Reversed channels on new CD releases

These are cases of reversed channels, rather than out of phase, surely?

Graham

Graham,

Indeed, sorry for the incorrect terminology (been reading about HC's problems).

Reversed they are though, no doubt about it. At first it had me checking connections but sure enough Mr Page appears on different channels depending on which CD.

Bit disconcerting with familiar music don't you think?

My MFSL cd of Getz/Gilberto has the channels swapped as compared to my friend's more proletarian version. Not sure whose represents the proper frame of reference.

Have you asked the record(ing) company?

Yeah, I bet they'll get right on that!

DCT

I have been vainly banging on about this issue on many CDs etc since 1998 when I started recording my vinyl to CDR etc and found that most PC components etc etc willy-nilly are wired indiscriminately to reverse L-R sound channels at any possible stage ....

For 8 years the audio comix and PC comix have successfully kept their ostrich-like where the sun doesn't want to shine, and most audio punters do not appear to care, despite probably usually being able to distinguish between LEFT and RIGHT.

I'm very interested in this post!

i bought the remastered Physical Graffiti at Christmas and its the only copy I've got of it (ie nothing to compare it to).

I had to turn it off!!! It sounded so bad. Flat, no dynamics even some smearing of voices/sounds! I've never had that with an album before. I've been wondering what on earth the master remasterers had been playing at.

Any chance of giving me some pointers as to what to listen out for with respect to channel reversal?

Jonathan

Hi Shayman,

In the absence of an LP or previous release, go to the end of "Boogie with Stu". Between this and "Black Country Woman" is a bit of banter at the desk.

You hear someone say "I wanna get this aeroplane in" followed by (Jimmy?) saying "Nah leave it".

On the original CD his voice is on the right (from the listening position). On the remaster - it's on the left.

I'd be interested in any vinyl owner confirming which way it was on the 2LP.

It seems to be on the left on the vinyl.

Howard

I read this and was wondering how one would ever know which was a reversal and which was correct! Of course mono takes out the guess-work, but this really does underline how totally irrelevant stereo actually is unless the recording is a natural spaced effort such given to classical musicians. where any reversal will be completely obvious! Please don't burn me for that heresey!

Fredrik

FF said:

quote:

Please don't burn me for that heresey!

I agree. It just that having been familiar with the music it came as a surprise to hear it. I was actually comparing discs to see what the remastering had done elsewhere.

quote:

It seems to be on the left on the vinyl.

Howard

Ah well, the remaster is consistent with the vinyl (I guess we will never know what was intended).

Shayman said:

quote:

I had to turn it off!!! It sounded so bad. Flat, no dynamics even some smearing of voices/sounds! I've never had that with an album before. I've been wondering what on earth the master remasterers had been playing at.

If you think the remaster is bad - try the original CD. As well as being reversed it redefines the word "dull".

Just another example of how highly the music companies values the listener.

and here's us wondering the coprrect torque to tighten FRAIM and someone mastering cd's can't be bothered to have the music coming out of the correct channels!

Sloop John B said:

quote:

Just another example of how highly the music companies values the listener.

Yep. The only "listeners" that music companies are interested in have little white earphones, sadly.

Nope - you've got that wrong - the only "listeners" in these companies are the ones that talk to the shareholders...

As for reversed channels - I've noticed this on some VHS and DVD films - worst cases are my copies of "The hitcher" and "Gremlins" on VHS - try watching a car move from left to right on the screen while the audio goes from right to left - it'll do your head in!

Sadly there probably isn't a correct way round for the sounds, as, like most recordings except some decent classical, they will not have been recorded in true stereo, but two channel mono, so the engineer sorts out the placement etc.

quote:

On the original CD his voice is on the right (from the listening position). On the remaster - it's on the left.

I'd be interested in any vinyl owner confirming which way it was on the 2LP.

Yup. My copy of the remaster, its on the left channel.

Jonathan

I just spoke to Pagey about this. It appears he was so stoned out of his head when he mixed the remasters that he had his headphones on the wrong way round!

Regards, CB

quote:

I'd be interested in any vinyl owner confirming which way it was on the 2LP.

Only if their cartridges are wired up the right way round!

I once asked a well-known record producer about this, he said that no-one in the biz cares particularly about L vs. R issues; people (not us audiophiles [cough]) will wire up their stereos wrong anyway (switching the interconnects, speaker wires etc.). Not to mention shelf system/boombox issues. Interestingly, when Sgt. Pepper was being prepared for CD release, the first test CD had the channels reversed; several people w. EMI/Apple or whomever sent theirs back to Abbey Road Studios with a note complaining (apparently, it was obvious by the time they got to the french horn part...).
Dark Side of the Moon headphone hippies (we are legion!) would notice too.

quote:

I read this and was wondering how one would ever know which was a reversal and which was correct!

Well... I just put a CD I lost some time ago down the back of a wall unit in the CDS3. It's a solo album of Bob James playing his piano. It is recorded so that the piano is spread in a fairly wide area between the speakers.

The keybooard is the wrong way round!!!

I have high notes coming from the left and bass notes coming from the right. Most disconcerting. I can't listen to it for more than a minute before I start to go bosseyed...

Geoff

quote:

The keybooard is the wrong way round!!!

That rather depends on whether you're sitting in front of the piano or behind it!

Regards, CB