The Velvet Forum

dsulpy (in the 'review' thread) said:

"To my ears, WL/WH is a different mix - listen to the first second or two of the song... In the stereo mix, Someone sings "white light" on one channel, and comes in a bit late compared to the group vocals in the other channel- they're certainly not in sync. You can't hear this at all in the mono - all of the vocals in the first line of the song are in-sync."

It would be an exaggeration to say I was excited when I heard this, but it did pique my curiosity and stimulate my saddest most obsessive impulses.

I listened to an orig promo 45. I listened to a US promo yellow label mono LP. I listened to a UK stock mono LP. I listened to a first press US stereo LP. Then I listened to the 1st second of each several times. It fecked with my head! You try it. I was too lazy to find CD3 from Peel Slowly as a control, and I didn'y have the Ultimate Mono boot CD either, so these 'findings' are not v conclusive. Everybody listen!

I noticed something! On the Yellow mono - yeah - that Sulpy's got something - the first backing vocal is pretty much in sync (I think!). But on the 45, the out of sync-ness is clear (umm - I think). The UK mono has the same non-sync - so maybe that master has the single mix? Generally it's a heavier sound than the Yellow, I always put that down to the superior brit mastering.

Conclusion US mono in sync, US stereo out of sync, US 45 out of sync (?), UK mono out of sync.

Is this the most nit-picky post yet? I hardly even care anymore, its taken me so long to write it out.

I was bored, so I checked out all my WL/WH's. Only one I don't have is the UK mono. I do have a Canadian mono, but this just seems to be a fairly muddier sounding version of the US mono. Anyway, the only time I heard the out of sync vocal was on the stereo. Each vocal is coming from a different channel and they are out of sync, esp on "Light". But when I folded it down to mono, I could no longer hear that it was out of sync as the two vocals kinda blend together.

simonm wrote:Conclusion US mono in sync, US stereo out of sync, US 45 out of sync (?), UK mono out of sync.

So could this, in fact, mean that for the WLWH album, the US mono vinyl is a true mono mix, whereas the UK mono is a stereo fold?

Mark wrote:

simonm wrote:Conclusion US mono in sync, US stereo out of sync, US 45 out of sync (?), UK mono out of sync.

So could this, in fact, mean that for the WLWH album, the US mono vinyl is a true mono mix, whereas the UK mono is a stereo fold?

That's very possible as I've heard that sometimes labels didn't bother sending both stereo and mono masters for overseas pressings and so they would just fold down the stereo for mono a pressing. I believe it was The Doors mono LP's I was researching when I read that.

Mark wrote:

simonm wrote:Conclusion US mono in sync, US stereo out of sync, US 45 out of sync (?), UK mono out of sync.

So could this, in fact, mean that for the WLWH album, the US mono vinyl is a true mono mix, whereas the UK mono is a stereo fold?

Gadzooks, Holmes - if my observations are correct, that is the only logical conclusion. I don't listen to the yellow mono as the UK mono is in better condition and has what I think of as a better sound.

What about the 1st second of the single on the Ultimate Mono CD? First "white light" backing vocal audibly out of sync or not?

Hmm. Once I bounced the stereo down to mono, I have to admit the delay was barely noticeable (if it was noticable at all). If you need to hear the sync problem clearly in the stereo version, use headphones.

I did notice that in the stereo mixdown to mono, the first two words were noticeably lower in volume when you look at the waveform compared to the mono. This could be the result of some kind of compression used on the mono and not the stereo, or a slight fade in used on the stereo... who knows.

So... um, there are DIFFERENT mono mixes of WL/WH out there? Ouch. That hurts.

I have ALWAYS noticed that "out-of-synchness" on my WL/WH CD, but never gave it any thought!!! Until now, that is.

Guys, I think this just proves that we really need to get out more... LOL!

Kill Mick wrote:Guys, I think this just proves that we really need to get out more... LOL!

I know I know I know it

Ok guys, I have UK mono version, and Canadian. I wold like to say that the mono mix on both are so similar they may be identical. The Stereo version, when comp[ressed to mono, sounds different then the U.K. version. This means that there is a genuine mono-mix for the U.K. The main difference for the WL/WH track is the backing vocals, MUCH louder!
In a different tread someone said he couldn't tell a difference in the mono-mix. The only thing I can say to anyone who cant hear a difference in any dedicated mono-mix is 'You're not listening close enough, or LOUD enough' .