Kansas "The Absence of Presence" CD+5.1 Blu-Ray coming 6/26/2020

[JediJoker]

FYI...they also sent me a link to download stereo digital files of the album. They are 44.1/16 files and are HAMMERED! (and super-bright) I assume these are the CD files.
Fortunately, I was able to grab the 96/24 PCM stereo tracks off the blu-ray which are much, much better.

Really? The stereo mastering is different on the Blu-ray? Unusual for a brand new release to have two different stereo masterings, especially in the same package.

 

[kap'n krunch]

Richard Nixon's favorite group, Ray Conniff Singers' version of Theme From Shaft?

...SOCK IT TO MEEEE?????

 

[fredblue]

Richard Nixon's favorite group, Ray Conniff Singers' version of Theme From Shaft?

...SOCK IT TO MEEEE?????

they say that Ray was a baaaad mutha!!

 

[kap'n krunch]

they say that Ray was a baaaad mutha!!

Don´t know about Ray (he probably was....I mean , being a Skorpio and all!!! Yikes!)...I was just going over Nixon´s pre election stunt , which they say actually GOT him into the White House; it was him appearing in "Rowan and Martin's Laugh In" cause one of their sections was "sock it to me" , which they did, especially to Brit cutie Judy Carne...

(I love the series and I got the box set for a quarter of the original asking price a couple of years ago... been binge watching it!!!)

The opponent Hubert Humphrey was also offered a spot doing the same thing but his people told him to not do it ...and he lost the 1968 elections!
Here is the snippet:



And here is Nixon with Dan and DIck ("say good night , Dick")

 

[DuncanS]

baa! i won't be buying the Stones Goats Head Soup box unless i see a serious deal on one, times are tough and there's guaranteed quality DV stuff on the horizon i'm saving up for

A woolly yarn ewe weave, me I'm baa-rmy so like a lamb to the slaughter I bought it!

 

[~dave~~wave~]

Tough crowd here on the mix.
On my first spin, turned down the fronts, turned up the sub.
I'm hearing surround and isolation in the rears.
I must not be able to distinguish sheep shit from apple butter.

Compressed dynamic range is more problematic.
SHF commenting on low DR numbers for the CD.

Really? The stereo mastering is different on the Blu-ray? Unusual for a brand new release to have two different stereo masterings, especially in the same package.

Waveforms in this post:

Kansas, The Absence of Presence

 

[GOS]

My copy is arriving tomorrow, Sunday. I still look forward to hearing it.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

Tough crowd here on the mix.
On my first spin, turned down the fronts, turned up the sub.
I'm hearing surround and isolation in the rears.
I must not be able to distinguish sheep shit from apple butter.

Compressed dynamic range is more problematic.
SHF commenting on low DR numbers for the CD.



Waveforms in this post:

Kansas, The Absence of Presence

Uh, that 24/96 stereo BD wave form does not look that much better than the CD, yuk

 

[Ninecats]

DR looks a bit so-so, typical mastering of this era I’m afraid. Taken from dr database, albeit MP3 I doubt there’s a difference in the CD and/or hi-res package.

foobar2000 1.5.3 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Kansas / The Absence Of Presence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR5 0.00 dB -6.87 dB 8:22 01-The Absence Of Presence
DR5 0.00 dB -5.61 dB 6:21 02-Throwing Mountains
DR4 0.00 dB -6.02 dB 5:17 03-Jets Overhead
DR6 0.00 dB -8.16 dB 2:17 04-Propulsion 1
DR7 0.00 dB -9.15 dB 4:38 05-Memories Down The Line
DR4 0.00 dB -5.53 dB 5:19 06-Circus Of Illusion
DR5 0.00 dB -6.04 dB 5:13 07-Animals On The Roof
DR5 0.00 dB -7.37 dB 4:51 08-Never
DR5 0.00 dB -6.51 dB 5:06 09-The Song The River Sang
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks: 9
Official DR value: DR5

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bitrate: 320 kbps
Codec: MP3
================================================================================

 

[GOS]

Ughhhhhhhh.

 

[Ninecats]

A friend who works as an audio engineer helped me check out the waves a bit further on the BDA, this is the stereo mix of the first track. Surely it looks squashed. I still haven't actually played the stereo version yet, only a first spin of the surround mix and I have to say that the surround mix doesn't sound as bad as these number and images suggest (bear in mind this is stereo). Numbers and images are one thing, actual perceived sound is sometimes another.

 

[fredblue]

i haven't analysed what's happening in the 6 channels yet but i doubt the 5.1 is anywhere near as compressed as the Stereo, it doesn't sound like it is anyway.

the Surround mix and balances thereof are what i have a problem with, everything feels too skewed towards the Front, which just doesn't work for me.

musically i really like it.

 

[MarkyM]

Really? The stereo mastering is different on the Blu-ray? Unusual for a brand new release to have two different stereo masterings, especially in the same package.

Yes. Here's all 3. The CD and the 44/16 download file use the same (over)mastering. The 96/24 stereo mastering on the Blu-ray is different. It is much better and not as loud or bright.

CD/File Loudness:

Blu-ray Loudness:

The Blu sounds good to my ear as far as modern loud "pop" mastering goes. The CD is hammered.

 

[EricKalet]

Figures...Wal Mart has this for $12!

 

[Audiowannabee]

Preordered @18.98 price reduced to 11.88 via Amazon low price guarantee

 

[DaverJ]

Listening to the 5.1 BD now... I won't repeat what others said about non-discreet instrument placement and the mostly under-utilized rear channels, but actually I was expecting worse. This isn't going to be my go-to surround experience, but ehhhhhh... not bad. A bit of a shame it's not great, but it'll do.

 

[4-earredwonder]

Listening to the 5.1 BD now... I won't repeat what others said about non-discreet instrument placement and the mostly under-utilized rear channels, but actually I was expecting worse. This isn't going to be my go-to surround experience, but ehhhhhh... not bad. A bit of a shame it's not great, but it'll do.

I still say, that for under $12....cheaper than a download of 'questionable' quality!

 

[edisonbaggins]

Cool floor tom panning in to the surrounds for the closing track.
Occasional stings and keys flourishes back there.
Much mirroring of the fronts though.

 

[curtisjnewell]

Wouldn't you think by Now that these people that mix 5.1, would be aware what the MAJORITY of us surround fans, want the rears to be used frequently, otherwise why bother with the mix!!!! Especially when there is a lot of instruments used!

 

[4-earredwonder]

Wouldn't you think by Now that these people that mix 5.1, would be aware what the MAJORITY of us surround fans, want the rears to be used frequently, otherwise why bother with the mix!!!! Especially when there is a lot of instruments used!

MOST unfortunately, we are still living in a stereo centric society where vinyl's dramatic resurgence dictates that philosophy. VERY few engineers who attempt surround remixes veer away from that principle. It's very disconcerting that with all the superb 4.0/5.1 remixes done over the years in music and particularly in motion pictures and the dramatic impact a great surround remix can impart, IMAGINATION seems to be in short supply in MOST instances.

And what most of these so~called surround engineers fail to fully grasp: 99% of those buying an album expressly for that surround remix are buying it because they're damn sick of polite STEREO centric mixes and those who hate all things SURROUND can usually access the included STEREO remaster.....so OPEN UP THOSE REAR CHANNELS AND LET THE SUNSHINE IN!☀