Marillion “This Strange Engine” (Deluxe Edition with 5.1 mix out in November!)

[edisonbaggins]

Forgive this question, if it's been clearly answered, do we know yet who engineered the album to 5.1? (Addl: actually I think we do, and it's the engineer who can be a bit hit and miss? Here's hoping!)

Michael Hunter

 

[madscot]

Forgive this question, if it's been clearly answered, do we know yet who engineered the album to 5.1? (Addl: actually I think we do, and it's the engineer who can be a bit hit and miss? Here's hoping!)

If you turn up the rears a couple of db's on a Michael Hunter mix you will be very pleasantly surprised, it brings the keyboards, backing vocals and even some guitar into play

 

[SomethingAnything]

Thanks. That's reminded me why I've been stalling, waiting for the verdicts.

(Watched your old video last night on Townsend's Empath. Never bought the boxset of this as I was gifted the 2 CD version, but have decided to upgrade! Thanks retrospectively for your review.)

 

[JulesRules]

The price on Amazon DE was ridiculously low for this, despite me trying to wean myself away from Amazon I couldn't resist that. So I won't get mine until in a week.

 

[SomethingAnything]

If you turn up the rears a couple of db's on a Michael Hunter mix you will be very pleasantly surprised, it brings the keyboards, backing vocals and even some guitar into play

Thanks. I've got a recent Barclay James Harvest live that I want to try that with as well. My past fear has been that I'll get my re-calibration (going back the other way) muddled. However, I have two calibration selections on my Yamaha AVR (one that spreads more to other seating areas), but I've been wondering about re-purposing this second selection in the way you suggest, which I hope will be good for the BJH album, other live albums and the Mike Hunter Marillion box sets I already own. I have a 5.1.4 system. So do you think increasing by two decibels for the surrounds and back ceiling speakers would be enough? I'd value your opinion.

(I can't remember if This Strange Engine is Atmos or 5.1, but I automatically Auro 3D upmix everything non-Atmos these days anyway.)

 

[madscot]

Thanks. I've got a recent Barclay James Harvest live that I want to try that with as well. My past fear has been that I'll get my re-calibration (going back the other way) muddled. However, I have two calibration selections on my Yamaha AVR (one that spreads more to other seating areas), but I've been wondering about re-purposing this second selection in the way you suggest, which I hope will be good for the BJH album, other live albums and the Mike Hunter Marillion box sets I already own. I have a 5.1.4 system. So do you think increasing by two decibels for the surrounds and back ceiling speakers would be enough? I'd value your opinion.

(I can't remember if This Strange Engine is Atmos or 5.1, but I automatically Auro 3D upmix everything non-Atmos these days anyway.)

For any Michael Hunter mix I turn the rears up 2, sometimes 3 db’s, for atmos mixes I turn the rears up 2 and the heights 4, this works for me but all systems and rooms are different, it’s taken me a while to figure out what’s best for me, I have a 5.2.2 system.
This new release is 5.1, not sure Hunter is set up for atmos, he is the full time producer and mixer for Marillion so it would probably fall to the band to pay for the upgrade which i’m not convinced they will do

 

[marpow]

My copy arriving today with a $10.89 price discount gurantee from Amazon.

 

[SomethingAnything]

For any Michael Hunter mix I turn the rears up 2, sometimes 3 db’s, for atmos mixes I turn the rears up 2 and the heights 4, this works for me but all systems and rooms are different, it’s taken me a while to figure out what’s best for me, I have a 5.2.2 system.
This new release is 5.1, not sure Hunter is set up for atmos, he is the full time producer and mixer for Marillion so it would probably fall to the band to pay for the upgrade which i’m not convinced they will do

Thanks. I'll use your suggested settings as my starting point.

Interesting that the band would probably have to pay for Hunter's upgrade! If it was me, I'd personally want to be keeping up with the times (as well as retaining the equipment ability to still do 5.1). But I guess one can get locked into this kind of thinking, from a business perspective, and maybe it's super expensive to upgrade. It hasn't stopped SWT though, who's just waiting to be hired to complete an Atmos project (or is possibly even working one now, but can't say).

 

[madscot]

Thanks. I'll use your suggested settings as my starting point.

Interesting that the band would probably have to pay for Hunter's upgrade! If it was me, I'd personally want to be keeping up with the times (as well as retaining the equipment ability to still do 5.1). But I guess one can get locked into this kind of thinking, from a business perspective, and maybe it's super expensive to upgrade. It hasn't stopped SWT though, who's just waiting to be hired to complete an Atmos project (or is possibly even working one now, but can't say).

For a mixer like SWT or SW or BS it’s worth upgrading to atmos (which I believe the licence is rather expensive) it will be worth it as they can offer their services to anyone, MH is Marillion’s full time producer and mixer, he records everything they do so is there full time day in day out, Marillion release a new album every 4 or 5 years and are working on their back catalogue about once a year, it’s probably not worth the hassle and expense for them. I wish I was wrong as they’re one of my favourite bands and the music is prime for atmos but i’m resigned to not getting any anytime soon

 

[edisonbaggins]

So, I hate to say it, but I hope MH doesn’t get the Marbles remix project.

 

[cbmmm3]

So, I hate to say it, but I hope MH doesn’t get the Marbles remix project.

SWT please

 

[edisonbaggins]

SWT please

Or SW!

 

[SomethingAnything]

So, I hate to say it, but I hope MH doesn’t get the Marbles remix project.

So, so, so agree. In my book, it is their masterpiece.

 

[Bobby Martini]

If you ordered before the 21st of September you will be fine

Ahh....that's good to know. I ordered on Sep 6th

 

[Bobby Martini]

If you turn up the rears a couple of db's on a Michael Hunter mix you will be very pleasantly surprised, it brings the keyboards, backing vocals and even some guitar into play

I do this on his mixes. I find it makes a HUGE difference too !

 

[JulesRules]

Or SW!

He mixed two tracks of the original Marbles album, one with Dave Meegan who also mixed a few tracks, although the majority was done by... Mike Hunter.

 

[Bobby Martini]

This Strange Engine arrived today.

Here's my thoughts...

Nice package. In keeping with the other Marillion Re-releases. 4CDs and 1 BR.
The surround mix is better than Michael Hunter's other efforts in my opinion. As always it helps to increase the rears quite a bit but when you do the mix is one of the best he's done (but it's no Steven Wilson)
The songs sound fresh though and probably the best I've heard them. A definite improvement on the CD.
Over 2 hours of demos and jams included on the BR disc along with a 1hr 25min Making of doc, a 2hr 14min live 'bootleg' concert (audience member filmed by the look of it but mixing desk sound fortunately) and a couple of promo videos including a bizarre Peter Gabrielesque Kiss that Frog vibe video ripped straight from the VHS tape of 'Man of a Thousand Faces'

The disc isn't authored very well. I've found this with a couple of recent Marillion blu rays. There's a long delay between pressing a button on the remote and something appearing on the screen (pop up menus etc). It's not my player(s) because no other blu ray discs have this issue. Not a huge deal but worth noting.

Overall a solid 9/10 mainly for the wealth of content alone and value for money.