dobyblue

You are right, I'm just eager to know. I also know I'm not drinking tonight. I don't want to wake up tomorrow with one of everything.

You fucking said it. I'm F5ing all morning on like 17 different places.

I need my stupid shit, silly shit.

Agreed on all fronts.  I don’t own anything like that - holographic, LED-display, or otherwise - but I’m not a big enough Tool fan to drop $500 on wax for them.

All that hype just to announce people can stream compressed 192kbps versions of their albums. Whoopdy-freaking-doo!!!
 

Hopefully they will also go backwards with dynamic range compression and give us a fully dynamic mastering like Undertow and AEnima and not the atrocious mess that was the mastering found on the new APC record. "Sounds shittier the louder you turn it" is not the motto I want on my Tool purchases.

If indeed the remasters arrive and the first two albums are both AAA done with one of today's best all analogue lacquer cutters and pressed at Optimal or RTI etc., we will get no contest the definitive editions of these albums (as far as fans of stereo mixes go)

I bet it's called "Undertwo"

Hopefully they will also go backwards with dynamic range compression and give us a fully dynamic mastering like Undertow and AEnima and not the atrocious mess that was the mastering found on the new APC record. "Sounds shittier the louder you turn it" is not the motto I want on my Tool purchases.

If indeed the remasters arrive and the first two albums are both AAA done with one of today's best all analogue lacquer cutters and pressed at Optimal or RTI etc., we will get no contest the definitive editions of these albums (as far as fans of stereo mixes go)

I bet it's called "Undertwo"

I bet it's called "Undertwo"

I bet it's called "Undertwo"

I’m almost 50, it happens. 

I’d be stoked to hear The Fragile in 5.1, for sure.  Hopefully that happens in our lifetimes.  I agree that the 2017 edition sounds especially nice in the car... for better or worse, ha.  I’ve never owned or listened to an OG copy of The Fragile for what it’s worth.  I’m not trying to imply that the 2017 edition is “definitive” by any means, either.  Always room for improvement, right?  I’m just grateful it happened and that I could add a respectable sounding copy to my collection without spending 3 digits, you know?
 
What do you guys make of TDS’ definitive edition?  Same boat?

God I want that 5.1 Fragile Im blown away everytime I listen to the Downward Spiral that way so much extra stuff you dont notice.  
 
Also I want that Tension BR
 
 
Ahhh to be a NIN fan

With TDS I can't comment on the vinyl as I never picked it up but if it was done at PallasDE I expect it's nice and quiet and centred properly. I did acquire the high resolution digital cutting files and I found the mastering to be similarly "hot" like the rest of the them, The Fragile is the only one I got a copy of the 3LP to have and I did eventually sell it. It was a gorgeous thing to behold.

I was in the throes of extreme NIN fandom when TDS came out in 1994, saw them live that summer for the first time then again that December. I listened to that CD so often in the first few years after release, rage hard! I have found the surround mix is so beautifully done, it's hard to listen to any mere stereo version now. That buzzsaw sound at the end of Closer, careening around the room 270 degrees from the front left speaker disappearing off off to the right wall? Pure genius!
 

My bad, I only meant to type "poorly mastered", additionally typing "pressed" was finger memory burn-in. The pressing quality itself is actually pretty definitive unlike the job United did with Hesitation Marks, it's only the mastering for me that isn't my cup of tea. Unfortunately where I listen to vinyl is where this type of mastering affects my enjoyment of the music the most, whereas I don't really notice aggressive dynamic range compression in the car so that's where I listen to things like Hesitation Marks, etc.

For me the addtional clarity of the remastering is offset by the loudness/compression but it's not like the original CD is any better, lol. It's why I was so looking forward to the surround mix as typically multichannel mixes are not subject to the same aggressive mastering moves as the stereo releases.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the existing 2017 being definitive for you, it's all subjective.
Rawk on!
\m/ \m/

My bad, I only meant to type "poorly mastered", additionally typing "pressed" was finger memory burn-in. The pressing quality itself is actually pretty definitive unlike the job United did with Hesitation Marks, it's only the mastering for me that isn't my cup of tea. Unfortunately where I listen to vinyl is where this type of mastering affects my enjoyment of the music the most, whereas I don't really notice aggressive dynamic range compression in the car so that's where I listen to things like Hesitation Marks, etc.

