That's insane. Imagine your friends are over and they ask "What are you listening to?" and you say "Sgt. Pepper's." They're like, "Okay, on what format?". "The original master tape."
Only Parlogram gives us this kind of amazing material. You're the best, Andrew. Happy Holidays, and we're all looking forward to your channel content in 2024!
@@Parlogram "The Sgt. Pepper's Master Tape" or "A Sgt. Pepper's Master Tape"? Incidentally, I met Mr. Bartley in his very small and congested mastering studio, during my fact-finding mission to Sydney in 2005. I wonder if he is still extant?
Crazy to think that so many of us have listened to that tape in its various duplicated forms. You’re a custodian of some true history there! Fantastic.
It feels as if I just witnessed the unveiling of a musical holy artifact. Thanks for sharing this video Andrew & Happy Christmas and New Year to you and your family. 🎄 from 🇨🇦
I worked for a company called Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs when it was relocated to Northern California and we released a remastered vinyl collection of the Beatles entire catalog. Stan Ricker cut the albums. We kept the original 2-Track masters in a little safe in a back room where we kept supplies and cassette duplication machine. I was in my 20’s at the time but I still couldn’t believe that those masters were allowed to sit in that safe (which was left open by the way). When I held them in my hand I simply couldn’t believe the significance the tapes represented and how MoFi was entrusted to keep them in such a casual manner. John Lennon was killed just 5 years prior and knowing the Beatles would never be together in a studio again made keeping those tapes laying there in a stack, complete with George Martin’s notes on them, something I never forgot. Thank goodness they made their way back to Abbey Road Studios.
I just found my 1980 Mofi pressing of Abbey Road which I thought I’d lost. Had only played it a few times on my old 80s era Pioneer turntable in my college dorm. Remembered it sounding clean and pure but after cleaning it up last night and listening again for first time in years on a much more deserving home system it really makes me appreciate all the work that originally went into this masterpiece and it’s various pressings and versions since. Compared to a newer US pressing I bought in the early 2000s your old company’s attention to detail in pressing this half speed mastered bit of history is a revelation and about as close as I’ll ever get to hearing the original master tapes. Definitely good enough for me and brings me back magically as if a fly on the wall inside the control booth at Abbey Road 1969. Thank you for your service 🫡
Nice find Andrew, you now have the best sounding SPLHCB with the exception of the flat master that resides in Abbey Road’s Archive. As you and I both know, the “Powers That Be” will never release to the general public a copy from the original Flat Master on vinyl or digital. It’s not in their DNA to do such a thing.
Do we really need a flat transfer of the Master Tape(s)? You seem to think that Abbey Road is presenting us (on purpose) with Beatles material inferior to what the Original Master Tape(s) sound like. I am sceptical about that. Why would they do that(?), I see no reason for it.The Original Master Tapes are work parts and they need work (mastering) to sound the way they should. I am pretty sure people like Sean Magee will agree with my assumption. And they know how the Original Master Tapes sound. I have listened to lots and lots of editions of "Sgt. Peppers" (LP - MC - CD etc.). There are differences, sure, but they are not huge. So I guess, one can find a very good transfer of the Original Master Tapes that sounds as good (or better) than the tape(s).
Many thanks for an entertaining, informative and educational year’s worth of viewing Andrew. Here’s to an exciting and expansive 2024! Best wishes from the Fens.
Oh man! My jaw just dropped! I’ll make an offer on the bubble wrap those came in!😅 Wow how beautiful!! Glad you showed how the cake reels work. Well this made my holidays a lot nicer! Congratulations for acquiring the tapes! And I wish you a very merry Christmas and a Cool Yule new year Andrew!
This isn't "The Sgt. Pepper's Master Tape" - it's a duplication master. However, this one appears to be a rarity - the only 30 ips (highest quality) dupe that was made. That could make it valuable if there are ever any issues with the original master or the numerous high-resolution digital transfers that have already been made (which were obviously done far later than 1981).
Come on Apple, contact Andrew, let’s get a half speed all analogue pressing from this tape, on optimal heavy vinyl, in a heavyweight gatefold sleeve. With this pressing in 1 sleeve and a repressing of the 2014 mono in the other. As a fan I’d quite happily pay for that!!!
Here's a bit more about the technical specs on the tape. "AES" would refer to the AES standard playback curve, which would be the equilization curve necessary for proper playback. That function would be selectable on the machine. They also included a set of test tones (1k, 5k, 10k and 100Hz) and a reference level of -4 dB plus another note that 0 VU on the meter references +2 dB. The "reference fluxivity" or "hotness" of the tape is also given: 320 nano Webers/meter. All for ensuring the playback machine is calibrated for maximum gain in the preamp section without distortion. It's also curious to see the outside leader pasted back onto the spool of tape instead of somewhere on the reel. Its not often that we mere mortals get to see a first generation production master dubbed directly from the official studio master tape. This is as close to the "true" sound of the album as any listener is going to get, save for Abbey Road engineers. Thanks!
I read online that the 1987 cd was mastered from a safety copy because the original stereo master was missing at the time. But the photo of the master tape box shows digital copies in 86 and there is an 1987 copy to 1610, which was probably the cd master. So is the 87 cd actually from the original master? Also, what’s the 97 cd remaster?
