Alternate CD Masters of Daft Punk

Discussion in 'Music and Recordings' started by Gravity, Feb 19, 2018.

  1. Gravity

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  2. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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  3. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    Must be the digital release of the vinyl master for RAM. This master was vastly better than the original CD release. No idea where to get it though.
     
  4. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Don't quote me on this, because I am dredging my memory, but there are allegedly four masters of RAM- CD master, vinyl master, "hi res" master and "made for iTunes".

    I seem to recall something about Qobuz having a decent digital version. I did some hasty googling to see if I imagined it, and maybe it's this:

    https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/random-access-memories-hi-res-version-daft-punk/0886443927087

    (The other thing to bear in mind is that sometimes the data on that site is just bollocks, people upload results of needledrops, all sorts of things- little or no quality control, so it sometimes ends in disappointment.)
     
  5. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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  6. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    "Memory Stick, WAV, 24-Bit/88.2kHz" - it's at least the same rate. Hmm. Who is going to take the plunge and buy it, check the DR? :)
     
  7. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    2500 copies limited release ....
     
  8. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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  9. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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  10. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    I suppose $249 is pretty steep for all but the most determined superfan or audio nut, I suppose.

    I'm honestly tempted to snag the 24 bit/88.2 version that Qobuz is selling and run it through the Foobar DR plugin when I'm at home, as it could well be the same master. I wouldn't be offended if someone else beat me to it, though.
     
  11. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    Ran the edition studio masters and the deluxe versions on foobar2k. Dr seems the same. Checked the dr for the alternate masters and the sampling rate is 44.1 so im guessing its neither of these.
     
  12. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I have a copy of the USB stick limited edition master of RAM and it’s loud. Never checked the DR on it but I’d guess it’s not amazing, although may be better than the CD.
     
  13. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Yeah, bollocks to it.. here's the CD:
    Code:
    foobar2000 1.4 beta 6 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
    log date: 2018-02-19 19:45:21
    
    DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DR9        0.00 dB   -10.30 dB      4:35 01-Give Life Back to Music
    DR9        0.00 dB   -10.84 dB      5:22 02-The Game of Love
    DR7        0.00 dB    -9.07 dB      9:05 03-Giorgio by Moroder
    DR8        0.00 dB   -11.47 dB      3:49 04-Within
    DR7        0.00 dB    -8.96 dB      5:38 05-Instant Crush
    DR7        0.00 dB    -8.73 dB      5:54 06-Lose Yourself to Dance
    DR7        0.00 dB   -11.05 dB      8:19 07-Touch
    DR8        0.00 dB    -9.38 dB      6:10 08-Get Lucky
    DR9        0.00 dB   -10.24 dB      4:50 09-Beyond
    DR9        0.00 dB   -11.73 dB      5:42 10-Motherboard
    DR8        0.00 dB    -9.22 dB      4:40 11-Fragments of Time
    DR7        0.00 dB    -8.47 dB      4:11 12-Doin' It Right
    DR6        0.00 dB    -8.19 dB      6:24 13-Contact
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Number of tracks:  13
    Official DR value: DR8
    
    Samplerate:        44100 Hz
    Channels:          2
    Bits per sample:   16
    Bitrate:           953 kbps
    Codec:             FLAC
    ================================================================================
    
    ..and here's "Random Access Memories (Édition Studio Masters)" from Qobuz:
    Code:
    foobar2000 1.4 beta 6 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
    log date: 2018-02-19 19:50:04
    
    DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DR9       -0.10 dB   -10.29 dB      4:34 01-Give Life Back to Music
    DR9       -0.10 dB   -10.83 dB      5:22 02-The Game of Love
    DR7       -0.10 dB    -9.06 dB      9:05 03-Giorgio by Moroder
    DR8       -0.10 dB   -11.47 dB      3:48 04-Within
    DR7       -0.10 dB    -8.96 dB      5:38 05-Instant Crush
    DR7       -0.10 dB    -8.72 dB      5:54 06-Lose Yourself to Dance
    DR7       -0.10 dB   -11.05 dB      8:19 07-Touch
    DR8       -0.10 dB    -9.38 dB      6:10 08-Get Lucky
    DR8       -0.10 dB   -10.24 dB      4:50 09-Beyond
    DR9       -0.10 dB   -11.73 dB      5:42 10-Motherboard
    DR8       -0.10 dB    -9.22 dB      4:40 11-Fragments of Time
    DR6       -0.10 dB    -8.47 dB      4:11 12-Doin' it Right
    DR5       -0.10 dB    -8.19 dB      6:22 13-Contact
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Number of tracks:  13
    Official DR value: DR8
    
