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J. Williams & LSO, The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK AUDIOPHILE EDITION - Restored & Remastered Score (Released)

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© Copyrighted material: You must own the Empire Strikes Back original motion picture soundtrack Special Edition if you mean to keep for yourselves a copy of the entire project presented here. If you own any other releases of this score, then you may select and keep for yourselves the material in common from the actual set._

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK score

  • Composer / Conductor: John Williams
  • Performer: the London Symphony Orchestra
  • Project: multiple sources remixing, restoration and remastering.
  • Sources: RSO/PolyGram (LP & CD), Arista Anthology, RCA Special Edition.
  • Set:2CD (complete score) + 1 CD (original album reconstructed and completed) + art covers, 50 pages booklet with liner notes, inside arts.
  • Format: Lossless Flac audio

(See post 2 for details)

The first aim of the unofficial Audiophile Edition is to bring back the orchestral depht and the sense of detail the original soundtrack used to show in the past, what was terribly missing since the first CD issue of the Empire score in 1985.

A careful comparison and selection of the tracks from each recording after equalization tests have led to give preference to the unappreciated but potentially rich RSO/PolyGram first CD release, John Neal’s remixes for the original album remaining still today the most lavish and powerful rendition of the London Symphony Orchestra’s performance. The well preserved and superior dynamic range hidden in this release awaited only a few to come back to life…

Still, the digital transfers from the Anthology were to be largely sourced. These somehow crude sounding downmixed versions of the sessions tapes as prepared by Eric Tomlinson offer the basic material for remixing and arrangements with the RSO tracks, as for being restored with their counterparts from the Special Edition. For completion, almost all the tracks sourced from the latter fortunately provide the Tomlinson mixes too rather than new remixes. They likely belong to the same series of transfers Bill Wolford made in 1993 for the box set, and it is assumed most of these were featured on the never issued 5th disc. In the end, only 1 or 2 minutes from the 1997 remixes have found a place here, either to restore missing parts or exceptionally by choice.

By chance and for final improvement, high quality transfers from the LP’s have been made especially available. Not to be used in their pure form excepted occasionally because of cracklings and the too deep vinyl sound, they found to be used through a special overdubbing as layers, allowing to imprint the incredible dynamic range of the RSO LP’s to the sessions mixes, to borrow the many missing instruments developed in the first, such as percussions or flutes for instances to complete the latter, as to increase their potential for equalization.

- Observations and operating ways

The overall restoration of the Empire recordings involved first to manage the background noise  hearable along the score. The noticeable edited segments of each track were then to be reequalized and rebalanced in order to give their matching sound to the reconstructed cues. This means no special digital processings of any kind were to be used.

The digital transfers featured by the Anthology or the SE are more or less distorted with over-modulation and some have been spotted for having huge clippings located on one channel (often the right), wrongly and abusively compensated with loud volume. “Darth Vader’s Trap” is one of the best exemple of that. Such cues won a lot to have the balance restored, so to say as if no clipping occured, leaving a ghost where some frequencies are missing while allowing to retrieve the least corrupted channel that was unfairly lower before. Worth is to mention sensitivity prevailed over power for these tracks that have already lost a lot of their sharpness in the process. Many tracks from the original album equally deserved special cares and for most important restoration,“The Rebel Fleet / End Title” revisits all the wrong cuts, balance and EQ’s on more than a dozen of sessions takes to restitute the whole cue in an integrity unmatched before.

The SE has been used to restore the Anthology (dropouts and buzzes) and vice versa (for clean endings of the tracks notably) depending on the selection, also some of the RSO tracks from the original album being incomplete, both the SE and Anthology were welcome to supply the missing parts. Another particularity has been watched on the 1993 Anthology release to synchronize the sources with success: the audio waveform of almost every tracks was inverted compared to the two other releases, and also, two tracks had their stereo channels swapped.

