Minimal Wave Records

as for the remastering comments- there are several instances in which the artist didn’t have the budget or the means or the gear to make the record sound the way it could and should- what of that?  should that record forever be a regret in the artist’s life?

there’s the whole george lucas argument about adding elements that weren’t there to begin with, which i don’t believe in at all, but what about just cleaning up the sound and making it pop more with an improved mix?  that’s pretty vital to me, as both a 21st century listener and a DJ.  i know we all grow attached to the way something sounds, but i’m not against hearing something the way the artist would’ve intended it, or at least cleaned up enough so it doesn’t sound like a dub of a dub of a dub.

i have no problem with collecting and obtaining original records, no matter how they sound, but i feel that reissue labels should make every effort to make the tracks sound as good as possible, without completely ruining the original track.  sometimes, it’s as easy as removing the cracks and pops, or a good mastering job.

“Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.” (Francis Bacon)

Wowhow,

So after all people who like the sound of dusty old tapes pressed on vinyl 1:1 do exist…  8)

Albertthomsan, not quite sure if your common economics will apply here.

First of all, given the sound quality of this release which you are the first person to approve of publicly, is the market potential really bigger than 100 copies out there?

Because if it is not, you make more money if you sell the few copies you can sell at the highest possible price and Ebay is ideal for that.

Furthermore, Young Stephen is keeping 20 copies as his future holy grails in order to auction them off one every five years at Sotheby’s or whatever might cross his mind. And as without the shadow of a doubt they will then fetch at least USD 5.000,- each, pressing more and cheaper copies for the sad and laughable rabble out there would be most definitely counter-productive….  :wink:

[quote author=“falck”]Wowhow,

So after all people who like the sound of dusty old tapes pressed on vinyl 1:1 do exist…  8)

Albertthomsan, not quite sure if your common economics will apply here.

First of all, given the sound quality of this release which you are the first person to approve of publicly, is the market potential really bigger than 100 copies out there?

Because if it is not, you make more money if you sell the few copies you can sell at the highest possible price and Ebay is ideal for that.

Furthermore, Young Stephen is keeping 20 copies as his future holy grails in order to auction them off one every five years at Sotheby’s or whatever might cross his mind. And as without the shadow of a doubt they will then fetch at least USD 5.000,- each, pressing more and cheaper copies for the sad and laughable rabble out there would be most definitely counter-productive….  :wink: Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla etc.

“Make Falck shut up for five minutes” (free variation on a quote from “Magic”)
 

I knew someone was missing - welcome back :wink:

Hi Olaf,

I am amazed you can shut up for more then five minutes.
Anyhow, I cannot as you see,

Ton

Any views on the subject of this thread then? As an artist and a label owner?

“If you can´t be a good example, then you´ll just have to be a horrible warning.” (Catherine Aird, author)

Yawn…

since so many are hoping for a way for this topic to end… i’ll give it a shot.

my original question:

“am i the only one who is totally turned off by this label’s approach?”

the answer: no!

[quote author=“falck”]Any views on the subject of this thread then? As an artist and a label owner?

Well,

As Solvent puts it I’d say I am also a bit disgusted about Stephen’s way of doing.
As you know I almost cannot have an opinion without draging the whole scene in it.
A lot of things went through my mind about this thing.

I think what lies at the root of this is the fact that there are people that appearently want to pay a lot for this kind of a stupid product. In my eyes the buyers cannot be music lovers.
I saw that Obscure is a complete nono as it comes to mastering audio. He’s just to lazy or incapable of doing an effort to enhance the sound quality as most of the times in this scene mastering is also restoration that’s not unnessecary at all. He better not go in debate with me because he will loose that debate. He clearly is no audiotech.

I think people like Marc are doing a much better job although I would not say they don’t make money with their business.
As a label owner I know that selling 250 out of 500 copies roughly makes a release break-even so seeing these crocodile tears about ” doing it all for the music” is a bit misplaced.
I understood Obscure gives all money to the band in case so as an artist :?  I can only agree on that part though.

And furthermore I entered this thread to irritate you a bit Olaf as you are a willing victim but hey dont take that to seriously 8)

Ton

“Blessed is the man, who having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact.” (George Elliot)

[quote author=“man-machine”]“Blessed is the man, who having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact.” (George Elliot)

Can you explain a bit please.
I do not understand this quote.
And certainly not in this context.
Thank you,

Ton

Frankie Said:

as for the remastering comments- there are several instances in which the artist didn’t have the budget or the means or the gear to make the record sound the way it could and should- what of that? should that record forever be a regret in the artist’s life?

