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 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 9:37 AM   
 By:   Jason LeBlanc   (Member)

Roger says


At Intrada the week of the 9th

Last Starfighter will be back in stock. However, it's not the same. The packaging will be the same, the program will be the same, but the album number will be different. Under the theory that perfection is a journey, not a destination, we thought we could do a lot better. As you recall for the expanded release we sourced the multi-track masters rather than the 1/4" masters we used for the first edition. After careful examination, we decided the 1/4" has vastly superior sound. The brass is punchier and the recording crisper overall. The "new" source we had used previously was a bit...mushier. So we've reverted to the 1/4" masters and did a high res transfer to work from. It's never sounded better.


http://www.intrada.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8906

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 11:45 AM   
 By:   spielboy   (Member)

the explanation sounds like a joke, really

 
 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 11:49 AM   
 By:   governor   (Member)

Good news. Back in print.

reissues of reissues of expanded reissues....

The technical side is not a really strong argument

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 12:41 PM   
 By:   McD   (Member)

I will probably get this as I was waiting for the re-press anyway*. But this claim of a quasi-upgrade might be annoying the hell out of me if I already had it.

*This release, the third version of Starfighter, is the only Safan CD I don’t own. I think at the time I was annoyed that it was a second expansion but still missing stuff, meaning a fourth version was inevitable. I haven’t even seen the film, but songs from it (by Safan himself) appear on other discs. I guess that inevitable next edition when it comes will now be the fifth!

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 12:45 PM   
 By:   LeHah   (Member)

I haven’t even seen the film

Go out of your way to see it. Its a loving, beautiful piece of fun adventure fluff. Robert Preston steals the show.

Gene Siskle said it best: of all the Star Wars rip-offs that followed in the 80s, it was the best one.

 
 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 12:55 PM   
 By:   Jurassic T. Park   (Member)

"As you recall for the expanded release we sourced the multi-track masters rather than the 1/4" masters we used for the first edition. After careful examination, we decided the 1/4" has vastly superior sound. The brass is punchier and the recording crisper overall. The "new" source we had used previously was a bit...mushier. So we've reverted to the 1/4" masters and did a high res transfer to work from. It's never sounded better"

Very interesting that the multi-track masters did not sound as good as the 1/4" masters.

Were the 1/4" part of the original recording or was that a later mix-down? Why would there be such a vast difference?

 
 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 5:36 PM   
 By:   Spymaster   (Member)

I never rated the latest edition particularly highly, sound-wise. I'm glad it wasn't just me. Though it's grating that we're now teased to re-buy this score AGAIN.

 
 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 5:44 PM   
 By:   Nono   (Member)

"As you recall for the expanded release we sourced the multi-track masters rather than the 1/4" masters we used for the first edition. After careful examination, we decided the 1/4" has vastly superior sound. The brass is punchier and the recording crisper overall. The "new" source we had used previously was a bit...mushier. So we've reverted to the 1/4" masters and did a high res transfer to work from. It's never sounded better"

Very interesting that the multi-track masters did not sound as good as the 1/4" masters.

Were the 1/4" part of the original recording or was that a later mix-down? Why would there be such a vast difference?



The original mixes made by the recording engineer himself are probably better, with a wider dynamic range and more ambience and depth.

 
 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 6:15 PM   
 By:   .   (Member)

My CD is MAF 7139. If both the previous release and the subsequent re-release are "vastly superior" for reasons as mentioned above, maybe Intrada should consider offering documented buyers of MAF 7139 a worthwhile discount on replacing it with the newest re-release.

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 6:28 PM   
 By:   danbeck   (Member)

One of Safan's best (certainly my favorite from him), maybe I'll triple dip on this one as I love this score so much.

While on this topic, new mixes from multitracs are always tricky and sometimes the original stereo mixes are the definitive mix. I'd love if Intrada could, in the future, revert to the original stereo masters of Psycho II, one of my favorite scores from Goldsmith. The complete release from the multitracks has some interesting details but the original mix is superior (IMO) - the piano is the central "voice" in this score and is lower in the mix while the electronics are higher - just compare the ending of Its Not Your Mother and the midle section of the End Credits. I'd love if in the future a new master is done from the original stereo mixes.