Next to that, the LP’s use has generated the most creative part of the remixing, demanding to find a perfect synchronization with the sessions mixes: the LP’s play faster, and at different proportions for each track, or even between the different segments of a track. Only “Hyperspace” running about 4 minutes has been layered in one piece, when “The Magic Tree” for instance has been reedited in five or six parts of slightly different speeds, exceptionally featuring one alternate time placed instrument in its beginning. Pitch and speed restorations on rare SE parts, on a few RSO (CD) and on all the LP’s tracks, used the Anthology as main reference… The rich complementarity of the various releases has been entirely explored.

To achieve the project, the whole remastering of the score has been approached with the constant care and thought to give back the touch, the breath and the dynamic of the London Symphony Orchestra’s performance, such as we use to remind and still expect from such recordings.

Not to be The perfect restitution of the Empire Strikes Back score, I believe the virtual Audiophile Edition may remain the most authentic rendition of it until hopefully LucasFilm or the 20th Century Fox regard the audience’s demand for quality.

“A picture is stronger than a thousand words. A sound is stronger than a thousand pictures.”…

 

SAMPLES

(… I wanted to share a maximum of samples, then many tracks have been cut in order to avoid any imperial entanglements! I haven’ t managed the different volumes between the sources, then beware).

RSO/PolyGram CD sourced tracks comparisons:

The Battle In The Snow AE vs. RSO
The Rebel Fleet/End Title AE (cd2&cd3 versions) vs. RSO & Antho
The Duel AE vs. RSO
The Imperial March AE vs. Antho & SE

link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=51MRQ5MX (please, copy & paste rather than direct clicking…)
Comment: to notice mostly next to the EQ’s, the new balance corrections on “The Rebel Fleet/End Title” ( in twelve parts, see here), the matching sound between “The Duel” segments, and for those who don’t know my previous work you’ll enjoy the restored cut on “Battle In The Snow” (at 24sec on the sample).

SE sourced tracks comparisons (Tomlinson mixes only):

Aboard The Executor AE vs. SE
Drawing The Battle Lines AE vs. SE & Antho
(half Anthology sourced)
Imperial Starfleet Deployed (not final) AE vs. SE
Betrayal (not final) AE vs. SE
Deal with the Dark Lord (not final) AE vs. SE

link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5ZV7V4B5

Comment: when “Aboard The Executor” is the best track (and new) findable on the SE, “Betrayal” and “Deal with the Dark Lord” are a real nightmare to work on, and the worsts on my set. They surely lack a bit of clarity but the highs are too distorted (and the bass resonance too strong) to allow more… However I may try again. There’s no reason for I post only the best tracks, so here they are, with a light balance correction that makes the space a little more comprehensible though. Hope you’ll like the new version of “Drawing the Battle Lines”, here in full track.

Anthology sourced tracks confrontation:

Crash Landing AE vs. Antho
Attack Position AE vs. SE & Antho
The Rebels Escape AE vs. RSO(LP), Antho & SE
(the latter for the fun)
<span style=“text-decoration: underline;”>link:</span> http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0APZZB0X
Comment: You’ll find here notably all the evolution of the restoration for the track “The Rebels Escape”. Actually it seems that even the RSO LP is beaten by the AE… from an overall point of view.

More Samples: CD3, 15 MINUTES OVERVIEW

Here are excerpts from 18 of the 20 tracks from the restored and reconstructed original RSO album (CD3).
This will give you more than an idea of what I use to call "sound" and how well the whole fits together…
link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=U5XQMWUU (please copy & paste the url rather than direct click)

… Hope you’ll enjoy !

Note: there’s a artcover “work in progress” topic for the current project here.

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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 (Edited)


2010. UNOFFICIAL EDITION. ENTIRELY REMIXED, RESTORED AND RE-EDITED FROM THE 1980 LP'S AND 1985 CD RSO/POLYDOR RELEASES, THE 1993 ARISTA/20TH CENTURY FOX ANTHOLOGY, THE 1997 RCA SPECIAL EDITION. SPECIAL THANKS TO "SEVENTIESFILMNUT" (7FN) FOR THE RSO LP TRANSFERS.


