The Beatles never broke up...

So in another universe, the Beatles never broke up, and they're still touring.

James Richards accidentally travelled to this universe, and brought back their latest album.....
Head to thebeatlesneverbrokeup.com to listen to and download their Everyday Chemistry album, and read the full amazing story...

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New Remastered Beatles DO NOT BUY (updated)

As previously announced, on the 9th of September the entire catalogue of the Beatles has been re-issued, remastered from the original tapes (as part of a general push of the brand with the Beatles game and other creepy things being done around it).

Personally I have no hesitation in saying that the extra low frequencies and loudness make the overall balance worse than the first CD release. You might disagree but at least think about it before you go and splash a lot of money on something that possibly you already own, simply assuming that the new version "must be at least just as good as the old one".

I have just spent some time comparing the two versions (which reminds me of a fantastic episode of the IT Crowd where Moss orders Harry Potter in both original and adult edition to check word-by-word if it is really true that the text is the same) and it is immediately clear that what you get is a different record, one where instruments that used to be loud become just part of the mix, and certain choices made during the mixing stage would have to be reconsidered.

One example for all...

The song Taxman features a mix with the entire rhythm section on the left channel; odd choice by today's standards, but absolutely fine for a record that didn't have the bass frequencies we are used to now. However, when the new mastering brings up all the bass that can be extracted from the original recording, this choice doesn't make sense anymore, and particularly when listening to the song in headphones you have to say that the effect is only detrimental to the song.
I am looking forward to demonstrate this and many other points during my lectures, where we can analyse the original CDs in the best possible way without incurring in copyright infringments. If I find the time I might be able to post some short examples here or somewhere else in the future.

UPDATE: Things are more complicated than it seems.
Check this post for more about the remastered Beatles stereo boxset and mono boxset

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Online Mastering from Abbey Road

I first heard of this idea more than one year ago, but in the end it's been launched only now.
Even so, it's quite a shock to the system.

Get your track mastered at Abbey Road for £90 + VAT.

Really? yes, apparently.

Let's consider the implications...


The first and most obvious is that if you had in mind to open a mastering studio, and maybe offer online mastering, you are up against a serious challenge.
Why would anyone choose to master a track with a complete unknown (who, let's be honest, is probably using a pc with a cracked copy of Waves Mercury plugins and two bits of decent outboard) when you can have it done at Abbey-motherf*cking-Road for maybe twenty quid more?

At the same time it is interesting to see how, having already started developing Abbey Road outboard and virtual instruments, now the brand is being used for online mastering. Inevitably one has to consider that this paves the way for a completely virtual Abbey Road, one that doesn't need to have a real brick and mortar facility.
Mmmmh... how the times are changing...

So, should you have your track mastered at Abbey Road (even if it's only online)?
Absolutely, most definitely yes.

For at least two reasons:
1) get it out of your system – have your track mastered in one of the best recording studios of the world and discover that there is more to a great record than mastering; if the end result still doesn't sound right you will have the final proof that what you need is better recording, better arrangement, better mixing.
2) while this is still relatively a new thing, think of the promotional value of having 'mastered at Abbey Road' printed on the credits of your CD! All of a sudden you sound like, you know, someone important :) the whole thing requires you to be a bit shameless, but then Abbey Road offering online mastering is shameless in itself.


Read the official news at http://www.abbeyroad.com/news/story/?newsid=52

Then register for online mastering at abbeyroadonlinemastering.com and remember to tell them where you heard of it.


Comments anyone?



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Beatles Rock Band

Out on 09/09/09, comes Beatles Rock Band. The trailer's pretty cool, but how awesome do the controllers look!



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