Deep Purple "Machine Head 50 (Deluxe)" 3CD+LP+BD-A w/ Atmos, US quad and 5.1 bonus (3/29/2024 -Universal)

[HiFiWiFiWeAllFi]

Often at big companies the staff turnover is such that there's a kind of "institutional memory loss" because there's no one there that was working there 10 years previously, let alone 20 to untangle the complicated provenance of the mixes and say 'well actually, the three bonus 5.1 mixes on the 2012 DVD-V come from the 2003 UK SACD, and those were sourced from the 2001 US DVD-A.'

Great point. I've been in my industry for decades [tech], I've always heard old timers wisdom referred to as "tribal knowledge."

 

[quicksrt]

I doubt it. Machine Head is the standout big seller. The one possibility I see is that Steven Wilson's 5.1 remix of Made In Japan finally gets released as part of a deluxe set.

I'd like to think that while there was no quad mix of "Burn" found in the Warner's library, there could have been a mix completed of that album, but the mixed master remained in the UK with Purple's other masters. Since a UK quad (or Machine Head) was done independently from the US quad, it's not an impossibility that another quad mix was completed and is unissued but remains there overseas. "Who Do We Think We Are" is also somewhat or slightly likely.
But for now, I'd just like to see "Stormbringer" get a good US Quadio issue.

 

[Blackwood]

While I’ve already expressed that I'm not a fan of this mix, I am a fan of reading about how people (including Dweezil) approach mixing in Atmos:

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/dweezil-zappa-his-atmos-mixing-philosophy-part-2

 

[m-g-dixon]

I'd like to think that while there was no quad mix of "Burn" found in the Warner's library, there could have been a mix completed of that album, but the mixed master remained in the UK with Purple's other masters. Since a UK quad (or Machine Head) was done independently from the US quad, it's not an impossibility that another quad mix was completed and is unissued but remains there overseas. "Who Do We Think We Are" is also somewhat or slightly likely.
But for now, I'd just like to see "Stormbringer" get a good US Quadio issue.

I agree 100%, Room for improvement on the QUAD REEL. Rhino in the 4th batch?

 

[JCDC]

While I’ve already expressed that I'm not a fan of this mix, I am a fan of reading about how people (including Dweezil) approach mixing in Atmos:

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/dweezil-zappa-his-atmos-mixing-philosophy-part-2

Interesting to note that he says he had to rush to get it finished…

 

[Blackwood]

Interesting to note that he says he had to rush to get it finished…

Yeah, I didn’t envy him on that point. Not exactly the ideal way to work on a project like that. But credit to him for powering through.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

more Zappa on the Atmos mixing - Sound and Vision mag.

https://www.soundandvision.com/category/immersive-audio-file

 

[surroundophile]

Although I don't recall anyone here mentioning it, the June Stereophile magazine also had an article including an interview with Zappa and recording engineer Jim Anderson. Anderson said the original US Quad version (1974) is the best version of of all mixes of Machine Head, and that the 2000's 5.1 mix on DVD-A was a "flat, unimaginative mix", of which I have to agree.

 

[Bob Romano]

For my money the best mix is the UK quad that's on the SACD.

 

[bsco]

I'd like to think that while there was no quad mix of "Burn" found in the Warner's library, there could have been a mix completed of that album, but the mixed master remained in the UK with Purple's other masters. Since a UK quad (or Machine Head) was done independently from the US quad, it's not an impossibility that another quad mix was completed and is unissued but remains there overseas. "Who Do We Think We Are" is also somewhat or slightly likely.
But for now, I'd just like to see "Stormbringer" get a good US Quadio issue.

Pretty much any Purple album is great in my view.....In Rock is the very first album I bought.....after that I was hooked and have a ton of Deep Purple and Rainbow on album, , cassette, CDs, box set , VHS Videos, and even a 12 in Laser disk...

 

[steelydave]

For my money the best mix is the UK quad that's on the SACD.

Completely agree, notwithstanding the 15 seconds of missing guitar solo in Lazy, it knocks all the other mixes - including the original stereo mix - into a cocked hat. The most underrated aspect of it might just be the overall tonality - when I was remastering the US quad mix from this box set (which has a recessed midrange and jacked up top end) to suit my own tastes, I auditioned about a half-dozen masterings of the stereo mix, the old 5.1 and the UK quad mix from the SACD, and it was so much better sounding than all of them it wasn't even funny.

 

[ssully]

Agreed that the UK quad has always had better EQ, closest to what the stereo album has....but man, that missing bit in Lazy really irks me.

 

[ar surround]

For my money the best mix is the UK quad that's on the SACD.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who feels this way. People crow about the US quad, but it sounds so thin in comparison...as if the guts were ripped out of the album.