J. Williams & LSO, The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK AUDIOPHILE EDITION - Restored & Remastered Score (Released) — Page 16

I got the chance to listen to your audiophile version. Amazing work, congratulations.

I compared the special edition, your audiophile version and the anthology and in every case your version offers the best mix in my opinion.

There are instruments i never noticed in comparison to the special edition (which i mainly listened to)

I also loved the booklet. It was so professionally put together that you even surpass the whole prequel soundtrack releases.

I also had the feeling that you increased the bass level in your mix which is greatly appreciated as it gives the music more concert hall / live flair.

I will post my opinions on specific tracks as soon as i have time , keep up the good work ;)

Fedra said:

I also had the feeling that you increased the bass level in your mix...

True and not in the same time... I'd rather say I "improved" the basses, cause in some cases they needed to be lowered more than increased to have some dynamic restored. "Swamps of Dagobah" is a good exemple of that (compare the final fanfare with the Anthology).

Too much bass level like on the SE (they appear more obviously on it when you lower the abusive highs) lowers the dynamic range.

Got a chance to listen to a little of this today; I really enjoyed hearing the Space Slug music (which I don't think is on most of the CD releases now?) again, it sounded great.  I need to get this burned so I can listen to it on my proper stereo.

One question--are there some hisses and pops from vinyl sources included on this? I swear I heard some on City in the Clouds?  Very nostalgic. :)

Oh, and I liked the CD art. Very clever but understated.

Imrahil said:

One question--are there some hisses and pops from vinyl sources included on this? I swear I heard some on City in the Clouds?  Very nostalgic. :)

The idea of making such a complete booklet was to answer all those questions from A to Z: you will know everything about the way I used the sources. ;)

... I'm still wondering if anyone has read it though. :)

adywan said:

I would try and find the Taiyo Yuden ones if you can and discard ever using Intenso. Their dye is crap. We used Intenso CDR's to back up the studio sessions for my old band a few years ago and every one is now useless...

... Wow ! Thanks for the info Adywan.

Weird thing is that a few of my old Sony CDRs still play in my most precious player, when the new ones run only ok in the first weeks and after that time they sound crapy (and more as it approaches the end of the CD's lengh). Looks like scrachy micro jumps.

... However they still play on every other players I have without problem... Any idea of what's going on ? To notice I use to burn at low speed, what should be fine. It doesn't come from the my CD driver nor softwares neither cause it happens with two different equipements.

Imrahil said:

Got a chance to listen to a little of this today; I really enjoyed hearing the Space Slug music (which I don't think is on most of the CD releases now?)

 Btw, the Space Slug music was only complete on the SE, and a half was on the original album. You have two versions in the set... But once again: please check the booklet, or post 2 from this topic.

ABC,

Sorry, I guess I missed the booklet in the files I got. I'll check again tonight for that info.  Is Disc 3 a second link?

POST 1 says:

 

Set: 2CD (complete score) + 1 CD (original album reconstructed and completed) + art covers, 50 pages booklet with liner notes, inside arts.

Link 1: CD1 + CD2

Link 2: CD3 + arts, booklet, etc...

Oh man, total brainfart. I only looked in the first folder that unpacked.

Yeah.

Nothing to see here, move along, move along...

Hi ABC,

I listened to a bit of CD3--the remastered RSO LP--and all I can say is wow. I'm so glad that 7fn was able to provide the master transfers for you to work with. My LP set is in near-mint condition (played maybe twice in its lifetime) but I definitely do not have the capture equipment that 7fn used. In fact the only digital component in my stereo setup is my CD player. :P I couldn't tell from listening that it was sourced from the LP; the remastering is so crisp!

I'd also like to say that this is the first ever recording of Imperial March I've heard where I could distinctly pick out a piano accompaniment to the low strings at the beginning. It's very low but it's there. Again, you've done some amazing work here, thank you!

Like others before me, I come late to the party.  After stumbling across this thread yesterday, I read all sixteen pages of comments and it sounds like ABC has done an amazing job.  I add my voice to the chorus, saying "It was worth it!  We want this!"

However, it seems that those who came before me asked how they could get an invite to the closed release and never got a response (unless they did through PMs).  Although I followed these forums years ago when they were calling for non-SE releases of the films (before Lucas put out the Original Versions on DVD), I signed a petition but never joined.

In the hopes that someone will take pity on me, I humbly ask if anyone can help me find a way to listen to these masterpiece versions of a true masterpiece of film scoring.

-Satchel Marr

blitter said:

Hi ABC,

I listened to a bit of CD3--the remastered RSO LP--and all I can say is wow (...) :P I couldn't tell from listening that it was sourced from the LP; the remastering is so crisp!

 I'm glad you think it's a LP remastering. If you check the details of this edit, you'll find out that the only remastered "pure" LP parts (whilst the others are layered) are in "Luke's First Crash" and "City In the Clouds".

... I just lacked a few of clarity about CD3 as I don't mention it in the liner notes, though post 2 says:

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 (*).

... That's it.  Now, just check CD1 & 2 details to know what these are made from. ;)

Thanks JediMasterFisher, nice to know you're a horn player. :)

Ah! No wonder it sounded so good... See, I can't even tell the difference between the LP and your edited version. :) Well done

SatchelMarr said:

... if anyone can help...

 You know where is your pm box, don't you ?...

Keep an eye on that thread people. I may share some infos for you correct a couple of things. Indeed I just corrected the pitch that was wrong on "Deal With The Dark Lord" thanks to the kind person who sent radio drama bits to me.

Also I may share a few alternate cues through the thread in a moment if anyone is interested... (Edit) Or even post a couple of corrections.

I just found this page a few days ago, and one question: How does I obtain this magnificent piece of work? Sorry if this has been already explained, but I'd really appreciate it is someone could reply. Thanks so much!

Thanks!

Also, just curious if A B C has done any other work I should know about, i.e., A New Hope, or RotJ? Because this is simply wonderful!

arathornion said:

... A New Hope, or RotJ?

 Well, it's not the same level of rendition but at least they sound rather clear... In case you wouldn't have noticed this thread: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/THE-OT-SOUNDTRACKS-SALVAGE-SW-ESB-ROTJ-remastered-so-far-LP-s/topic/10263/

adywan said:

I would try and find the Taiyo Yuden ones if you can and discard ever using Intenso...

I just found ones. Pretty hard to find btw! Thanks for the advise again ;)

NEWS:

Hi. As announced a couple of posts ago I'm back again on a few corrections... Well, to tell the truth, the whole set has been under revision: stereo (several layered or anthology tracks), EQ's on almost all the set, and pitch corrections (a couple). Also corrected some mistakes I made messing with the mixes (Ice Planet Alt, Mynock Cave SE version). I also made an alternate CD2 with alt. editing all the long, notably possible thanks to bits from the ESB Radio Drama story book. ...

I'll make a big update in the future if there are enough people still interested in a global improvement of this score. It's already done.

I'm very interested . . . anything that improves the already-great sound quality of this fantastic score restoration has my approval.  ;)

I will second that. 

I think that it's safe to say that many of us are always interested in any improvements that can be brought to these scores.  They can never be good enough.  Please keep up the good work, it's appreciated.