Simple Minds "Sparkle in the Rain" (March 2015)

[GOS]

There were plenty of mistakes on CD's...and obvious ones...but people's expectations or equipment didn't reveal the problems...but the bottom line is this...it's a hobby..if it's too much for someone to bear then maybe they can take up golf...they never make any mistakes in that hobby...bird watching...another safe pursuit...but remember it's recreation...not life and death...I haven't received my copy yet but I'm guessing that I will like it the way it is...one of the people I respect the most on here when it comes to disc evaluation is pleased with this disc...and I'm not interested in the stereo side...but even after this post people kept obsessing over some negative comments on another forum...some people cry and moan if 3 seconds of a song is missing on an entire album...some of the best surround discs that were ever produced have some detractors...that's just the way it is on forums..you can either spend your musical life complaining or realize that perfection is usually unattainable...I'm just happy to have these releases cause I hate golf and don't have the patience for bird watching...

Well, bird watching....as in...GEESE...or GOOSE?

 

[corneredcat]

Beer!

Oops...sorry...had a flashback....

lmao....timing is everything!

 

[timothyemerson]

It's good to read all of the comments on this release - thanks for posting, everyone.

My standalone BD had been despatched from wowhd.co.nz before I heard about the stereo muck-up and is still enroute. I'll probably open it though given that there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the surround mix from the comments. I rarely listen to the stereo mixes anyway, so having a mono version might be a bit of a novelty (Beatles and Hendrix fans seem to love the mono mixes, right?). I remember my friend purchasing Beastie Boys' Ill Communication back in the 90's but it had post-Invisible Touch Genesis on the disc! Needless to say, that disc was returned.

Does anyone with some sound engineer experience know if the stereo-to-mono switch could have occurred between the new "master disc" (I know it's not a "remaster") being approved and the discs going into production for the full run? I'm just interested in where in the process the mistake might have happened.

 

[rtbluray]

I haven't received my copy yet but I'm guessing that I will like it the way it is...one of the people I respect the most on here when it comes to disc evaluation is pleased with this disc...and I'm not interested in the stereo side...but even after this post people kept obsessing over some negative comments on another forum...some people cry and moan if 3 seconds of a song is missing on an entire album...some of the best surround discs that were ever produced have some detractors...that's just the way it is on forums..you can either spend your musical life complaining or realize that perfection is usually unattainable

And that's the difference between us (at least as far as this release is concerned). I care very deeply about the stereo remix. I cannot play surround in my current car or at work, so I still rely on stereo in those two environments (and plenty of others) to deliver me the music that I want, whether it's from a digital file or a digital stream.
Steven Wilson's stereo remixes have particular significance for me, as those are in constant rotation. I cannot think of a single one of his remixes off the top of my head that I listen to less than the original stereo mix, so I really want to hear both of his remixes of "Sparkle in the Rain", and at this point, there's no way to correctly listen to the stereo mix, and if I am paying $30 for a disc, I expect a replacement to be sent to me free of effort on my part if the disc is not what it should be.

And on another point about perfection, you cannot be an engineer unless you strive to deliver the absolute best, free of major errors.
If I turned in a mono mix that's supposed to be stereo for one of my Graduate school projects, I would probably get an 'F', or if I did this in a professional setting, it's possible I could be fired or lose a client, so I take these sort of errors very seriously, cause we all know what serves as quality for us, and it's what I strive for each and every day that I do this work.

 

[fredblue]

And that's the difference between us (at least as far as this release is concerned). I care very deeply about the stereo remix. I cannot play surround in my current car or at work, so I still rely on stereo in those two environments (and plenty of others) to deliver me the music that I want, whether it's from a digital file or a digital stream.
Steven Wilson's stereo remixes have particular significance for me, as those are in constant rotation. I cannot think of a single one of his remixes off the top of my head that I listen to less than the original stereo mix, so I really want to hear both of his remixes of "Sparkle in the Rain", and at this point, there's no way to correctly listen to the stereo mix, and if I am paying $30 for a disc, I expect a replacement to be sent to me free of effort on my part if the disc is not what it should be.

And on another point about perfection, you cannot be an engineer unless you strive to deliver the absolute best, free of major errors.
If I turned in a mono mix that's supposed to be stereo for one of my Graduate school projects, I would probably get an 'F', or if I did this in a professional setting, it's possible I could be fired or lose a client, so I take these sort of errors very seriously, cause we all know what serves as quality for us, and it's what I strive for each and every day that I do this work.

