE NAKED TIME, CHARLIE X, MUDD’S WOMEN, THE CORBOMITE MANEUVER, BALANCE OF TERROR, WHAT ARE LITTLE GIRLS MADE OF? and THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER, along with MAIN and END TITLES. Produced by Lukas Kendall, Neil S. Bulk and Jeff Bond, restored by Chris Malone and mastered by Doug Schwartz, this limited edition 2-CD release of 1701 units, as well as forthcoming volumes of this series, illustrate how the original Trek series scores not only teem with action, adventure and drama, but how they are also infused with deep emotion and the greatness of the human spirit. Such characteristics have kept these richly orchestrated tracks vital and relevant decades beyond their original recording.

TRACK LISTING:

DISC 1
The Man Trap
Music Composed and Conducted by
ALEXANDER COURAGE
Episode #6, Recorded 8/19/66 • Aired #1, 9/8/66
Total Time: 34:21
1. Main Title (electric violin version) 0:50
2. Small Planet Visit /
The Changeling M10/M11 3:27
3. Episode Titles / Genuine Affection M12/M13 1:00
4. First Goner / Salty Cat / Dressing Down M14–21/M22/M23 1:52
5. Circle One / Monitor Gizzard / Down Again / Grey to Greene
M24/M25/M26/M31 3:16
6. Salt Chaser M32 1:34
7. Noisy Plant M33 1:06
8. At First Sight / Pill Tosser M34/M35–41 2:52
9. Nancy Schmancy M42 1:54
10. The Unreal McCoy M43 2:02
11. Top Security / Lazer Dazer / Dodo Girl M44/M45–51/M52 4:03
12. Conference M53 4:47
13. Dead Crater / Last of the Last M54/M61 4:13
14. Warp One* M62 0:44
15. Trailer (“The Man Trap”) 1:03

The Naked Time
Music Composed and Conducted by
ALEXANDER COURAGE
Episode #7, Recorded 8/31/66 • Aired #4, 9/29/66
Total Time: 33:55
16. Brass Monkeys* / Out of Glove M10/M11 2:58
17. Breaking Planet* / Sweaty Palm / Itchy Hand M12/M13/M14 1:21
18. Joe Berserk M21 3:02
19. Pulled Down* / It Spreads M22/M23 1:12
20. Joe Goes / Sulu Finks Out M24/M31 1:01
21. Up the Rebels / D’Artagnan-san M32/M33 3:09
22. Banana Farm M34 2:11
23. Out of Control / Lurch Time / Punchy Kid M41/M42/M43 1:49
24. Party Time M44 1:35
25. Medicine Girl / Hot Skin M45–51/M52 4:30
26. Off the Cloud M53 1:06
27. Captain’s Wig M54–61 4:02
28. The Big Go* M62 2:42
29. Time Reverse* / Future Risk and End Title* M63/M64 1:46
30. Trailer (“Mudd’s Women”) 1:02
31. End Title* (electric violin version) 0:46
Total Disc Time: 70:09

DISC 2
Charlie X
Music Composed and Conducted by
FRED STEINER
Episode #8, Recorded 8/29/66 • Aired #2, 9/15/66
Total Time: 23:44
1. Main Title* (cello version, arr./cond. Steiner) 0:51
2. Space Orbit† / Charlie X / That’s a Girl M10/M11+M11S/M12+M12 chimes 1:20
3. Kirk’s Command / Charlie’s Mystery / Charlie’s Gift
M13/M14+M14S/M15–20 3:03
4. Card Tricks M22 1:40
5. Zap the Antares / Kirk Is Worried M23+M23S/M24 0:47
6. Kirk’s Command #2 / Chess Game M31/M32+M32S 1:33
7. Charlie’s Yen M33 1:05
8. Kirk Puzzled M34 0:51
9. Zap Sam / Zap the Pistol M41/M42 1:37
10. Standoff M43 1:12
11. Kirk Waits / Charlie in Control M44/M45 1:08
12. Charlie’s Mad M51 1:10
13. Zap Janice M52 0:56
14. Zap the Cap M53 1:33
15. Zap the Spaceship M54 1:26
16. Zap the Broad / Charlie’s Friend M55/M61 2:02
17. Goodbye Charlie / Finale† M62/M63 1:50
† Based on a Theme by Alexander Courage

Mudd’s Women
Music Composed and Conducted by
FRED STEINER
Episode #4, Recorded 9/7/66 • Aired #6, 10/13/66
Total Time: 22:01
18. Distant Spaceship / Hint of Danger M11/M12 0:55
19. Still in Danger / Meet Mr. Mudd / Three Venuses M13/M14/M15 1:58
20. Venus Walks / Hello Girls M16/M21 1:29
21. Venus Aboard / Exit Mr. Mudd/ Venus Aboard #2 / Strange Glances /
The Last Crystal / Mudd Laffs M22/M23/M24/M24A/M31/M32 2:50
22. Hello Ruth M33 1:03
23. Eve to Magda / Mudd Plan / Mudd’s Perfi dy M34–41/M42/M43 1:07
24. The Venus Drug / Dwindling Power M44/M45 3:03
25. Planet Rigel M51 0:43
26. Space Radio M52 2:46
27. Planet Rigel #2 / Eve Is Out M53/M54 1:20
28. Eve Cooks/Eve Is Tired / Pretty Eve M55/M56–61/M62 3:06
29. Mudd’s Farewell / Back in Orbit† M63/M64 1:20
† Based on a Theme by Alexander Courage

