Band on the Run: Compressed or uncompressed?

[audiophile65]

OK, here's another stupid little question that only I can dream up of. Paul McCartney and Wings' "Band on the Run" is, of course, available at HDTracks in two yummy flavors -- uncompressed or compressed. Which should I go with??

[kennyb123]

Why desire compression? I went with uncompressed.

[firedog]

Uncompressed sounds better to me.

Uncompressed means it sounds better, and if you want it louder you turn up the volume. Compressed means the SQ is compromised from the get go.

[audiophile65]

Uncompressed sounds better to me.

Uncompressed means it sounds better, and if you want it louder you turn up the volume. Compressed means the SQ is compromised from the get go.

 

Curious....(sounding like Lt. Commander Data).....why would HDTracks offer two alternatives of an album when one of them sounds much better than the other?

[kennyb123]

Curious....(sounding like Lt. Commander Data).....why would HDTracks offer two alternatives of an album when one of them sounds much better than the other?

 

HDTracks sells what is provided to them by the labels.

 

The compressed version is the original album mastering. The uncompressed is the remaster. Remasters are not always better - especially if there has been degradation of the analog tape since the prior mastering. So there could actually be a tradeoff here.

[cheezmo]

HDTracks sells what is provided to them by the labels.

 

The compressed version is the original album mastering. The uncompressed is the remaster. Remasters are not always better - especially if there has been degradation of the analog tape since the prior mastering. So there could actually be a tradeoff here.

 

Do you have a source for that information? I believe both were new remasters, just that one was compressed for modern iPod type listening and the other was left uncompressed for audiophiles. This is the first time I've heard it claimed that the compressed version was an older mastering.

[kennyb123]

Do you have a source for that information? I believe both were new remasters, just that one was compressed for modern iPod type listening and the other was left uncompressed for audiophiles. This is the first time I've heard it claimed that the compressed version was an older mastering.

 

I was just quoting what's posted at HDTracks. Click "About This Album":

 

http://www.hdtracks.com/band-on-the-run-hi-res-digital-download-compressed

[c-eling]

If these are the same as the 2012's that they offered on his website, at least for Ram this applies

Limited, slightly added compression

Unlimited, no additional compression, both use the 2012 remaster

[oso]

What is the Dynamic range of the uncompressed version?

 

Here is a whole bunch to choose from; Album list - Dynamic Range Database

[firedog]

HDTracks sells what is provided to them by the labels.

 

The compressed version is the original album mastering. The uncompressed is the remaster. Remasters are not always better - especially if there has been degradation of the analog tape since the prior mastering. So there could actually be a tradeoff here.

 

No exactly the opposite. They are both remasters. They are the same remaster, except that the compressed version has had additional volume compression added to it to make it louder. The compressed version is less like the original than the uncompressed version.

 

Why are there 2 versions? B/c someone at Apple/Abbey Road understood that the compressed version sounded more modern and up to date, but that the uncompressed version was more likely to appeal to audiophiles. And don't forget, this was McCartney's first foray into hi-res downloads, and was done before the other Beatles and "everybody" in classic 60's - 70's Rock had released hi-res: so they weren't sure what would sell and what wouldn't. Therefore 2 versions.

The last couple of McCartney hi-res versions have not had 2 versions, and have been moderately volume compressed.

[firedog]

I was just quoting what's posted at HDTracks. Click "About This Album":

 

Band on the Run / Hi-Res Digital Download [Compressed] | HDtracks - The World's Greatest-Sounding Music Downloads

 

Not sure how HDT got that. I bought the original release of both versions from the McCartney web site before it was at HDT. The description by McCartney and Abbey Road agrees with what I wrote earlier and with what was also written about Ram.

HDT clearly screwed up the description - wouldn't be the first time.

[firedog]

Here's a quote from Allan Rouse, who did the remaster:

The release of The Beatles’ remasters in 2009 saw a marked change in attitudes towards these issues, where both noise reduction and limiting were used sparingly with the aim of representing the master tapes more accurately. Such is the case with the newly remastered CD of Band on the Run: tape noise reduction has scarcely been used and the degree of limiting is subtle. In addition digital technology has advanced with the ability now to offer recordings in 24 bit/96kHz. The high resolution version is being made available via download and is being offered in two formats: limited, which is comparable in volume to the remastered CD, and un-limited, which in comparison with the limited version will sound quieter, but retain the dynamic range of the original master recording.

 

Get it? It's the same remaster, but the compressed version has added volume compression, relative to the original master. Note: in British, unlimited means uncompressed, and limited means compressed. The remastered CD is also the same remaster, but converted to 16/44.1 and is compressed - it's a conversion to Redbook of the 24/96 compressed version.

[kennyb123]

Get it? It's the same remaster, but the compressed version has added volume compression, relative to the original master. Note: in British, unlimited means uncompressed, and limited means compressed. The remastered CD is also the same remaster, but converted to 16/44.1 and is compressed - it's a conversion to Redbook of the 24/96 compressed version.

 

Awesome clarification. Thanks!

[oso]

Anybody?

What is the Dynamic range of the uncompressed version?

 

Here is a whole bunch to choose from; Album list - Dynamic Range Database

[firedog]

Anybody?

 

foobar2000 1.3.8 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.0

log date: 2016-07-05 20:13:08

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Analyzed: Paul McCartney / Band On the Run 2010 remaster unlimited 24-96

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

DR Peak RMS Duration Track

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR12 -0.17 dB -15.94 dB 5:14 01-Band on the Run

DR12 -0.02 dB -14.74 dB 4:09 02-Jet

DR13 -1.67 dB -17.32 dB 3:25 03-Bluebird

DR11 -1.09 dB -14.64 dB 4:42 04-Mrs. Vandebilt

DR11 -1.72 dB -14.94 dB 4:50 05-Let Me Roll It

DR13 -1.68 dB -17.13 dB 4:51 06-Mamunia

DR10 -3.38 dB -16.10 dB 2:36 07-No Words

DR13 -2.17 dB -17.94 dB 5:49 08-Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)

DR11 -0.02 dB -15.25 dB 5:32 09-Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Number of tracks: 9

Official DR value: DR12

 

Samplerate: 96000 Hz

Channels: 2

Bits per sample: 24

Bitrate: 2979 kbps

Codec: FLAC

================================================================================

 

Didn't include the bonus tracks