Remastering is the process of improving the sound quality of an audio recording. This can be done by cleaning up the original recordings, removing any unwanted noise, and adjusting the levels to make the music sound louder and clearer. However, not all remasters are created equal. Some remasters actually make the music sound the same as the original recordings.
There are a few reasons why remastered songs might sound the same. First, the original recordings may have been of high quality to begin with. If the original recordings were already clean and clear, there may not be much that a remasterer can do to improve them.
Second, the mastering engineer may be trying to stay faithful to the original sound of the recordings. This means that they may not want to make any major changes to the sound, even if it means that the remaster sounds the same as the original.
Third, the remasterer may be limited by the technology they are using. If the remasterer is using outdated equipment, they may not be able to make the same improvements to the sound as a remasterer who is using newer equipment.
Of course, there are also cases where remastered songs do sound different from the original recordings. This is often the case when the remasterer is trying to make the music sound more modern or to address any sonic issues that were present in the original recordings.
However, in general, remastered songs tend to sound the same as the original recordings. This is because the goal of remastering is often to preserve the original sound of the recordings, rather than to make them sound completely different.
Here are some tips for telling the difference between a remastered song and the original:
- Listen for changes in the sound quality. If the remaster sounds louder or clearer than the original, it’s likely that the remasterer has made some changes to the sound.
- Listen for changes in the mastering. The mastering engineer is responsible for adjusting the levels of the different instruments in a song. If the remaster sounds unbalanced or the instruments sound different, it’s likely that the mastering engineer has made some changes.
- Read the liner notes. The liner notes often include information about the remastering process. If the remasterer has made any significant changes to the sound, they will usually be listed in the liner notes.
Ultimately, the best way to tell the difference between a remastered song and the original is to listen to both versions and see which one you prefer.