--------------------------------------- AUDIOPHILE EDITION ---------------------------------------


In order to make a correct edit of the Empire Strikes Back’s score from all the available editions, one must take into consideration some specific particularities on each of those:
1. The SE’s have a lot of tracks with a narrow or spoiled stereo + a bunch of mixes that differ from the originals ones and are to be avoided.
2. The Anthology has two tracks (segments more precisely)  with the stereo channels inverted.
3. The Anthology is almost entirely inverted (the frequencies have their head down, which can be an issue once you have to edit a track with the SE or the RSO. That's easy to fix).
4. The RSO 1st CD edition, behind the lack of care about the mixing for the album, is awesome.
5. General: to notice the score is re-composed from many recording sessions wich edited together may sound different.

On this edit, all have been remixed separately (originally edited segments from a same cue), to obtain the most accurate volumes and equalizations settings before editing. No process of any kind like compression, bass-boosters, noise reductor, wide stereo filters (excepted for a 15sec bit from the SE on the MainTitles) or whatever has been used, but only equalizator.

All the RSO LP layers have been speed & pitch corrected according to the Anthology and (rarely) SE sources, sometimes as a whole track, sometimes in multiple parts depending on the source track and of course of the new edits.


CD1 (72:46):


1. Main Titles / The Ice Planet
· 0’00” - 1’31” | RSO CD (speed/pitch corrected)
· 1’31” - 2’29” | RSO CD
· 2’29” - 2’45” | SE
· 2’45” - 2’54” | Anthology
· 2’54” - 3’15” | RSO CD
· 3’15” - 3’31” | RSO CD
· 3’31” -  3’45” | RSO CD
· 3’45” -  8’12” | Anthology

 

2. The Wampa’s Lair
· SE + Anthology clean fade out
·RSO LP Layers:
(Sections)
· 0’00” - 0’10”
· 1’21” - 1’40”
· 1’48” - 1’53”
· 2’59” - 3’24”
(Percussions & Trumpets/Horns)
At 0'47"; 0'56"; 1'01"; 1'14"; 1'17"; 1'20"; 1'21"; 1'55"; 1'57"; 2'02"

3. Vision of Obi-Wan
· SE (Fade in beginning)

4. Snowspeeders
· Anthology
· RSO LP Layer for better depth and percussions details.

5. Aboard The Executor
· SE

6. Drawing The Battle Lines
· 0’00” – 2’01” | SE + Anthology layer (for general sonority only)
· 2’01” – 2’40” | SE
· 2’40” – 4’04” | Anthology
· Stereo recentered on each part
· "Special EQ's"

7. The Battle In The Snow
· RSO CD
· restored lack of volume from 1’43” to 1’50” (RSO only)
· rearranged the clumsy original cut (a repetition)  at 2’28”

8. Luke’s First Crash
· 0’00” - 0’58” | Anthology + LP layer (fade in) from 0'05" to 0'31"
· 0’58” - 4’00” | RSO LP at Anthology speed/pitch
· 4'00” - 4'12” | Anthology fade out

9. The Rebels Escape
· Anthology
· RSO LP transfer from 2'05 to 2'07 (missing bit) at corrected speed/pitch
· "Special EQ's"
· Resynchronization of the Anthology track
· RSO LP Layer (light, for general sonority)

10. The Asteroid Field
· RSO CD

11. Crash Landing On Dagobah
· Anthology
· Corrected volume and cut at 2'40" (end fanfare)
· "Special EQ's"

12. A Familiar Place
· SE

13. Luke’s Nocturnal Visitor
· 0’00” – 1’37” | RSO CD
· 1’37” – 1’47” | Anthology (missing bit)
· 1’47” – end | RSO CD

14. Han And Leia / Vader And The Emperor
· 0’00” – 1’31” | RSO CD, restored hiss on 1 or 2sec at 1’19” with the SE
· 1’31” – End | RSO CD
Two “big” hisses remain unrestored… but this version is irreplaceable.

