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1999 is significantly better than any previous release.
HDTracks is just awful at promo. Last I checked Prince's Parade has not even been mentioned on their Facebook page.
Pur-lease. It's 2013 and all we've gotten in the past 20 years is: - The Hits/The B-Sides (which exists because WB got fed up with P taking is sweet time and simply paid him a couple of million $ to get the hell out of the way) - Ultimate Prince: which did not feature several of Prince's best tracks because P is on a religious trip and wants us to pretend he didn't sing "Eritic City" et al. - vinyl remasters of Dirty Mind, Controversy and 1999 (and Purple Rain, possibly) - The Black Album: salvaged from a deal that went sour (but the 1994 release used the master from 1987)
That's about it, IIRC. I don't know when you think we'll get that "bigger, better release", but it certainly won't happen until P's bank account hits an all-time low and he is forced to deal with WB. For now the best hope we have of a decent sounding Sign O' The Times is if HDTracks sells enough copies of what is currently on offer. © Bart Van Hemelen
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I've read that you have to use a DAC(Digital to Analog Converter) to get the best sound out of a 24bit recording. But, isn't that dependent on the quality of the sound card in your computer? |
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The point is to buy a DAC that will bypass the soundcard of your PC, e.g. http://audioengineusa.com...oengine-D1 or buy a soundcard that can handle HD recording, e.g. http://www.asus.com/Sound...onverters/ © Bart Van Hemelen
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ufoclub said: KlyphIsBackAgain said: BWLD said: I think you should read the article again. Of course everyone has an opinion, but those dynamics that you speak of aren't because it's a 24-bit file. 16 bit files can have around 120db of dynamic range (with dither applied) which is WELL beyond the dynamic changes in most pop music, and definitely enough for Prince's music. If you say you can hear it, cool. But I think it's placebo. I have switched back and forth between the DVD 5.1 Dolby Digital surround and the DVD-Audio 5.1 surround 24 bit 96khz of The Beatles Love album while both were playing the same song, and you can hear a lifelike presence to the higher resolution audio for sure. It really becomes more obvious on quiet moments. There's a reason movies are and concerts on blu-ray are coming out in higher resolution audio. But it is something you would could only enjoy on expensive headphones or an expensive sound system. (I also think that added sound resolution creates more lifelike harmonics and artifacts once it comes out of the speakers, and that is part of what makes it seem to have more depth. But that's speculation on my part after listening. ) But, as the article says, different media have different masters, so it is not a worthwhile comparison. As a music producer, I produce in 32-bit float, as do many of my colleagues and contemporaries. However, almost all of us are in universal agreement that good old 16/44.1 is entirely adequate for the best fidelity in a listening experience - and finally, here is an article that supports our assertions. ...we have only scratched the surface of what the mind can do...
My dance project; www.zubzub.co.uk Listen to any of my tracks in full, for free, here; www.zubzub.bandcamp.com Go and glisten  | |
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44/16 is certainly adequate; it's adequate for me and I am an audio snob. But if you have good speakers and an audio card that supports 96/24 or 192/24, there is an audible difference between 44/16 and the so called "HD" audio formats. On a properly calibarated system, there is zero placebo effect. In my studio, I can take anyone with an average set of ears and they will hear the difference. They may not actually like the better fidelty (this is not uncommon), but they could hear that one sounds different than the other, even accounting for differences in volume. . While it doesn't have the obvious "wow factor" as say a jump from Standard Def TV to High Def TV, the HDTracks releases simply sound better than the Japanese SHM CD releases in my studio. However, it's all about degrees. In some cases the improvement is major (1999); in others it is so slight that I am quite sure it would be all but unnoticeable on all but the best audio systems (Controversy). . One nice thing about the better fidelity is that sonically dense albums like AWTWIAD and Parade have more breathing room which gives some much needed space to the mix. . FWIW: HDTracks is having a sale. Use Laborday10 to get 10% off your purchase. [Edited 8/30/13 8:26am] It's almost like there is an "event horizon" for stupidity - once you fall below that line, you're too stupid to know you're stupid. | |
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Ladies and gentlemen i present to you "The Org", forever tipping the wink to the ware and wherefores......
