Porcupine Tree's "Fear Of A Blank Planet" is Coming - Again, Deluxe Box Set w Blu Ray

[Neil Hannah]

There are also people still in this world, who loves the physical thing and holding the whole in their hands, reading the linernotes, smells the paper, love the artwork etc, and total not interested in downloading or listen via streaming platforms. I am one of them

Well said bud.
Got mine today, smells great. Will listen tonight

 

[tlake6659]

Wonder why he remastered the 5.1 mix on this and not In Absentia and Deadwing. Those albums definitely needed remastering more than Fear of a Blank Planet. Those 5.1 mixes are way too dynamically compressed.

 

[sjcorne]

He didn’t have the pre-mastered files for those 5.1’s, since they were done at Elliot Scheiner’s studio.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

A little surprise on the blu-ray. Both Fear of a Blank Planet and Nil Recurring have two 5.1 mixes, 2007 & 2024. I have had a chance to listen closely and determine the differences,

So, when ripping the disc how to determine which is which?

View attachment 110642

I don't have my copy yet; but I'm thinking if you rip via MakeMKV and then see if the chapters are broken out separately, one can sometimes see the titles in the Windows preview frame of the resulting MKVs, or play each in VLC (if that makes sense?)

 

[Aggrajag]

A little surprise on the blu-ray. Both Fear of a Blank Planet and Nil Recurring have two 5.1 mixes, 2007 & 2024. I have had a chance to listen closely and determine the differences,

So, when ripping the disc how to determine which is which?

I play it in VLC, select the options you require (album, audio format etc.) and once it's actually playing go into the Title menu options and you can see which title or audio track is ticked. The title doesn't always match the physical disc track (it doesn't on this set for example) but the audio tracks do seem to.

 

[SomethingAnything]

There are also people still in this world, who loves the physical thing and holding the whole in their hands, reading the linernotes, smells the paper, love the artwork etc, and total not interested in downloading or listen via streaming platforms. I am one of them

I can't own/afford everything I want to hear. So streaming helps with that. This being in classic 5.1 (therefore not on Tidal), and such a brilliant album to boot -- PT's best in my opinion -- helped with my decision to buy this one.

 

[SomethingAnything]

By the way, for those in Oz, it's currently $170.46 and free deliv. A good price, using BS as a benchmark.

BS would likely have been cheaper or similar if it had not been for the label's instruction to still sell to OS buyers as if they were still paying the UK VAT (that is, two prices, one for UK buyers, another for the rest of the world). So I feel I've at least outwitted the cheating label.

 

[Zepfan]

The 2024 mastering of the surround mixes is the default stream when you rip the blu-ray with MakeMKV.

The DR is as follows:

FOABP - 2024 Master DR13
FOABP - 2007 Master DR11

Nil Recurring - 2024 Master DR10
Nil Recurring - 2007 Master DR8

I used MMH to confirm those numbers.

 

[Albert Dagger]

The 2024 mastering of the surround mixes is the default stream when you rip the blu-ray with MakeMKV.

The DR is as follows:

FOABP - 2024 Master DR13
FOABP - 2007 Master DR11

Nil Recurring - 2024 Master DR10
Nil Recurring - 2007 Master DR8

I used MMH to confirm those numbers.

Is the new mastering different also in terms of EQ, or just peak limiting being removed? I’m also interested in the stereo remaster if you checked it.

 

[Steve Bruzonsky]

When I rip using DVD Audio Extractor, it shows 2 5.1 DTS-HD tracks, one on top and one just below it. The top layer clearly sounds better, quieter, more dynamic, than the bottom layer. Also, I have the DVD-Audio and it sounds about the same as the bottom layer. Indeed, Steven Wilson has clearly made my spending $$ worthwhile clearly improving the sonics over my previous DVD-Audio version.

 

[SomethingAnything]

I'm really looking forward to this box set. I've never owned/heard either the album or Nil Recurring in 5.1 and the extras sound terrific.

 

[Robert van Diggele]

By the way, for those in Oz, it's currently $170.46 and free deliv. A good price, using BS as a benchmark.

BS would likely have been cheaper or similar if it had not been for the label's instruction to still sell to OS buyers as if they were still paying the UK VAT (that is, two prices, one for UK buyers, another for the rest of the world). So I feel I've at least outwitted the cheating label.

What is the VAT issue all about? I ordered at Burning Shed too and they applied the Dutch VAT as they should.

 

[Zepfan]

Is the new mastering different also in terms of EQ, or just peak limiting being removed? I’m also interested in the stereo remaster if you checked it.

I haven’t checked the stereo yet. Will do so tomorrow and post. Haven’t had chance to listen to it yet either, so can’t comment on EQ. I’ll add that it’s not an album I’m familiar with so I’m probably not the best person to ask!

 

[SomethingAnything]

What is the VAT issue all about? I ordered at Burning Shed too and they applied the Dutch VAT as they should.

With every album I buy from BS, as I'm not in the UK, the British tax is removed. This has always helped with delivery cost (I live in Oz) and makes BS purchases competitive. However, in this instance, when the VAT is removed for OS buyers, the cost automatically rises to the original VAT level as if it's still there. I thought this was a mistake and emailed BS about it. In their response they explained that the label instructed that they do this, that is, sell at two prices, one for the UK locals and a higher price for those OS.

I can only speak for Australia, mind. Perhaps when the UK VAT is removed for you in Holland, the price does not suddenly rise up back to that UK VAT level again, as if it's still there (but in fact now it must be extra profit for the label).

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Thonolan]

I'm really looking forward to this box set. I've never owned/heard either the album or Nil Recurring in 5.1 and the extras sound terrific.

Wow, you're in for a treat I think. The mix of the album is very good but that of the EP is even better IMO, among his very best 5.1 mixes I'd say.

 

[mandrix]

I have not compared the two 5.1 mixes. I seem stuck on the 2024 mix because it just sounds so darn good to me.
But I have listened to the DVDA many many times.
Either he brought out a few buried elements, or I have my calibration really dialed in. Or both. lol.
Have not even made it to Nil Recurring yet.

 

[Zepfan]

@Albert Dagger 2024 Stereo Remaster is DR 13.

 

[Robert van Diggele]

With every album I buy from BS, as I'm not in the UK, the British tax is removed. This has always helped with delivery cost (I live in Oz) and makes BS purchases competitive. However, in this instance, when the VAT is removed for OS buyers, the cost automatically rises to the original VAT level as if it's still there. I thought this was a mistake and emailed BS about it. In their response they explained that the label instructed that they do this, that is, sell at two prices, one for the UK locals and a higher price for those OS.

I can only speak for Australia, mind. Perhaps when the UK VAT is removed for you in Holland, the price does not suddenly rise up back to that UK VAT level again, as if it's still there (but in fact now it must be extra profit for the label).

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks for the explanation, a wierd situation from the label. UK VAT is 20% and Dutch VAT is 21% but the UK VAT was definately removed and Dutch VAT added on the amount excl VAT.

 

[SomethingAnything]

Thanks for the explanation, a wierd situation from the label. UK VAT is 20% and Dutch VAT is 21% but the UK VAT was definately removed and Dutch VAT added on the amount excl VAT.

Interesting. This practice may not apply to those in Europe. I wonder if it does for US buyers, or if it's just for select countries.

 

[mandrix]

VAT should be removed entirely for US buyers.