Rush is a Band Blog: Masterdisk chief engineer Andy VanDette on the Rush Sector box sets

Blogospheres

Monday, November 28, 2011

Masterdisk chief engineer Andy VanDette on the Rush Sector box sets

[Andy VanDette On Remastering 15 Rush Albums]

In a recent article/interview for the Masterdisk website, Masterdisk chief engineer Andy VanDette reveals several details regarding his experience remastering the Rush catalog for the Rush Sector box sets, which released last week. VanDette has been working with Rush sound engineer Rich Chycki on handling most of the mastering duties for Rush since Snakes & Arrows Live, having worked on that album along with Retrospective 3, the R30 Blu-ray and the Moving Pictures deluxe edition earlier this year. Here's Andy on his overall approach to the remasters along with his comments on the condition of the original master tapes:

I wanted to do as little as possible so that the masters could truly speak for themselves. Being recorded in the vinyl era, they were optimized for that medium. People like more bottom end these days - and with earbuds and laptops as the primary playback monitors, it is understandable. I tried to nudge them in a warmer, thicker direction, but not cloud the guitars or the legendary Neil Peart snare. ... Handling analog masters that are over 30 years old makes people nervous. (Laughs.) I cleaned the tape heads after every song to make sure tape shedding hadn't even started. Indeed, some tapes didn't sound as good as others - after all, they've been sitting on a shelf for however many years. In some cases the 192 kHz digital master tape copies from the Rush archive sounded better. I think those transfers would have been made about seven years ago. ...

And here's what he had to say regarding surprises and issues he ran into along the way:

... Some of the albums weren't as thin toppy as I thought the were going to be. And for some I had a better source than the 1997 remasters. Some are brighter and clearer. Grace Under Pressure I tried for three days to make the tape transfer that I did sound as good as the existing CD. I figured that with the kind of care I put into the transfer - and having the original source - it would be a no-brainer; that this would be better than what's been out there. But it just wasn't the case: the tape didn't age well. It had lost lots of clarity. So I ended up using the 192 kHz transfer.

The master for the first album [Rush] was a surprise - there was no shedding off the tape at all. There was still lots of top left. I imagine it had been baked before, and stored well afterwards. ...

.... [There were some issues with] All the World's a Stage - what can you say. It's really hard to make great live recordings - even today. Unfortunately, the original tapes for this one didn't give me much to work with. I was a lot happier with Exit Stage Left. The tape transfer I did sounded better than any of the previous releases that I'm aware of. ...

... on Fly By Night I was really impressed with how well Richard [Chycki] brought the feel of the original album into 5.1. That classic snare sound remains intact! On A Show of Hands - I think that the clarity and punch came out more than in the previous releases. ...

You can really tell from the interview that Andy is a huge fan and took this job very seriously:

It was very important to me that these be the best representation of the catalog possible and I think we accomplished that. Look, I'm a fan. When I put up Hemispheres for the first time I nearly cried. I may not have been able to muster every bass riff, or sung every high note in my band, but the memories of trying were overwhelming. I could not let Rush fans down. Each and every one of these albums got the deluxe treatment.

The article also includes a bunch of great photos of the original master tapes that you will definitely want to check out. You can read the entire thing at this link (thanks Neil H). John at Cygnus-X1.net has scanned all the images and transcribed the liner notes for all 3 box sets. You can check them out at these links:

Sector 1: [Album Info] [Album Images]
Sector 2: [Album Info] [Album Images]
Sector 3: [Album Info] [Album Images]

You can order all 3 Sector box sets now at this link.

COMMENTS

#1 - Posted 11/28/11 @9:54AM by marty from clayton [contact]

Nice to read/see/hear that kind of dedication, and knowing that he was working with such a mixed bag of source material.

#2 - Posted 11/28/11 @9:55AM by marty from clayton [contact]

PS Can anyone who has this yet say whether or not Signals mix is improved at all?