You have a treasure, indeed. Protect it at all costs.Seriously. Being a former studio engineer, I never used BASF, but that is great to hear that you do not have to "bake" it to listen to it. (AMPEX was the tape of choice in my day.) I see that it was properly stored....tails out. That is how you store magnetic tape, due to "print-through." (The data can transfer through the tape, and result in "pre-echo.") Your discussion is very educational when it concerns engineering jargon.......that is indeed a "pancake." That is the same term we used here in Nashville. As for recording, we used Studer 24 track and 2 track machines. You might be able to pick up one at a good price, if you shop around! LOL. Anyway, as someone who heard master tapes before they were sent away to be turned into vinyl, you might be in for a shock. My fellow engineer would always tell me, "You will get spoiled when you hear master tapes." And he was right. The low pass eq, high pass eq and compression used for making vinyl masters takes the TOTAL LIFE out of master tapes.(For those who say that vinyl is the ultimate listening platform, then I am sorry to say NO. In fact, NO platform has ever come close to an actual recording. So there!) Please update us when you do finally get to hear those master tapes! I am totally envious that you have these............this is the album I have always wanted to hear on master tape! Keep up the good work! (for those of you who say, "this is just another album. what's so special about it?" Well, beyond the social aspect, which means that it changed society in a short period of time, and turned the world upside down.......it was also a musical revolution. It took pop music forward, beyond the 3 minute disposable pop song. Some might say that Bob Dylan already did that, but he never made an album like Sgt. Peppers. But for engineering and recording, this album really changed how things were done. But no-one cares to hear about that. LOL! That's old-school.)
Yep, I’d LOVE to hear that tape! Presumably as well as the hi and low passing, there would be some additional limiting/compression done during the vinyl cutting process? Plus the additional distortion/unwanted artefacts of going through all that additional circuitry and transformers etc., The original master must sound incredible.
@@Tony-yp7ok I'm not an expert on mastering, but I learned the basics. Compressing the signal during mastering raises the signal above the noise floor, which makes it louder during playback. (Compression evens out the dynamic range......soft to loud.) If the dynamic range is too broad, then you will hear surface noise from the vinyl, and possibly tape hiss. When compression is added, it enables "masking," which drops the unwanted noise below the level of the desired signal. Like I said, I'm not an expert, but this is what I was taught as a basic engineer. The original master will have a full dynamic range, along with a full frequency response. Sometimes! It's not guaranteed. In the situation with "Sgt Pepper," tracks were bounced, so that means a generation loss (which means a loss of fidelity). Still, that was kept to a minimum. And you are correct when you say going through additional circuitry adds another sound to it. But if the equipment is top-notch, along with the mastering engineer, then that is something that cannot be discerned. Nobody has hearing that good, contrary to what they claim. So, an original 2 track stereo master (or even a first generation copy) will blow you away. But only if you hear it in the right situation........in the control room of a studio or something similar. I hope you get that chance to do so!
I have a couple of BASF reel tapes and a couple of BASF cassettes in my collection. The BASF reel-to-reel tapes that are in a hard plastic case. Gotta love those.
Most exciting 15 minutes I have had in a long time - WOW Andrew and as an Aussie it's nice to see this copy coming your way ! I have so many questions... 😉
How fascinating that despite the tape being BASF (and you're absolutely right that depending on the particular formation there should be few issues with sticky shed) EMI clearly still had a stock of EMITAPE pancakes lying about to use up even in the 80s! I bet that is going to sound amazing at 30ips...
Scotch/3M are my absolute choice, and so does Audiotape. Audiotape was made by Audio Devices Inc. which was a division of Capitol Records where they did the Beatles albums in the US including “Sgt. Pepper”. In the 1970’s, Capitol Records made blank tapes which includes reel-to-reel, 8-track and cassette of all choices and it has that cool psychedelic graphics on the cover. Those were great times.
You’ve got the short-lived “metric” pancakes there - 1,000 metres per reel. I assume they fell out of favour because the user would expect the full 3,600 feet and get miffed when they ran out of tape several minutes early. (To this day, tape is measured in multiples of 300 feet, with the metric equivalent printed on the packaging. 1200 feet = 16 minutes at 15ips.)
I always used to like Parlogram, but now I can't in good conscience be a fan anymore, knowing that Andrew is a murderer (how else was he able to acquire these reels?) Congratulations, Andrew, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Whoa, neat. I'm extremely curious about that 1973 Quad remix attempt...presumably they tried and gave up, perhaps because it was too difficult in the analog era to remix it for surround with such a packed 4-track master? I bet that's an entire story worth digging into... 🤔
Quad L.P. replay needed a separate decoder unit, to separate the 2 encoded tracks to 4, on the Quad L.P. record. I’d say in their tests, the very high frequency inaudible decoding signal wouldn’t record then replay from their 2 track master tape. @@mbvideoselection
@@allanblack1645 I think my comment has been misunderstood. What's listed on the tape box under those dates are the times and purposes for which that tape was used, not what is ON the tape. Therefore it is saying that two track tape was withdrawn from the library for the purposes of making a Quad Remix. So my point is valid... It seems strange that a quad remix would be attempted using a two track mixed master as its source rather than the 4-track multis.
I got the blue box BC13 Beatles Collection, the German MMT LP (plus the 2009 remaster) and both Past Masters double LPs (the 1988 release on the purple Capitol label and the 2009 remasters). What more do I need?
When I was at BBC Pebble Mill I recall seeing the radio programmes being preserved in real time on pancake reel. It seemed to me a cheap way of keeping shows for a legal period in case the broadcast required needed to be consulted. That was back in 1996 + or so.
Now that is Christmas present Flex! Grats! I hope you get to listen to it soon. :) What did you get for Christmas? A Tie, and what did you get for Christmas? Oh, nothing much, just side one and side two of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Master Tapes. Lol...worth more than a Ferrari in my opinion.
To have the Studio 5 vinyl alone is crazy cool but to have the actual tape used to make that album is stratisphere cool! Congratulations on having a set of some really wonderful The Beatles collectibles!
Absolutely an amazing find Andrew. I know from Geoff Emerick's book that the tape of Jet shredded during recording of the song and he had to add treble to it, hence the odd sound of it. But glad you said it was tails out. Once again you have outdone yourself Andrew.
Andrew, thought I would share that the 2nd cutting was done by Otto Ruiter, he along with Don Bartley and Allan Parsons (no relation to the more famous one) were the three main mastering engineers working for EMI Australia at or around that time. The signature on the tape box next to 25-10-82 is his.
So there's that audiophile Audio 5 edition we've heard about before that is so rare and expensive to get as it was a limited run of just 497 sold only at the Sydney Hi-Fi And Audio Show on July 3rd, 1983... And you have the tapes from which that was cut! Don't think we need to further explain how exceptional that is.
Fascinating! But one thing: For the little I know about tape technology, to me it appears that the tape was last wound onto the pancake at 'rewind' speed rather than the designated 30 IPS playing speed. If so, this is not recommended as it packs the tape very tightly and unevenly.
No good for me then either! I've got a Revox B77 Mk1 that records and plays at 30 ips too. I don't think I'll be getting a tape recorder just to play one album! 🤣 However, I do own a set of original album cover printing plates, that hang on my wall!
But it's not the actual master tape , it's a sub master... a mixdown master for an overseas label division is not a master tape. I think they cranked out at least 20 of these for every album, sent to Canada, Australia, the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, you name it.
There were Audio-5 labels (Side 1 & 2) taped to the rear of each box. These have been removed at some point, but some minor tape scars remain. Remember seeing info on this tape at auction and thought the probability of it ending up with Andrew at Parlogram was pretty high. It's reassuring to know it is in safe hands and not "lost" in an unknown individual's private vault. KUTGW
A beautiful piece of history from the last century, not only musically, but also culturally and you have it in your hands. Totally blessed that you managed to access these tapes and I hope that one day some masters can be legally cut to re-release SPLHCB with this unique mix and equalization. Congratulations Andrew!!! Greetings from Argentina :)
Absolutely correct concerning Ampex baking. BASF and 3M were not as prone to shedding, which is why most forward-looking studios spec’d those brands instead of Ampex. An ounce of prevention…
You're a left-hander Andrew! The most detailed unboxing of an item I have ever seen. I'm surprised you didn't show the guy delivering it! Best wishes Andrew for Xmas and 2024 from Oz.
I felt the same way too, and I even just said so today in another earlier post! The suspense opening the box was killing me!! Andrew just comes up with some fantastic stuff, and I love his Beatles stories, facts 0:09 and videos, they are so informative and entertaining. I myself have collected over 200 original/ 1st press Capitol mono and stereo pressings of each of the US releases, as well as the Apple 1st pressings with the "subsidiary of Capitol" statement on side 2 of the labels, I have alternate label pressings and label errors of every US album variation with multiple copies of each. I also have a 3rd state STEREO "Butcher Album". A few years ago, JUST before COVID, I was able to acquire a NM MONO Capitol SPLHCB (1st press American release) and also just this past spring a NM MONO US Capitol copy of MMT, STILL IN THE SHRINK WRAP, both on eBay for $100 and $200 respectively , and last year most notably I scored a US 1st press NM original Apple White Album SUPER LOW numbered 0000926 ( for $1650- I outbid 56 other people) and I thought I was doing well, but Andrew has me beat by a long shot with this find!! Best wishes to you, from fellow Beatles fan George B in the Boston area!😊
Well, that certainly beats my polythene dust jacket from NEMS and Percy Phillips acetate (no, not THAT one) into a cocked hat. Thanks for the videos and have a great Christmas fella....
As you are a Beatles collector etc, i am a Connie Francis aficionado. But things like this are extreme rarity with her extensive 3000 songs discography archive. I'm wondering if the EMI ABBEY RD have an archive inventory and her recording there in the 1959.
He probably won't, not even snippets. He never does from what I've seen. These videos are always just him showing a reel of tape and saying "ooo look!"
That master tape holds a lot of significance for me. I just checked my copy I bought here in Australia with my pocket money on the album's 20th anniversary when I was 9 and it has the same matrix numbers. Fortunately my dad taught me early how to properly handle and care for records, so mine is in great condition. It's a really good sounding record and the side 2 inner groove is complete - it scared the absolute shit out of me back then when my record needle failed to auto-return and I wasn't expecting it.
Now this is an oddity - an actual master tape from the Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album that they used back in Australia for their releases. And it seems to be of the whole album, both A and B sides included. How _do_ you find these things?
So if you could obtain a particular master tape, which one would it be and why? This find is amazing. I ain't asking what you paid for it but I bet it wasn't cheap!
There are so many clowns on you tube who tell us exclusive news we already know and in box records we already have and who dress up on the obligatory Beatle T shirt. And then there is Andrew who gives us videos like this. Different class Andrew Happy holidays Andrew And thanks for the Beatles education
At 8:58, the capital letters of SGT. PEPPERS... that mark the label are in a very recognizable hand. That was Don Bartley who you recognized. Fascinating video.
Remix of Sgt Pepper is not in tune/A440. Have you noticed? Try and play along with Lucy In The Sky’s intro for example. The Remade Yellow Submarine Versions are in tune, but the new Remix of SGT Pepper’s is not. Why?
Another great Andrew! Amazing find. Good luck trying to find a deck that plays 30ips. I'm certain it will blow away my US Capital 7 1/2 ips copy that sounds pretty great.
🧿Was it acquired through auction? I know it is priceless, but how much is it REALLY worth? And how come EMI/Parlophone could lend/sell/give away these historical tapes (than save them in their vaults)? I hope you or someone can answer these for me.🧿
So please, help me work out the ancestry here. The two reels in this video are first generation copies of the OFFICIAL mix down master reels? I'm wondering what about the North American market? I didn't see any mention of 1st generation copies for the USA in the box notes. Presumably they required LOTS of first generation copies to feed their market?
Isn’t it ironically funny that the visible, material things we’ve just viewed, just prior to being used, would have cost just a few pounds or so…but after being utilized by the Beatles & Associates they become invaluable, not just monetarily - but historically.
I would love to have a digital copy for my archive which I would never release because I can't I would be sued to death! I have quite a bit of stuff like that FI Queens 25 track Ampex tape of Bohemian Rhapsody it was actually on RUclips in 2008! now... nowhere to be found! and lawyers would kill me if I even shared 1 track!