15. Jedi Master Revealed / Mynock Cave
· 0’00” – 2’06” | SE (Jedi Master Revealed) + RSO LP Layer
· 2'06” – 2'23” | SE (Mynock Cave missing intro)
· 2'23” – 3'01" | RSO CD
· 3’01” – 3’09” | SE (missing bit)
· 3'09” – 4'22” | RSO CD + "click" restoration at 3'15" with the SE
· 4'22” – 4'26" | SE (missing bit)
· 4'22” – 4'40” | RSO CD (fade in)
· Resonnance correction with layered inverted channels on the two last SE missing bits.
(The SE on this track has the resonnance of the music of each channel totally isolated from the other, at least on those parts)

... Track fully reedited. The end of “Jedi Master Revealed” has been composed to match the beginning of "Mynock Cave".
The repetition of the thrilling part on the later one has been removed here as in the film version, and probably for the same reason: it broke the surprise. See for the complete cue in the additional tracks.

16. The Magic Tree
· Anthology
· RSO LP Layer

17. Attack Position
· Anthology
· Three electrical noises/dropouts restored with the SE
· Stereo recentered

18. Yoda And The Force
· RSO CD, unrestored weird synth noise on the end fanfare, but it’s the only version available with the original ending untouched releasing its full power. They’ve only cut it on later releases as no other recording allows a restoration.

19. Imperial Starfleet Deployed
· SE

20. City In The Clouds
· 0’00” – 0’09” | Anthology + light RSO LP Layer (fade in)
· 0’09” – 0’35” | RSO LP transfer
· 0’35” – 1’26” | Anthology
· 0’34” – 2’06” | RSO LP Layers (multi parts) for better depht and sonority
· 1’26” – 2’29” | SE
· 2’29” – 3’40” | RSO LP transfer
· 3’40” – End | Anthology

 
 
____________________________________________________________

 

CD2 (68:56):

1. Lando's Palace / Luke's Promise
· 0’00” - 1’21” | Anthology + RSO LP layer
· 1’21” - 2’24” | Anthology + RSO LP layer
· 2’24” - 3’51” | Anthology + RSO LP layer
· Stereo recentered

2. Leia's Worries
· 0’00” - 0'14” | SE
· 0’14” - 1'00” | SE

3. Lando And Han
· SE

4. Betrayal At Bespin
· SE

5. Captives
· SE

6. Deal With The Dark Lord
· 0’00” – 0'48” | SE
· 0'48” – 2’34” | SE

7. Carbon Freeze
· 0’00” - 0'23” | Anthology
· 0'23” - 1'16” | Anthology
· 1'16” - 1'34” | Anthology
· 1'34” - 2'38” | Anthology
· 2'38” - 3'20” | SE missing end
· Stereo recentered

8. Darth Vader's Trap
· 0'00” - 0'55” | Anthology
· 0'55” - 1'30” | Anthology
· 1'30” - 2'06” | Anthology
· 2'06” - 3'30” | Anthology
· 3'30” - 3'49” | Anthology
· 3'49” - 4'51” | Anthology + electrical noise restoration on 1 sec.
· Stereo recentered

9. Departure Of Boba Fett
· 0'00” - 0'06” | SE
· 0'06” - 3'36" | Anthology
RSO LP layers:
· 0’15” - 1’00”
· 1’16” - 3’36” + double cut restoration with both Anthology and SE from 2'36” - 2'40”.
· Stereo recentered
Note: this version presents the alternate LP end (with thrilling violins fading out) melted with the film mix end.

10. The Duel
· 0’00” - 0'27” | Anthology
· 0'27” - 1'33” | RSO CD
· 1'33” - 2'49” | RSO CD
· 2'49” - 4'06” | RSO CD
· speed/pitch corrected.
· Recentered stereo on the two las segments

 

11. The Revelation / Escape From Bespin
· Anthology
· Stereo recentered

12. Hyperspace
· Anthology
· Stereo recentered
· RSO LP layer

13. The Rebel Fleet / Finale
                  (The Rebel Fleet)
· 0’00” - 1'47” | RSO CD (base remix)
· 1'47” - 1'57” | RSO CD (distortion correction through EQ's)
+ The first harp notes added from the Anthology
                  (Finale)
· 1'57” - 2'06” | RSO CD (distortion correction through EQ's)
· 2'06” - 3'42” | RSO CD (base remix) + "tape crash" restoration at 3'08" with Anthology
· 3'42” - 3'51” | RSO CD (re-EQ)
· 3'51” - 4'28” | RSO CD - from the "Imperial March" track
· 4'28” - 4'37” | Anthology - from the "Film Version" bonus track (distortion correction through EQ's)
· 4'37” - 5'47” | RSO CD (distortion correction through EQ's)
· 4'47” - 6'25” | RSO CD (base remix)

