Roots Archives Forum

I’ve bought a number of Trojan anthologies over the years, but lately it struck me that I don’t really like any of them that much.

I was wondering if it was something to do with Trojan’s mastering techniques?

Like maybe they do something to make the songs from disparate albums sound like they belong together which in turn somehow robs the magic from the recordings.

For example, the Trojan Max Romeo anthology (http://www.roots-archives.com/release/3663) contains some songs that are on the Revelation time album (http://www.roots-archives.com/release/1207)

On Revelation time those songs sound great on the anthology the same songs sound rubbish.

Anyone got any thoughts on this or I’m I just barking up the wrong tree?

Something to do with dynamic compression, equalization and noise reduction to make all the songs on the comp. sound the same, isn't it?

I read some people (can't remember if it was on here or not) complaining that VP had done that on the recent Joe Gibbs Scorchers set...

As I've probably said a few times, the strength of the Trojan reissues to me is the range and quantity of excellent tracks they have made available - that I probably wouldn't have found otherwise - and that have in turn led to me explore more work by the artists in question. But yes their remastering has always left a lot to be desired for whatever reason. It's a pity really...

ACEtone wrote:But yes their remastering has always left a lot to be desired for whatever reason. It's a pity really...

Glad its not just me. I'd rather hear the original records as they were, but you can't fault any company that brings together a mass of tunes that would otherwise only be available to big budget collectors

Where's mu Humble pie?

The last two cd's I bought arrived in the post yesterday and today... guess what

Both Trojan releases

do you mean that they were both very good or very bad?

i think trojan really cleaned up their act and their mastering when they were part of sanctuary. so many previously crappy sounding tracks or whole releases got reissued in very good sound...like they finally found or took the trouble to use real master tapes rather than worn out singles to master their records. that said even the vinyl original masters from people like steve barrow or david hendley sounded much better than nothing, pre-sanctuary, though often the equalization between tracks was lacking (but truth be told it is very difficult to truly equalize disparate tunes without totally ruining their sound and ambience).

one love
jah bill

ACEtone wrote:do you mean that they were both very good or very bad?

I just mean its funny, I didn't realise either of them were trojan before I bought them, so their both good.

@ Jah Bill have to agree with you there, I'm not sure why they bother trying to make them sound the same. I would have thought that a well ordered compilation was more worthwhile than a similar sounding compilation (I'm tired I have no idea if that makes sense)

There are some with an excellent sound. The Lee Perry "I am the Upsetter" CD-Boxset or the I-ROY "presenting I-ROY" double disc are well done - great sound - big reissues!

King Tubby's Special 2LP and Open the Gate 3LP sounds fine to me!