So, as there are fourteen years between the original recording sessions and these tapes, how many generations removed from the original master tape are these? I did note the original distribution information from Abbey Road. How many generations preceded the tapes in the video (backups, safeties, etc.)?
That was interesting Andrew and thanks for clearing up the legal bit as that was my question throughout. Had visions of Abbey Road boffins demanding return of their tape.
My Maxell reel to reel tapes are 48 years old. They are due for a play. Last time out of the box was 2 years ago. Thanks for the show. I am really speechless.
6:50 question for professional archivists- would it not be appropriate to wear lint-free or specialty ‘archival’ gloves before touching historical materials?
Again great video, I really enjoyed it. It would be nice to hear some of it. Good luck on your search for a tape machine to play it on. Again thanks for the video.
I would be very dubious of the authenticity of these tapes. Scammers must be very aware of the value of these tapes. One would only have to get a hold of an old tape and record on it say using a CD or making a copy of an original copy. Even if the seller had an authentic version, they could copy it and send it to you in the original packing. I’d be interested to see what his method of authentication is.
I honestly think someone from EMI Australia should get this back, it should never ot been sold Good purchase yes but distressing to see this in the possession of a private collector.
Great! Andrew, i noticed how you were emotionally driven !! Me too, watching The video! Really interesting! Happy Xmas to Andrew and everyone out there! Ciao
As a collector, I am jealous...but I must absolutely admit.....IF there is anyone who SHOULD have that master....it should BE YOU Andrew....as you deserve it!......AND I know it will be PROPERLY PRESERVED for posterity and perpetuity.....
There's no way you know if that tape is authentic. All those recordings made from it probably degraded it quite a bit. Not sure what to make of all this. Where are all the other masters of their work
Hi Andrew. Just the biggest jaw-dropping video you've ever put up. I sat there open-mouthed. Can't wait for the spectrograph video of this stunning tape.
Very nice. The title of the video may have fooled me into thinking that you somehow got your hands on THE master tape, but this is certainly impressive, too.
Well I would think that this property of Emi or apple iam sure you are referring to to some legal loophole on the tape , now iam not accusing no one of any thing but iam sure somebody inemi just took it home without permission or they had permission and forgot to return it back like a book from a library I don’t know
Il s'agit évidemment d'une Copie 19cm/s de la bande Master originale à 38cm/s. En général quelques copies 19cm/s pouvaient être réalisées par EMI UK, pour l'artiste, pour un membre du groupe, ou pour un arrangeur etc... C'est une chance de posséder une Copie d'une bande master d'une œuvre que l'on aime, mais ce n'est pas la Bande Master. Toutes les Bandes Master 38cm/s appartiennent à EMI(Warner) et sont stockées dans les armoires fortes de la maison de disques.
Having that shipped would be nail biting in its own right - you have to hope that no idiot put it near a highly magnetic source during its travels or its ruined for good..
We can’t all own Beatles artifacts like this, of course, but I certainly am thankful for people like you who not only acquire objects like this, but also share them with us via video. Thank you, Andrew!
What an amazing find! Now finding a calibrated 30ips machine to play it back on may be nearly as challenging as finding this tape was. Merry Christmas Andrew!
After this video, it's hard for me to think of Andrew simply as a Beatles collector and commentator. In my mind, he is now a true Beatles archivist.
I wish Apple would get him involved with the first 6 studio album remix deluxe sets.
I can't imagine how one arrives at the worth of such an item, because in my mind it's priceless.
@@jdavies7472 agreed
Little tear in my eye watching this video, awesome piece for your collection ❤
Andrew would be the perfect spokesman of REAL Beatles' fan to get what we REALLY want @@jdavies7472
That's insane. Imagine your friends are over and they ask "What are you listening to?" and you say "Sgt. Pepper's." They're like, "Okay, on what format?". "The original master tape."
Well...this is a second gen of the Master actually ;)
u mean a copy of the master tape which should be ONLY in the archives.
JAWS DROP
@@MikeGervasi Couldn't be any closer without committing a felony!
Only Parlogram gives us this kind of amazing material. You're the best, Andrew. Happy Holidays, and we're all looking forward to your channel content in 2024!
Happy Holidays to you too. Stay tuned for more in '24!
@@Parlogram
"The Sgt. Pepper's Master Tape"
or
"A Sgt. Pepper's Master Tape"?
Incidentally, I met Mr. Bartley in his very small and congested mastering studio, during my fact-finding mission to Sydney in 2005. I wonder if he is still extant?
Crazy to think that so many of us have listened to that tape in its various duplicated forms. You’re a custodian of some true history there! Fantastic.
@@cuda426hemi I first bought Pepper on CD in 1992 in Australia so chances are it was duplicated from Andrew’s tape.
It feels as if I just witnessed the unveiling of a musical holy artifact. Thanks for sharing this video Andrew & Happy Christmas and New Year to you and your family. 🎄 from 🇨🇦
Thanks Robert. Wishing you and yours the same!
😅it was so dramatic when he was slowly using the box knife. I was expecting a fanfare or dramatic music 🎉🎺
I worked for a company called Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs when it was relocated to Northern California and we released a remastered vinyl collection of the Beatles entire catalog. Stan Ricker cut the albums. We kept the original 2-Track masters in a little safe in a back room where we kept supplies and cassette duplication machine.
I was in my 20’s at the time but I still couldn’t believe that those masters were allowed to sit in that safe (which was left open by the way). When I held them in my hand I simply couldn’t believe the significance the tapes represented and how MoFi was entrusted to keep them in such a casual manner.
John Lennon was killed just 5 years prior and knowing the Beatles would never be together in a studio again made keeping those tapes laying there in a stack, complete with George Martin’s notes on them, something I never forgot. Thank goodness they made their way back to Abbey Road Studios.
Great story. Thanks for sharing it!
