Posted by Christian J. on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/soundtrack-discussion-tp1501042.html

(Warning: only for the members who are interested in the UFO-
Fanderson-CD-mono-vs.-stereo discussion. If you're not please
deleted it :-)

So let's get down to the infighting [i] ;-)

I fully understand that a few hard-core fans are only satisfied with
the original mono mixes (whatever original in this case means) but
I'm glad to listen to the music of UFO in stereo for the first
time. And I don't think Fanderson did a bad job because for me it
sounds (in most cases) just like in the series. From my experiences I
know that there is always a difference between mono and stereo even
it's from the same source. I think of THE FINAL COUNTDOWN e.g.;
this movie was made with a stereo score (and in most cinemas it was
played in stereo) but on the telly they always presented the mono
version for 20 years. Now, listening on the DVD in stereo it sounded
a little bit... different. But it's the same score, anyway.

But let's see if I have understood it right (and please correct
me if I am wrong): from the 4 track studio masters one can do a
stereo or a mono downmix. Gray decided to do a mono downmix because
his aim was not to release a soundtrack LP, he made a soundtrack for
a TV series in 1969/70. At this time no TV series were made in stereo
so why should he mix it down into stereo, right? It was never planned
to release a UFO LP so why should Barry bother to do a stereo mix,
anyway?

Barry was proud of his compositions for DOPPELGÄNGER and he played
it in concerts (now that's a real stereo effect ;-) and I think he
mixed it down into stereo also. Therefore I can't imagine that
Barry would have released a UFO LP (or later CD) in mono if he had
the opportunity to release it in stereo.

But sadly Barry is no longer with us. We don't know if he wanted
that UFO would be released in stereo. Neither did we know if he
wanted it to be released in mono...

Anthony D. wrote:
-----> but I think hardcore fans KNOW that this stuff was never made
in stereo -- I think hardcore fans wouldl accept mono. <-----

Right, but on the other hand a real hard-core fan wouldn't want
to have the music separated from the scenes where it belongs to ;-)
And if then of course only the snippets which appear in the scenes
and not full versions of them.

-----> Maybe I need to listen to it in my car (stereo)?? I was
listening to it mainly on my PC which has OK sound quality <-----

Maybe one should listen to both versions (mono and stereo) with
headphones to compare these versions properly. I don't think that
listening in a car or on a PC is a good choice by way of comparison,
Anthony, because of the background noises and the quality of the
speakers :-) I've just checked the difference between my PC (with
two not-to-bad stereo speakers) and my Hifi-equipment (with really
good ones) and believe me: there *is* a difference in sound :-)

Marc wrote:
-----> As I recall, the problem I had with the Space:1999 Year One
main theme stereo mix is that they put in instruments which were
never audible in the original <-----

That's right! There are (few) tracks with added instruments on
the UFO CDs also, e.g. with the Skydiver theme on Disc 2.

-----> Also, I think I would have tried to make it a 3 disc release
instead of 2. <-----

I quite agree, Marc. And I can only hope Fanderson *will* produce a
third disc (or even a fourth) although some fans are a little bit
dissatisfied with the stereo decision ;-)

the_connoisseuruk wrote:
-----> Fanderson have done a superb job on this CD and I'm sure the
vast majority of purchasers will agree. <-----

I agree. It's great to listen to a lot of known and unknown (and
unknown means: composed for the series especially) UFO music in
mostly stereo for the first time! Thanks, Fanderson! :-))

The Lunadude wrote:
-----> I think the analogy between the mono - stereo and the
colourisation of black and films is a good one. The colourisation was
a abomination. <-----

What's the problem with colourised movies? Although I prefer the
movies and series in its original black and white format (like the
Miss Marple movies with Margaret Rutherford or THE AVENGERS season 4
which was in b/w, too) because they've got a certain mood,
I've got no problems with a colourised one. First, every TV set
is able to remove the colour so you can always watch it in b/w and
second, sometimes it is interesting to see what would it look like if
they made it in colour. And if it doesn't satisfy me ---> First
:-) So, I don't think it could be called an abomination...

Thinking of it, when I saw UFO for the first time I saw it in black
and white, so if I would be a *real* hard-core fan, shouldn't I
be dissatisfied with the colour episodes on the DVDs... ;-)

Marc asked:
-----> I'm curious -- are the folks who wanted the 5.1 surround sound
for their UFO DVDs the same people who wanted a stereo music CD? And
are the people who wanted their DVDs to retain the original mono
episode soundtrack the same people who would prefer a soundtrack CD
to be in the original mono music? <-----

I prefer on a DVD the original sound (which means mono in the case of
UFO) and only *if* they've got good sources (stereo music,
separate effects tracks) a properly mixed surround track as a second
choice. For a CD I prefer a (at least close to the original) stereo
soundtrack and if not possible the original mono soundtrack.

The Lunadude wrote:
-----> If Barry Gray was around today and he decided to remix the
stereo 4 tracks into stereo for CD release that would fine with me <--
---

You mean because it would be *his* decision and therefore it would be
fine even if it would sound like the Fanderson CD? :-) Yes, yes, I
know: it wouldn't sound like the Fanderson CD and Gray's
decision would be to release it in mono. But again: sadly, Barry is
no longer with us :-( It would be *really* interesting what he would
have in mind... (maybe a 5.1 surround sound, hehe)

Marc wrote:
-----> I probably would have been happy if Barry Gray was the one who
created the stereo versions, as he was a very talented man and knew
what he wanted in the first place. <-----

I would be happy, too. Then one could say: maybe it didn't sound
right like in the series but Barry Gray wanted the stereo mixes so :-)

Christian

[i] Henderson to Straker in CONFLICT