For me the addtional clarity of the remastering is offset by the loudness/compression but it's not like the original CD is any better, lol. It's why I was so looking forward to the surround mix as typically multichannel mixes are not subject to the same aggressive mastering moves as the stereo releases.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the existing 2017 being definitive for you, it's all subjective.
Rawk on!
\m/ \m/

I already have what will be my definitive edition as I love the 5.1 mix on the DVD-Audio side of the DualDisc version, but remember when we were going to get the definitive "Deluxe Edition" of The Fragile? Let's briefly remind ourselves of the timeline.

2005 - TR mentions The Fragile will likely get the same DE treatment as TDS in a q&a on the old NIN site
2009 - November, Rob Sheridan tweets "Spent the afternoon revising the nine inch nails Fragile Deluxe Edition prototype with A+R. Now it'll be a month before we get the next one." (Artists in Residence did a bunch of the Ghosts issues, they kind of suck for quality control though, all the 5.1 mixes of The Pixes they did were stereo upmixes and the Death Cab for Cutie "Barsuk Years" set had multiple labelling issues, so probably good thing AinR didn't get to do The Fragile)
2010 - on October 15th 2010 Alan Moulder announces in a Q&A session on Pro Sound Web that he's working on a 5.1 mix of The Fragile
2011 - November, TR confirms the 5.1 mixes are "done" and the package will be "available soon".
2014 - TR mentions in a NZ interview " You know, we've mixed everything in surround, it sounds amazing, we have a great package ready to go. "

F'n sucks to know Alan Moulders 5.1 mix is now 7 years in the can and still not released, and the existing "definitive" vinyl release is poorly mastered.

Of course we also have the Blu-ray of the Tension 2013 tour announced in early 2014 for a "Spring 2014" release, changed a little later (2015 maybe) to be a multi-show live release featuring some of the 2014 stops and possibly four different shows....it's 2019 and that's nowhere to be seen.

Believe me I know I'm not entitled to anything, but I'm champing at the bit for both of these currently in stasis releases.

I'll take a full remastering (other than the Chris Bellman cut of Lateralus) of all the albums pressed on plain boring black vinyl, please.
 

Sadly the "all attention is paid to sound quality" is only true of releases like the ones from intervention Records, Analog Spark, ORG Music, MFSL and Analogue Productions...most of the time the major labels are releasing the exact same sonic shyte as the digital downloads.

I have a few titles from Shane's team at Intervention and they're all AMAZING. From pressing quality to mastering to jacket, just unbelievably great. What a shame this isn't the standard.

 

I have originals of these albums as well and I picked up the reissues. No contest they sound tremendously better. I am selling my originals as we speak. Altered Beast especially works so much better on 2 records.

No one is ever lucky for being able to purchase a picture disc. No one.

I sort of agree with the opening line in that you can use "SS" (Still Sealed) instead of Mint for a record that's still sealed, because then you can't verify the surface condition of the record or play-grade it. Without a "SS" grading you'd have to list most records from United Record Pressing in Nashville as "PLONF-POF-SCOPTM" (Possibly Loads of Non-fill, Possibly Off-centred, slim chance of playing to mint)

lol

That's a shame they're not using the Sean Magee AAA cut, I expect they'd have mentioned it being "cut from tape" if it was AAA.
The Analog Spark release is absolutely definitive in my book - but look forward to hearing if someone with both does a comparison.

Shame Universal aren't doing a 5.1 Blu-ray with the super deluxe digital physical editions, they're pretty much the best major label for chucking in new surround mixes.

I only list records as MINT if they're sealed, because MINT means brand new.
If it's a UK record that didn't come sealed as is the case sometimes, I list as NM and use the description to note that it has never been played but was never sealed.

Always best to grade conservatively OR as close to Goldmine as you can.

I would have no hesitation to return the item if it was listed as MINT but has a large scratch on one side, that is NOT mint.