 
 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 7:09 PM   
 By:   Roger Feigelson   (Member)

One of Safan's best (certainly my favorite from him), maybe I'll triple dip on this one as I love this score so much.

While on this topic, new mixes from multitracs are always tricky and sometimes the original stereo mixes are the definitive mix. I'd love if Intrada could, in the future, revert to the original stereo masters of Psycho II, one of my favorite scores from Goldsmith. The complete release from the multitracks has some interesting details but the original mix is superior (IMO) - the piano is the central "voice" in this score and is lower in the mix while the electronics are higher - just compare the ending of Its Not Your Mother and the midle section of the End Credits. I'd love if in the future a new master is done from the original stereo mixes.


Yes, agreed. Even though the composer supervised the Last Starfighter mix, it was hard to capture the original sound. We had the same issue with Young Sherlock Holmes, again composer supervised, but all agreed to go back to the 1/4" for the later edition. We try to avoid remixing whenever possible for this reason.

But one thing I've learned from several threads around here for a couple of days, that being transparent about our ideas and rationale isn't really worth it. It stirs up too much angst (and disappointing accusations that we're trying to bilk people even though our choices are creative, not economic). So much easier for me not to stir up the mud and I will take a page from our friends at Varese and just...button up! You folks are welcome to say whatever you want, but I don't want to be the one to instigate it!

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 7:31 PM   
 By:   danbeck   (Member)


Yes, agreed. Even though the composer supervised the Last Starfighter mix, it was hard to capture the original sound. We had the same issue with Young Sherlock Holmes, again composer supervised, but all agreed to go back to the 1/4" for the later edition. We try to avoid remixing whenever possible for this reason.

But one thing I've learned from several threads around here for a couple of days, that being transparent about our ideas and rationale isn't really worth it. It stirs up too much angst (and disappointing accusations that we're trying to bilk people even though our choices are creative, not economic). So much easier for me not to stir up the mud and I will take a page from our friends at Varese and just...button up! You folks are welcome to say whatever you want, but I don't want to be the one to instigate it!


The choice is aways creative and Intrada clearly aims for the best in every release. Multitracks are the 1st gen. source and in theory will provide the best possible sound and I’m sure remastering from multitracks is much more workload and costly. But it is tricky indeed as a new mix will always sound a bit different (even in highly praised cases like Superman or Star Trek). I tend to prefer the original stereo mixes just because they usually sound more like what I’m expecting.
And the previous edition of The Last Starfighter sounds very good to my ears. Nobody is being forced to buy the new release and the previous did not had any “defect”, but I like the trasparency so I can decide to buy it again if it is a score that I really love (as I did with YSH, Cliffhanger from LLL, Re-Animator, 48hrs, Dressed To Kill) and probably will do with the new Starfighter. Please keep giving us the details.

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 8:24 PM   
 By:   Amer Zahid   (Member)

And I didnt even get the chance to open my previous issue copy. Still sealed.

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 8:36 PM   
 By:   SchiffyM   (Member)

But one thing I've learned from several threads around here for a couple of days, that being transparent about our ideas and rationale isn't really worth it. It stirs up too much angst (and disappointing accusations that we're trying to bilk people even though our choices are creative, not economic).

It's just hard for those of us who have never made a mistake to understand you fallible people.


Seriously, The Last Starfighter is a score I'm glad is remaining in print. Seems to me the easiest thing to do would simply be to press more copies of exactly what you've already done. It certainly wasn't "wrong" in any way – there was no digital breakup or clicking or the like. You guys recognized that it could be improved, which is more work (and expense). We should appreciate that. I'm sorry (but not so surprised) to see some people being negative about your going the extra mile.

 
 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 8:40 PM   
 By:   Jordi-El   (Member)

You could take advantage and change the CD cover, and this time use the one inside the last CD release and also old LP...

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 8:42 PM   
 By:   other tallguy   (Member)

But one thing I've learned from several threads around here for a couple of days, that being transparent about our ideas and rationale isn't really worth it. It stirs up too much angst (and disappointing accusations that we're trying to bilk people even though our choices are creative, not economic). So much easier for me not to stir up the mud and I will take a page from our friends at Varese and just...button up! You folks are welcome to say whatever you want, but I don't want to be the one to instigate it!

