Rush are at it again

Hi Connon,

I'm really hoping the vinyl Clockwork Angels is an improvement so your observations are very interesting. It would be great if it has been properly mastered and the Vapor Trails stats give some cause for optimism. 

I notice that CA and S&A were mastered by someone called Brian "Big Bass" Gardner. His background is mostly hip hop, but includes the likes of Linkin Park. If you already have the vinyl LP, perhaps you could check the cover to see if he mastered that too? If he did, I may keep my money in my pocket.

Keith

Keith,

If you are going to buy Clockwork Angels on vinyl ?

Go to whatrecords its £24.99 on there.

They also have Show of hands double vinyl for £9.99.

And this limited edition for £18.99.

The ABC-1974 double Vinyl is £16.49 from burningshed.

Stu.

Thanks Stu,

I didn't know about What Records, but I think, on reflection, I'll nip down to my nearest independent record store and see if they will order it for me (they may have it in stock).

With all the bitching about dynamic range compression, we shouldn't loose sight of the fact that it's a superb album. Wish Them Well and The Garden are just awesome, and great songs at the end of albums is always a good sign. 

Keith

Connon,

 Really glad you like it.

You ain't the only one as its selling well round the world.

Its not for me though, Even after a spin in the Bedini Stu.

Hi Connon,

I know what you mean about getting your bearings? It is a bit dense, but th best music is often the stuff you have to work on.

Most of the bitching was from me, by the way. 

Also, as you have the vinyl version, do you know who mastered it?

Keith

That's disappointing, but thanks

Ran SeeDeclip on a rip of the Clockwork Angels CD and it's hugely clipped, e.g. The Garden 4777 clips which is the most I've seen in a long time.  Rest of the tracks are pretty similar.

Ok, having some time with various versions I'm prepared to continue to sing the praises of vinyl. 

Listening now at shop to vinyl on P9/dynavector 17D3/Superline/Z560R/into Aux2 552/250/s-400 

Streaming is 24/96 Flac on readynas duo streaming via UnitiServe transcoding to Wav via NDX/555ps/hiline to 552. Whew. Power lines on all into Audience and on Fraim. 

Vinyl has more depth and is more tuneful. The panning mechanical sounds at beginning of "Headlong Flight" are more pronounced and musical. As to whether vinyl is more dynamic I can't say but it seems a little more so.

The acoustic opening to "The Garden" with its strings and high bass part is much more songful and dynamic sounding. Then when things kick in they sound fuller and bigger. 

Then mid song when it drops to the piano part before the guitar solo there, vinyl again rocks. 

Thanks Connon,

This is great news. I have ordered it on vinyl and I'm patiently waiting for 9 July as it seems to have a latter release date over here in the UK. The DR Database website lists the vinyl as 12 (vs 7 for the CD and 24 bit file), which is very encouraging.

In the meantime, I've continued my quest to fill in the gaps in my Rush vinyl collection. Signals is my latest find. It's immaculate, apart from the spine, the condition of which suggests that the previous owner had a cat. 

Keith

Keith, that is interesting info about the vinyl having much less compression. I guess it bears out in my experience of the difference between the two. Though I don't know if it had 6 more dB of dynamic range or not. It would be very educational to have a demonstration of how dynamic compression affects sound. I would like to go into a mastering studio and be able to apply varying amounts of limiting to a song. I know what the overall effect is as compression increases but to get a feel for how much an additional 3 dB of headroom is, for example.

Anyway, well delighted with the vinyl copy. May have to make a digital copy of it (as well as Vapor Trails) for the digital library.

I remember going down to Tower Records in Seattle when the Signals album was first released. It felt so bright and airy compared to the black and red of Moving Pictures artwork. Good times.

Cats hate Rush.

But dogs can hear the vocals.

A bit off thread.

Have any of you Rush lovers ever heard this brilliant album on CD or Vinyl?

If not?

Go have a listen its right up your street.

Julia is a great track off the album.

David and Geddy doing a duet of this would be something to hear imo.

Stu.

Just checked Spotify and it's there. I'll give it a go tomorrow :-)

You mean the album Clockwork Angels? What bitrate do they offer? Let us know how it sounds.

Oh, you mean Pavlov's Dog? I haven't heard of them.

Actually, I meant Pavlov's Dog. CA is on Spotify and I would like to believe it's at 320k (or "Extreme", as Spotify call it) for Premium users, but it's not easy to tell. There was a very interesting blog, a few months ago, about the fact that Spotify continue to upload new stuff at lower bit rates, but give the impression that £9.99 a month gives you 320.

Keith

No it won't. A headache inducing din. Sounds like the vinyl will deliver - good for some of us.

The CD is less music and more special effects.

Amazed to see that even the 24-bit (HD Tracks) version of Clockwork Angels has extensive clipping.

With 144dB of dynamic range to play with, this is clearly a deliberate decision to go loud at the expense of SQ.

The vinyl Clockwork Angels has arrived and my feelings are decidedly mixed.

The packaging is very pretty, the larger size doing justice to the steampunk illustrations.

The vinyl was is quiet, but a bit dirty. The needle jumped a couplet of times, but this was fixed by cleaning with the Okki Nokki.

The sound quality is better than the CD, but not a quantum leap. The brick walling and digital distortion is still there, suggesting that this is the CD master, plonked on vinyl and calling into question the much wider dynamic range claimed on the dr database website.

Even more annoying is the fact that the 4th side has been pressed off centre, resulting in audible speed inconsistency. This is compounded by the distortion at the end of the superb The Garden which s very frustrating.

I'm glad I own it, but it isn't the panacea to the loudness of the CD.

Bugger!

Shame. An opportunity to claw something back missed. It's difficult to tell through the dense audio soup but I get an impression that this album was pumped up from the mics backwards. It's not so much music as pyrotechnics. Power trio they might be but they're hardly a 100 piece ensemble. 

Played Fly By Night and Kings, both 24/96 this evening. Ahhhh. Lovely. Never imagined that I'd find these albums soothing.

It's better; less bass which allows you to hear the drumming. Not as it should be though, and why is it so difficult to drill hole in the middle of a record?

Keith,

 How can you say you are glad you own it?

Cicks and a off centre hole.

Even if it only cost a £1 i would send it back and get a replacement or my money back.

This is why they get away with it.

It sounds shite before you add your defects to it, So why be happy with it??

The off centre whole wont be doing your cartridge any favours man.

Stu

...but it sounds less shite than the CD, and I really like the album. Plus, it's a mail order import so not easy to take back. I bet you have a few off centre and warped records?

In the mid 70s I tried to buy Led Zep II and after taking back three scratched copies I gave up and exchanged it. Unfortunately, I exchanged it for Rick Wakeman's No Earthly ConnectIon. It might be scratched too. I don't know, I only listened once and didn't make it to the end. I've still got it, though!

Keith