Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

44.0. "DISC REVIEW, critics choice" by TARKUS::MCLEMAN () Mon Nov 12 1984 16:25

	Well, I guess I want to give some input here on reviewing a CD.

	Earlier in another note, I stated that ASIA's ALPHA on CD was worth
	buying. It is from the standpoint of popless, scratchless views. But
	I have been itching to tear this one down, not on the music, but on
	the recording proceedure. Being a recording buff and part time 
	recording engineer, I have been dubbed to be to liberal on recording
	proceedures when digital techniques are involved. Well, to start off
	let's review ALPHA by the group ASIA.

	The 48 track master tape was recorded on 2 studer 24 track recorders 
	in sync with each other. It was digitally mixed down with a PCM system
	and then a master tape was cut. Due to the fact that the revenue was
	to come from analogue albums and cassettes, the ususall garbage of
	compressing, echo, and signal enhancement was done. The fact, also, that
	there was not a digital master made for CD purposes, comes to the 
	conclusion, that when placed on CD, the highs are over emphasized, the
	echo was horrendous, and over all perception of music was corrupted.
	If recording engineers would learn a lesson from this disc, they would
	realize that an analogue master is not good for a CD. 

	Other record engineers/producers of a liberal standpoint, such as
	myself, have produced two versions of masters. one analogue, the other
	digital. And they have proven that it is viable. Listen to Durran-
	Durran's Rio on CD. It was digitally mastered and it sounds superb.

	Upon talking with one of the members of ASIA, I expressed my opinion
	of the recording and was answered "Well, Geffen records wanted it
	quick, and didn't care about the digital medium. The money was in
	album sales, not CD. This attitude by the record company is what I
	feel is holding back the total domination of digital medium. 

	Well, all in all, The music is quite good. A little too poppy for my
	progressive tastes, but still holding it's roots there. As the same
	band member said "It needed to sound more commercial for sales.
	America's taste for progressive rock has diminished." The band has
	disbanded due to personel conflicts and music directions. But as the
	song states " "cause we don't see eye to eye!"

	Maybe the next time around they will learn that the sound and it's
	recording process, would help contribute to the success and that
	Geoff Downes and John Wetton could rise from the wreckage and get
	down to some serious compositions. And maybe getting away from
	highly plasticized commercial record companies and keeping with
	concerned record companies, such as E.G. records, where the engineers
	do take care and feel responsible to what goes down on tape.


					An unofficial critic,
	
					Jay Mcleman

	p.s. These are my personal opinions. The next review will deal soley
		with the sound and quallity, not the politics.

I agree.  When will the music companies get their act together and realize that
not everyone has a $99 Capehart stereo with built-in 8-track, and stop EQing
their records that way??  When will they get it into their heads that the
very medium they are pushing so hard sounds like doggie doo because they won't
take the time/effort to make it correctly??

Case in point; I bought a copy of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" on CD (I don't
really like Jackson, but some of his stuff is pretty good).  I am sadly
disappointed in the quality of the mastering; it sounds like it was mixed
exclusively for discos.  It HURTS MY EARS to listen to it - the highs are so
piercing I can't take it.

I'm not balming the CD medium; believe me, I've got some GREAT CDs, and when
they're recorded and mixed well, the results are spectacular.  It's just that
I can understand why some people are so adamantly against CDs; if you went into
an audio store, and they put on a copy of "Thriller" as a demo, what would you
think??

					Vernon

Linda Ronstadt, "Whats new".

The best sounding disk I have ever heard, by far, with no question.
The title cut, last minute or so, blows me away with the utter smoothness,
and dynamic sound of her voice.  It comes highly praised over here....

Brian L.

P.S.  I have a friend who is quite the audiophile, and he thinks that it
is the best sounding recording he has ever heard, and didn't realize
what his system was able to do with superior input......