14. The Imperial March
· RSO CD
· Stereo recentered

15. Yoda's Theme
· RSO CD

16. Training Of A Jedi Knight (Unused)
· 0'00” - 0'44” | RSO CD
· 0'44” - 1'38” | SE

ALTERNATE MATERIAL

17. Fox Fanfare
· Anthology
Note: re-recorded in 1980 during the ESB sessions.

18. Main Title / Probe Droid Overture (Original film version)
· 0’00” - 1’31” | RSO CD (speed/pitch corrected)
· 1’31” - 1’43” | RSO CD
· 1'43” - 2’24” | SE - "Probe Droid"
· 2'24” - 2’35” | SE - "Patroling On Tautaun"
· 2’35” - 2’43” | Anthology (first 3sec from SE for junction)
· 2’43” - 3’46” | RSO CD (multi parts)
· 3’15” - 3’31” | SE - "Rebel Base" insert
Note: this track is the overture as originaly scored for the final film cut. The last part has been replaced in the film with the end of "Crash Landing".

19. Snowspeeders (film version)
· Anthology + RSO LP layers
Multi-segment edit from "Hyperspace" and "Snowspeeders"

20. Mynock Cave (complete)
· SE
· Exceptional use of stereo widening filter to narrow the abusive setting from the SE.
From the "March" fanfare to the end of "Mynock Cave", here's the full tracks as rehearsed and recorded during the sessions according to the special 1980 BBC documentary on J. Williams.

21. Departure Of Boba Fett (film version)
· Anthology + RSO LP layers
Multi-segment edit from this cue

22. The Rebel Fleet / Finale (Film Version)
· Same as track 13, expended with intro from "Yoda And The Force", the "Imperial March" is replaced here with its alternate from the film version End Titles (Anthology bonus track).
+ Stereo recentered

 
 
____________________________________________________________

 

CD3 (78:10): The RSO album reconstructed & completed.

Note: Compilation of the highest dynamic range tracks from CD1 & 2. Many tracks have been slightly reequalized for the set (*).

1. Main Title/Luke on Patrol /The Wampa's Lair
2. Snowspeeders
3. The Imperial March*
4. The Battle In The Snow
5. Luke First Crash*
6. The Rebel Escape* (alternate mix)
7. The Asteroid Field*
8. Nocturnal Visitor
9. Han And The Princess / Vader And The Emperor
10. Jedi Master Revealed / Mynock Cave
11. The Training of A Jedi Knight
12. The Magic Tree*
13. Yoda And The Force
14. The City In The Clouds*
15. Lando's Palace/Luke's Promise*
16. Departure Of Boba Fett*
17. The Duel
18. Hyperspace*
19. The Rebel Fleet/End Title* (Album Version)
20. Yoda's Theme

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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Great idea with the third Disc! Can't wait for the end result. I Hope it's going well for you with the artwork and presentation of the disc's, like the new title of it ;)

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Cant wait for this it looks like its gonna be an awesome set keep up the good work.

 

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Oh goody goody. Can't wait to sink my teeth (Ears) into this one.

"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas

<span> </span>

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msycamore said:

... Hope it's going well for you with the artwork and presentation of the disc's...

 To be honest I still haven't begun that work. I don't know yet if I'm going to use only McQuarrye arts or also some rare and beautiful photos I've been able to find. For the content it should be fine.