I just found my 1980 Mofi pressing of Abbey Road which I thought I’d lost. Had only played it a few times on my old 80s era Pioneer turntable in my college dorm. Remembered it sounding clean and pure but after cleaning it up last night and listening again for first time in years on a much more deserving home system it really makes me appreciate all the work that originally went into this masterpiece and it’s various pressings and versions since. Compared to a newer US pressing I bought in the early 2000s your old company’s attention to detail in pressing this half speed mastered bit of history is a revelation and about as close as I’ll ever get to hearing the original master tapes. Definitely good enough for me and brings me back magically as if a fly on the wall inside the control booth at Abbey Road 1969. Thank you for your service 🫡
Nice find Andrew, you now have the best sounding SPLHCB with the exception of the flat master that resides in Abbey Road’s Archive. As you and I both know, the “Powers That Be” will never release to the general public a copy from the original Flat Master on vinyl or digital. It’s not in their DNA to do such a thing.
Do we really need a flat transfer of the Master Tape(s)? You seem to think that Abbey Road is presenting us (on purpose) with Beatles material inferior to what the Original Master Tape(s) sound like. I am sceptical about that. Why would they do that(?), I see no reason for it.The Original Master Tapes are work parts and they need work (mastering) to sound the way they should. I am pretty sure people like Sean Magee will agree with my assumption. And they know how the Original Master Tapes sound. I have listened to lots and lots of editions of "Sgt. Peppers" (LP - MC - CD etc.). There are differences, sure, but they are not huge. So I guess, one can find a very good transfer of the Original Master Tapes that sounds as good (or better) than the tape(s).
Many thanks for an entertaining, informative and educational year’s worth of viewing Andrew. Here’s to an exciting and expansive 2024! Best wishes from the Fens.
Thank you so much, Kevin! All the very best to you too!
Oh man! My jaw just dropped! I’ll make an offer on the bubble wrap those came in!😅
Wow how beautiful!! Glad you showed how the cake reels work. Well this made my holidays a lot nicer! Congratulations for acquiring the tapes!
And I wish you a very merry Christmas and a Cool Yule new year Andrew!
Thanks Brian. Wishing you a Christmas too and a happy and healthy New Year!
I'll double that offer!!😁😉👍
@@louiebee6745 thank you!
This isn't "The Sgt. Pepper's Master Tape" - it's a duplication master. However, this one appears to be a rarity - the only 30 ips (highest quality) dupe that was made. That could make it valuable if there are ever any issues with the original master or the numerous high-resolution digital transfers that have already been made (which were obviously done far later than 1981).
Where did the "Master Copy" in the photo in the book come from? How many copies away from the final 4-track?
Come on Apple, contact Andrew, let’s get a half speed all analogue pressing from this tape, on optimal heavy vinyl, in a heavyweight gatefold sleeve. With this pressing in 1 sleeve and a repressing of the 2014 mono in the other. As a fan I’d quite happily pay for that!!!
Here's a bit more about the technical specs on the tape. "AES" would refer to the AES standard playback curve, which would be the equilization curve necessary for proper playback. That function would be selectable on the machine. They also included a set of test tones (1k, 5k, 10k and 100Hz) and a reference level of -4 dB plus another note that 0 VU on the meter references +2 dB. The "reference fluxivity" or "hotness" of the tape is also given: 320 nano Webers/meter. All for ensuring the playback machine is calibrated for maximum gain in the preamp section without distortion. It's also curious to see the outside leader pasted back onto the spool of tape instead of somewhere on the reel.
Its not often that we mere mortals get to see a first generation production master dubbed directly from the official studio master tape. This is as close to the "true" sound of the album as any listener is going to get, save for Abbey Road engineers. Thanks!
Great information. Thank you!
I read online that the 1987 cd was mastered from a safety copy because the original stereo master was missing at the time. But the photo of the master tape box shows digital copies in 86 and there is an 1987 copy to 1610, which was probably the cd master. So is the 87 cd actually from the original master? Also, what’s the 97 cd remaster?
You have a treasure, indeed. Protect it at all costs.Seriously. Being a former studio engineer, I never used BASF, but that is great to hear that you do not have to "bake" it to listen to it. (AMPEX was the tape of choice in my day.) I see that it was properly stored....tails out. That is how you store magnetic tape, due to "print-through." (The data can transfer through the tape, and result in "pre-echo.") Your discussion is very educational when it concerns engineering jargon.......that is indeed a "pancake." That is the same term we used here in Nashville. As for recording, we used Studer 24 track and 2 track machines. You might be able to pick up one at a good price, if you shop around! LOL. Anyway, as someone who heard master tapes before they were sent away to be turned into vinyl, you might be in for a shock. My fellow engineer would always tell me, "You will get spoiled when you hear master tapes." And he was right. The low pass eq, high pass eq and compression used for making vinyl masters takes the TOTAL LIFE out of master tapes.(For those who say that vinyl is the ultimate listening platform, then I am sorry to say NO. In fact, NO platform has ever come close to an actual recording. So there!) Please update us when you do finally get to hear those master tapes! I am totally envious that you have these............this is the album I have always wanted to hear on master tape! Keep up the good work!
(for those of you who say, "this is just another album. what's so special about it?" Well, beyond the social aspect, which means that it changed society in a short period of time, and turned the world upside down.......it was also a musical revolution. It took pop music forward, beyond the 3 minute disposable pop song. Some might say that Bob Dylan already did that, but he never made an album like Sgt. Peppers. But for engineering and recording, this album really changed how things were done. But no-one cares to hear about that. LOL! That's old-school.)
Yep, I’d LOVE to hear that tape! Presumably as well as the hi and low passing, there would be some additional limiting/compression done during the vinyl cutting process? Plus the additional distortion/unwanted artefacts of going through all that additional circuitry and transformers etc., The original master must sound incredible.
@@Tony-yp7ok I'm not an expert on mastering, but I learned the basics. Compressing the signal during mastering raises the signal above the noise floor, which makes it louder during playback. (Compression evens out the dynamic range......soft to loud.) If the dynamic range is too broad, then you will hear surface noise from the vinyl, and possibly tape hiss. When compression is added, it enables "masking," which drops the unwanted noise below the level of the desired signal. Like I said, I'm not an expert, but this is what I was taught as a basic engineer. The original master will have a full dynamic range, along with a full frequency response. Sometimes! It's not guaranteed. In the situation with "Sgt Pepper," tracks were bounced, so that means a generation loss (which means a loss of fidelity). Still, that was kept to a minimum. And you are correct when you say going through additional circuitry adds another sound to it. But if the equipment is top-notch, along with the mastering engineer, then that is something that cannot be discerned. Nobody has hearing that good, contrary to what they claim. So, an original 2 track stereo master (or even a first generation copy) will blow you away. But only if you hear it in the right situation........in the control room of a studio or something similar. I hope you get that chance to do so!
I have a couple of BASF reel tapes and a couple of BASF cassettes in my collection. The BASF reel-to-reel tapes that are in a hard plastic case. Gotta love those.
Most exciting 15 minutes I have had in a long time - WOW Andrew and as an Aussie it's nice to see this copy coming your way ! I have so many questions... 😉
Sweet!! The Audio 5 too!! 😳
Is there is no way to press a limited set?
How fascinating that despite the tape being BASF (and you're absolutely right that depending on the particular formation there should be few issues with sticky shed) EMI clearly still had a stock of EMITAPE pancakes lying about to use up even in the 80s!
I bet that is going to sound amazing at 30ips...
Scotch/3M are my absolute choice, and so does Audiotape. Audiotape was made by Audio Devices Inc. which was a division of Capitol Records where they did the Beatles albums in the US including “Sgt. Pepper”. In the 1970’s, Capitol Records made blank tapes which includes reel-to-reel, 8-track and cassette of all choices and it has that cool psychedelic graphics on the cover. Those were great times.
You’ve got the short-lived “metric” pancakes there - 1,000 metres per reel. I assume they fell out of favour because the user would expect the full 3,600 feet and get miffed when they ran out of tape several minutes early. (To this day, tape is measured in multiples of 300 feet, with the metric equivalent printed on the packaging. 1200 feet = 16 minutes at 15ips.)
I always used to like Parlogram, but now I can't in good conscience be a fan anymore, knowing that Andrew is a murderer (how else was he able to acquire these reels?)
Congratulations, Andrew, and may God have mercy on your soul.
YEX637? or YEX937? Thanks for sharing and your careful hard work! but was it 637 or 937? The Box reads 637 but I heard 937?
Ugh, too bad Carnival of Light isn't on it!
Whoa, neat. I'm extremely curious about that 1973 Quad remix attempt...presumably they tried and gave up, perhaps because it was too difficult in the analog era to remix it for surround with such a packed 4-track master? I bet that's an entire story worth digging into... 🤔
Yes I’d be interested in that Quad remix attempt. If it didn’t work it’s interesting that they kept it on the master tape.
@@allanblack1645 I'm more curious as to why they wouldn't have used the 4-track masters for that.
Quad L.P. replay needed a separate decoder unit, to separate the 2 encoded tracks to 4, on the Quad L.P. record. I’d say in their tests, the very high frequency inaudible decoding signal wouldn’t record then replay from their 2 track master tape. @@mbvideoselection
@@allanblack1645 I think my comment has been misunderstood. What's listed on the tape box under those dates are the times and purposes for which that tape was used, not what is ON the tape. Therefore it is saying that two track tape was withdrawn from the library for the purposes of making a Quad Remix. So my point is valid... It seems strange that a quad remix would be attempted using a two track mixed master as its source rather than the 4-track multis.
Please mint a new DSD256 master of this (just like MFSL)
My exact thinking
I’ve been wanting to hear some lossless rips of reels for a long time
Don Bartley is a amazing mastering engineer :)
Thank you for your kind words David!
Now that's the ultimate in memorabilia, and as always a fascinating video. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you and your family Andrew.
Cheers Terry. Wishing you and yours the same!
I got the blue box BC13 Beatles Collection, the German MMT LP (plus the 2009 remaster) and both Past Masters double LPs (the 1988 release on the purple Capitol label and the 2009 remasters). What more do I need?
The 2014 mono box. :)
Omg you actually got it!? 😱
When I was at BBC Pebble Mill I recall seeing the radio programmes being preserved in real time on pancake reel. It seemed to me a cheap way of keeping shows for a legal period in case the broadcast required needed to be consulted. That was back in 1996 + or so.
It's beyond impressive that you got your hands on this.
this is what is called a 1st generation, not a master. you *could* call it a master cassette *copy*. but it is not a master. still, cool af tho!
Now that is Christmas present Flex! Grats! I hope you get to listen to it soon. :)
What did you get for Christmas? A Tie, and what did you get for Christmas? Oh, nothing much, just side one and side two of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Master Tapes.
Lol...worth more than a Ferrari in my opinion.
To have the Studio 5 vinyl alone is crazy cool but to have the actual tape used to make that album is stratisphere cool! Congratulations on having a set of some really wonderful The Beatles collectibles!
Absolutely an amazing find Andrew. I know from Geoff Emerick's book that the tape of Jet shredded during recording of the song and he had to add treble to it, hence the odd sound of it. But glad you said it was tails out. Once again you have outdone yourself Andrew.
Thanks Michael. Glad you enjoyed it!
Not really shredded, but apparently it was affected with the dreaded SSS, sticky shed syndrome, and it didn't help that they were overdubbing a lot!
Andrew, thought I would share that the 2nd cutting was done by Otto Ruiter, he along with Don Bartley and Allan Parsons (no relation to the more famous one) were the three main mastering engineers working for EMI Australia at or around that time. The signature on the tape box next to 25-10-82 is his.
Thanks for the info, Phillip!
