Beatles Remastered

[Scarpia]

Excellent!  I have everything in stereo, and just wanted the mono.  It may or may not happen now.  Oh well, plenty of other music out there....plenty.  Heck, if I am going to drop that kind of cash, I believe the Harnoncourt/Leohardt Bach Cantata set would take precedent.

It strikes me that if you have a competently done stereo set you can make an ad hoc mono mix by hitting the "mono" button on your receiver.  There would only be a problem if the stereo mix was contaminated with bogus stereo effects, which would have to be pretty crude given that there are apparently only 2 or 3 channels of audio available anyway.  (Why can't they remastering people learn to leave well enough alone.)

[Bogey]

It strikes me that if you have a competently done stereo set you can make an ad hoc mono mix by hitting the "mono" button on your receiver.  There would only be a problem if the stereo mix was contaminated with bogus stereo effects, which would have to be pretty crude given that there are apparently only 2 or 3 channels of audio available anyway. 

Even if it sounded decent, I would still not know if sounded "correct", or like it should.

(Why can't they remastering people learn to leave well enough alone.)

[George]

Other than the stereo samples, has anyone found anywhere online that has listening samples?

I am especially curious about the mono set.

Current info about the mono and stereo set.

[drogulus]

     From the Onion:

     Newly Discovered Recordings Reveal Beatles Actually Terrible Group

     In reaction to the discovery, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys has shown dramatic signs of improved mental health.

[Coopmv]

Other than the stereo samples, has anyone found anywhere online that has listening samples?

I am especially curious about the mono set.

Current info about the mono and stereo set.

Maybe MOT or Marston can do a better job than most EMI engineers?

[George]

Maybe MOT or Marston can do a better job than most EMI engineers?

Maybe? At the least they are a lot less likely to futz with the master tapes.

The stereo set will be compressed "a bit," but the mono will not be compressed. I plan to get the mono set on 9/9/09. I will call in sick and get there when JandR's doors open. 

[George]

     From the Onion:

     Newly Discovered Recordings Reveal Beatles Actually Terrible Group

     In reaction to the discovery, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys has shown dramatic signs of improved mental health.

[Coopmv]

Maybe? At the least they are a lot less likely to futz with the master tapes.

The stereo set will be compressed "a bit," but the mono will not be compressed. I plan to get the mono set on 9/9/09. I will call in sick and get there when JandR's doors open. 

No more Beatles for me.  A set of LP's and a set of CD's are more than enough for me and I have not played any Beatles recordings for some 15 years ...

[George]

 

No more Beatles for me.  A set of LP's and a set of CD's are more than enough for me and I have not played any Beatles recordings for some 15 years ...

Cool, that's one less Northeasterner that I will have to fight for a mono copy on 9/9/9. 

[RussellG]

 No more Beatles for me.  A set of LP's and a set of CD's are more than enough for me and I have not played any Beatles recordings for some 15 years ...

Nor me, I suspect. My current CDs of the nine albums from Help! onwards are OK with me.  I was just listening to Help! the other day and it sounded fantastic (I realise it's not the original mix but I'm unfamiliar with the originals and don't really care  )

[karlhenning]

. . . I will call in sick . . . .

Your secret is safe with us!  0:)

[DavidW]

I imagine George did this with the iphone as well.

[George]

I imagine George did this with the iphone as well.

Oh no, I am allergic to all of the ipod/iphone products. I break out in a rash and then have to rub gold audiophile discs on my wounds for relief. 

[Coopmv]

Cool, that's one less Northeasterner that I will have to fight for a mono copy on 9/9/9. 

Hopefully, you will not have to wait overnight outside J&R to get your copy like those who waited all night to get their first iPhones.  BTW, there are no iPhone or iPod at my house. 

[KevinP]

It strikes me that if you have a competently done stereo set you can make an ad hoc mono mix by hitting the "mono" button on your receiver. 

Dear me, no. Mono mixes are dedicated mixes. Simply folding down the stereo mix does not mean you will get the mono mix. Doing so results in certain being canceled out instead, so the sound of one instrument may be significantly lower than another by hitting the mono button. Moreover, mono and stereo mixes are sometimes compiled from different takes. The mono Sgt Pepper differs significantly than the stereo version, with She's Leaving Home, Lucy in the Sky running at different speeds and the title track reprise being a longer edit.

[George]

Dear me, no. Mono mixes are dedicated mixes. Simply folding down the stereo mix does not mean you will get the mono mix. Doing so results in certain being canceled out instead, so the sound of one instrument may be significantly lower than another by hitting the mono button. Moreover, mono and stereo mixes are sometimes compiled from different takes. The mono Sgt Pepper differs significantly than the stereo version, with She's Leaving Home, Lucy in the Sky running at different speeds and the title track reprise being a longer edit.

Yes, all true.

People can compare the mono and stereo stuff at Beatledrops.com

By the way, I have uploaded a lossless sample of the first 35 seconds of Drive My Car from the 2009 Remasters. The mix is the 1965 (not the one included in the stereo box or the single stereo CD), so I suspect that the mastering is what we can expect from the mono box, where it will be included.

[The new erato]

If George Martin's "Love" remix is anything to go by, there's a lot of stuff on those tapes that hasn't been properly represented on disc yet.

[George]

If George Martin's "Love" remix is anything to go by, there's a lot of stuff on those tapes that hasn't been properly represented on disc yet.

That remix of "While My guitar.." and the one of "Tomorrow Never Knows/Within You Without You" were amazing!

[George]

Beatles - Digitally remastered!  Out soon - story recently in USA Today HERE - 

Well, just read the story on Friday, I believe, in USA Today - seem to be implying quite an improvement in the sound! 

My Beatles collection is certainly not complete (maybe a half dozen discs or more?), but they did emerge when I was in college and postgrad school, so have fond memories.  I'm sure many here in this thread will soon be able to provide some opinions and purchase recommendations - 

Hi Dave!

Personally, I'd say try before you buy. I have already compared three samples from Sergeant Pepper and I prefer the original CD. I plan to get the mono box though. 

[George]

A very, very cool broadcast, in great sound, with samples of not only the remasters, but some of the multitracks as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00mc0cc