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J. Williams & LSO, The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK AUDIOPHILE EDITION - Restored & Remastered Score (Released) — Page 12

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First off, wow, the covers and booklet are gorgeous. Very professional-looking. Impressive. Well done.

I listened to the first two discs. Just blown away. Its been an interesting progression. I first heard the score on the SE set, then I listened to Good_Musician's work, then your Salvage set, and this one. The AE is by far the best. Top-notch. The editing is perfect. Everything flows very well together, be it within tracks or between tracks. Nothing seems out of place. Very smooth and was crystal clear. An enjoyable listening experience.

Its great to see such life brought back into the score.

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Darth Wagner said:

Hello. I just wrote a big review for 2 1/2 hours. I send it. Suddenly OT.com asks me on a new page to log in again.

Sorry for that, always copy your big posts before clicking on "post reply".

I have to say that a lots of things in life are the matter of taste and ABC's has a very good one.

I swear I made this reflection to myself this morning: "tastes shouldn't interfere with such a restoration work. There's Truth, and there's what's outside truth". Just so you know I had a declic when I decided to make the AE (after 3 versions of the OE!), or I wouldn't have done it. These recordings know sounds closer to the truth than ever, I hope... Hairy Hen said it: "it feels right"...

... but also manages to sound like first RCA release, deep, clear and now completed....

... It is beautiful to be able to listen ESB in RCA-way but fullfiled.

I know you mean RSO. RCA being the SE.

cd 3

Beautiful new mix of a superb 2 LP - transfer. Deep, clear, SOFT! So nice to hear a real vinyl sound in digital media!

Sorry if I lacked of precision about CD3: these tracks are lifted from CD1&2, 3/4 of them have very slight re-EQ's. The result makes the whole perhaps a little more warm and soft, indeed.

Thanks a lot anyway for having tiping your feedback... Twice !

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

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

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Thanx for responding, ABC. I corrected RCA to RSO in my review, that's what I ment. I understand what you mean with no taste but truth. You can put it this way. Result is astonishing. What a present for a sw-community! 

wise you must be.
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;)

---

Now may I say... You've got all your time to give feedbacks guys. There's no marathon there, and I'm not forcing anyone.

I'm still discovering details in the instrumentation, so I can understand if I don't get your thoughts before a few months. What I don't understand is more the people who take the time - while they say they don't have - to care about the projects; who request something and who will disappear.

I've requested one thing on these forums about a year ago: an "Empire Strikes Back" LP transfer for a remastering work. Someone great did it and sent it to me... I'm sending it back to OT.com in a way.

The ESB birthday was a total coincidence. I really don't care about ESB birthday. However I'm glad you can enjoy the AE that way.

Mission accomplished, end of story.

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

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

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Hello again ABC, did you read my two posts?

 

What can i do to get a chance to listen to your 3 CD *Audiophile Edition*?

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ABC said:


But I can tell if I'd like to troll at my best at in buses, subways or work I would use this one version: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PDJEOGM5

... If someone knows where it comes from I'd like to know.

I have this version as an mp3 file and is attributed to No Doubt.

Greetings.

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What a way to celebrate the 30th.

"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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i would love to finally here this restored score for empire strikes back

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ABC,

Lovin' it so far; just had a chance to sample a few tracks and the overall sound is marvelous! I'm trying to set aside a two hour block this weekend just to soak in the entire score.

I'm going to need to make a third mix of the End Titles for myself, though.  You've included the two mixes you said you would (RSO mix, and film mix) and they both sound great.  As I've told you before, I do prefer the film version (or more accurately, the Anthology/SE version), but that's a matter of personal preference.  The film version sounds like the cut heard at the end titles and I appreciate its inclusion.

However, my end-all, be-all version will be more or less like the anthology version with the final note fade-out of Yoda's theme into the Imperial March, with the percussion-less March to follow.  On the AE (as you very well know :) ), the album version has the fade out, with the concert version Imperial March, while the film version has a more abrupt cut between Yoda and the March, but without the percussion (as heard during the end credits).

Anyway, for my own personal edification, I'm going to make an amalgamation of the tracks for myself since it will be pretty easy with the quality they are now.  And maybe I'll get cracking on that RSO double vinyl recut with these as the source...then again, maybe not. ;)

As always, thanks for all the hard work in making these tracks sound as good as humanly possible without some sort on monumental restoration and remastering by those at Lucasfilm - and even then, they'd probably find a way to screw it up!

O.T. or No T., baby!

ANH:R Cover Art

ESB:R Cover Art

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jacksparrow900 said:

i would love to finally here hear this restored score for empire strikes back

 

I second that. I'm a big fan of your work, ABC. I'm affraid i am not an 'audio expert' or something like that, so my feedback will be rather small. But i'm pretty sure my feedback will contain the words 'clearer', 'better', 'perfect', 'improvement', 'replacement', 'brilliant' and 'audio-god', i think that'll include enough information for you ;).

Thanks in advance.

 

Arf!

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Thanks ABC for showing me the path to your magnificent work! (pm didn't work unfortunately)

I haven't been active lately and I will have to take a day off to carefully listen to it to really have this 'out of world'-experience.

From what I recall from the Optimum Edition there have been instruments I had never noticed before on those official mixes that had received the so-called "final touch" by "professionals". While the purpose of that "final touch" remains unclear we now have a clear impression what "final" can sound like!

