Dream Theater self titled album discussion - [SPOILER FREE DISCUSSION ONLY]

[Jaffa]

James looks really tired when John is really excited when talking about this theme..

Bolded for emphasis.  Did they wake him up from a nap for this interview, or what? 

[goo-goo]

James looks really tired when John is really excited when talking about this theme..

Bolded for emphasis.  Did they wake him up from a nap for this interview, or what?

Probably jet lag. He was really out of it when doing the interview on the Budokan dvd documentary.

[?]

"Once again, people - jetlag!"

[Shadow2222]

"Once again, people - jetlag!"

So James, where was the self titled album recorded and who was the sound engineer?

Um... We recorded the album at... Cove City, right?

And the engineer was Richard Chycki from... Winter Rose, right?

[RMGadelha]

CONFUUUUUUUUSED OR WHAT?

[liran95]

CONFUUUUUUUUSED OR WHAT?

Oh lord, helpless.

[GasparXR]

It's easy to forget when I'm CONFUUUUUUUUSED OR WHAT?

Fixed

[wasteland]

CONFYOUSED OR WHAT?

Fixed That For James.

[Kotowboy]

CON-PH'NOM'NALLY CONF-YOU-SED OR WHAT EH?

Fixed That For James.

FTFY

[Onno]

 

[Scard]

Don't see it mentioned here yet, but the album will be streamed in full Monday at 10AM EST.

[rush-signals]

New artwork on Instagram. I already see a wrong shadow on the middle photo 

[Lucien]

Don't see it mentioned here yet, but the album will be streamed in full Monday at 10AM EST.

Why hasn't the forum gone apeshit

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Well, there is this thread.

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=38944.0

[BelichickFan]

I'll ask the stupid question.

I just listen to music, on itunes, ipod, headphones.  I'm trying to figure out which version to buy - I miss the old days when I could just buy the CD.

The deluxe has the 5.1 audio - that's not going to be something I would get any benefit out of the way I listen, right ?  Or would this sound better even without a surround sound stereo system ?

I think the standard CD is fine for me but at just a few dollars more I don't mind getting the 5.1 if it would sound better.

[Super Dude]

I usually buy the CD, if only because I have all the others and I like being consistent. God I'm such an irrational consumer.

Can't answer the 5.1 question though - any audiophiles in the house?

[me7]

If the 5.1 version is mixed and mastered better than the CD, it will still sound better when downmixed to stereo. This has nothing to do with number of speakers or surround effects, but with plain dynamic range.

I intend to try a downmixed version of the 5.1 mix for regular use. I did the same thing for Opeth's Still Life, where the CD mix is terrible and the surround mix of the special edition is great (seriously, it has made Still Life one of my favourite Opeth albums).
I can't foresee whether the 5.1 mix of DT12 is any better than the CD mix though, it's possible that both are equally brickwalled.

[BelichickFan]

If the 5.1 version is mixed and mastered better than the CD, it will still sound better when downmixed to stereo. This has nothing to do with number of speakers or surround effects, but with plain dynamic range.

Thanks - so the 5.1 will play like a regular CD and could (or could not) sound better.  I have the deluxe preordered and will stick with that.  I just didn't want to pay the extra few $$$ if there was no chance I'd like it better but it sounds like it's worth having both options.

I can't believe it's almost here.

[noxon]

The 5.1 version downmixed to 2.0 does not sound good at all. it fluxuated wildly in volume and is even more stuffy than the stereo mix. DO not recommend.

[BelichickFan]

The 5.1 version downmixed to 2.0 does not sound good at all. it fluxuated wildly in volume and is even more stuffy than the stereo mix. DO not recommend.

So just getting the regular CD is the best bet then ?  This is SO confusing 

[me7]

The 5.1 version downmixed to 2.0 does not sound good at all. it fluxuated wildly in volume and is even more stuffy than the stereo mix. DO not recommend.

How did you downmix it?

Thanks - so the 5.1 will play like a regular CD and could (or could not) sound better.

No, it will not play like a CD. You will need to rip the audio stream from the DVD, decompress it to wav, downmix it with a tool like "sox" and burn the result on a CD-R.

[goo-goo]

The 5.1 version downmixed to 2.0 does not sound good at all. it fluxuated wildly in volume and is even more stuffy than the stereo mix. DO not recommend.

Does the dvd have the 2.0 mix?

[noxon]

Downmixed it by listening to it on my surround system but setting the mix to stereo instead of 5.1, and also by pushing it through VLC as stereo. Neither sounded good.

[CodyWanKenobi]

My girlfriend surprised me with the confirmation email for the box set!

[The Boomr]

I guess I should really decide which version I'm gonna preorder.........

[RMGadelha]

My girlfriend surprised me with the confirmation email for the box set!

That's so sweet! 

[hefdaddy42]

I guess I should really decide which version I'm gonna preorder.........

I'm not going to preorder anything.  It will be out on the 24th, I will just go buy it.

[Kotowboy]

I guess I should really decide which version I'm gonna preorder.........

I'm not going to preorder anything.  It will be out on the 24th, I will just go buy it.

Me too.

[wasteland]

I preordered only because the CD came with autographs.

[liran95]

I preordered only because the CD came with autographs.

This.

[aprilethereal]

I preordered only because the CD came with autographs.

What?

[Bertielee]

I guess I should really decide which version I'm gonna preorder.........

I'm not going to preorder anything.  It will be out on the 24th, I will just go buy it.

Me too.

Same here. And btw, the saleswoman at my local store said they'll put it on the shelves on the 21st, so....Me happy!

B.Lee

[Another_Won]

Anybody else notice the rope about to break in today's artwork?  Similar to ADToE.  I think that's kind of cool.

[Zydar]

It's probably the same rope.

[Sketchy]

Anybody else notice the rope about to break in today's artwork?  Similar to ADToE.  I think that's kind of cool.

Perhaps it's to tie the two together.