New McCartney Album

[firedog]

Just got an email ad announcing that the new album will be released Feb 6 and will be available on vinyl, disc, and as a download. One of the download options is a hi-res version.

 

This is really good to see, more artists releasing albums as hi-res, and not waiting for 3rd party like HDT to do it for them.

 

[firedog]

Sounds good. Seems like only mild volume compression was used (avg DR is 12. Spectrum looks good.) See attachments.

 

It's from Topspin. It's one big WAV file - 1.8 GB. I had 2 failed download attempts (one at 99% done!) before I succeeded in downloading the whole thing.

 

Later edit: I did write Topspin, and got a fast answer with a link to a page where I can download the songs in chunks of about 3 songs at a time. Just need my login, and multiple downloads of the songs can be made.

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Looks like HDtracks has this one as well. Just an option if the Topspin download method may be problematic for some people.

 

https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=catalogdetail&valbum_code=HD00888072336049

 

 

 

[firedog]

FYI-

 

the Topspin version is the "deluxe" release with 16 tracks for 13 Euro or $17. At HDT it's the standard 14 track release. Topspin is also promising to deliver a link to some free bonus "live" material in a week.

 

[Julf]

"It's one big WAV file - 1.8 GB."

 

Is there a cue sheet for those of us that prefer individual track files? I wonder what the legality would be for someone to do the splitting, and sending the split parts to people who can prove they have the full WAV file?

 

[firedog]

The files come down as individual songs, but the download is a 1.8 GB zip file. You can't control the download of the individual songs.

 

But as I said, you get a login for Topspin which will get you to a page where you can download the songs in smaller chunks.

 

[Julf]

OK, that sounds better - a big zip file is just a long wait, a big WAV file would have been more of a nuisance.

 

[Priaptor]

a link for this "deluxe" version?

 

Is their version also 24/96 like HDT?

 

[firedog]

http://store.paulmccartney.com/kissesonthebottom/eur.php

http://store.paulmccartney.com/kissesonthebottom/usd.php

http://store.paulmccartney.com/kissesonthebottom/gbp.php

 

yes it is high res - the link is down the right hand side of the page

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

I just downloaded the Deluxe Hi Res version from Paul's site. It was delivered as a large 1.8GB zip file with individual WAV files inside the zip. The wav files are 24 bit / 96 kHz. The entire 1.8GB zip file downloaded in 2.5 minutes. There is also a PDF booklet download.

 

A quick look at one track in Adobe Audition shows zero dynamic range compression. I'll post a full analysis in the analysis forum area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Here's a link to the objective analysis.

 

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Paul-McCartney-Kisses-Bottom-Deluxe-Edition-24-bit-96-kHz-Download

 

 

 

[REShaman]

firedog:

Many thank-you's for the link to McCartney's Kisses On The Bottom downloaded from Topside for a more than reasonable price including two (2) bonus tracks and the booklet in PDF format.

I converted the wav files to AIFF with Max and I am listening as I write this comment in praise of the high quality download. The SQ is exquisite! Agree with Chris's preliminary assessment re zero DR compression, or so it sounds!

I understand there is a future download that I qualify to receive which will be announced in the future.

Truly and thoroughly enjoyable whether or not an upsample from SACD/DSD as was speculated (?).

Could not be more happy. Thank you again for paving the way and making it so convenient. I had ordered the deluxe version from Amazon (arriving today). No matter, I'll shelve it or find a worthy person to gift.

Enjoy the music,

Richard

 

[firedog]

Chris-

 

Did you notice that the DR readings I got (foobar) and you got were different? Yours were slightly higher.

 

What accounts for this?