Sammy era remastered

**Bob_R** · 03.06.03, 08:50 AM

When do you think the Sammy era will be remastered? I think Ed is holding off on this and BOV II in case VH never returns. [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]

**dart93** · 03.06.03, 08:59 AM

I agree wholeheartedly that 5150, OU812 and FUCK need remastering. I wouldn't think that the members of Van Halen would have much, if anything, to do with whether this happens and when, however. Warner Bros owns the recordings and no longer has any relationship with VH.

**ross** · 03.06.03, 11:22 AM

I'd be first in line to buy 5150 then FUCK and OU812 respectivly.

**VanHalen5150Viking** · 03.06.03, 12:34 PM

I never understood why they just didn't remaster everything Van Halen. Why just the Roth era? 5150 and OU812 are great albums, but have always sounded a little flat.

**Goo** · 03.06.03, 12:37 PM

The Hagar era records need remixing more than they need remastering (esp OU812) and I doubt that'll happen.

Have a look at your local record store to see what records get remastered - all pre 83/84 recordings. The record companys rushed out back catalog on CD when the technology first came to prominence, and in most cases they didn't do a very good job of it. Thats why they are now going back and fixing up those older recordings and doing the job properly. A major art of doing the job properly involves restoring the origonal tapes, which wasn't done 'first time around'

Albums released post 83/84 got a proper mastering job done at the time, and wouldn't benefit much from being redone. You can't restore a new master tape.

The problem with those Hagar albums is the actual mix and production, not the mastering.

**VanHalen2079** · 03.06.03, 09:19 PM

The mix and production would have to do with the studio ability correct? Is it possible that 5150 Studio had crappy equipment for those albums or was it just the way it was done? Theres some albums out there that will probably never see the light of remaster because no one pushes it.

**THE MARD** · 03.07.03, 09:38 AM

The equipment at 5150 was out of date when Sam joined. 5150, OU812, and F.U.C.K. were recorded and mixed on analog tapes instead of digital like they are done today. Balance was recorded with up-to-date digital technology and sounds great.

I had asked Brad at the 'Dome if the Sam era cd's would ever be remastered and he said "Yes! But doesn't know when?" I had heard that Sam has control of the Van Hagar years, and it is because of him that they didn't remaster them with the rest.

Without a doubt, the absolute BEST STUDIO is Joe's Garage. Joe Elliott's studio in Dublin. I don't what it has but I'm telling you the sound it top notch! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
Try this sometime. Put in one of you favorite cd's. Even something released resently. Play a song or two off it then play something from Adrenalize, Slang, Euphoria or 'X'. You'll see what I mean...

**Goo** · 03.08.03, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by THE MARD:

I had asked Brad at the 'Dome if the Sam era cd's would ever be remastered and he said "Yes! But doesn't know when?" I had heard that Sam has control of the Van Hagar years, and it is because of him that they didn't remaster them with the rest.

I think he's talking out his ass again mate - do this little experiment... next time you walk through your local record store, have a look and see how many post 84/85 albums have been remastered.

**VanHalen2079** · 03.09.03, 12:05 PM

Sammy is on Rockline this Wednesday, someone should ask him about that.

**THE MARD** · 03.10.03, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by Goo:

I think he's talking out his ass again mate - do this little experiment... next time you walk through your local record store, have a look and see how many post 84/85 albums have been remastered.

You make a good point, Goo.
I'll have to try that!

**Rocket** · 03.10.03, 12:04 PM

Mixing is a very subjective art. Mix Engineers (not always the tracking engineer) have their own touch when it comes to eq shaping, the hardware/software technologies used and how they use them. It is very difficult to say a mix or a sound is wrong. The sounds of the instruments themselves have also changed quite a bit. Specifically Eddie and Alexs' sound. Not to mention we all have varying degrees of hearing loss from different segments of sound(usually high end), the fact that we all have different hardware in our heads (read: ears) means we will all hear the same thing differently no matter what.

Also, I suspect that 5150 is (or used to be up to VH III release in 98) an analog recording house. It should sound warm and full like a Bonnie Rait CD, but never crisp and boomingly sonic like a Michael Jackson record.

Remastering fixes the coke ear levels of the 70s and 80s like Goo said. No doubt the mixing goes awry when the desk is litered with lines. Company coke went out of style in 82.