Returning with Four New Remasters!

**masong** · 04.22.20, 03:14 PM

Hi all,
As you may recall, I have posted here before regarding my personal remasters of Van Halen III and my 'demaster' of A Different Kind Of Truth, links to which can be found here: http://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/thre...should-ve-been and here: http://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/thre...-Remaster-quot

I've had changes at work since I posted that which have taken me mostly away from online endeavours for the most part, and this lockdown has given me a chance to go do things I enjoy again, without stressing over deadlines. I've taken in this time to do a full remaster of 5150, OU812 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, as well as the Complete Zero demo tape.

Going chronologically:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gW...Xe-z9YPJu5rDB4
Complete Zero: Gene Simmons plus Warner Demos... Being from 1976 and 1977 respectively, they have been ripped countless times over the years, so I had to do my best with what I could. The Gene demos are surprisingly clean (Tracks 2-11 on the first disc) and feature no clips, clicks or other weird noises. Those I generally left alone. However, the Warner Demos were a mixed bag, so I tried to fix them up to be bearable to listen to, while still retaining that vintage demo like quality. I found if I removed too much hiss and noise it would start to sound tinny, so I just kept it to two cycles of the noise reduction. I kept the original panning with guitar on the right and bass on the left as much as possible.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Tu...2I7qeMgG24Chzh
5150: I used the 2005 Japanese Forever Young Remaster series as my basis for this remaster, and further boosted the bass and raised slightly

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hn...195ZWJIKzEmBKp
OU812: Now, for the first time ever, featuring Michael Anthony on bass! Jokes aside, this was one of the most difficult remastering projects I've done. It took me awhile, but (using the Forever Young tracks) I was able to raise the bass enough so it is audible and even prominent in some tracks, without destroying the quality of the sound.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_L...VOFO-_wUnxw13Q
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge: This one was relatively easy. The Forever Young tracks were just slightly quiet so I raised the level slightly, and to my delight, it became slightly less muddy than before.

I debated on working with Balance but decided not to due to the album being mixed optimally. The Forever Young series tracks for Balance even sound slightly worse--muddier--than the original, so if a professional couldn't make it better I'd figured it would be best to leave it alone.

Anyways, that's how I'm spending my lockdown! I've worked on remasters for other bands' music such as Green Day as well as my own bands' work. Looking forward to hearing how you guys enjoy these, and let me know if there are any link issues that need to be addressed.

Stay healthy!

**NDL** · 04.22.20, 03:40 PM

Mason: After listening to two tracks on OU812, I am in awe! I dunno how you did it. I really don't. Al's drum sounds a lot more prominent, and fuller, and Mike is finally in the mix.

***THANK YOU***

***THANK YOU***

***THANK YOU***

Hey...not to be greedy, but you did such an incredible job with the remasters, is there anyway you can isolate the guitar on a few new Halen tunes?

**NDL** · 04.22.20, 03:43 PM

Dude: you did an *incredible* job with I Want Some Action!!!

**PrideofPasadena** · 04.22.20, 05:51 PM

That's good work, man! The demos sound pretty good.

OU812 HAS BASS! LOL. Nice job!

Those are the only ones I've heard so far. Are these downloadable?

**masong** · 04.22.20, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by NDL

Mason: After listening to two tracks on OU812, I am in awe! I dunno how you did it. I really don't. Al's drum sounds a lot more prominent, and fuller, and Mike is finally in the mix.

***THANK YOU***

***THANK YOU***

***THANK YOU***

Hey...not to be greedy, but you did such an incredible job with the remasters, is there anyway you can isolate the guitar on a few new Halen tunes?

Dude: you did an *incredible* job with I Want Some Action!!!

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it! I am working with Audacity and being a free program is a little limited in what it can do, but feel free to reply back with the songs you want me to make an attempt at isolating for you.

**masong** · 04.22.20, 06:19 PM

Yes in the upper right corner there is a download button. You can even configure them so they replace the original tracks in Itunes if you'd like!

**PrideofPasadena** · 04.22.20, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by masong

Yes in the upper right corner there is a download button. You can even configure them so they replace the original tracks in Itunes if you'd like!

Just making sure it's cool.

Thanks a million, masong!

**Little Dreamer** · 04.22.20, 07:28 PM

We live in strange times. A virus has shut down the world.

And some guy on the interwebs (props to you masong) is actually releasing more Van Halen than the Van Halen brothers themselves!

**Dave not David** · 04.22.20, 07:56 PM

Absolutely great job brother!

**japeape** · 04.22.20, 08:53 PM

Wow, they sound REALLY good.

Just listened to OU812 & the WB demos.

**belikemike** · 04.22.20, 10:07 PM

Sounds great, thanks so much for your efforts!

**MF5150** · 04.22.20, 10:17 PM

Stellar work on the remasters. OU812 sounded phenomenal.

For the life of me, I cannot believe they waited until VHIII to do something with the riff from I Want Some Action. That might be the best riff Ed ever came up with. That being said, GE Smith was more than worthy of taking that riff and turning it into what it was for that taping.