Nothing of that.  An artists limitations usually result in the best minimal synth records such as Transparent Illusion or Neural Circus etc.  The artist made a decision to have the record pressed with what time, money, and equipment they had.  It may be their regret afterwards but so be it.  They made that decision.  They didn’t decide to wait until they had their wished for budget or gear to put out the record.  They could have done that if they were completely unwaivering on their desired output.

there’s the whole george lucas argument about adding elements that weren’t there to begin with, which i don’t believe in at all, but what about just cleaning up the sound and making it pop more with an improved mix? that’s pretty vital to me, as both a 21st century listener and a DJ. i know we all grow attached to the way something sounds, but i’m not against hearing something the way the artist would’ve intended it, or at least cleaned up enough so it doesn’t sound like a dub of a dub of a dub.

I don’t believe in either adding elements such as a remix or remastering the sound.  The original is always what sounds the best and is desired the most, because it is the original recording. It is a time capsule to a recording. To change that recording, and give it more punch 30 years later is similar to taking a Van Gogh painting and scanning it into photoshop and then adjusting the brightness contrast to give it more punch.  It ruins the original.  There is a reason Van Gogh paintings sell for millions, and coffee table books of Van Gogh sell for $20.00.  I would make the same comparision to original minimal synth records and remastered reissues.  As a collector the defining aspect of collecting is to buy original minimal synth music and that is what I am going to release.  When a collector listens to the All the Madmen record for 9 of the 11 tracks they are in the garage at Richard’s house 30 years ago.  That is very pure minimal synth experience.  Obscure Identities releases are made specifically for minimal synth collectors who want that experience.

i have no problem with collecting and obtaining original records, no matter how they sound,

O.K., the All the Madmen LP is an original record so then you will definitely not have a problem with how it sounds.

but i feel that reissue labels should make every effort to make the tracks sound as good as possible, without completely ruining the original track. sometimes, it’s as easy as removing the cracks and pops, or a good mastering job.

I have made the tracks sound as good as possible by doing absolutely nothing to them.  They can never sound better than the original.

Solvent said:

the answer: no!

Considering I am looking at 12 pages and over 7000 views of this thread I would say a lot more people are turned on by obscure identities. I don’t see any other minimal synth releases getting that kind of attention

Ton said:

I think what lies at the root of this is the fact that there are people that appearently want to pay a lot for this kind of a stupid product. In my eyes the buyers cannot be music lovers.

Ton, you don’t own this release so there is no way you can call this record a “stupid product”.  The record is not stupid.  It is amazing, and it is what collectors want, and that is why they are paying what they are paying for it which is not a lot.  The price is whatever people determine it to be.

I saw that Obscure is a complete nono as it comes to mastering audio. He’s just to lazy or incapable of doing an effort to enhance the sound quality as most of the times in this scene mastering is also restoration that’s not unnessecary at all. He better not go in debate with me because he will loose that debate. He clearly is no audiotech.

I know what sounds good, and remastered reissues don’t.  I have heard many originals vs. remasters, and I have my belief for a reason.  I will not lose that debate, because there is no debate.  The original is the original and that is what collectors of late 70’s early 80’s minimal synth want to hear, and the remastered reissue is not the original and is not necessarily what minimal synth collecotrs want to hear but a lot of times it is all that many people can afford to hear.

I think people like Marc are doing a much better job although I would not say they don’t make money with their business.
 
A better job at what?  You do not own the All the Madmen record so you really cannot compare this release to any other record or label until you buy it.  Considering you are not a minimal synth record collector in general and your opinion of the All the Madmen release is based on nothing I would say that your statement has absolutely no validity.

Stephen
obscure identities

Considering I am looking at 12 pages and over 7000 views of this thread I would say a lot more people are turned on by obscure identities.

...well,then,based on the views above,
next time you should try releasing it on 7000 copies…
and see how it goes…and chances are that…
12 “minimal synth collectors” might rush to buy them all… 

There is a reason Van Gogh paintings sell for millions,
and coffee table books of Van Gogh sell for $20.00.

...i’m sure there is…speaking of it,
is it possible to trade with 2 coffee table books,
instead of bidding at 40$ this Sunday?...  :wink: