I compared my original singles with the 2015 remaster to see if I could pinpoint the differences. I did this by needledropping the singles and comparing everything digitally, this way I could ensure volume was the same across the board and so I was only hearing EQ and source discrepancies rather than volume. On both tracks, the 12" is significantly brighter and as a result more dynamic, whilst the 7" sounds murkier/cloudier. The 7" mastering is clearly more compressed, especially on the kick drum. Upon listening and comparing, I couldn't detect any mix differences between the 7" and 12" renditions, and I think the audible differences that are definitely there are a result of quite disparate mastering techniques utilised in the lacquer cutting process. The 7" mastering is certainly more compressed and muddy sounding but, when we compare this back to back with the 2015 remaster (which I currently consider to be canon) it is the 7" mastering that sounds closer to canon than the 12" which, by comparison, sounds goosed in the upper registers. On the 12", the upper mid-range is excessively boosted, which has the effect of bringing out the guitars and vocals, making the mix "pop". However, the more one compares this with the 2015 canon the more one's ear becomes fatigued by it. This isn't to say the 12" is bad, but it is certainly the odd one out and, given what we know about the gain issues on the 12", further confirms its status as "problematic".
BODY AND SOUL frequency analysis:
RED = 12"
YELLOW = 7"
BLUE = 2015
Here it is possible to see the EQ differences between the three versions. As you can see, the 7" and 2015 curves are closer overall, whilst the 12" drifts upwards between 7-12 kHz, providing the upper mid-range boost which adds a sense of definition or "air".
TRAIN frequency analysis:
RED = 12"
YELLOW = 7"
BLUE = 2015
Here the difference is much more pronounced. Again, the 7" and 2015 follow a similar overall curve, whilst the 12" is significantly boosted from 8-14 kHz (a difference of almost 10 dB at 12 kHz!).
Humans are most sensitive to frequencies between 2-5 kHz. If we focus on this range, the 12" and 2015 are almost identical, with the 7" revealing less definition (which results in its murky quality). It is beyond this range, however, where things start to go awry on the 12".
I certainly think the 12" mastering is unique then. It's truer to the songs in our crucial auditory range, but it's let down by a frankly wild upper mid-range boost, and we know this leads to issues down the road with Body Electric and Afterhours.
You can hear for yourself: 7" / 12".
Thank you!
Addendum: One possible reason for the inaccurate high frequencies on the 12" could be a Dolby NR mismatch. If you record with Dolby and playback without, the result is that high frequencies will be over-emphasised.
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but thanks anyway bro.
... I should have known given the discussions here on the FALAA 2015 release ... anyway, it's always better to reassure certain facts ... 