The Rush cd mastering thread

This is my first post - just want to say how great this thread is!

My W.German Mercury Signals (810 002-2 03) looks like my WG Perm Waves and my US MP, but it has no actual "Atomic" logo - it's just clear plastic.

My WG Perm Waves also says on the underside "Made in W. Germany by PDO Hanover" but my Signals does not.

Is my version of Signals some weird pressing or is this normal to be an Atomic, but lack the actual "Atomic" logo?

 

Can you post a picture? Sounds like you are describing a silver face.

 

Sorry about the crappy webcam pic. Maybe I'll post a better one when I have access to my usual camera.

 

Very weird. I have never seen anything like that before. By any chance could you post its peak values? Also, does it say "Made in USA" anywhere?

 

It looks like an Atomic mis-pressing.

 

I'd be happy to post peak values if someone could kindly tell me how to do it. (I'm sure it's been pointed out somewhere in this thread but I don't want to have to scan through it all!)

And nowhere does it say made in USA. The disc, booklet, and case all say made/printed in West Germany.

 

Get yourself Exact Audio Copy (free download software from the web). Once you do that, let us know on here and we can walk you through the process. Cool looking CD, even if it is a misprint. Welcome to the forum!

 

It appears Exact Audio Copy is Windows only. I'm on a Mac. Is there a comparable program for Mac that you know of?

 

Oops. Sorry, I dont know if there is a MAC version but there are others on here that are much more in the know on these things than I am.

Folks, can you answer Hrothgar's question?

 

X Lossless Decoder

 

Mis-pressings are worth more than a correct one.



That's what it looks like to me too.

 

Kevin, I like the Moving Pictures Atomic 03 and for the price it's an easy choice. But I have the MOFI and I slightly prefer it, particularly when cranked. Which is how MP should be played.

Apologies if I've missed it in your posts but did you have that in your comparisons? I couldn't make a case for the MOFI on value grounds these days, the Atomic is too good.

For 2112 I have both a Japan 25 8P and Atomic WG, both sound good to me but I marginally prefer the former. I find the top end on a couple of the tracks just slightly smoother. I would like to hear an Anthem but not much chance in this neck of the woods I guess.

 

Ok, I've downloaded X Lossless Decoder but I'm not sure how to find the peak values from the CD. Does it create a log or something I can access?

 

It should create a log in the same folder where the CD has been ripped.

 

Ok thanks I found the log, but it doesn't seem to indicate the peak values anywhere, unless there's something I don't understand. Here's what it says for the CD in general, and then Subdivisions, just to give you an example (the other 7 tracks show the exact same info so I won't post them):

Rush / Signals

TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
---------------------------------------------------------
1 | 00:00:33 | 05:34:00 | 33 | 25082
2 | 05:34:33 | 04:47:37 | 25083 | 46644
3 | 10:21:70 | 04:57:38 | 46645 | 68957
4 | 15:19:33 | 06:22:00 | 68958 | 97607
5 | 21:41:33 | 06:24:00 | 97608 | 126407
6 | 28:05:33 | 03:42:25 | 126408 | 143082
7 | 31:47:58 | 04:52:50 | 143083 | 165032
8 | 36:40:33 | 05:49:10 | 165033 | 191217

List of alternate offset correction values
# | Absolute | Relative | Confidence
------------------------------------------
1 | 1215 | 548 | 87
2 | -14 | -681 | 2

All Tracks
Statistics
Read error : 0
Jitter error (maybe fixed) : 0
Retry sector count : 0
Damaged sector count : 0

Track 01
Filename : Desktop/X Lossless Decoder Rips/01 Rush - Subdivisions.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:02:33

CRC32 hash : CE28A656
CRC32 hash (skip zero) : BC3F0EB1
AccurateRip signature : F28AE0D3
->Accurately ripped! (AR2, confidence 4)
Statistics
Read error : 0
Jitter error (maybe fixed) : 0
Retry sector count : 0
Damaged sector count : 0


No errors occurred

End of status report

 

Well, I can say that this doesn't match the AccurateRip signature on the US Mercury CD. But that doesn't say much. And I can't seem to find a method to calculate peak levels on OS X that isn't complicated.