Did I mention it's gonna be a 40 pages booklet or so, and that the package will be something to be done by skilled hands only ?... Reminds you something ? Anyway, playing with all theses images is gonna be my great pleasure (and rest) so I highly recommend you be patient :)

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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There's no reason to hurry. If you do it, it's just a great bonus. The important thing is the music, and if the few samples I've heard of it is any indication, it's looking very promising. So take your time :)

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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 (Edited)

msycamore said:

There's no reason to hurry...

Indeed, and there's a good reason not to hurry. The remixing details above are not totally finished and may be updated sometime. No big change though, but it hapens that sometimes I try again little improvements.

Also, having put together all the superior tracks on CD3 made me notice some last improvements about the EQ's, tiny but welcome.

... if the few samples I've heard of it is any indication, it's looking very promising.

 :) ... That's a crazy set anyway. I was wondering about what samples I could add on this topic but sure the best tracks will remain a surprise.

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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Well, I don't want to make a new thread for that... so:

Does anyone have or can do a rip of the STAR WARS MUSICAL JOURNEY DVD version of "The Asteroid Field" ?

 

I have the DVD but if I do it myself it will be the shortcut: default magnetophone + edit with the anthology or the RSO on the two dialogues...

Thanks for help

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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 (Edited)

BUNCH OF SAMPLES ADDED. (See list)

Beware, the "Rebel Fleet / End Title" is the old one (it misses the first harp notes announced).

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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when this is finished will it be shared to all or just a select few?

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dark_jedi spoke

 Hey D_J, just at time !

I forgot to mention the "IM" has been up especially for you. Compared to the OE v.3 it is less loud (bass), less shiny too, what finally makes it deeper. It is the most equilibrated version I can do with it, though CD3 may offer a slight adjustment.

___

For your question, I'll probably answer in the OP post when ready as I don't know yet the definitive answer. And I'll edit it when all the work is totally over.

That said, you perhaps wonder why I insist on "buiding" such a thread when you know how far I'm disapointed to read less than 10 feedbacks after about 4 months of share and 3 versions easily foundable of the previous "Optimum Edition"... Don't worry, I wonder myself !

The only answer I can find is that I'm certainly of this race of people who loves authenticity and well done craft, and whose way to ask for it is to show what I mean with the best exemple I can give.

...

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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I will definitely listen to IM tomorrow,to late now and everyone is sleeping.

"I just won't shut the f*ck up without letting you know it has been quite successfuly intented."

I honestly have NO idea what you are saying to me,don't know if it is an insult or not,so I will just say,if you share cool,if not,it is your choice,it just seems a shame to put time and effort into it and talk about it in a thread to not share,but it is your call.

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dark_jedi said:

I honestly have NO idea what you are saying to me

 Haha ! Of course not it has nothing insulting nor orientated to you, I edited my post to avoid any confusion. You can make so.

Take it like a shout at the buiseness who offers such wonderful releases.

it just seems a shame to put time and effort into it and talk about it in a thread to not share,but it is your call.

I won't keep anyone to share at will. One of the most notable feedback I had is from a person who found it outside and registered especially to let me know (I'm speaking about the horn player who played with the LSO).

However you conclude pretty fast. I haven't spoke yet.

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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 (Edited)

Well, listening to the Imperial March compared to several versions, it sounds  so much better. It sounds like something Deutsche Grammophon would release. I really like how it doesn't sound distant and to rumbly anymore.

 

The Duel sounds so much more like the real instruments. You don't fall were some people do in thinking that the Brass is supposed to be harsh. Actually at a live performance the brass is usually more mellow. I like the dynamic range very much. You made the sound more orchestral, in such a way that the instruments aren't melted together. I like your skills.

I love it!!!

I will be replacing every version of ESB with this set.



"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas

<span> </span>

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Well The Imperial March does sound damn good on my PC,I won't burn to a CD until the set is done,or at least the CD containing that song,then I will test it on my Truck stereo and my home stereo in the living room,but now I am going to make a new ringtone using that.

Thanks for the sample

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EyeShotFirst said:

It sounds like something Deutsche Grammophon would release.

... You've won a set !... lol ! Great.

(EDIT) More seriously thanks for this somehow "useful" input ;)

The Duel sounds so much more like the real instruments...

