As a music-loving audio geek, I‘ve spent countless hours obsessing over the details of remastered albums – do they live up to the hype? Does the latest reissue respect the original recording or take too many liberties? Are they a cash grab or a worthwhile sonic upgrade? In this epic deep dive, I‘ll unwrap all the layers of the remastering process to help fellow audiophiles understand what it really means.
Demystifying the Remastering Process
So how does remastering actually work its magic? Let‘s break it down:
The original master tapes are transferred into high-resolution digital formats like 96 kHz/24-bit PCM or DSD. This handles any physical degradation of the analog tapes.
In the digital audio workstation, the engineer uses a range of tools to enhance the sound:
- EQ – Boosts or cuts specific frequencies that need smoothing
- Compression – Evens out volume differences and adds punch
- Limiting – Increases overall loudness level
- De-essing – Removes harsh "SSS" sounds
- Noise reduction – Eliminates tape hiss, clicks, pops, rumble
Subtle time-alignment and panning adjustments can improve stereo imaging and spatiality. Also, new stereo reverb may be applied for a more immersive experience.
This allows the intrinsic quality of the recordings to shine through. It’s like an audio restoration – removing layers of dust and grime to reveal the masterpiece underneath.
Just How Much Better Can Remastering Sound?
Let‘s compare the original 1986 CD release of Metallica‘s Master of Puppets with the 2015 remastered deluxe edition. One main upgrade is the lack of distortion – the original suffers from "clipping" and compressed dynamics:
Notice how the remaster has well-defined transients and peaks are not shredded off. The drums have more impact and you can actually hear bass details that were once a blurry mess.
For fans, this remaster is a night and day improvement that makes a classic album feel fresh again. Of course, not all remasters are created equal. The best respect the vibe of the original while giving it a modern polish.
Just How Much Does Remastering Classic Albums Cost?
Remastering is an intensive, manual process requiring experienced engineers. To upgrade a blockbuster multi-platinum album, the record label may invest:
- $20,000-$30,000 for the engineering time
- $5,000-$10,000 for transferring analog tapes
- $2,000+ for lacquer mastering and test pressings
- $5,000+ for legal fees, licensing, royalties
That‘s $30k-$50k+ for a proper remastering job. And the results can be lucrative…
For example, here‘s how anniversary remasters boosted sales of classics like Dark Side of the Moon and Thriller:
| Album | Original Sales | Remaster Sales | Boost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Side (1993) | 45 million | 8 million | 18% |
| Thriller (2008) | 66 million | 11 million | 17% |
The sales bump justifies the big investment to update these treasured recordings.
How Do the Engineers Approach Remastering Classics?
In a TapeOp interview, mastering legend Bob Ludwig revealed his philosophy:
My goal is always to present the music in the best possible way but to be honest to what was originally intended. Remastering something is not a license to change the way the music sounds or re-mix it.
Veteran engineer Elliot Scheiner agreed in Sound on Sound:
With old albums, I don’t want to get in the way of what the artists created. You want to make sure you don’t ruin it or impose too many of your own tastes on it. Honoring their work is the biggest responsibility.
This mindset of respecting the original vision explains why the best remasters feel like a window into the past, clearer than ever – yet still transportive.
How Have Goals Changed as Technology Evolved?
Early CD remasters in the 1980s-90s were about upgrading from vinyl and tape to digital clarity. In the 2000s, formats like SACD and DVD-Audio allowed even higher resolution.
Now with streaming, the focus is on loudness – trying to smash volume levels to compete against hyper-compressed playlists. Bob Dylan‘s remixes are a prime example of this controversial trend.
Ideally, today‘s remasters should avoid cranking loudness at the expense of dynamic range. There are always technical limits to improve upon. But the true goal should be upholding the timeless emotional power.
My All-Time Favorite Remasters
Here are some stellar remasters that breathe new life into classics while respecting their essence:
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Michael Jackson – Thriller: The Quincy Jones-produced original was state of the art. The 2008 remaster polished it for modern systems without overdoing processing. The sounds sparkle with renewed clarity.