Looks like we'll need samples.

EDIT: Wait! Try this first:

 

Ok, finally listened to Power Windows. As I said, I don't have my normal two CD player setup going at the moment so I put the tracks from the Japan and the Atomic on one CD...One each after the other. This way I didn't have to keep swapping two CD's. (There's only one track I couldn't fit).

Anyway, it only took a few moments to realize that the SHM-CD is the best for ALL tracks. It's warmer sounding and has better bass too. I can tell by just listening to opening the drums on Mystic Rhythms, but I did an extensive listen to all the tracks...Except that one I couldn't fit.

I did not compare the Anthem yet, but I would be surprised if it sounded better.

 

It's the lyrics that most of us hate.

 

I don't like most MFSL's. I think most of them are too tweaked vs the early Japanese, West German (and in this case: Canadian) CDs.

If you look back a page or two or 3, the 25-8P for 2112 is very similar to the Anthem.

Bingo. I knew I wasn't hearing things.

 

The Anthem is identical to the Mercury with Power Windows, so no need.

Thanks for your confirmation! The SHM is it!

Amending my personal list:

Moving Pictures - Atomic WG with 03 Matrix
Signals - AMCY/SHM
Grace Under Pressure - Anthem or 25.8P? (Awaiting personal and/or external confirmation )
Power Windows - SHM
Hold Your Fire - SHM? (Awaiting confirmation)
Presto - To do
Roll The Bones - AF Gold? (Awaiting confirmation)
Counterparts - To do
Test for Echo - To do(?)
Vapor Trails - Wait for remaster (maybe? )
Snakes And Arrows - Vinyl (expensive) or Live release?

The samples I've posted thus far.

 

Right on it worked! See if this matches the peaks of a known version of Signals:

X Lossless Decoder version 20120407 (140.0)

Rush / Signals

List of alternate offset correction values
# | Absolute | Relative | Confidence
------------------------------------------
1 | 1215 | 548 | 87
2 | -14 | -681 | 2


All Tracks
Album gain : -0.60 dB
Peak : 0.961334


Filename : 01 Rush - Subdivisions.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:02:33

Track gain : -0.67 dB
Peak : 0.834808

Filename : 02 Rush - The Analog Kid.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:01:00

Track gain : -0.18 dB
Peak : 0.774689

Filename : 03 Rush - Chemistry.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:01:07

Track gain : -0.24 dB
Peak : 0.868958

Filename : 04 Rush - Digital Man.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:01:20

Track gain : 0.46 dB
Peak : 0.903290

Filename : 05 Rush - The Weapon.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:01:10

Track gain : -0.94 dB
Peak : 0.922089

Filename : 06 Rush - New World Man.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:01:23

Track gain : -1.08 dB
Peak : 0.961334

Filename : 07 Rush - Losing It.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:01:00

Track gain : 0.78 dB
Peak : 0.860504

Filename : 08 Rush - Countdown.wav
Pre-gap length : 00:01:00

Track gain : -1.24 dB
Peak : 0.904572

 

Looks like this matches the numbers of the WG Atomic I have in my notes. Can someone confirm this?

 

I agree! Same goes with non Rush MFSL's too, which I believe is what Kevin means. In fact I have yet to hear a perfect sounding MFSL CD, but of course there are many I haven't heard.

 

I have the SHM and the 32.8P of Power Windows but have never directly compared the two. Based on the info above, I think that's on my list for tomorrow night!

 

I don't hear any tweaking on the MOFI Moving Pictures. I do hear some additional brightness on the recent Permanent Waves MOFI, where I much prefer the WG Atomic.

Comparing the MPs again last night, I would reiterate that the Atomic 03 is by far the best value but I still prefer the MOFI overall. I'm glad I tried it for myself which of course is what we should all do.

I think your last comment is over simplification. I'm not a fan of all MOFIs by all means, but there have been several cracking editions. Crime Of The Century, Songs From The Big Chair, Waiting For Columbus, Live At The Regal, JT, Innervisions are just a few that spring to mind.