99.9% of the time, "REMASTERS" are exactly what they say they are. Basically, to make a little more money off of an old (or shitty in the case of "Vapor Trails") record, they add another expense of sending the pre-masters to another mastering house or engineer to master it another way. It all boils down to every mastering house or engineer is different and has different tastes and therefore masters differently. Many times, the remaster is (at least a little, if not a lot) better.

I've got a lot of Rush stuff, (CDs, that is) but I don't keep track of all the remasters vs. originals, etc.; just don't have the time.

I CAN tell you that the live in RIO CD is a wonderful live set, and a great way to get a feel for what their last night of that tour was like, and what they went through to put that show on (and tape it, etc. etc.) The interviews are great (Lifeson is hilarious; I had no idea he was that funny; Peart is amazingly upbeat - esp considering what he's been through over the past few years, and Geddy is his usual interesting self.)

The audio is what it is; I don't think there's anything "Wrong" with it per se; it's certainly mixed with the audience in mind, and you should really have a good, robust 5.1 system (HD monitor, too, if you can) to experience the whole amazing thing. It sure is big & loud.

I don't get caught up in "how good is it" arguments about this stuff; it's obviously SOMEONE"s vision of what it should sound like, with hopefully input from the band before it went out the door. [[[[[shrug]]]]]] You may or you may not like it; I did, for the most part. I"m sure it was recorded on a 24/96 multitrack system of who-know's-what variety; could've been a PT's system, could've been DA=98 tapes, could've been anything, really; I'm sure the master tapes are fine, done by a professional remote company. (The word "horrible" doesn't even enter into it, it's probably just someone's subjective opinion on the "live" mix/experience. Everyone has different tastes; I wouldn't let that stop me from getting a copy, really.)

As for a Vapor-Trails remaster, I find that interesting, esp how soon after the initial release. (I'm not saying it's not out there, I just haven't heard of it, but then again I don't keep up.)

For me, as much as I like RUSH (and many others), their masters (and many others) suffers from all the same thing as everyone else nowadays: too damn much compression & "FINALIZING", and ridiculous amounts of level, with all the dynamics & life literally sucked out of the mix. (Sure, it's LOUD, alright, but.....) Vapor Trails, and Test for Echo before that, sounded like great albums, until they squashed the hell out of it for the loudest possible sound, IMHO. (Rush of course isn't the only one doing this, so is everyone else, from Sting to Shania Twain to Piddy....)

I hope I live long enough when the day comes that everyone begins re-releasing their masters WITHOUT all the finalizer & Brick-wall 2x4-looking waveforms. Just imagine the marketing campaign: "Re-Re-Re-Released original masters, just like they heard it in the studio, before turning it into sonic mud for mass consumption - the way you always WANTED to hear it..."

One can dream, eh? :twisted:

I hope I live long enough when the day comes that everyone begins re-releasing their masters WITHOUT all the finalizer & Brick-wall 2x4-looking waveforms. Just imagine the marketing campaign: "Re-Re-Re-Released original masters, just like they heard it in the studio, before turning it into sonic mud for mass consumption - the way you always WANTED to hear it..."

I hear ya bro!

Except I would still want it brought up to level but not compressed like a car that recently went to the crushers.

Yeah, my biggest worry when buying more rush albums is "Are the newer REMASTERS squashed to death?" I can't tell when auditioning at the store. I'm more interested in their older stuff..

My friend Andy Curran, who works for Anthem Records (owned by Rush) supplied me with the whole remasterd catalog. As someone who is a big fan and has seen Rush 17 times I can tell you these remasters are well done and worth it.

I bought the Remastered Exit Stage Left. Unfortunately, my comparison for the Original Exit Stage Left was some time ago, but I can't say I like the Re-Mastered Exit Stage Left very much :( . Seems like they buried the Snare at times, and smooshed it a hair much (the buried snare is likely the side effect of over-squishing the mix IMO).

I'll have to check out the others. Who knows, maybe the Re-Mastered "Vapor Trails" actually has a few dB of dynamic range :wink:

:cool:

JoeH wrote: I CAN tell you that the live in RIO CD is a wonderful live set

I saw that one. Neil frinkin Peart is un frinkin real in that damn drum solo. :shock:
That guy is a monster!
How about them washing their clothes on stage in those HUGH industrial clothes dryers on stage. That was a 1st

I saw that one. Neil frinkin Peart is un frinkin real in that damn drum solo.
That guy is a monster!
How about them washing their clothes on stage in those HUGH industrial clothes dryers on stage. That was a 1st

I'd be hard-pressed to find a better live drum solo, period.

The washing machines are a hoot, alright. (LOVE their sense of humor....including having the roadies come out and put coins in the machines....Twisted!) I think that all came about when Geddy went to DI and isolated bass cabinets under the stage or elsewhere, forgoing the wall of amps behind him. They must have jokingly said: Well, we've got to put SOMETHING back there, to make it big, square, ugly and space-filling. I can just hear someone come up with: "Well, why NOT washing machines? The look sorta similar anyway!"

8-) :twisted:

I have to say these re mastered Rush CD's are not over compressed or over limited. (I did not personally work on them either) You may like the original, that's fine. Once you here something, you listen to it for years, and that is now your reference. Any change may seem "bad".
You made me want to listen to Exit.. again. I will revisit it and let you know. My first impression of the whole catalog is that they did a very good job keeping the same feel.

rush to judgement

I have to say these re mastered Rush CD's are not over compressed or over limited. (I did not personally work on them either) You may like the original, that's fine. Once you here something, you listen to it for years, and that is now your reference. Any change may seem "bad".
You made me want to listen to Exit.. again. I will revisit it and let you know. My first impression of the whole catalog is that they did a very good job keeping the same feel.

I have to say these re mastered Rush CD's are not over compressed or over limited. (I did not personally work on them either) You may like the original, that's fine. Once you here something, you listen to it for years, and that is now your reference. Any change may seem "bad".
You made me want to listen to Exit.. again. I will revisit it and let you know. My first impression of the whole catalog is that they did a very good job keeping the same feel.

1) OK, 2) OK, 3) OK :wink: . Sorry if I offended you Joe. It was surely not my intent.

I had not directly compared the old EXIT to the Re-Mastered EXIT, so I may be off base. But I swear I recall the drums being more upfront on the original? PS - my original "EXIT" was also on Vinyl FWIW (a long time ago)... And my memory is not so great.

I also saw Rush on the past 2 tours through Houston. Totally friggin awsome! Being a drummer, it is always nice to see them live.

Later :cool:

Look carefully on Joes 3 posts.
They may seem the same, but actually they arrent. Please take your time and read them several times.

Ammitsboel wrote: Look carefully on Joes 3 posts.
They may seem the same, but actually they arrent. Please take your time and read them several times.

I couldn't find anything, even when doing a comparison in notepad with wordwrap off. Would you mind pointing these differences out?

Is this like the old comics pages "what is different in these 2 pictures?" :wink: . This one must be really advanced, because I also can't see any difference in the 3 threads.

:cool:

the second one, he boosted 10K for "air"
the third one, he made "punchier"

i don't get it...

LOL - Mixandmaster :)

I'm not affended at all. Just interested in peoplese opinions. I don't know why it posted 3 times.

BrianAltenhofel wrote: [quote=Ammitsboel]Look carefully on Joes 3 posts.
They may seem the same, but actually they arrent. Please take your time and read them several times.

I couldn't find anything, even when doing a comparison in notepad with wordwrap off. Would you mind pointing these differences out?

He he... I got you didn't I!
...copy/pasting comparing and reading the same posts in notepad... He he :lol:

i'm always up for challenges