BlahBlahCafe - Jean-Michel Jarre forum

Do you notice that ?

At about 9-10 seconds in, there is audible crackling in the left channel - confirmed this in the following issues :
- Polydor WG 800025-2 04 (10th anniversary box set)
- Polydor FR 800025-2 05
- Disques Dreyfus FR 824747-2 DCO 2000 MPO 01
- FDM 36141-2 DCO 824747-2 MPO 09 (1992)

Below Equinoxe III on CD between 1983-2011 : (6 Mastering)
Note: Since 1997, channels are reversed.


800 025 02 and 800 025 03 also have "peaks" on the left channel, but I do not hear the crackling noise (!).

The "first CD" (Polydor with red face - 800 025 01) has none of these peaks and therefore seems to me to be more faithful to the original recording.

The "MFSL" version (1995) is also excellent.

Maybe print error it happens. I can't tell myself since I only have the 1997 remastered by Hull and the amazingly hilarious Essentials and Rarities. The vinyl however I can confirm there's no crackle, or pop at the given locations you've pointed out on the images.

But thanks for pointing it out however, now I know which original '83 CD not to buy!

Great analysis. I did notice the crackling on the first CD release myself, and it was gone on the MFSL release. This is why I use that album as my standard Equinoxe release.
I'm curious to know if the 2014 remaster has it.

Thanks.

DR_Jones wrote:I'm curious to know if the 2014 remaster has it.

2014 should be the same as 2011 (24 -> 16 bit), it's the same sound engineer, David Perreau. (David Perreau sound like "David Père Eau" = Dave DadWater in english, the name written in booklet)

I think the crackling is audible on all CD (Polydor/Dreyfus) sold between 1985 and 1997 (before Scott Hull Remastering).

Before 1985, the very first mastering is the best, it's the only one (i found) without those "abnormal peaks". (1983 - Polydor 800 025-2 01 - Red Face - Discog)

I have one of those "crackling" Equinoxe CDs - not complaining, though - it reminds me a bit of playing a vinyl LP
I'll take one of those over the louder remasters any day of the week.

Phil wrote:Do you notice that ?

I guess you have the answer from Michel Geiss here

Jean-Michel allow me to thank you publicly.
After 40 years, I finally confessed to you a few days ago what had happened to me one morning at the studio during the recordings of Equinoxe, a terrible memory.
After engaging the 16-track tape on the tape recorder, setting it to play ... disaster! horror! The tape had twisted and crumpled at the beginning of the recording of side A. No reproach from you after this revelation
It must be said that miraculously nothing was noticed
It took me as long to make this admission! So thanks for your understanding. I plead guilty and I promise to pay attention next time

So, it's all Geiss' fault?

So after the innitial press the magnetic tape got wrecked a bit?

Dr_Jones wrote:So, it's all Geiss' fault?

No no it's not Michel Geiss fault

In the same thread (facebook) someone asks if this has caused the problem on Equinoxe part 3, and he has answered "Zeus was the one " :

Now I know what you've been talking about all this time (just remembered that I got a hold of the 1991 Digitally Remastered CD version earlier this year, so I checked this out).

Got to say, these random cracklings are still far more enjoyable than:
- Chronologie 8's ending Swatch sounds starting far earlier (and out of sync) than in the previous versions in the Dadwater remaster
- Well, any Dadwater remaster really

These cracklings on Equinoxe 3 appeared with new mix of Equinoxe 5 (probably created in May 1979), on "1983" new Tape Master, but only became audible with "digital" remastering in 1986-87.

Finaero wrote:Now I know what you've been talking about all this time (just remembered that I got a hold of the 1991 Digitally Remastered CD version earlier this year, so I checked this out).

Got to say, these random cracklings are still far more enjoyable than:
- Chronologie 8's ending Swatch sounds starting far earlier (and out of sync) than in the previous versions in the Dadwater remaster
- Well, any Dadwater remaster really

+1

I think the distortion at 2:48 into Equinoxe V is probably more noticeble yes.

Velodynamic wrote:I think the distortion at 2:48 into Equinoxe IV is probably more noticeble yes.

On which master ?

On Equinoxe III it's already very noticeable..
Equinoxe 3 ("8000025-2 01" - 1983) - Very Good (35s)
Equinoxe 3 (CD 1987) - Crackling (35s)

This one, perhaps?

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ifrm99kd87uj ... Y2FQa?dl=0

(1991 from the Digitally Remastered series, 1995A from the MFSL CD and 1995B from the MFSL LP)

Finaero wrote:This one, perhaps?

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ifrm99kd87uj ... Y2FQa?dl=0

(1991 from the Digitally Remastered series, 1995A from the MFSL CD and 1995B from the MFSL LP)

Compared to Equinoxe III "1986-1996" (with crackling & "metallic" water for very longs seconds), nothing noticeable here for me.