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Rush – 2112: This progressive rock epic finally gets the dynamic range it deserves in the 2012 remaster. Neil Peart‘s drums have bone-crushing weight and bite. The strange synthesis of technology and soul rings true.
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Miles Davis – Kind of Blue: You can practically smell the smoke-filled 1959 studio sessions. Subtle spacial enhancements didn‘t tamper with perfection but allow hearing more micro-details. Jazz bliss.
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Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here: James Guthrie‘s 2011 remaster untangles the dense mix so every nuance shines. The dynamics and transients are pristine while keeping the organic, haunting haziness intact.
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Nirvana – Nevermind: This album defined the grunge era. The 20th anniversary edition crunches hard yet heard Kurt Cobain‘s vocals and quiet parts more resonantly. Perfectly faithful to the original revolutionary spirit.
Meanwhile, misguided remasters like Iggy Pop‘s Raw Power crank obnoxious volume levels that ruin nuanced dynamics – a travesty!
How Does Remastering for Vinyl Differ from Digital?
Vinyl requires a specially crafted lacquer master to cut the grooves – mastering engineers tweak EQ and stereo imaging with the unique format in mind.
Loudness must be carefully controlled for vinyl – overly hot levels lead to distortion and wear out the grooves faster. So good vinyl remasters have more dynamic range than their “radio-ready” digital counterparts.
Another trick is using tape saturation and tube warmth to give vinyl remasters a rich analog sheen. This compensates for the inherent surface noise of the format.
Overall the art is making the remaster sound tailor-made for vinyl yet still faithful to the spirit of the music.
Let‘s Get Technical – Sample Rates, Bit Depth and Loudness Explained
Here are some recording specs that impact remastering:
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Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz (CD quality) up to 192 kHz (hi-res). Higher rates allow capturing wider frequency range and transients.
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Bit Depth: 16-bit (CD) up to 32-bit float. More bits means more dynamic range before unwanted distortion.
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Loudness: Modern recordings are massively compressed, even peaking at -4 LUFS integrated loudness. But dynamic range (crest factor) makes music feel more real.
Here‘s a comparison between levels of classic rock and the loudness war (data via Produce Like a Pro):
| Song | LUFS | True Peak | Crest Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back in Black (1980) | -14 | -0.5 | 14 |
| Nevermind (1991) | -11 | -0.4 | 11 |
| Californication (1999) | -6 | -1 | 5 |
Aim for moderate levels without crushing dynamic range in remasters. Let this data guide your ears.
How Some Remasters Take Creative Liberties
Sometimes remasters go beyond just improving audio – they create new remixes and edits.
On The Beatles 1 compilation, the original stereo mixes were tweaked with reverb and modern stereo widening effects. Sacrilege for purists!
Jimmy Page remixed the Led Zeppelin catalog in the 1990s to fashion new “composite” versions from best parts of each take. This was an unorthodox approach.
While remixing does allow artists to reframe their work decades later, traditional remastering has less leeway to rewrite history. Ultimately it comes down to truth vs taste.
Why Does Remastering Persist in the Streaming Era?
In today‘s hustle of constant music consumption, remastering takes on renewed importance:
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Fights disposability and ensures classics endure for new generations
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Maximizes music‘s quality for modern systems like phones and Bluetooth
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Satisfies fans desiring upgraded sound from childhood favorites
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Provides value incentive for purchase over streaming
Great art deserves to be re-experienced at its best. As new formats emerge, remastering future-proofs the classics.
Closing Thoughts
Despite advances in technology, that elusive magic of a transcendent recording can never fully be regained. But in the hands of skillful engineers who respect the original vision, remastering allows musical treasures to continue shining for decades to come. It gives beloved recordings renewed clarity and emotional power.
The ultimate truth behind a remaster’s worth is whether it moves the listener, not just impresses on a technical level. Remastering at its core must be an act of love – using today‘s tools to honor yesterday‘s art. When done for the right reasons, remastering ensures our musical heritage continues sounding better than ever. Just don‘t ruin the vibe!
What do you think – which albums deserve the remastering treatment? Which originals still can‘t be topped? As a fellow music fanatic, I‘d love to nerd out over remastering anytime!
