Knights of Space audio mix

[Steve Swann]

Well, I finished watchin KOS last night.  I tried another player with a more sophisticated user interface which informed me that the audio track is DD 2.0 (and there is no linear PCM track, which is slightly unusual).  Dunno why my receiver keeps trying to play it as DTS.

As for the content, I really liked the performance (it's great to have Tim Blake playing with them) and it seemed like it would have been a great show to have been at.  I especially liked the renditions of Paradox and Alien I Am.

As for the sound - I think the guitar was way too low in the mix.  I think the bass sounded to soft (sort of "thumpy" sounding if you know what I mean).  The electtic piano and the other synths were mixed way too high and stepping all over the guitar and bass, which is basically the opposite of the way I would prefer to have it.

Despite the problems, I'm still glad I own it.  It's probably not ever going to be one of my favorite HW live recordings, just because of the problems with the relative balance of the various instruments in the mix.

Afterwards I listened to Space Ritual just to see what I would think of the direct comparison, and I found that pummelling, all-out sonic assault is still my favorite style of Hawkwind sound.  :)

No real surprise there...

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Amphetamine Embalmer <superskrull666 at YAHOO.CO.UK>
Date: Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 9:14 pm
Subject: Re: Knights of Space audio mix
To: Reply-    BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List <BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET>To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET

The KOS version of Paradox is really symphonic with a piano thing in the beginning....... drool drool. I liked it too.
C-




________________________________
From: Steve Swann <swann1066 at GMAIL.COM>
To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET
Sent: Tuesday, 24 February, 2009 15:44:35
Subject: Re: Knights of Space audio mix

So my copy of KOS arrived, and instead of settling the debate one way or the other, it just raised more questions.

For one thing, what audio format is it recorded in?  My receiver seemed to want to play it in DTS mode, but I don't see any indication in the packaging or the (practically non-existent) menus that the DVD has a DTS audio track.  Even curiouser... the DD indicator light is *also* lit.  I think I may have to throw this in my computer to actually get any answers about the nature of the audio track(s)....

As for how it sounds... It sounds like a professionally recorded DVD that was mixed by someone who thinks that Hawkwind is mostly about synths.  I could hear Dave's guitar but it mostly sounded soft/muted.  Occasionally the theremin came blazing through but sometimes it was totally inaudible even when I could clearly see TB playing it.  

Now, I'm admittedly totally biased.  My instructions to the audio engineer would have been: MAKE BROCKS GUITAR STOMP ALL OVER EVERYTHING LIKE A 900 FOOT STEEL ROBOT

The person who mixed KOS clearly doesn't share my bias.  But that doesn't mean that it sucks - it's just mixed to a different taste.  And for what it's worth, I haven't heard the whole thing yet, but I thought that Paradox sounded awesome.

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: Lost Johnny <busterpepper at MIDWAYNET.NET>
Date: Monday, Feb 23, 2009 8:35 pm
Subject: Re: Knights of Space audio mix
To: Reply-    BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List <BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET>To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.ISPNETINC.NET

No its not Nik Turner. That kind of thinking is what is the problem. Say
anything against the band or Nik Turner or Alan Davey ,even if the one of
them makes a mistake and its Nik Turner must be causing trouble. Or maybe
its Alan Davey doing it undercover. Or its Dave Brocks undercover.  It could
never be a disappointed fan of them all could it ? Or maybe its the band
just messed up and issued a crummy sound quality recording again.