Why is most everything remastered?


It's becoming more and more difficult to find what sound signature was originally meant by the artist. I have examples that sound terrible after remastering. I understand why it has to be this way, If and only it improves the original, if not... leave it alone!

voodoolounge

I don't have a lot of re-masters or re-mixes (mostly Beatles) but I haven't heard one yet that I didn't like.  I'm sure there are some out there.

I much prefer the Beatles in stereo.  I know the stories about the mono vs. stereo mixes.  For me, listening to something in mono when I could be hearing it in stereo is like watching a movie with one eye closed.  YMMV.

i have a "remastering" of a 1957 recording, "a lovely afternoon" that sounds to my ears like it came off of a somewhat worn LP specimen copy. a disappointment considering that the original stereo master tape still exists somewhere [MCA studios?] in SoCal. OTOH, recent long-belated remasterings/reissues of selections from the stereo mix of the Phil Spector Christmas Album, are sonic revelations compared to the original mono release. 

Remastering is done for three reasons.

  • The first is to boost the highs to make them irritating.
  • The second is to compress out all the dynamics to get a modern sound.
  • The third is to sell more CDs. NEW! IMPROVED! BUY NOW!

 

Anyone hear the Stones DSD remastered vinyl? I haven't, and wonder why press a digital source to vinyl?

Re-Mastered recordings are Hit and Miss... much like Life itself. Many Original recordings are just fine as they were released and others sound way better with Modern reworking.

@voodoolounge ​​​​, most music and recordings since 1995-2000 have been recorded in a digital format (as computers became ever increasingly affordable and adaptable). Pressing vinyl from a digital recording has been the Norm for 25 years. There are of course exceptions and they are usually noted on the reord itself. A great many Master Tapes from earlier recordings are also stored digitally and the Master Tapes are archived (and so never/rarely used for re-releases).