Hey all, just wondering if anyone has ever tried to remaster some of their older CDs?  Some of them back in the late 80's and early 90's sound rather stale by todays standards.  Just wondering if any of you have given it a shot and did you have much success?

Hahaha yeah, I've done this way too many times to count. That's part of how I got my mastering skills up to par. Nothing like practicing on older mixes that weren't really mastered much compared to how things are done today. I've had great results on everything....once I knew what I was doing. LOL! :)

-Danny

Excellent... Great to know it can be done. For some reason Van Halen's Diver Down seems to be kind of drab sounding. Might have to play with that one.

Any suggestions?  Maybe you should do a video for us.  (strong hint, strong hint) 

Hahahaha! You know it's funny man....when I do videos for clients as I mix their material, I have no problems showing them everything I know. Yet, when someone asks me to do a mastering video...I always decline. Hahahaha! Some things...I sort of keep to myself because...well, if you like the results I get, you'll put me out of business. :)

Yeah, as an old VH lover myself (I also play in a VH tribute band) that album definitely needed some work.

Funny you mention them Red, we have been working on a demo for our tribute act for show booking etc. I wanted to try for a modern type sound in a sense, but using some of the older type sounds along with using the 1984 drum kit. It's not quite turned out the way I hoped...lol...but it's "interesting". Check it out....here's "Unchained"

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lpb40cyeatkf3jn/Unchained%20MGK%20Final.mp3

It's a half step down from the original because I tune goofy and really liked the sound of the low C chug thing. So this is sort of my take on a little more modern VH doing the old stuff. :)

-Danny

Danny,
WOW, you did a fantastic job on Eddies tone. I mean wow!  Are you getting that mostly out of your gear, or are you using a lot of Sonar and plugs to get that tone?  It is after all the wholly grail of tones considered by many. 
So, the original was in drop d? 

In one of my guitars I have the Seymour Duncan 78 custom.  Allegedly it's supposed to be the exact same pup that Seymour Duncan wound for Eddie back int the day.  Had to special order it from Duncan.  Nice pup. 

So, how did you talk Edward into playing on this version?

redbarchetta


Danny,
WOW, you did a fantastic job on Eddies tone. I mean wow!  Are you getting that mostly out of your gear, or are you using a lot of Sonar and plugs to get that tone?  It is after all the wholly grail of tones considered by many. 
So, the original was in drop d? 

In one of my guitars I have the Seymour Duncan 78 custom.  Allegedly it's supposed to be the exact same pup that Seymour Duncan wound for Eddie back int the day.  Had to special order it from Duncan.  Nice pup. 

Thanks man, much appreciated! The core of the tone comes from my gear, yeah. From there, to try and grab some of what Ed was doing due to recording with tape, the sound went through a UAD Studer Tape sim to just give it that saturated sound. See, this is the stuff I mean when you hear me say "UAD has it down with these saturator type things" as well as "this is why you buy the pricier plugs because these are the differences they give you."
 
There were a few Sonar plugs used on the guitar sound. Sonitus compressor (taking away about -2 dB of gain) a Sonitus eq to further tweak it up to make it gel in the mix, Sonitus reverb and the delay is a Sonitus delay. Sonar effects are great for processing...like reverbs, delay etc. But some of the more "color" type plugs for compression or saturation....they just don't make the grade for me.
 
Like the flanger you hear on that...that's the flanger in my 2101 processor used in real time. I literally stepped on the pedal each time to turn it off and on. It's weird...I have a system to where I can make the flanger go up then down on each phrase timed perfectly....but I have to launch the patch in my 2101 just right at the start. I have to count it in before I play. LOL! But when I do it right, that flange goes up and down near perfectly in real time EVERY time.
 
So yeah, for certain things, Sonar plugs rock. For other things...they just don't quite deliver for me. I can use a Sonitus compressor for just about any instrument. That's only when I want a compressor though without coloration, see what I mean? There are times something from UAD like a NEVE 33609 (used on all vocals) makes an incredible difference and adds a tone characteristic that I can't explain.
 
Or how the Fairchild I use just gives me a sound that I don't get in anything else. So for some things, Sonar plugs rule and I'd be lost without them. But for other things, there's a pretty incredible difference for the better when you compare.
 
So to really answer your question...and this is not a bash on Sonar plugs, but I could have used any delay, compressor, eq or reverb to get the sound processing you heard. The actual sound, comes from my guitar and the 2101 tube guitar pre I'm using.
 
Hahaha....I got that same Duncan pup in one of my B.C Rich guitars. Then I swithced over to the Duncan Trem Custom because it just gave me a little more mids and beef. So that's what I use now unless I'm using one of my Carvin guitars. I left them all stock because the pups were perfect as they were. I didn't buy the stock pups though, I got the upgraded ones they offer when I had the guitars built for me.
 
Glad you enjoyed the tune though...thanks brother. I figured you might get a kick out of that. :)
 
-Danny

MakeShift


So, how did you talk Edward into playing on this version?

LOL! You're too kind Mike. It's funny, my cover band was just on the radio the other night (I had to call in from the studio because, well you know, my work is never done here) and one of the jocks was telling me how I was one of the best VH cover dudes he had ever heard. Going on about my version of Eruption etc. I'm sitting here turning red because well, honest, I make myself sick when I really listen to me. I did a search on Youtube one time and found 100 guys that obliterate me at VH...it made me want to quit the band.
 
So on the radio, I of course had to tell them I didn't agree and am just a pro at pulling the wool over their eyes/ears. When you're in a tribute band, you try to be as accurate as possible. My problem is, I don't try. I always add myself into it "inspired by" Eddie. So in all honesty, I don't play a single one of those songs right. I just sort of do my own thing and hope people like my take on it. I never liked the whole "clone it perfectly" concept...but part of that is because I simply can't play the stuff. Between my goofy tuning that stops me from playing certain things and just being a hack, I'm soo insecure and hard on myself...it's a wonder I can even perform live. But I thank you for the awesome compliment.
 
Funny story really quick. We do this festival in PA all the time. The chick that hosts it and hires us, is a hair stylist for the stars. Wolfgang VH was touring in some band he's in on the side and got his hair cut at the place. They ran camera on him and because they wanted to see his reaction when he heard our tribute band playing his dad's stuff since this chick loves us. The first thing he said was "that guitar player looks a bit like my dad....and what the heck is he tuned to?! That isn't how we play that song. He's weird like my dad too!" Hahaha...well, I cracked up when I heard and saw that. Was pretty cool. :) Thanks again man.
 
-Danny

What a great topic redbarchetta! 

I wouldn't mind hearing SRVs Texas Flood re-mastered.
Danny, since you brought it up, what Carvin pickups are you using in your Carvins?

Sounded pretty convincing to me.

Ya, know, I have read many occasions where guitarist say that they don't play their famous lead parts the same every night.  I seem to remember reading an article just recently where Frampton said that he tries to hit the most recognizable parts of his solos, but changes them up, some what, each night he plays....and then in joking manor, basically says that he couldn't probably play them exactly the same anyway if he tried.

For me anyway, when I do one of my very limited abilities solos, a lot of it becomes an expression of how I feel at that moment anyway.  A little free form soloing is kind of where the soul is found.