Yes-Close To The Edge goes to SACD Finally! :)

[Rand Kelly]

:http://www.audiofidelity.net/content/yes-close-edge

[Squids]

Is it in 5.1??? If not I'm getting close to the edge of my patience.

[Rael]

2 channel only.

[ombasan]

2 channel only.

So there's no need for me to buy this. Too bad, I would have loved a surround version of it, preferably mixed by Steven Wilson...

[sonic]

Hoffman sounds pretty excited about it:

We tried to give a coherency to each of the three numbers even though they are totally incoherent within each other (if that makes any sense). You have a church organ with giant reverb intercut into a totally dry band section with bone dry drums and vocal. Yet both now make more "sense" as it were. So one can listen to the entire album as a whole but without the jarring transitions from one section to another.
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thread...delity.302095/

Might be interesting to check out.

[enpdllp]

Import CDs has the SACD for $20.87 (30% discount) on pre-orders.

http://www.importcds.com/Music/25365...-The-Edge-SACD

[trurl]

Hoffman sounds pretty excited about it:

We tried to give a coherency to each of the three numbers even though they are totally incoherent within each other (if that makes any sense). You have a church organ with giant reverb intercut into a totally dry band section with bone dry drums and vocal. Yet both now make more "sense" as it were. So one can listen to the entire album as a whole but without the jarring transitions from one section to another.
Might be interesting to check out.

I don't like the sound of that at all. What the hell is wrong with going from wet to dry and back? How is that any worse, or more jarring, that going from loud to soft? How has he fixed this alleged deficiency, and what artistic right does he have to do so? I detect a faint but growing odor of bullshit...

[sonic]

What the hell is wrong with going from wet to dry and back?

It wasn't part of the artistic statement. It was just a result of Frankensteining several part together. If Hoffman has managed to remedy this, it will be interesting to hear.

[JeffCarney]

So there's no need for me to buy this. Too bad, I would have loved a surround version of it, preferably mixed by Steven Wilson...

I've heard enough of Wilson's work to probably not even bother any longer. Digital remixes just don't do much for me.

I'll surely check this out, although I find Hoffman's work to often be greatly overrated. He's certainly head and shoulders above some software engineer like Wilson, although they really aren't even doing the same type of work

I highly doubt anybody will beat Barry Diament's original mastering on Atlantic for digital. My guess is that Hoffman won't be able to help himself and will probably have to work his "midrange magic," which I suspect will be overcooked. No doubt his "followers" will then proclaim a "blanket has been lifted from their speakers" and start an entire legion of Hoffman-endorsed assumptions about the source tape made available to Diament for the original CD release.

[Rand Kelly]

I apologize you guys. I guess I just assumed we would have a 5.1 mix ala Crimson. I am very

[Rand Kelly]

I have decided to hold off until I can get an idea what everyone thinks of this as to whether or not I need it.

[trurl]

It wasn't part of the artistic statement. It was just a result of Frankensteining several part together. If Hoffman has managed to remedy this, it will be interesting to hear.

Eddie Offord had a reverb for god's sake. If he had wanted the drums wet he would have made them wet. They recorded the tracks in the studio dry because they liked it that way. If the wanted the ambience of the studio and church to match there would have been ways to do that. Either the album sounds the way Yes wanted it to in which case Hoff should leave it alone and just try to be faithful to the sound of the master tapes, or he's saying the producer was incompetent but he's going to "fix it".

[JeffCarney]

Eddie Offord had a reverb for god's sake. If he had wanted the drums wet he would have made them wet. They recorded the tracks in the studio dry because they liked it that way. If the wanted the ambience of the studio and church to match there would have been ways to do that. Either the album sounds the way Yes wanted it to in which case Hoff should leave it alone and just try to be faithful to the sound of the master tapes, or he's saying the producer was incompetent but he's going to "fix it".