Ok, I'm going to ask everyone here to imagine a scenario for a moment..

Imagine listening to the same thing.. over and over and over and over and over again.. in a relatively condensed timeframe, while testing one of these discs...

..you're presented with MLP surround, DTS surround, Dolby Digital Surround.. gotta check em thoroughly in both DVD-A and DVD-V modes, not everyone's got a DVD-A player after all, matter of fact most folks have DVD-V don't they, yet that DVD-A's got to be ironed out as flat as it's VIDEO-TS... so, anyway, I digress, basically you're tasked with going through the entire workings of that disc..

a disc that's already had countless man hours spent working on it by a team of professionals creating it and putting their expertise together as it is.. "just" the disc.. not the music, not the mix, not the contents, all that is a huge deal in and of itself of course, I mean "just" (in big inverted commas) the DVD as a physical object/storage device with the eventuality it will be a consumer product end users can actually enjoy all of the content of without any hitches or glitches...all before a tester's even got anywhere near it..

..and when they do, perhaps consider the front to back, top to bottom, inside out, upside down exhaustive testing that goes on.. from splash screen to video content, with all the menu function, rollovers, tracklists, back buttons, audio select menu's, etc along the way.. (essentially every aspect of functionality you can think of)..

..and then you go through it all over again in 2.0 channels..

..and then you go through it all over again on Blu-ray..

.. in LPCM surround.. and then in DTS-HD MA.. and then in stereo..

..maybe a bit of ear burn out/listening fatigue creeps in along the way.. over the passage of time where hours turn into days.. along the way errors and issues present themselves and you go through the same testing procedures over and over again with revised test material..

now, given all of that, does an automatically inherent narrower stereo image compared to a lovely wide open surround field with a Steven Wilson 5.1 remix seem totally incongruous in that kind of scenario to you.. could you be wrong footed by it, not realising it was actually mono as opposed to stereo that just sounded far less engaging and exciting than the visceral 5.1 Steven Wilson mix you'd now become only too well acquainted with, in that kind of situation?

Just food for thought, perhaps?

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Ok, I'm going to ask everyone here to imagine a scenario for a moment..

Imagine listening to the same thing.. over and over and over and over and over again.. in a relatively condensed timeframe, while testing one of these discs...

..you're presented with MLP surround, DTS surround, Dolby Digital Surround.. gotta check em thoroughly in both DVD-A and DVD-V modes, not everyone's got a DVD-A player after all, matter of fact most folks have DVD-V don't they, yet that DVD-A's got to be ironed out as flat as it's VIDEO-TS... so, anyway, I digress, basically you're tasked with going through the entire workings of that disc..

a disc that's already had countless man hours spent working on it by a team of professionals creating it and putting their expertise together as it is.. "just" the disc.. not the music, not the mix, not the contents, all that is a huge deal in and of itself of course, I mean "just" (in big inverted commas) the DVD as a physical object/storage device with the eventuality it will be a consumer product end users can actually enjoy all of the content of without any hitches or glitches...all before a tester's even got anywhere near it..

..and when they do, perhaps consider the front to back, top to bottom, inside out, upside down exhaustive testing that goes on.. from splash screen to video content, with all the menu function, rollovers, tracklists, back buttons, audio select menu's, etc along the way.. (essentially every aspect of functionality you can think of)..

..and then you go through it all over again in 2.0 channels..

..and then you go through it all over again on Blu-ray..

.. in LPCM surround.. and then in DTS-HD MA.. and then in stereo..

..maybe a bit of ear burn out/listening fatigue creeps in along the way.. over the passage of time where hours turn into days.. along the way errors and issues present themselves and you go through the same testing procedures over and over again with revised test material..

now, given all of that, does an automatically inherent narrower stereo image compared to a lovely wide open surround field with a Steven Wilson 5.1 remix seem totally incongruous in that kind of scenario to you.. could you be wrong footed by it, not realising it was actually mono as opposed to stereo that just sounded far less engaging and exciting than the visceral 5.1 Steven Wilson mix you'd now become only too well acquainted with, in that kind of situation?

Just food for thought, perhaps?

It's just a mistake...it happens...it's not the first time and won't be the last..I wish some people would do an introspective of their own productivity(or lack of)and see how they do...

 

[LizardKing]

Stereo Shmeareo.... (quite literally in this case @ ...

What I want to know is whats the surround mix like?

 

[Robert van Diggele]

From the earlier posted link to superdeluxeedtions, an update

Update: 17.50 24/3/15: As an alternative you can email proof of purchase to [email protected] and they will send you out the replacement disc. Universal have confirmed to me that this will suffice. Put SIMPLE MINDS REPLACEMENT DISC in the subject line.

 

[user 1679]

Thanks Robert - I was going to ask them about that as sending even a single disc back overseas is not cheap these days!

I've sent off the email with a copy of my order and shipping notice (it's actually not arrived yet!) and hopefully that'll get it done!

 

[LizardKing]

From the earlier posted link to superdeluxeedtions, an update

is that for any purchase? Or just from the universal website?

 

[timothyemerson]

Greetings from the bottom of the planet.

Mine just arrived from wowhd.co.nz and I did a quick check, and yep; the 2014 stereo mix is bung. The original stereo mix sounded OK though. Hopefully, whatever sickness I've managed to acquire will allow me to give the surround mix a good listen tonight. I find that whenever I'm sick though, my hearing and balance are all up the wah-zoo and I can't enjoy music or movies. Hey, that could be how this error occurred:

"Bob, hurry up and finish checking the 2014 stereo mix and then get home to bed before you infect everyone."
"Yes boss. Sounds good to me. I'm outta here."

LizardKing: Check your mailbox; yours might be waiting there now!

Happy listening everyone (to the surround mix at least).

 

[LizardKing]

Greetings from the bottom of the planet.

Mine just arrived from wowhd.co.nz and I did a quick check, and yep; the 2014 stereo mix is bung. The original stereo mix sounded OK though. Hopefully, whatever sickness I've managed to acquire will allow me to give the surround mix a good listen tonight. I find that whenever I'm sick though, my hearing and balance are all up the wah-zoo and I can't enjoy music or movies. Hey, that could be how this error occurred:

"Bob, hurry up and finish checking the 2014 stereo mix and then get home to bed before you infect everyone."
"Yes boss. Sounds good to me. I'm outta here."

LizardKing: Check your mailbox; yours might be waiting there now!

Happy listening everyone (to the surround mix at least).

Wohoo! Can't wait to hear this one... :banana:

If its made its way "up" to where you are in the sticks of "The Hutt" then it better bloody be in my mailbox...

Whats the surround mix like?

P.S. Nice to see someone else here at QQ from my part of the world (NZ, Wellington Region).

 

[timothyemerson]

Ha! Yes, we're usually the last to get anything delivered in the Valley!

I only gave the surround mix about 2 minutes of spin time as my ears are all messed up at the moment and it's the middle of the day - music always sounds better at night. Plus, I'm supposed to be working!

Back to it, I guess.

Have a good one!

 

[Perp]

My Deluxe Box Set arrived yesterday but I'm afraid to open it because the real 2015....er......2014 stereo mix is all futzed up...LOL.

 

[Snood]

My Deluxe Box Set arrived yesterday but I'm afraid to open it because the real 2015....er......2014 stereo mix is all futzed up...LOL.

Perp, read the above posts - they replacing them all and directions are above in previous posts :banana:

 

[Perp]

For those that purchased the Deluxe Box Set, I'm surprised no one has noticed the information noted that is out of place on the outside of the box itself.

 

[Cheezmo]

There is a poster on another forum that thinks the 5.1 mix is messed up also as in front and rear channels swapped. Evidence is that there are re-enforcing lead vocals in the surrounds along with most primary instruments. Fronts have mostly bass and drums and reverb.

Given the complaints that the 5.1 mix sounds poor, this sure sounds like a possibility. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I cancelled my order so can't check it myself, but can anyone test/confirm this?

 

[timbre4]

They need to re-check their system settings, the sole issue is the stereo mix.


Keep Calm and Have Patience

 

[fredblue]

I suggested setup issues over there already.. it didn't go down too well

 

[fredblue]

There is a poster on another forum that thinks the 5.1 mix is messed up also as in front and rear channels swapped. Evidence is that there are re-enforcing lead vocals in the surrounds along with most primary instruments. Fronts have mostly bass and drums and reverb.

Given the complaints that the 5.1 mix sounds poor, this sure sounds like a possibility. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I cancelled my order so can't check it myself, but can anyone test/confirm this?

these comments @sa-cd.net proclaiming things are wrong with the 5.1 also is not doing my poor heart any good!! :yikes

..and then you've got someone over @ the SHF on their soapbox saying its the worst 5.1 they've ever heard.. :yikes ..I was tempted to ask them if they'd ever heard of Silverline.. but i don't fancy getting booted, plus there ain't many of us QQ lot left there now, we need to keep a hand in