So I just got Dirty Mind (again) and I didn't notice this with my previous copy, but it seems like the album is mixed predominantely in the LEFT speaker. There is music in the right speaker, but it's lower, and certain cymbal crashes and backup vocals go to the right speaker... but still the majority of the music is in the left.

It doesn't really sound right. Is this just the way the album was made, or do I have a lemon?

Same with me,I listen to "Uptown" in my headphones,and I hear more on the left side.

Different sounds being in different speakers is just a stereo thing.

But to address the overall level, remember that it IS a demo type thing, so anything is possible. I'm listening right now, and I don't notice any difference like you mention. In fact, I think "Partyup" is greatly mixed in the L and R channels, with different percussion in different ears.

I really dug when Prince mixed Wendy and Sheila in one ear, and Lisa and Susannah in the other ear on one of the Parade songs. (Might be "Anotherloverholenyohead", but I forget off hand.)

The Beatles REALLY have some separation like that in their music. You can turn to the left and hear NO voice, and just certain instruments, whereas the other ear has the vocals, and heavier percussion. It's really distracting in some ways.

I understand the stereo separation thing, but this sounds like it's predominantely in the left.

Especially when I am listening to Dirty Mind and then quickly switch over to another album. I notice the difference immediately.

Hopefully I didn't just get a bum copy.

berniejobs said:

I'd doubt there are bum copies. Disks are usually copied from a master copy made for the purpose of duplication and distribution. I really don't hear any different like that. And oddly, I can hear much better out of my left hear than my right one, and I still usually hear things evenly with headphones on. (I found the best pair of Sony headphones at Target for $20 that I just LOVE for general listening.)

It is a weird situation though.

Oh hell yeah. The mixing's pretty exclusive on this album.

What sucks is that I am half deaf in my left ear, and listening to Dirty Mind on my headphones is a frustrating experience. Guitar is almost exclusively mixed to the right. Interesting to have someone else point this out.

Also, almost all of my Prince mp3 material is at a lower volume level than the rest of my music. Anybody else have this problem?

Remasters plz
[Edited 10/26/09 12:44pm]

shonenjoe said:

Do Me Baby,left side is higher

JarviusLovesexy said:

...which is on a different album.

ernestsewell said:

yeah.

shonenjoe said:

MP3s are shit, that's why. There are far better formats out there than MP3.

As far as Prince remasters. Pfffftt. WB is purposely NOT doing it because Prince was such a brat. Prince is purposely not doing it because God forbid he acknowledge his past beyond the same 15 or 18 hits he plays over and over. When he's taking shit like "Erotic City" off ULTIMATE, you can be damn sure he isn't going to revisit stuff like Dirty Mind, or Controversy, not without fucking it to high heaven. The WB should piss off Prince and just DO it. They own those masters, just do it. As far as unreleased stuff, all they can do it ask. But isn't there a clause that Prince has final say over any future WB releases of his music? If that counts toward remasters, there's your answer.

I've said it over and over. It will take Prince dying before remasters, box sets, or the Vault is taken care of properly.

I never noticed that.

But that being said, I usually kind of zome out during Do Me Baby anyway.

ernestsewell said:

.....and WE THE FANS will 4ever pay the price bcause he went 4 ARTISTIC CONTROL ONLY and not TOTAL CONTROL.
Notice that wherever AEROSMITH, VAN MORRISON and THE ROLLING STONES go, ALL THEIR MUSIC (save for the Stones' ABKCO stuff) gets RE-RELEASED and RE-MASTERED!!!!!

I think also it might be that Dirty Mind was recorded on rawer and more basic equipment, maybe the left ear feel is because of its 'garage' feel. I actually like it, as its rawness adds to the experience. Everytime I listen to it, I discover something new, like the line "She took a whip to me" in Sister for instance. My copy is an old ass CD I bought second hand in 1995 (And I know its 80s as theres those old ass notes about handling CDs and the new CD playing technology), and believe me that shit sounds raw, but its quality has never diminished.

ernestsewell said:

Wasn't it Life Can Be So Nice on the Parade album I noticed it on that too

ernestsewell said:

I kind of agree with this but how does it work financially if WB go straight ahead and do it, who wins-obviously Prince long term but would Warners genuinely gain,

toots said:

Nope. It was Girls & Boys

dothejump said:

ahhhhh ty much for the correction

ernestsewell said:

Not to disagree with your opinions on mp3 at all, but they are not the reason for lower volume level. I used to load up 18 Prince CDs in my Pioneer CD Changer and had the same problems between older & newer albums.
The reason for the volume difference is due to the changes in industry mastering standards between the 80's and now. Then, in the 80's, when the digital format was new, the standards for volume were too low. Now they are waaaay to high.... the standard has become to crank everything up, beyond clipping, then compress it back. The result removes the art of Peaks and Valleys (look it up) in music and makes recordings sound noisy and harsh.
They had it right around the mid-90's. not too quiet, not too loud... but then they just went too far... In my not-so-humble professional opinion.

djThunderfunk said:

No, I know. I get that.

I just don't hear the level problems on the DM album as noted. I do hear regular stereo separation. That's it, for me.

ernestsewell said:

Same here. I also hear regular stereo separation on all my copies: LP, cassette, CD & MP3...

djThunderfunk said:

I know MP3s are inferior quality in comparison to other formats, of course.

But thisanswers my question. Other MP3 format music plays at a higher volume level. But if I ever play Prince on my ipod, I have to pump up my stereo.
[Edited 10/29/09 12:14pm]

ernestsewell said:

Yea your right, I think the song is Girls & Boys
I hear the difference when I listen in my headphones

I've been hearing Dirty Mind that way for years too I don't believe it's the speakers. Over the years I've played it on several stereos and now on my computer and it still sounds that way.

djThunderfunk said:

jcurley said:

It's not that WB don't want to remaster Prince's back catalogue, it's that
they CAN'T do it without his permission. If they did they'd be in breach of
contract.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Not to be picky, but it was Lisa and Sheila on the left and Wendy and Susannah on the right.