Kind regards

*This Revisited Edition is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we watch it!*

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ABC! I try to figure out a correct way to put your beautiful CD - cover together using file  "Booklet and covers". A question... how to make 3 CD cover in a right way? Could you post a pair of cover(s) - photos so one could see the end result? It would give one an idea how to cut and glue everything in place. 

For example: Sheet B - recto: "Paste separate pocket on white mark"

- Why is the white mark on a visible recto - side of that?

- Where and what is exactly "the separate pocket" here in the collection?

- Is "pocket" something I have to buy separately?

- There are only clearly shown covers for CD 1 & 2. Do I have to take CD 3-cover from another file (short booklet & covers) ?

Thank you for helping, it may help others as well. Cheers

DW

 

wise you must be.
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Finally got a chance to listen to some of it. Simply amazing! I've never heard the Empire Strikes Back sound better. So many little flourishes and things I've never heard before, brings everything to life. One thing though, I tried burning it to a cd using the cue file but there was an error, apparently all of the files in the cue are listed as wave files. Is there a way I can fix that? Thanks again ABC, you hard work does not go unappreciated. =)

Forum Moderator
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I don't know if ABC wants to give out step-by-step instructions on the booklet; it may just be a "if you know what you're doing" kind of thing.

However, I would love to see some pics of a fully assembled case/booklet from ABC or anyone brave enough to attempt it on their own.

I'm still in a holding pattern on the soundtrack.  I had a chance to sit down and listen until "The Rebels Escape," but no farther.  As said earlier, the instrument localization is spot on.  Listening to the new version is very much akin to sitting centrally in a concert hall.

O.T. or No T., baby!

ANH:R Cover Art

ESB:R Cover Art

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Hi Abc i tried to send you a private message but i am getting blocked because i am not on your friends list,lol.

 

I see you sent me a message.  I was going to ask what exactly AE is,lol.

 

DOH audiophile edition, lol.

Your newest go on fixing Empire Strikes Back, right?

I was already satisfied with star wars and empire.  Still i appreciate this anyway.

You already did your best with return of the jedi, sadly their is not much that can be recovered from available recordings.  The best sounding soundwise is a truncated 1 LP or 1 CD from RSO.  I have both, the CD is almost sonically identical is not as warm as the vinyl.

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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ABC, what I have listened to as of yet is nothing short of stunning.  However, I do not have CD 3, as part 2 of the upload is not working properly.  So what is missing is the RSO album and artwork?  Anyone else having this problem?

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Redownloaded it, worked perfectly.  ABC...this RSO album reconstruction is possibly my favorite thing ever.  

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Hey, this is my third try...not easy to get an answer in this thread it seems ;)

 

Could someone of you please tell me what to do to get an opportunity to listen to ABC's EMPIRE STRIKES BACK *AUDIOPHILE EDITION*?

(more about my background is in my first post)

Thx, best wishes

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Since I'm not part of the "in-crowd" here, could someone please explain how this is being distributed? Even if it's a closed-release (which it seems to be), what is going on here?

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Hello ABC,

I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner with my feedback. I finally had a chance to sit down and listen to your restoration, and it is incredible. You have made in my opinion, the definitive version of this fantastic soundtrack. I'm not well versed technically so it's hard for me to describe the nuances of what you've done here, but suffice it to say it was like listening to this soundtrack for the first time.

I've listened to your previous remasters of ESB (which were all great too), and I can hear even further improvement in the AE. I don't know how you were able to do it, but you made so many of the tracks sound like they were recorded yesterday. They were totally familiar, yet sounded brand new. This is quite an accomplishment when you consider the sources you had to work with. I can't begin to imagine the time this must have taken you to put together. You also have an incredible ear for this type of work.

I want to thank you for giving me, a completely lurker at ot.com, an opportunity to listen to your work. You certainly didn't have to, so I greatly appreciate it.

How are you?
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ABC,

I finally have had a chance to listen to the Audiophile Edition and I'm still shaking my head in amazement. The depth and clarity is incredible. Wonderful work. I think my favorite track (hard to pick - they're all great) is "The Duel" from Disc Three. No, wait, it's "Hypersapce" from the same disc. Yeah. No that's not quite right, either. Definitely "The Imperial March" from Disc Two, hands down. I take that back, it's really... Aw hang it all. I love the whole thing! Great work, man!

Best,

JD

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Since I can't PM the author ABC, I have to post this here.

I have read all 12 pages backwards and forwards and still don't have a clue as to how do I download the 3 CDs?

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Okay, just wanna chime in with some preliminary feedback. Because of real life stuff, i've been stuck with CD 1 so far. What I really liked is that now, the lower registers have real prominence. There is a bass presence without distracting from the other registers, giving it a feeling of depth so sorely missed in the '97 SE recordings. Finally, every instrument has its own place in the stereo field. This starts even with the Main Title where I noticed tremolo strings for the first time.

A word about the ESB score in general, with which I want to underline the importance and necessity of this project... I never was too fond of the ANH score. It is a great adventure romp, but beyond this, it never touched a nerve. Therefore, I never bothered too much about any lack of the '97 SE recording quality. ESB, however, has some mature dramatic writing, especially in the finale. Regarding this quality, I'd rank ESB up on par with ROTJ, only second to ROTS. WHile I can live with the ROTJ recording, the ESB recording is seriously crippled in its dramatic impact...but not anymore. ROTJ and ROTS both have decent album representations; if anything, ROTJ doesn't have that flat liveless sound that botched ESB. A complete ESB presentation doing justice to the great writing of the composition was long overdue. Thank you, ABC!