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I'm listening to the 192khz version, and it sounds fantastic. The instruments really "pop". Great detail and it sounds almost 3-dimensional. This album really benefits from the HD format more than the others so far. Previously, I could only listen to Parade on vinyl, because the original CD sounded so lifeless. | |
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I compared the 192k HDtracks Parade with a vinyl rip of Parade (also in 192khz) that was my previous go-to version. The HDtracks version and the vinyl rip sound similar to each other (which is a good sign)-- but where the vinyl sounds slightly muddy on the top end, the HDtracks version sounds very lifelike and clear. Prince's bass playing (especially on New Position, I Wonder U, and Anotherloverholenyohead) really comes through clearly, I can hear every note. | |
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OK. I was all set to order '1999' and enjoy the improved sound of my favorite Prince album...
-whAA-whaa-
"...not available in my area..."
"Whatever skin we're in
we all need 2 b friends" |
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I don't know why you people always have so much problems. I paid with Paypal and so far have been able to buy every HDTRacks release. But I didn't bother filling out all of the personal info on HDTracks: don't give them ammo to refuse you service.
Try http://highresaudio.com/ -> http://highresaudio.com/a...abid=94226 (They also have a couple of other Prince records)
BTW see also http://www.computeraudiop...cks-15554/ for more discussion on 1999. And here's a review of the Controversy HD release: http://www.blu-raydefinit...eview.html .
. [Edited 9/1/13 3:36am] © Bart Van Hemelen
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Completely agree, I have done the same comparison. They sound very similar, if you are happy with your vinyl you are not missing much IMO. The HD version is only slightly more clear sounding, but I would say it is only a 5-10% improvement. RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time... |
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BlackbeltJones said: Mindflux said: However, almost all of us are in universal agreement that good old 16/44.1 is entirely adequate for the best fidelity in a listening experience - and finally, here is an article that supports our assertions. 44/16 is certainly adequate; it's adequate for me and I am an audio snob. But if you have good speakers and an audio card that supports 96/24 or 192/24, there is an audible difference between 44/16 and the so called "HD" audio formats. On a properly calibarated system, there is zero placebo effect. In my studio, I can take anyone with an average set of ears and they will hear the difference. They may not actually like the better fidelty (this is not uncommon), but they could hear that one sounds different than the other, even accounting for differences in volume. . While it doesn't have the obvious "wow factor" as say a jump from Standard Def TV to High Def TV, the HDTracks releases simply sound better than the Japanese SHM CD releases in my studio. However, it's all about degrees. In some cases the improvement is major (1999); in others it is so slight that I am quite sure it would be all but unnoticeable on all but the best audio systems (Controversy). . One nice thing about the better fidelity is that sonically dense albums like AWTWIAD and Parade have more breathing room which gives some much needed space to the mix. . FWIW: HDTracks is having a sale. Use Laborday10 to get 10% off your purchase.[Edited 8/30/13 8:26am] It's not just "adequate" - it is all you need. It covers every aspect audible to the human ear - it is a mathematical fact. And, in terms of hardware, forget "decent soundcards and speakers" (which, of course, I have in the studio). NOTHING sounds better than a well-produced cd on my set-up. NOTHING!  [Edited 9/3/13 17:42pm] ...we have only scratched the surface of what the mind can do...
My dance project; www.zubzub.co.uk Listen to any of my tracks in full, for free, here; www.zubzub.bandcamp.com Go and glisten | |
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 [Edited 9/3/13 17:47pm] ...we have only scratched the surface of what the mind can do...
My dance project; www.zubzub.co.uk Listen to any of my tracks in full, for free, here; www.zubzub.bandcamp.com Go and glisten | |
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