    Samplerate:        88200 Hz
    Channels:          2
    Bits per sample:   24
    Bitrate:           2957 kbps
    Codec:             FLAC
    ================================================================================
    
    The minute differences will be due to the way the slightly shonky plugin calculates and the difference in bit depths.

    I had to check though, as it's a lovely album. It really should be available in a less less squished mastering digitally . Even if there was a tiny chance, I had to check.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2018
  14. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Wow...that's squishy. Certainly worse than the DR11's and 12's on the CD master.

    Still though...

    Anyone else find this album bass heavy and almost distorting on the bass at times. The intro to "Loose Yourself to Dance" is just distorted.
     
  15. Hammy

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    My recollection of what happened when RAM was released was that Qobuz got the high-res digital files direct from a source in France. While HDTracks got the high-res delivered on a disc of some sort and had to extract the tracks and split them. That resulted in the HDTracks version having slightly different track lengths and slightly different DR numbers. And that started the idea that there is more than one high-res master. There isn't. The HDTracks version and Qobuz are the same mastering, just with very slightly different track splits. HDTracks is now distributing the same digital version that Qobuz has/had. So no difference any more. But that initial version that HDTracks distributed right at release still has people thinking there is another high-res master out there. There isn't.

    I consider all versions of RAM to have come from the same 24/88.2 high-res master. The high-res files, CD version, iTunes version, and LP are all from that same high-res master. All are using the same source. I don't believe there is a secret more dynamic version hiding away.

    Here's an article from Sound On Sound about the recording and mastering of Random Access Memories. It explains the methods and care they took during recording, mixing and mastering to get exactly what Daft Punk wanted. It is as compressed (no more, no less) than what they wanted. The Sound On Sound article explains. We aren't going to get a more dynamic version. It is always going to be what it is. I consider it perfect the way it is. The pillowy compression compliments the sound (and is a big part of the sound) perfectly. It is perfect the way it is.

    If you're looking for a better digital version then get the high-res. I hear the high-res version as being better than the CD. To the extent that one can hear high-res as being better than CD res. The sonic benefits of high-res are there in the recording even with the lowish DR.
     
  16. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Just comparing your DR's to the one here http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/130457

    I don't hear it as much on my HD650's as I do with my D2000's. I can still hear it on my HT setup, and I run two subs.

    I think it maybe hitting the red a bit in the low frequencies or just the interplay between the that big kick drum and the slappy bass guitar.

    Of course I notice mistakes in recordings all the time (overs, distortions. tape edits, etc.) just because of my recording and radio background.
     
  17. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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  18. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I am confused...

    How is DR12 not any different than DR8? Am I missing something? Sorry, just confused.
     
  19. dllmsch

    dllmsch Friend

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    Resurrecting old thread. I've been trying to get a taste of Daft Punk lately and looking through dr database to see what version is better. Then I came across these two.
    http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/185619
    http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/180769

    From what I can gathered this version seemed to be ripped directly from the master reel by some Russian guy with R2R ADC. I hunt down the files through russian torrent site and it definitely sounded in the ballpark of 14-15DR. I don't have the original CD master to compare to but it is a vastly different master to the youtube version. The bass on Lose Yourself mentioned above is much better controlled in the Sketchy Master Reel Rip edition vs youtube one. Also this is just by the default live conversion from Pi2AES to BF2, not some fancy paid DSD to PCM software.

    Perhaps the one which everyone is looking for?
     
  20. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Is this not the download that was offered in some limited edition package? That’s what I listen to for the album and it sounds great, still loud but no clipping and not squashed.
     

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