The latter seems an all too common and strangely accepted practice when it comes to certain engineers; especially Hoffman. I'm with you, this just sounds bizarre. If he messes with the reverb ideas used on the final mix that will be a mess. Of course, I guess that this could mean they really don't have access to the true stereo master and he's using this as an explanation? I don't recall Hoffman typically messing with reverb.

[Moonchild_deleted]

Pre-ordered from Amazon. Hope it arrives before Xmas!

[zeprogmeister]

It wasn't part of the artistic statement. It was just a result of Frankensteining several part together. If Hoffman has managed to remedy this, it will be interesting to hear.

How would he do that? By applying reverb to the mastering?

[sonic]

How would he do that? By applying reverb to the mastering?

I have no idea. I'm not an expert. I'm just saying he might actually know what he's talking about. But obviously many people are abhorred at the mere suggestion of having their holy cow tinkered with.
Personally I haven't upgraded from the LP yet, so if this does sound great I might buy it.

[zeprogmeister]

Just listened to the original Diament cd last night and it sounds pretty great to me.

[trurl]

But obviously many people are abhorred at the mere suggestion of having their holy cow tinkered with.

Yeah, pretty much Actually, I don't really mind an alternate mix as long as the original mix/intent is represented. And I would absolutely consider adding extra reverb an alteration to the mix.

[Rand Kelly]

I'm wondering if anyone has heard this yet and has a comment? I am currently floating along with the her domain section of the Diament master in DPL II. If nobody wants to take it into surround sound(as it so richly deserves)then DPL II will have to do. It sounds awesome this way in my room and for some reason I didn't think to play it like this until today while at work. The Pipe Organ is incredible,this is my church,the Church of Yes. Ooooh! That huge minimoog is here and then for some Squire fretless bass. Whhooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Like a roller coaster peeps. March 5 is looming near.

[jcarr73729]

I suspect the hype may disappoint in the end. How many times will people have heard this album in the last 40 years, and will this SACD unlock much more than the original vinyl and best CD? I hope I'm proved wrong and this hi-res release invigorates the sound, but I'd much rather buy some new music or hear an improved remaster of a bad CD production.

[Esoteric]

is it mentioned if this is licensed from Warners? or is it being done for Warners?

[jkleban]

To me, the SACD format bridges the gap of vinyl versus CD (as it was desgined to do). Format gets closer to the analog sound of the LP without the pops and clicks to me. So, if it has been just remastered for SACD, that would be perfect. I have a hard time with remixed old stuff in SACD because the song I am used to hearing isn't the same. Doesn't make it worse or better, just not the same.

So, give me remastered SACD over new mix SACD re-releases any day.

JK

[RobT]

Personally, I love the SACD format and SHM. Definitely prefer 5.1 when I can get it, but my understanding is that is not to be for CttE. If I read things correctly, it is supposed to ship tomorrow so we shall soon see how it sounds.

[NorthNY Mark]

Eddie Offord had a reverb for god's sake. If he had wanted the drums wet he would have made them wet. They recorded the tracks in the studio dry because they liked it that way. If the wanted the ambience of the studio and church to match there would have been ways to do that. Either the album sounds the way Yes wanted it to in which case Hoff should leave it alone and just try to be faithful to the sound of the master tapes, or he's saying the producer was incompetent but he's going to "fix it".

Keep in mind that Hoffman is not remixing the album, and his mastering moves are famously limited to fairly subtle EQ manipulation (often through "old school" methods like switching between different tubes and/or cables on his equipment), so I don't think he's going to make any drastic changes in the overall sound. It's actually remixers like Steven Wilson who make the kinds of drastic changes you seem to be fearing. I can see how Hoffman's comments make it sound as if he is doing a remix, but he is not--he is just talking about what guided him in determining his EQ balances. Perhaps it won't sound as good as Barry Diamement's already excellent work on the original CD, but perhaps it will--I'll be curious to see.

[strawberrybrick]

Who did The Yes Album MSFL?