 

Funny to notice I recentered the stereo on these two RSO tracks that retained your attention. Indeed, one channel was louder than the other on the two last segments for the Duel , what can be OK in some cases but here I didn't understand how a full orchestral swashbuckling piece could sound louder mostly on one side. Then, making so really gives back the right place to the instruments.

I'm actually experiencing the same thing on Betrayal at Bespin wich has the percussions "I don't know where" in the middle. Having recentered the stereo gave it back at its place, in the background left according to its real place in the orchestra, not to mention the other ones of course. The tough matter is that those corrections change my EQ's settings...

 

D_J said:

Thanks for the sample

 

You're welcome. FYI Yoda's theme is going to be the very same than the OE v2. It's Deutsche Grammophon-like enough :)

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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ABC said:

EyeShotFirst said:

It sounds like something Deutsche Grammophon would release.

... You've won a set !... lol ! Great.

(EDIT) More seriously thanks for this somehow "useful" input ;)

Well, I can be a good judge at that, because Deutsche Grammophon has a lot of my money.

"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas

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Hi ABC,

Just wanted to drop a public note and thank you for all the hard work you've done with the music!  ESB is my favorite of the six and i think John Williams was similarly at his greatest with this soundtrack.

I must confess i dont have the ear for some of the specific things i read about in this and the previous posts.  I can tell that the music has a nice crispness and clearness to it so for that thank you.

I burned v3 onto CDs yesterday and have them in my car now.  I hope to continue to enjoy the music and wanted to thank you once again.

Roycommi

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EyeShotFirst said:

Well, I can be a good judge at that, because Deutsche Grammophon has a lot of my money.

 Then I would be tempted to up a bit more just for you to tell me ;)

__

... roycommi, Thanks. ;) If you're able to appreciate the sound more than you usually did with that score it's quite enough. No need to be a "hyper-specialist" !

 

fishmanlee said:

question.. what's the difference between the is set and the other two (three?) sets you have already released?

In a way, EyeShotFirst gives you clues with his feedback for the samples (he knows my work). 'Hope the whole set will make such a difference.

Also, please check the remixing details and compare with those on the OE thread (You'll notice that I used all the RSO sources in many ways).

Now, if you've downloaded the samples and can't make the difference, you can "go about you buiseness" :) (and I mean it if you equipement fo listening stops with your PC)... Remembering the exemple track you gave for what you'd have liked for an eventually "Return of The Jedi" OE, I must say I can't really catch what is your criterium for quality. Just take it easy... No arm.

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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fishmanlee said:

question.. what's the difference between the is set and the other two (three?) sets you have already released?

 ABC just keeps getting better. It is like a musician who records a song and thinks back to it and knows how he can fix it.

ABC is only trying to make these soundtracks as perfect as possible.

I have downloaded several versions of his ESB sets and each susscessor dominates the previous release.

The crispness becomes much better, and these new samples are so much more natural. The original releases had the channels leveled in a way that made things sound to far away. Or somewhere behind you. Cellos cut far to the right with no bleed to the left. It just always felt to manufactured, and ABC fixes that. It feels (as I should know) like an orchestra playing, rather than a recording of an orchestra playing.

No, it isn't crystal and reverberated. It is natural. Too many engineers these days, try to add extra highs and more lows and reverb to something that shouldn't. His equalization is that of a professional. He is to soundtracks as Ady is to Fan Edits. Quality Quality Quality. That is why I have compared him to Deutsche Grammophon.

"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas

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ABC said:

BUNCH OF SAMPLES ADDED. (See list)

Beware, the "Rebel Fleet / End Title" is the old one (it misses the first harp notes announced).

 New samples!:) Good to see you add those harps, this is Perfection ;)

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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 (Edited)

... Wow, great post (for me) ESF, I'm honoured. I wish I "knew how to fix" things on every single track (!)

msycamore said:

Good to see you add those harps, this is Perfection ;)

Aha, yeah... But that's where the mixes really differ, so it's really a subtlety as I had to fade them in cause they would sound too much in the foreground while they're in the background on the RSO. Anyway, it works great.

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.