I just did a comparison of 2011 instrumental, the 1991 Hollywood Records Album Version and the 2008 Singles Collection 1 Version and found that the Instrumental is running just a tad fast. It falls out of synch almost immediately and looking at the peaks and valleys in the waveform, this is clearly illustrated.
The HR version and SC versions are at an identical speed, but the Instrumental is not, despite being the same, complete performance. It begs the question, which is correct? Is the Album Version the correct speed or is the Instrumental, which would mean the Album got slowed down at some point.
It does appear to be running at the correct pitch, but someone with a more musical ear may be able to discern for sure.
The simplest test, if you don't believe me, would be to play the two (Album and Instrumental) at the same time.
Thoughts?
Gregsynth · Member since
Not that this will help, but the instrumental runs a hair fast, but the original album version runs SLOW!
Gregsynth · Member since
OK, here's my research:
Original version: Runs about 50 cents slow 2011 remaster: Runs correct Instrumental: Runs slightly fast.
Rick · Member since
This bonus track is ace. I wish they had added more rarities like these.
pittrek · Member since
Well I can only guess, but since the instrumental was newly created from multitrack masters, it should be the one which is running at correct speed
sbazb · Member since
Hmmmm. Curious. Although Queen are known to have slightly speeded up or slowed down tracks in the past (e.g. Another One Bites the Dust and No-One But You both play about 50 cents sharp), I presume that would have been done at the mastering stage, so like pittrek says, the original multitracks should be correct, so why is the instrumental playing slightly fast.
To the poster above who checked the various versions: When you say "original version", what is your source? Unless it's the original vinyl release then there could have been a mastering error since then that none of us ever noticed that left the tracks 50 cents out. If it's on the original then I'm sure it was intentional like the other examples I gave above. That raises the question of why it wasn't retained for the remaster though...
Soundfreak · Member since
As the song was obviously recorded using a tuned piano - and those are always tuned to A= 440 Hz - the instrumental track is the first one playing correct. Easy to find out as you can play along with a tuned instrument. You can't do that with the regular version which plays too slow. Whether this was an incident or intention....who knows...
rhyeking · Member since
I'm not sure if the technology existed in 1973 when the track was recorded, but these days there are many devices and programs to allow one to change the pitch, but not the speed, and to change the speed, but the not the pitch (so it stays in the same key and in tune) and to do both at the same time, if need be. I have software in the theatre that can do both and a twin-tray CD player with speed control that we use for some dance performances and competitions (it doesn't change the pitch). I also have and effects processor on the rack that can change pitch, as well. I've also looked at professional DJ consoles that do both.
I think we need first determine which releases are correctly pitched and then figure out which is playing at the correct speed (and pitch).
Gregsynth · Member since
sbazb wrote: Hmmmm. Curious. Although Queen are known to have slightly speeded up or slowed down tracks in the past (e.g. Another One Bites the Dust and No-One But You both play about 50 cents sharp), I presume that would have been done at the mastering stage, so like pittrek says, the original multitracks should be correct, so why is the instrumental playing slightly fast.
To the poster above who checked the various versions: When you say "original version", what is your source? Unless it's the original vinyl release then there could have been a mastering error since then that none of us ever noticed that left the tracks 50 cents out. If it's on the original then I'm sure it was intentional like the other examples I gave above. That raises the question of why it wasn't retained for the remaster though... ========
The "original" version was the one I listened to off of Queen II. I also compared it with the 1991 Hollywood remaster, and the version on the "Greatest Hits--Platinum collection." All three of those sources have the track playing slow.
Gregsynth · Member since
Here's the audio comparison:
This is the version heard on the original 1974 album/1991 hollywood remaster/Greatest Hits
Wembley is at the right pitch, the instrumental is a touch fast, and the original version is quite slow!
rhyeking · Member since
And, Greg, you said earlier that the 2011 Album Version is pitched and sped correctly?
Also, to my hear, the Instrumental and the 1991 HR Album Version are the same pitch (as in it doesn't sound like everything is trying to climb up a key because it's going too fast), but different speeds. Would you agree or disagree?
strangefrontier · Member since
I thought that it might be worth while reminding everyone of the rarest verson of SSOR that is rumoured to exist...the alternative mix wrongly pressed on the original demo's that were subsequently recalled. I wonder if we could hear the difference with that one!! I originally posted this on the wrong thread...sorry!
mooghead · Member since
Do you guys actually enjoy just listening to the music anymore or is the boner you are getting thinking about waveforms and tempo too much of a distraction?
YannickJoker · Member since
mooghead wrote: Do you guys actually enjoy just listening to the music anymore or is the boner you are getting thinking about waveforms and tempo too much of a distraction? ====
No man, I get way too distracted by Freddie's annoying sibilance.
Gregsynth · Member since
rhyeking wrote: And, Greg, you said earlier that the 2011 Album Version is pitched and sped correctly?
Also, to my hear, the Instrumental and the 1991 HR Album Version are the same pitch (as in it doesn't sound like everything is trying to climb up a key because it's going too fast), but different speeds. Would you agree or disagree? =====
I need to hear a sample of the Hollywood records 1991 version. I may be confusing it with something else. I do know that the Platinum collection, and the "1974" version play slow.