#3 - Posted 11/28/11 @10:32AM by Runkerry [contact]

Sounds like a lot of good work, effort and dedication from Andy but I don't think this is worth the money. Sorry, but those albums were what they were. I think this is money not well spent : /

#4 - Posted 11/28/11 @10:45AM by dreww76 [contact]

I have to agree with the fact that it does seem repetitious to keep paying for the same albums. However I have to side with Andy VanDette that Exit Stage Left and a Show of Hands Sound better than ever. In my opinion Grace Under Pressure sounds better as well, it has the clarity of the '97 remaster
and the low end and smoothness of the original CD and an added warmth that until now only the vinyl possessed. Signals has the same qualities, the opening chords of Chemistry sound fantastic.

#5 - Posted 11/28/11 @11:13AM by OntariOFace [contact]

It looks like the art on the Hemispheres CD is wrong. It shows "3. Circumstances". Why? What is/Where is #2? Does the CD forward to some point in Cygnus X-1 Book II?

#6 - Posted 11/28/11 @11:41AM by mkefromTO [contact]

I agree with #3 and #4, bought the vinyl and CD versions, not really willing to part with the cash to buy it a third time. Besides it wasn't bad the first time round. The Bealtes remasters were worth it. the mastering and mixing were terrible on the first few albums and the first two albums were on two track. I don't expect it to be that much better. also my hearing isn't what it use to be have played in a few bands over the years..

Geddy doesn't look to happy in the picture with Andy, who looks beside himself. lol

#7 - Posted 11/28/11 @11:43AM by Taurus Pedal Boy

I just cannot understand why they didn't do ALL the Rush albums in 5.1 and release THAT as the Sector box sets. As it is, this just seems like a waste of time and money to only release three of the CDs as 5.1 and the rest as standard CDs. I mean, aren't we just going to have to re-buy them all AGAIN when the rest inevitably come out as 5.1 DVDs?????

#8 - Posted 11/28/11 @12:01PM by jeffb2112 [contact]

I purchased all 3 Sector Box sets. I think it was money very well spent. All of the discs, including the non-5.1 dvds, are significant improvements from all of the other releases (original cds, remaster, Mobil Fidelity). I was very hesitant to purchase yet another copy of the same titles but I am extremely glad that I did. The improvements on these masters are more noticeable than the PinK Floyd remasters from earlier in the year. Sure I wish that the entire catalog was mixed in 5.1 and released on SACD or blu ray. But these are some damn good that I can still recommend them. If you are on the fence, go buy them.

#9 - Posted 11/28/11 @1:29PM by kynetboy [contact]

I also purchased the Sector Boxed sets. I listened to the 5.1 re-mix of Signals and I must say that it has given new life to this album. The Weapon, Losing It and Countdown really are elevated. The vocals are very clear. There certainly is so much that was hidden that has now come to the surface. In my opinion, the 5.1 of Signals is a true listening pleasure. I recommend it highly. I look forward to listening to the rest in the next few days.

#10 - Posted 11/28/11 @3:48PM by dgrant99 [contact]

As a non-audiophile, can anyone explain in basic layman terms what the difference is between these, the originals and the last remasters? Is the 5.1 the same as a movie in that style, and if so do I need to only listen to it through my surround system set up to 5.1? If the 5.1 is that much of an improvement, Is the price worht it for just those albums alone?

#11 - Posted 11/28/11 @5:43PM by Will Collier [contact]

Always wondered what the deal was with those original CDs missing the first beat of Tom Sawyer. Crazy that (a) the master tape has the flaw, and (b) nobody caught it when they made the CD masters that first time.

#12 - Posted 11/28/11 @8:14PM by marty from clayton [contact]

#9 - Thank you for the opinion on Signals!

#13 - Posted 11/28/11 @10:31PM by Taurus Pedal Boy

@ #10 - Yes, the 5.1 albums are actually on DVDS, not CDs. You play them in your DVD player through your surround sound system, just like you would a movie.

