The Doors' upcoming "Perception" CD+DVD-Audio boxset

[FunkyHiFi]

It will include new stereo mixes - not to be confused with remastering - and unreleased tracks, plus there will be surround remixes for all the albums & even the unreleased tracks. The orignal stereo mixes will also be there too. There will also be video extras.

But what's going to be interesting to most people I think is the "40th Anniversary" stereo remixes - this may sound insignificant but if you've ever heard songs you've heard for years (and in some people's cases, decades) in a new remixed form, the experience can be practically mind-shattering :D, in a positive......or negative.......way. Just one little thing that's different, say, a guitar note that's a bit softer or drums that are more "forward" in the mix, can make a big difference in the feel of the song. In the following link read post #88 for more info on this, especially about the pitch correction done (finally!!) for the 1st album:

THE DOORS NEW BOX SET, "PERCEPTION", The Official Press Release (http://messageboard.thedoors.com/index.php?showtopic=31271&st=75)

This link has a detailed list of what's going to be in the boxset:

"Rhino Announces The Doors’ Perception DVD-Audio Box Set" (http://highfidelityreview.com/news/news.asp?newsnumber=15597242)

According to the above site, the remixes are supposed to include some NEW parts too.

Also, to do these stereo remixes means they had to go back to the original multitrack master tapes and if they are anything like the surround tracks on my L.A. Woman dvd-audio (they have to do this too to make a surround mix) the increase in sound quality will be easily noticeable. Because instead of using a stereo master tape that has been used over and over and dulled with age & mixed with less accurate formats in mind - i.e. 8-tracks, cassettes, etc - the new mixes made from the essentially untouched/fresh multitrack tapes can take advantage of the newer formats.

For people with 5.1 surround systems, the dvd-audio discs will include 5.1 Dolby Digital and 5.1 DTS tracks which regular dvd players can play (DTS sounds better than Dolby to most people). If you have a standalone dvd-audio player, make sure to read the manual about how to hook it up because they transmit their hi-res signals to a receiver in a different way.

[FunkyHiFi]

Here's a picture of the boxset. (http://www.raymanzarek.us/thedoors/box.jpg) I like the fact they used digipaks instead of regular plastic jewel cases - this gives them a more organic feel, sort of like an LP.

[Waus]

Awesome. That's going on my Christmas list.

Wait, how much is it?

[FunkyHiFi]

$149.98 according to that lengthy highfidelityreview.com story.

Whether in surround or stereo, remixing costs a lot (remastering is much cheaper in comparison) & finding then adding all that video bonus stuff also adds to the price.

Plus, from what I've read on some other sites, supposedly the other boxsets will no longer be made & certain live albums and some compilations with redundant material will be axed to "tidy up" the Door's catalog. So this looks like this all causes this new boxset to be the definitive collection of Doors studio albums, in turn driving up the price even more.

Oh yea, The Doors are part of America's rock heritage & are still rather popular. ;)

[SobaViolence]

god dammit.
:mad:

[FunkyHiFi]

god dammit.
:mad:
If you're referring to the price, remember that Jim Morrison wants to keep a low profile so he can't have a job - Paris is an expensive place to live ya know. ;)

BTW: it looks like those new remixed tracks will only be on the dvd. Hopefully next year they'll start selling these CD+dvd sets individually like they did with the Talking Heads & Bjork boxsets.

[SobaViolence]

i own all the remastered albums already...
and it's a steep price
but i love The Doors

meh.
christmas.

[Reginald]

The Doors are one of my favorite bands of all time.

[yeahwho]

I'm probably not going to get this because I already have all the CD's and I prefer to listen to the Doors while driving and how the hell am I going to be able to tell the difference on some fucked up night with the heater blowing full blast and the windshield wipers slapping like sex in my fucked up car?

[FunkyHiFi]

how the hell am I going to be able to tell the differenceAs far as those remixed stereo tracks go, besides the probable sound quality increase, this is from post #88 in that Doors site above:

Hi Jeff,

Did Botnick take some chances with the new stereo mixes? I'm hoping that he mixed/panned the 40th ann. remixes in different ways than the classic mix so we can hear the music from a new perspective.

Also, are the 5.1 and stereo remixes of the 1st Lp pitch corrected? Can you confirm?

If so, what are your thoughts when you compare the pitch corrected mix to the "Classic" mix which runs slow. Does it sound better pitch corrected? Which do you like better?

Doorsmanagement: Yes, yes, yes, and I like them both, actually - though I think the pitch-corrected one is "better", per se, I think you will find the same dynamic I have - that 40 years of listening to it one way has kind of ingrained THAT sound into your brain, and once it changes, it takes a minute to get used to hearing it differently (albeit correctly).

Improved sound quality can be tricky to hear in many cars, but different *arrangements*, new parts, and the correct playback speed (which affects the ENTIRE song) should be easy to hear.

BTW: when Dylan had many of his albums remastered for release on hybrid sacd (dvd-audio's competition) about 3 years ago, one or two of his albums also were finally pitch corrected i.e. for decades people had literally heard him "going too fast" but just assumed his voice & other instruments naturally sounded that way. The sacds aren't being made anymore (they can still be found occasionally - read the top security tape thingy carefully) but the regular CD versions contain the same remastered music.

[FunkyHiFi]

A pro reviewer received an advance copy of the box set and you can read his preliminary findings in this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=701328&page=1&pp=30) over at an audio gear site. Post #20 is his first message about this. Sounds real positive so far.