Yeah, I'm sure you're swimming in your money bin!

The last time I bought The Last Starfighter was in 1995. (I never realized that was Intrada! Oh, we've been together so long!) So I guess I'm due! Looking forward to it. Trust Centauri, my boy!

 
 Posted:   May 3, 2022 - 8:48 PM   
 By:   Replicant006   (Member)

...But one thing I've learned from several threads around here for a couple of days, that being transparent about our ideas and rationale isn't really worth it. It stirs up too much angst (and disappointing accusations that we're trying to bilk people even though our choices are creative, not economic). So much easier for me not to stir up the mud and I will take a page from our friends at Varese and just...button up! You folks are welcome to say whatever you want, but I don't want to be the one to instigate it!

It is always very disheartening to occasionally hear the people behind our beloved labels, who make these amazing releases happen year after year, decide it's not worth it to open up a bit about the creative process and technical decisions. I'm sure Roger's comment is referencing the Jumanji thread, among others; the vitriol and sense of entitlement and utter inanity in that thread is incredible. It's those few naysayers who always speak the loudest, choosing to bite the hand that feeds them. I would encourage Roger and others to tune out that noise and focus on the majority of us who are thrilled by these great releases month after month.

 
 
 Posted:   May 4, 2022 - 2:29 AM   
 By:   Nono   (Member)

The choice is aways creative and Intrada clearly aims for the best in every release. Multitracks are the 1st gen. source and in theory will provide the best possible sound and I’m sure remastering from multitracks is much more workload and costly. But it is tricky indeed as a new mix will always sound a bit different (even in highly praised cases like Superman or Star Trek). I tend to prefer the original stereo mixes just because they usually sound more like what I’m expecting.
And the previous edition of The Last Starfighter sounds very good to my ears. Nobody is being forced to buy the new release and the previous did not had any “defect”, but I like the trasparency so I can decide to buy it again if it is a score that I really love (as I did with YSH, Cliffhanger from LLL, Re-Animator, 48hrs, Dressed To Kill) and probably will do with the new Starfighter. Please keep giving us the details.


I have no doubt that Intrada always tries to do its best, but some creative choices are weird.

I have never listened to the previous edition of The Last Starfighter because of its dry and lifeless sound.

So if Intrada has been able to fix the problem, it is better than nothing... even if I am not particularly glad to have wasted my money with the previous edition.

Such problems are recurrent with every label, though.

As far as I am concerned, and since you mentioned it, Eric Tomlinson's original mixes for Superman are "vastly superior" to what La-La Land did with their last edition.

And I will buy a new edition sourced (and properly mastered) from Eric Tomlinson's mixes anyday, as I did when Intrada reissued Young Sherlock Holmes.

 
 Posted:   May 4, 2022 - 3:56 AM   
 By:   SpaceMind   (Member)

But one thing I've learned from several threads around here for a couple of days, that being transparent about our ideas and rationale isn't really worth it. It stirs up too much angst (and disappointing accusations that we're trying to bilk people even though our choices are creative, not economic). So much easier for me not to stir up the mud and I will take a page from our friends at Varese and just...button up! You folks are welcome to say whatever you want, but I don't want to be the one to instigate it!

Roger,

Please don't let a few vocal people discourage you or lead you to believe this is what the majority feel. We love the transparency and welcome every one of Intrada's releases. If it truly bugs them that much, they just won't buy those releases. Let them work through their issues.

In regard to The Last Starfighter, do I have the previous two releases? Yes. Was I expecting this? No. Will I be buying this release? I was at a stance of no before your post because I think the latest release was fantastic. I love this score. But, because of your post, I am going to purchase it anyway to support Intrada. I have done that in the past to support the other labels as well. That's my choice and I don't expect everyone else to jump in on my opinion. Everyone always says to vote with your wallet. Well, I am doing just that to show you my support.

Please keep the transparency and the releases coming.

 
 Posted:   May 4, 2022 - 4:00 AM   
 By:   Lokutus   (Member)

Nobody forces anyone to buy anything...

Although it would be nice to get a few more premieres from time to time instead of endless reissues of reissues of reissues of reissues.

Not sure if I should buy anything these days or rather wait for 3rd update of the same release coming within next 2 years.

 
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