Yes I worked at Natec Sound in Sydney and had dealings with the late Don Bartley at EMIs 301 Castlereagh St studios, a very meticulous guy.
Thank you Allan and I hope you're well. Don Bartley.
So there's that audiophile Audio 5 edition we've heard about before that is so rare and expensive to get as it was a limited run of just 497 sold only at the Sydney Hi-Fi And Audio Show on July 3rd, 1983... And you have the tapes from which that was cut! Don't think we need to further explain how exceptional that is.
Fascinating! But one thing: For the little I know about tape technology, to me it appears that the tape was last wound onto the pancake at 'rewind' speed rather than the designated 30 IPS playing speed. If so, this is not recommended as it packs the tape very tightly and unevenly.
I’m continually impressed and also jealous of what you’re able to find and afford!
No good for me then either! I've got a Revox B77 Mk1 that records and plays at 30 ips too.
I don't think I'll be getting a tape recorder just to play one album! 🤣
However, I do own a set of original album cover printing plates, that hang on my wall!
'Have you digitised it yet?
But it's not the actual master tape , it's a sub master... a mixdown master for an overseas label division is not a master tape. I think they cranked out at least 20 of these for every album, sent to Canada, Australia, the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, you name it.
True, but this is the only one which was copied at 30 ips.
Great to see this treasure in safe hands Andrew. Can only imagine how incredible it’ll sound when you get to play it. Delighted for you 🎉
There were Audio-5 labels (Side 1 & 2) taped to the rear of each box. These have been removed at some point, but some minor tape scars remain. Remember seeing info on this tape at auction and thought the probability of it ending up with Andrew at Parlogram was pretty high. It's reassuring to know it is in safe hands and not "lost" in an unknown individual's private vault. KUTGW
A beautiful piece of history from the last century, not only musically, but also culturally and you have it in your hands. Totally blessed that you managed to access these tapes and I hope that one day some masters can be legally cut to re-release SPLHCB with this unique mix and equalization. Congratulations Andrew!!! Greetings from Argentina :)
Absolutely correct concerning Ampex baking. BASF and 3M were not as prone to shedding, which is why most forward-looking studios spec’d those brands instead of Ampex. An ounce of prevention…
You're a left-hander Andrew! The most detailed unboxing of an item I have ever seen. I'm surprised you didn't show the guy delivering it! Best wishes Andrew for Xmas and 2024 from Oz.
How big of nerds are we when the suspense of taking it out of the main box was killing us?!
😅 True.
I felt the same way too, and I even just said so today in another earlier post! The suspense opening the box was killing me!! Andrew just comes up with some fantastic stuff, and I love his Beatles stories, facts 0:09 and videos, they are so informative and entertaining. I myself have collected over 200 original/ 1st press Capitol mono and stereo pressings of each of the US releases, as well as the Apple 1st pressings with the "subsidiary of Capitol" statement on side 2 of the labels, I have alternate label pressings and label errors of every US album variation with multiple copies of each. I also have a 3rd state STEREO "Butcher Album". A few years ago, JUST before COVID, I was able to acquire a NM MONO Capitol SPLHCB (1st press American release) and also just this past spring a NM MONO US Capitol copy of MMT, STILL IN THE SHRINK WRAP, both on eBay for $100 and $200 respectively , and last year most notably I scored a US 1st press NM original Apple White Album SUPER LOW numbered 0000926 ( for $1650- I outbid 56 other people) and I thought I was doing well, but Andrew has me beat by a long shot with this find!! Best wishes to you, from fellow Beatles fan George B in the Boston area!😊
Well, that certainly beats my polythene dust jacket from NEMS and Percy Phillips acetate (no, not THAT one) into a cocked hat. Thanks for the videos and have a great Christmas fella....
Cheers! You too!
As you are a Beatles collector etc, i am a Connie Francis aficionado. But things like this are extreme rarity with her extensive 3000 songs discography archive. I'm wondering if the EMI ABBEY RD have an archive inventory and her recording there in the 1959.
I would love to hear what it sounds like🎼🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
He probably won't, not even snippets. He never does from what I've seen. These videos are always just him showing a reel of tape and saying "ooo look!"
That master tape holds a lot of significance for me. I just checked my copy I bought here in Australia with my pocket money on the album's 20th anniversary when I was 9 and it has the same matrix numbers. Fortunately my dad taught me early how to properly handle and care for records, so mine is in great condition. It's a really good sounding record and the side 2 inner groove is complete - it scared the absolute shit out of me back then when my record needle failed to auto-return and I wasn't expecting it.
Who at EMI Australia is risking their job by selling these? Not illegal as Andrew said, but I would think the corporation would frown on this.
EMI hasn‘t existed since 2012, that‘s 11 years ago. I am sure that plays a part in it.
MY GOD! Pure gold.
Now this is an oddity - an actual master tape from the Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album that they used back in Australia for their releases. And it seems to be of the whole album, both A and B sides included. How _do_ you find these things?
Holy Crap Andrew! Santa is on his game this year!
Merry Crimble to all
I would kill to have these tapes in my possession. Congratulations, Andrew, for your new holy grail!
So if you could obtain a particular master tape, which one would it be and why? This find is amazing. I ain't asking what you paid for it but I bet it wasn't cheap!
There are so many clowns on you tube who tell us exclusive news we already know and in box records we already have and who dress up on the obligatory Beatle T shirt.
And then there is Andrew who gives us videos like this. Different class Andrew
Happy holidays Andrew
And thanks for the Beatles education
At 8:58, the capital letters of SGT. PEPPERS... that mark the label are in a very recognizable hand. That was Don Bartley who you recognized. Fascinating video.
Andrew, you're killing me with suspense...why didn't you play the opening of the box part AT DOUBLE SPEED???
Remix of Sgt Pepper is not in tune/A440. Have you noticed? Try and play along with Lucy In The Sky’s intro for example. The Remade Yellow Submarine Versions are in tune, but the new Remix of SGT Pepper’s is not. Why?
