Inside the ‘Billy Joel: Live at Yankee Stadium’ Atmos Mix

[The Computer Audiophile]

Interesting article on the latest release of Billy Joel’s Yankee Stadium performance from 1990. 
 

https://www.mixonline.com/recording/music-production/inside-the-billy-joel-live-at-yankee-stadium-atmos-mix
 

 

“The goal we had from the beginning was to put the audience right there in the center of the crowd,” Davis continues. “At the same time, we didn’t want to overwhelm the audience or distract them. You can definitely feel the crowd—hell, it’s Yankee Stadium—but the band is so good that we wanted the music front and center. That’s the beauty of the format: you get to bring the audience right into the heart of the performance.”

[JoeWhip]

This one features most of the original band. I am in. I hope a 4K Blu ray is released. Having just installed a 4 k OLED, the experience is amazing at 83”.

 

[jrobbins50]

Here you go!  Live At Yankee Stadium https://a.co/d/3NAcF0h  You can pre-order. JCR 

[JoeWhip]

Do not see 4K, bummer.

[The Computer Audiophile]

The Blu-ray must be 4K, right?

 

“Shot live on 16mm color film on June 22 and 23, 1990, at the iconic Bronx stadium, the original concert has been re-edited in stunning 4K with Dolby ATMOS® audio^ and newly mixed from the original multi-track tapes by Jay Vicari and overseen by Billy’s long time sound engineer Brian Ruggle.“

 

https://billyjoel.shop.musictoday.com/product/Y4CDBJ13/billy-joel-live-at-yankee-stadium-2cd-blu-ray?cp=81068_81096_111983

[JoeWhip]

Not necessarily. The 4K version for theaters can be downrezed to 1080p for inclusion on a regular Blu ray disc. One can only see half of the BD disc. I do not see an Ultra HD marking on that side but it could be on the covered side. I would have expected the press release to state Ultra HD if a 4K version was present. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

8 minutes ago, JoeWhip said:

Not necessarily. The 4K version for theaters can be downrezed to 1080p for inclusion on a regular Blu ray disc. One can only see half of the BD disc. I do not see an Ultra HD marking on that side but it could be on the covered side. I would have expected the press release to state Ultra HD if a 4K version was present. 

I hear ya. At least the Blu-ray has Atmos :~)

[JoeWhip]

I can imagine them  coming out with an Ultra HD version after we all get the Blu ray version.

[jrobbins50]

Ok, I went to the show earlier this evening to the ICON Dolby Atmos theater in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Poorly attended, particularly with a start time only 15 minutes after the end of Yom Kippur. 

Having seen Billy in concert 126 times in the past, I can say that this is a fired up show, with Billy still in his vocal prime to hit the high notes and with Christie hanging backstage.  This is a 90 minute video, with some Billy narration breaks, and is not the full show. 

 

The 16mm video transfer to 4K is nice. It has an analog, grainy feel to it.  This said, I’m not sure on a smaller screen if it will appear that much better than the DVD or the VHS tape before it. 
 

I sat 4th row center. Sonically, it is an overall improvement. Billy’s voice is tightly centered and sounds excellent. There is decent bass presence to the soundtrack. However, it seems to be mixed more like a movie, with compressed high end, rather than like an audiophile Dolby Atmos audio release, such as from 2L. Liberty is drumming the heck out of the set, and yet, I could rarely hear any cymbals. It sounded best on quieter passages. 
 

As noted in the release notes, the Atmos mix gives the sense of being in the crowd when audience applause is mixed in. Occasionally, there are instruments that emanate from the side channels, but not much of it. 
 

I would expect that the soundtrack will sound quite similar in either 5.1.2 or 7.1.4, when released for home Blu-ray in November. I have my pre-order in already. Cheers. JCR 

[JoeWhip]

Liberty was /is awesome.

[jrobbins50]

Have you read his autobiography yet?  Quite the story. JCR 

[JoeWhip]

No but I have seen several long for interviews with him on you tube. I don’t feel that Billy’s band was as good after Liberty left.

[JoeWhip]

Just watched the Russia concert Blu ray for the first time in awhile.  Looked to me like they used 16MM fir that shoot as well, so I would expect the Yankee Stadium release to loom a lot like that. Plenty of film grain.

[jrobbins50]

I see that Apple Spacial has added Billy Joel’s The Nylon Curtain album. That’s an album that did not get the discrete 5.1 or 4.0 quad treatment in the past. I’m out of town and haven’t heard it yet. Anyone have a comment on how the Atmos mix sounds?  JCR 

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, jrobbins50 said:

I see that Apple Spacial has added Billy Joel’s The Nylon Curtain album. That’s an album that did not get the discrete 5.1 or 4.0 quad treatment in the past. I’m out of town and haven’t heard it yet. Anyone have a comment on how the Atmos mix sounds?  JCR 

There's some interesting discrete content in the surround channels, but absolutely nothing in the height channels. 

[jrobbins50]

I finally got to hear The Nylon Curtain on my 5.1.2 system this evening. Sonically, it’s a disappointment in compressed Atmos in comparison to the TIDAL MQA 24/96 version. The “discrete content” you mention, @The Computer Audiophile, is to me mostly throwaway and, in many cases, is distracting. Frankly, I couldn’t listen to a single track all the way through until the last, “Where’s The Orchestra?” The storyline of this charming ballad is that of a New York Broadway theatrical neophyte who, sitting in the balcony at his first show, ponders why there is no musical introduction and finale.

 

The two channel versions of this track all place Billy’s vocals way to the left, simulating what we now really get to hear — the vocals emanating from behind, in the balcony, whilst an orchestra — Billy and band — are out front. Makes the Atmos mix worthwhile. JCR 

[JoeWhip]

How is the Blu ray?