'Remastered for iTunes' - All albums re-released! Discuss.

I have listened to samples on iTunes. They sound better than the current in-print CDs, which are based on the horrid 1998 remasters. The detail is much improved, but there is still a fair amount of compression. Your best bet is still an old used copy of the 1980s EMI/Capitol CD pressings, which have more dynamic range than the current iTunes downloads. My hope and prediction is that, since they now have made a hi-res remaster from the original master tapes, we'll soon see a decent CD reissue and/or hi-res download, without the compression found on the iTunes mastering, such as what we've seen from the Led Zeppelin reissues recently. My advice is to hold off on the iTunes for now and be patient for a package like that. If we could get full dynamic range with the detail and clarity that is possible using modern digital mastering technology, that would be audio nirvana.

EDIT: I think the recent vinyl reissues sound better than iTunes too.
 
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Hmm, is there a proper discography reissue in the air? It makes you think...
 
It feels like that's coming, doesn't it? Especially with Bruce's cancer.
 
If they release this on CD, it has to come with a bonus CD with b-sides, otherwise I see no point in buying them...
 
Hmm, is there a proper discography reissue in the air? It makes you think...

Depends on how profitable it might be. It's easy to see Maiden-fans rushing to the stores like flies around shit, bees around honey, but Holy Smoke how many do really care about buying the same albums they already have?
 
It sounds to me like Iron Maiden is preparing for people to hear their music for the first time. They know that most of us hardcore fans aren't going to rebuy iTunes music - some will, but not all - but the younger generation of metalheads are pretty much all digital.
 
Depends on how profitable it might be. It's easy to see Maiden-fans rushing to the stores like flies around shit, bees around honey, but Holy Smoke how many do really care about buying the same albums they already have?
Ask Jimmy Page. The Zep reissues were a success, technically and financially.
 
Reissues with bonus CD and new sound - it's all right to me. Reissues on the same line with new album release - makes sense too...
 
I have listened to samples on iTunes. They sound better than the current in-print CDs, which are based on the horrid 1998 remasters. The detail is much improved, but there is still a fair amount of compression. Your best bet is still an old used copy of the 1980s EMI/Capitol CD pressings, which have more dynamic range than the current iTunes downloads. My hope and prediction is that, since they now have made a hi-res remaster from the original master tapes, we'll soon see a decent CD reissue and/or hi-res download, without the compression found on the iTunes mastering, such as what we've seen from the Led Zeppelin reissues recently. My advice is to hold off on the iTunes for now and be patient for a package like that. If we could get full dynamic range with the detail and clarity that is possible using modern digital mastering technology, that would be audio nirvana.

EDIT: I think the recent vinyl reissues sound better than iTunes too.
Everything you said +1.

Hi-res iTunes is still compressed and less dynamic than the original vinyl and CD releases. However, I do agree with Steve that the production on the first album was quite lacking, hopefully the iTunes remaster has helped. That's the only iTunes remaster i will buy out of the 19 they've released.
 
You can check out like 30 second previews of the songs on the first album to check the difference. I honestly didn't hear that much of a difference - but maybe if I did a side by side comparison I would notice it.
 
I've yet to have a side by side comparison really. I tried with the samples but couldn't be sure. I'm not sure what to make of these releases. They've chosen iTunes to hit the most people and look the coolest doing so, but really they a re-cooking a chicken that's already cooked; you shouldn't do it. These need to be mastered and released to download free of a certain brand apart from Maiden themselves and leave the choice up to the user how to burn to CD or listen to them. These should be released in HD uncompressed lossless audio.
 
I've yet to have a side by side comparison really. I tried with the samples but couldn't be sure. I'm not sure what to make of these releases. They've chosen iTunes to hit the most people and look the coolest doing so, but really they a re-cooking a chicken that's already cooked; you shouldn't do it. These need to be mastered and released to download free of a certain brand apart from Maiden themselves and leave the choice up to the user how to burn to CD or listen to them. These should be released in HD uncompressed lossless audio.
They really need to take note from Tom Petty who just released all albums in 24/96 completely uncompressed from the original master tapes (except for 3-4 albums which came from 2nd generation but at least they acknowledged it). Absolutely fantastic sound and probably one of the greatest digital reissues campaigns I’ve seen.
 
This sounds very interesting indeed!
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Steve comments,
"The Mastering For iTunes procedure allows the listener to experience the music as close as possible to the way the artist intended it to be heard. So of course I was very keen for the Maiden albums to be mastered in this way. The records have been available digitally before, when this medium first became a platform for music distribution but that was mastered with CDs in mind. The iTunes process involves a different approach and it's great to finally deliver the music to our fans in as close to a pure and accurate sound as we could possibly achieve.For example, as most people know, I was never really happy with the sound on the first Maiden album but listening to it now, the guitars are louder, the drums more substantial and the overall tone is so very much improved in my opinion. Tony Newton and Ade Emsley who worked closely with me on the project did a terrific job recapturing everything from the original masters and together we've re- mastered them all digitally and I'm really happy with the results."

Tony Newton adds:
“The process started with locating all of the original album mix tapes (or whichever format they were mixed to). Then the choice of analogue to digital convertor was chosen for the most accurate capture to make it as close as possible to the sound of the mix as it was intended by the band. When a lot of these tapes were last captured it was in the 1980's, early days of digital and only 44.1khz/16bit files were possible. On top of this the new A/D convertors are far superior now, and of course it is possible to produce files of far higher resolution. The result of this is that the songs now sound more defined with added depth and warmth. I was very excited to be asked to be part of this project, I honestly feel that there is a massive improvement in the quality of these classic albums.”


Bye the way:
maiden_mfit_990.jpg

I quite like this pic coming with the news item! Nice blue colour and excellent how some Eddies (especially BNW and Breeg on the left, near the logo) merge with the cloudy/misty background.
 
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