HiRez Poll John, Elton - DIAMONDS [Blu-Ray Audio (Dolby Atmos)]

[fredblue]

The other consideration is that not all source material spanning a career this vast will be similar. Especially older tracks, instruments and vocal parts were often mixed down to make room for other things, it's not an endless supply of individual tracks like in modern digital production. Even if someone wanted to replicate a concept of a plan so every track was 'identical', there would inevitably be a gulf they wouldn't be able to bridge and differences/compromises result. It's generally easier with well produced studio albums to have track to track mix consistency, but across albums is an unreasonable expectation IMHO.

absolutely! very well said!

something i did wonder in a few cases, is the question of availability of source elements.. are these choices made in the Atmos of parts previously unused on the multitracks or of alternate takes or are parts missing and have had to be comped from best available sources or is it just my imagination running away with me?

there were instances in the Atmos (off the top of my head things like Crocodile Rock, Bitch Is Back, Lucy In The Sky.., Something About The Way You Look Tonight, The One) where i felt like some alternate vocals and parts had possibly been used from those in the original Stereo mixes.

maybe i was mistaken but i surmised that in a few instances the originals were potentially only flown in during the Stereo mixing process and so not printed to the multitracks.. or those elements may be unavailable now for some other reason like tape access/wear/damage..!?

 

[PK]

https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/eltons-75th-birthday-presents-diamonds-in-atmos

 

[fredblue]

yes, yes though as you read in my comment, i find ROCKET man the best Atmos track here, not one of the more recent

looking at some later tracks after the 70's Classics, from just the Stereo of a song like "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" you can tell there's going to be less to work with in Surround than there would be when you listen to "Nikita" in Stereo.

the two songs are only a couple of years apart, both from the mid-80's but you can tell in 2-channel they are light years apart in terms of production, recording, engineering, arranging, etc., so it comes as no surprise the more layered, more intricately produced (and arguably better recorded) song turned out more immersive in Surround.

 

[Titch]

Probably the best SDE Surround Series release so far.