#14 - Posted 11/28/11 @10:56PM by patrush

Does anyone know if this is the ultimate/final re-release of Rush catalogue? Or will there be more sophisticated remasters to come? (I don't care for 5.1) I know there' been talk about getting Steven Wilson to redo the remasters, but I don't know if any of this will happen. I wouldn't want to guy this box set, only to find out 5 years later that there is a better one coming out.

#15 - Posted 11/29/11 @1:42AM by Micky [contact]

Dear All,
That's the...Market place.
Or market strategies.
Or just business.
However, whoever bought it, enjoy it.

#16 - Posted 11/29/11 @3:21PM by What-A-Rush

In response to #10. "Layman's terms?". LESS TAPE HISS! NOTHING MORE,NOTHING LESS! I have to say that the 1997 remasters were,overall,better than the "original" CD releases for the above reasons I stated. Also the original LP artwork on the remasters was restored faithfully for the most part,with the exception of Exit...Stage Left featuring the "backward" photos. If I remember correctly,the label on the front of the remasters stated: NEWLY REMASTERD FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES. With that in mind,shouldn't the $ector series have a label that says: NEWLY RE-REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES! Furthermore,when the rest of the catalog is released in 5.1,how will that be marketed? Hint: SUPER-DUPER RE-REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES! Give me a break! Anyway,good question #10. Even though I think the $ector series is a joke,I do like reading everyone's take on this particular topic. Great comments everybody!

#17 - Posted 11/29/11 @4:06PM by Taurus Pedal Boy

I really want to hear SIGNALS in 5.1

#18 - Posted 11/29/11 @4:11PM by cpb [contact]

Thanx, #16, for responding to #10 (same goes for #13). I think it's really great that this board can be used for one another to understand the technical side of audio issues such as re-releases, so that we can all be more educated when we make the decision on what to buy and what to let pass by.

Nice work with the phrase "$ector series," by the way!

#19 - Posted 11/29/11 @5:50PM by idrum2 [contact]

The only one I really care about is a Vapor Trails remaster.

And if these were recorded for vinyl, why doesn't Rush repress them on vinyl? I'd love to have them, but don't want to have to settle for used copies off of ebay.

#20 - Posted 11/29/11 @6:33PM by A-CELL-OF-AWARENESS [contact]

i get nervous just LOOKING AT PICTURES of 30 year old analog RUSH tapes!!!!!!!!! ha ha!

#21 - Posted 11/29/11 @6:37PM by shavendave [contact]

Does anyone know if this 1977 photo (link from Sector 2 (and the Beyond the Lighted Stage DVD sleeve) is from McMorran Arena in Port Huron, MI?

For comparison, a 2009 pic from McMorran Arena: link

Thanks from Plymouth!

#22 - Posted 11/30/11 @2:55AM by dgrant99 [contact]

Thanks for the crash course! The surround sound experience sounds like it might be worth hearing, but as has been stated on the boards here, it seems like "if you're gonna do one, might as well do them all". Gonna make the choice to wait and see rather than pick up the re-remasters for only a few new things. As far as the vinyl stuff, years back I found a record store in lower Manhattan that catered to vinyl only, slowly picked up the entire collection used in pretty good condition(Up to Counterparts), but this being the 2000's and not owning a record player, they serve the purpose of owning the artwork and liner notes.

#23 - Posted 12/2/11 @5:37PM by skl183

I wouldn't mind vinyl. Either way. Hell, just get a remixed Hemispheres out ASAP!

#24 - Posted 12/3/11 @7:41AM by Taurus Pedal Boy

The band has posted an acknowledgment of flaws on the FLY BY NIGHT disc and the FAREWELL TO KINGS dvd. They say it was "a production flaw" and that replacement discs will be issued...eventually. I am SO glad that I didn't buy these.