Beatles Revolver Box Set (Dolby Atmos Mix available for streaming; No Blu-Ray)

[AudiophileStyle]

Sometimes I think there’s no physical Atmos release because this is how the labels put the genie back into the bottle. They now have a format that has never been released on physical media, giving them the illusion of full control.

 

[Quad Linda]

Amazon US lists vinyl box now.

Kindly allow me to review a few facts and then a bit of conjecture. Don't blame messenger. It's perfectly fine to disagree, but not to be disagreeable or abusive. With this thread being long, please no silly photos and comments as your posts. Many members are frustrated by these seeming wastes of time. Thanks...

Facts:
1- Later albums, albeit earlier super deluxe boxes have the most tracks to mix from.

2- Earliest albums were recorded to three track. Usually one was lead vocal, other two were backgrounds and instruments, together or separately.

3- (began this prior to reading article linked above): Computer programs can break individual vocalists and/or instruments out, even from mono. Likely, the cost and man/woman hours in doing this can be prohibitive.

4- Anyone catching the TV ads in US for previous super deeeluxe Beatles may have noticed no mention of surround mix, although they all included it. Conspicuous in its' absence...

Likely Universal believes surround will become more expense for earlier boxes. So why bother, at least for now. I believe that they will all be available in hi-res and surround downloads and possibly discs eventually.

My Husband reminds me that I predicted absence of BD/5.1 when the first Beatles SD box included surround. They likely won't be doing this or any earlier albums in surround. At least not now. Ryan alluded to this in his post.

As one of the first people here to own quad recordings and gear, I'm happy as a wet cat! in 1970, I privately demoed Quad in my bedroom without any Quad gear. Set up Dad's stereo for fronts, mine for rears. Two FM stations in Chicago simulcast "discrete Quad." One station carried the fronts, the other carried the rears. FCC stopped this soon thereafter. I was off and running. Have bought Quad and later surround gear and discs ever since. I managed a hi-fi store in the 70's golden days of Quad. NO ONE is more disappointed, though most of you might call it a tie!

Although this is a BS deal for 5.1/BD, I also predict that won't last forever. Vote with your $$$ and some polite, respectful letters/E-Mails to Universal voicing your discontent.

 

[ss9001]

Well said, Quad Linda! I see the posts with the Amz UK link that gets redirected to Amz US for GUNS are now gone. I didn't find this person's "tease" amusing or in good taste to frustrate those who are seriously looking for places to buy IF they exist, like me. Glad either he/she deleted or a mod pulled them.

Like you, I go way way back to early days of quad (1972) and have been a surround music fanatic ever since. And like all of us, I was really looking forward to Revolver in surround, it would be awesome. I won't be complaining about the box set, I will buy it, add upmixing and enjoy it as is. It's not a perfect solution but perhaps if/when the streaming rights expire, Giles can persuade UMG to release the bluray. I may subscribe to Apple Music, considered it for months since already have AppleTV+ for $5/mo, so what's another $10.

 

[LennonCobain]

Facts:
3- (began this prior to reading article linked above): Computer programs can break individual vocalists and/or instruments out, even from mono. Likely, the cost and man/woman hours in doing this can be prohibitive.

Likely Universal believes surround will become more expense for earlier boxes. So why bother, at least for now.

I generally agree with the exception of the 2 points quoted above. If Giles had never teased a Revolver Atmos mix in his now infamous Twitter post and if the Atmos mix had not been played for the audience at an invitation-only listening event, then we'd be left to assume that what you said is accurate. However, there was time and money (apparently) spent to create an Atmos mix, so there is no reason why it could not have been included at very little per unit additional cost in the super deluxe box set.

 

[rtbluray]

Official press release: ANNOUNCING REVOLVER SPECIAL EDITIONS (news) | The Beatles

Notice that a Dolby Atmos mix is mentioned several times in the article and it will be available on Dolby Atmos streaming sites, so it's just like I figured. The bastards at Universal Music pulled the rug out from underneath our feet by not including this new Atmos mix (or a 5.1 mix either) on a Blu-Ray.

 

[LennonCobain]

Taxman is the teaser track:
https://thebeatles.lnk.to/Taxman2022Mix

 

[Quad Linda]

Ryan, you called that. There wasn't an emoji for "the razzberries."

Lennon, I understand what you're saying. I wasn't denying that one existed, but some of the reasons for not doing subsequent ones. Pressing another disc and whatever fine-tuning the master would require to press it are extra expenses and/or bother. So, leave it off (possible UMG rationale.)