Another great Andrew! Amazing find. Good luck trying to find a deck that plays 30ips. I'm certain it will blow away my US Capital 7 1/2 ips copy that sounds pretty great.
So this would be the highest quality analog copy of the original master in existence?
🧿Was it acquired through auction? I know it is priceless, but how much is it REALLY worth? And how come EMI/Parlophone could lend/sell/give away these historical tapes (than save them in their vaults)? I hope you or someone can answer these for me.🧿
7:45 BASF more robust in long-term storage than sticky/shedding Ampex tape
So please, help me work out the ancestry here. The two reels in this video are first generation copies of the OFFICIAL mix down master reels? I'm wondering what about the North American market? I didn't see any mention of 1st generation copies for the USA in the box notes. Presumably they required LOTS of first generation copies to feed their market?
Isn’t it ironically funny that the visible, material things we’ve just viewed, just prior to being used, would have cost just a few pounds or so…but after being utilized by the Beatles & Associates they become invaluable, not just monetarily - but historically.
I would love to have a digital copy for my archive which I would never release because I can't I would be sued to death!
I have quite a bit of stuff like that FI Queens 25 track Ampex tape of Bohemian Rhapsody it was actually on RUclips in 2008! now... nowhere to be found! and lawyers would kill me if I even shared 1 track!
I paid 500€ just to realize i bought "Salt'n Pepper masking tape". Taught me not to do eBay at 3am...😉
Wow, that’s not just an amazing piece of music history, but history in general.
I'm sure that Audio-5 vinyl is a nice collectors piece but its physically impossible for any vinyl to have to fidelity & dynamic range of 30ips tape
So, as there are fourteen years between the original recording sessions and these tapes, how many generations removed from the original master tape are these? I did note the original distribution information from Abbey Road. How many generations preceded the tapes in the video (backups, safeties, etc.)?
That was interesting Andrew and thanks for clearing up the legal bit as that was my question throughout. Had visions of Abbey Road boffins demanding return of their tape.
Glad you enjoyed it, Seamus!
Why is everyone referring to it as THE master tape? It's not. It's a dub of the master tape, of of many that were made.
My Maxell reel to reel tapes are 48 years old. They are due for a play. Last time out of the box was 2 years ago.
Thanks for the show. I am really speechless.
6:50 question for professional archivists- would it not be appropriate to wear lint-free or specialty ‘archival’ gloves before touching historical materials?
Again great video, I really enjoyed it. It would be nice to hear some of it. Good luck on your search for a tape machine to play it on. Again thanks for the video.
All I can muster up as what to say about this video is...
"Oooooh..... Ahhhhh!!!"😮
Amazing! Mouth watering! Congratulations, Andrew. Big hugs from Uruguay.
Thank you very much, Gabriel!
I would be very dubious of the authenticity of these tapes. Scammers must be very aware of the value of these tapes. One would only have to get a hold of an old tape and record on it say using a CD or making a copy of an original copy. Even if the seller had an authentic version, they could copy it and send it to you in the original packing. I’d be interested to see what his method of authentication is.
With all the remix and remastered variants lately , WHERE is the Quad version? Someone needs to ask Apple or Giles !
I honestly think someone from EMI Australia should get this back, it should never ot been sold
Good purchase yes but distressing to see this in the possession of a private collector.
Great! Andrew, i noticed how you were emotionally driven !! Me too, watching The video! Really interesting! Happy Xmas to Andrew and everyone out there! Ciao
As a collector, I am jealous...but I must absolutely admit.....IF there is anyone who SHOULD have that master....it should BE YOU Andrew....as you deserve it!......AND I know it will be PROPERLY PRESERVED for posterity and perpetuity.....
So why BASF at EMI? Emiape must have been coming out of their ears.
Would it be valuable when the copyright runs out? Many years from now.
There's no way you know if that tape is authentic. All those recordings made from it probably degraded it quite a bit. Not sure what to make of all this. Where are all the other masters of their work
Merry Christmas 2023! The best channel ever! :)
Wow, thanks! Merry Christmas to you too!
Hi Andrew. Just the biggest jaw-dropping video you've ever put up. I sat there open-mouthed. Can't wait for the spectrograph video of this stunning tape.
Good! How about making a 4.0 Quad mix of it? That’d be awesome.
Very nice. The title of the video may have fooled me into thinking that you somehow got your hands on THE master tape, but this is certainly impressive, too.
Do yopu have the Beatles Help album with ,,Shell,,logo on it?????
Well I would think that this property of Emi or apple iam sure you are referring to to some legal loophole on the tape , now iam not accusing no one of any thing but iam sure somebody inemi just took it home without permission or they had permission and forgot to return it back like a book from a library I don’t know
...I wouldn't play it if not under specific safe conditions! 🙌🙌
I have an original metallica garage days demo cassette tape ! How much do you think its worth ?
Il s'agit évidemment d'une Copie 19cm/s de la bande Master originale à 38cm/s. En général quelques copies 19cm/s pouvaient être réalisées par EMI UK, pour l'artiste, pour un membre du groupe, ou pour un arrangeur etc... C'est une chance de posséder une Copie d'une bande master d'une œuvre que l'on aime, mais ce n'est pas la Bande Master. Toutes les Bandes Master 38cm/s appartiennent à EMI(Warner) et sont stockées dans les armoires fortes de la maison de disques.
Never seen any of your videos, but stumbled on to this one. Just curious isn't it illegal to allow these tapes out of the studio??
Studio often discard them when they are no longer required.
Having that shipped would be nail biting in its own right - you have to hope that no idiot put it near a highly magnetic source during its travels or its ruined for good..
We can’t all own Beatles artifacts like this, of course, but I certainly am thankful for people like you who not only acquire objects like this, but also share them with us via video. Thank you, Andrew!
What an amazing find! Now finding a calibrated 30ips machine to play it back on may be nearly as challenging as finding this tape was. Merry Christmas Andrew!