I just got the LP version of this. I guess it's been threatening to come out for quite a while. I have to say I'm pretty disappointed with the sound quality, though. It's got a lot of high end, and it's not pretty high end. It's actually pretty distracting. I think it makes any digital effects sound really digital, but also it seems like the conversion doesn't sound so good either.

Does anyone know how this album was originally recorded (digital tape, pro tools, analog, etc...)

I was thinking that if it was an earlier digital project, that may have something to do with it. I don't have the CD to compare it to, but maybe I'll have to go out and get it.

This is exactly the sound that I try like hell to avoid.

Also, for some reason, the vocal sounds really pasted-on. Maybe because the ambience doesn't match. Who knows. I also didn't remember the music being like this. I think I like Midnight Vultures and Mellow Gold better. I didn't remember liking Odelay as much, either, now that I think about it. Guero was just totally disappointing. Really flat and waaaaaaay too many loops for my taste.

I really like Sea Change. Agree completely about Guero: never want to hear it again. What's next for Beck, I wonder? David

Try the DVD-A version of Seachange if you can find it.

It has your standard surround/stereo mixes, plus (i think) 7 music videos.

It is worth the listen in surround.

The album in its entirety is rather dark. Melancholy. Yet, it is good stuff to sit back to in appropriate moods.

I just read that the Dust Brothers used Ableton Live a lot on Guero. Dunno what that has to do with anything, except that I find that manually chopping stuff works better for me. I think the smashed to hell sound of it is distracting, but in general I didn't find the songs to be up to the standard of Mellow/Sea Change/Vultures.

I'd try the DVDA but I don't have a surround setup. Is there a DVDA stereo track, or is the stereo track standard CD rate? Otherwise I have to depend on the decoder's idea about what stereo is.

yeah, the DVD-A has surround mixes, stereo mixes, plus a few videos. You'll have to play it in some sort of DVD player, but if you want the true MLP lossless version, go for playing it in an DVD-A player. I think the stereo tracks/videos are 48/24, and pretty sure it won't play as a CD.

I have the SACD version too, and mine has stereo mixes and surround mixes. I haven't been able to compare them side by side, I lack an adequate surround set up, as well as two units to play from.

For me, since I don't own a surround SACD player, my preference falls to the DVD-A.

If you can find a SACD format with stereo SACD/stereo CD, you might try it.

hope this helps,

Andrew

I have four ATC's now, two 20's and two 12's so I guess I should order a center channel, huh?



What's the cool DVD-A player?

anyone know?

My guess is that Sea Change was recorded with a neve desk, tape, and some U47s. I remember reading that was how nigel godrich recorded the last few radiohead albums and it's got a similar sound. I could be completely wrong though.

hey max,

long time...
http://www.atrservice.com/news/news_item.php?newsid=3

I think Sea Change was recorded on the the custom built API in studio 2 at oceanway - there was a chat about the console not long ago in this thread:

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/71802-custom-api-oceanway.html

Tim.

Hola.


Thanks for the info, bros.

I agree about the DVD-A. It sounds pretty good in surround. I don't remember who mixed the surround version, but I don't think it was Nigel Godrich.

FWIW I really like the sound of Sea Change, though Guero not so much.

Well, that's all we have to say, no?

guess thats it

I only have it on CD and i think its really, really good. the instrumentation is great and the songs are great. Never heard the vinyl version, but it sounds like it was slammed in digital mastering and they used that master to cut the record...always sounds like ass.

FWIW Elliot Scheiner did the surround mixes.

Maybe that's why the surround DVD-A sounds so good

Just kidding.

I almost bought the DVD-a version a couple of months ago....

Pioneer do a good "universal" player (SACD, DVD-A, DVD etc)

Sea change is great in surround, good job Elliot!

Anyone heard "Guiro" in 5.1?

Haha, I was just thinking as I was reading "who did the surround mix?", "I bet Elliot Scheiner did it".

I've heard all the digital versions, I remember thinking that the SACD version sounded very much like it was coming off a 2-inch.

I like the album very much, but I'd also agree that the vocal doesn't really sit with the other instruments. In most cases I'd be against that sound, but I think it gave a kind of intimacy and authority that we weren't used to hearing in Beck's work before that record.

I just realized that Beck"s "Sea Changes" has some striking similarities to Serge Gainsbourg's "Histoire De Melody Nelson".