PLUS: (wait for it): we can sell all you kiddies some extra stuff for more $$$$. No pressing cost for downloads. more $$$$$$

 

[tezzalavell]

Yes people have to voice their discontent, agreed.

Maybe if we all at this forum put our names down as discontented and send a post to apple

 

[Steve Schoultz]

I saw a Giles tweet earlier today and now I can’t find it. He said it wasn’t his decision.

 

[Quad Linda]

I saw a Giles tweet earlier today and now I can’t find it. He said it wasn’t his decision.

It or a link was posted here, as well.

 

[Steve Schoultz]

Sorry missed that. Traveling on city bus in Cambridge at the moment.

 

[Quad Linda]

I recall it being included in an interview or other chat, as well.

If Beatles/heirs are OK with it, then UMG is the only obstacle. If it was mixed, odds are Beatles gave their blessings to do so. Publicly acknowledged existence and demos of parts support that. UMG

 

[Steve Schoultz]

I suppose we will never know. It is what it is. Yes we’re angry and disappointed, but kind of a waste of energy and emotion. You made some great points Quad Linda.

 

[alansanchez86]

This simply blows! No physical release.

 

[Letichou]

No Blu-ray, no purchase. Sorry

 

[Mcallister]

Cancelled pre order on Amazon I was able to get in while it was up. So dissapointing

 

[Tres Discrete]

$139.98 on Amazon US?!?!
No thank you

 

[JulesRules]

It seems ridiculous and foolish to worry about the environmental impact of a plastic product with a shelf life of 100 years, when we throw away billions of one use plastic bottles every year.

I mean, I have my misgivings about things produced that nobody needs. But in this case, they could've easily saved a CD by including the pointless "EP" at the beginning or end of the Sessions discs. Unlike the missing 5.1, that move is getting noticed by everyone.

Meanwhile...
https://musictech.com/news/industry/ableton-co-founder-robert-henke-compact-disk-vinyl-records/

He's right, of course. Compared to Vinyl, CD (or almost any other optical disc...) uses much, much less resources.

Official press release: ANNOUNCING REVOLVER SPECIAL EDITIONS (news) | The Beatles

Notice that a Dolby Atmos mix is mentioned several times in the article and it will be available on Dolby Atmos streaming sites, so it's just like I figured. The bastards at Universal Music pulled the rug out from underneath our feet by not including this new Atmos mix (or a 5.1 mix either) on a Blu-Ray.

The wording is interesting though:

• [Super Deluxe] Digital Audio Collection (stereo & hi res 96kHz/24-bit stereo + mono + Dolby Atmos)
• [Standard] Digital (New album mix in stereo & hi res 96kHz/24-bit stereo + new Dolby Atmos mix)

That almost sounds like a possibility of a download?

 

[J. PUPSTER]

I mean, I have my misgivings about things produced that nobody needs. But in this case, they could've easily saved a CD by including the pointless "EP" at the beginning or end of the Sessions discs. Unlike the missing 5.1, that move is getting noticed by everyone.

He's right, of course. Compared to Vinyl, CD (or almost any other optical disc...) uses much, much less resources.

The wording is interesting though:

• [Super Deluxe] Digital Audio Collection (stereo & hi res 96kHz/24-bit stereo + mono + Dolby Atmos)
• [Standard] Digital (New album mix in stereo & hi res 96kHz/24-bit stereo + new Dolby Atmos mix)

That almost sounds like a possibility of a download?

Well, the “Digital” I’m assuming here refers to ‘Streaming’, even though if it’s not an LP it’s Digital right. You might be able to buy 96x24 stereo from places like Qobuz, but pretty sure a download for Atmos .m4a files won’t be an option.

Too bad no BD, they could have had a lot of my money for this, now they’ll get nothing!

 

[ss9001]

Just found pre-order links on SDE site. But I read their pre-order article and even they had this to say:

"Controversially, there is no blu-ray with the CD box set. Every Beatles CD box set since the album reissues started back in 2017, has contained a blu-ray with a spatial audio mix (Sgt. Pepper actually had a blu-ray and a DVD) so to omit this from Revolver is a truly bizarre decision. An Atmos Mix has been created but it is simply not being made available physically, which is going to disappoint many fans. No blu-ray also denies us a hi-res stereo version of the new mix on a physical format." Red bold underlining is mine.

Definitely a WTF business decision depriving us all of Gile's creative work.
Apple & Tidal must have made them a seriously big offer they can't refuse.

I think I'll hold off buying myself. To have made the surround mixes just to put them on streaming is pretty shitty to fans of these box sets who buy them for the surround mix.