The Corbomite Maneuver
Music Composed and Conducted by FRED STEINER
Episode #3, Recorded 9/20/66 • Aired #10, 11/10/66
Total Time: 7:12
30. Space Cube / Condition Alert M12/M13 1:22
31. Quiet Cube / Radiation M12A/M23A 1:11
32. Cube Radiation M23 1:20
33. Fesarius / Fesarius Approaches M31/M31A 2:06
34. Hideous Balok M33 0:27
35. Baby Balok M61A 0:35

Balance of Terror
Music Composed and Conducted by FRED STEINER
Episode #9, Recorded 9/20/66 • Aired #14, 12/15/66
Total Time: 5:35
36. The Enterprise / In the Chapel† M11/M11A 1:23
37. Romulan Agitato 9MB 0:58
38. Romulan B.G. 9MC 0:41
39. Romulan Theme M22 0:56
40. Theme From STAR TREK* / Romulan Warship / Romulan Theme 9MA pt
4/M31/M22A tk 3 0:56
41. Romulan Centurion M43 0:32
† Contains “Long, Long Ago” by Thomas Haynes Baly and “Bridal Chorus” by
Richard Wagner

What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Music Composed and Conducted by FRED STEINER
Episode #10, Recorded 9/20/66 • Aired #7, 10/20/66
Total Time: 7:18
42. Big Ruk M17A/M17/M17B 0:56
43. Meet Andrea / Android Kirk M22/M22A/M42 1:11
44. Ruk Protect / Ruk Attacks M43/M43A 3:18
45. Ruk Attacks / Enter Andrea M43AB/M54 1:47

The City on the Edge of Forever
Music Composed and Conducted by
FRED STEINER
Interpolating “Goodnight, Sweetheart”
by Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly and Ray Noble
Episode #28, Recorded 3/24/67 • Aired #28, 4/6/67
Total Time: 9:42
46. New York 1930 M26–30,M26–30B 1:38
47. Edith’s Theme† M33 1:25
48. Edith Suspects† M43 1:21
49. Goodnight, Sweetheart (vocal)† M44 1:28
50. Edith’s Fate† / Edith Must Die M47/M47A 1:16
51. Edith’s Vision† M51 0:46
52. Edith Falls† M61 0:55
53. Edith’s Death† M65 0:38
† Contains “Goodnight, Sweetheart” by Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly
and Ray Noble,
published by Campbell, Connelly Inc. and EMI Robbins Catalog Inc. (ASCAP).

54. End Title* (cello version, arr./cond. Steiner) 0:45
55. Desilu I.D. (Wilbur Hatch) 0:05
Total Disc Time: 77:56

* Contains “Theme From STAR TREK (TV Series)” by Alexander Courage and
Gene Roddenberry

This is a CD format release.

 

My Star Wars US 1977 vinyl mastered at TML sounds fine to me. Not muddy or veiled

 

Just picked up this 4 CD set from 1993 and so far disc 1 sounds fantastic.

https://www.lukaskendall.com/post/the-star-wars-4cd-anthology

 

I bought this set at Tower Records in 1993. It’s the best these soundtracks will ever sound on a digital format imo !! Enjoy

 

Thanks! Very happy to have found this set after reading all the great comments about it. I look forward to digging in during the coming days and reading the cool book.

 

I've been playing some live John Williams lately with more than a little SW thrown in, and it sounds great. But it would be great to hear the entire score in this quality; I don't care if it's the original recording. Doesn't really matter.

 

What about the 10CD set? Has anyone heard it?

 

I've got the promo reel version, 7.5ips, sounds great on my rig. Also have the Japan special edition laserdiscs of the original trilogy that I don't recall sounding terrible, but it's been awhile since I've spun those.

https://www.discogs.com/release/579...ny-Orchestra-Star-Wars-The-Story-Of-Star-Wars

 

The SW, TESB & ROTJ soundtracks are the 1997 RCA 2CD configurations (so Jedi Rocks & Celebration rather than Lapti neck & Yub Nub, along with the sound issues with TESB and especially ROTJ) - despite using the original jacket designs from the 1977-1983 LPs. The prequel soundtracks are the 1CD using the same mastering as their original 1999/2002/2005 albums.

If you have any of the 1997 2CD RCA variants & the original 1CD prequel albums, you already have the music contents of the box. Only difference otherwise is the 10th disc with the interviews and the packaging.

(Someone correct me if I’m wrong on any of this).

 

An absolutely essential pair of concert videos/albums! Never get tired of watching and listening to either of them.

If you’re exploring along these lines, then the John Williams/Anne-Sophie Mutter Across The Stars album is well worth your time, Star Wars wise, the deluxe version has Princess Leia’s Theme.

There was also a ‘digital single’ of March of the Resistance from the Weiner Philharmonic concerts (it’s on streaming, not sure if there was a physical release). The Williams/Mutter Viloin Concerto & Selected Film Themes concert/album has a version of Han Solo & The Princess on it.

There is also a forthcoming John WIlliams in Tokyo (Live at Suntory Hall, 2023) album coming out, featuring The Rebellion Is Reborn, Princess Leia’s Theme, Throne Room & Finale & Yoda’s Theme. Not sure if it’s getting a physical release but there are placeholders on the streaming services for it. I’ve got my fingers crossed for a BluRay of the full concert as per Vienna & Berlin.

My only frustration in all of this is the multiple versions of each concert/album put out by Deutsche Grammophon, often at different times with different tracks on. Tracking the most inclusive version of any given title can be a pain, but so rewarding to listen to!