Aha. Here we go:
Just wanted to post something that relates to a misunderstanding regarding the new Steven Wilson remixes of TFTO.
In another group a person wrote that he understood that on CD 2 the second track (Dance Of The Dawn New Mix) had been duplicated and that the studio run through is missing.
The same person also suggested the same error is duplicated on the Blu-Ray.
Now this created a bit of discussion in that group for obvious reasons, so one Jerry Ritz wrote to Panegyric Recordings and received a reply from Declan Coglan.
In an attempt to clear up this concern / confusion, and with Jerry's permission, I'm reposting the letter here but before we get to that, my understanding is that there is no Dance of the Dawn run through to go
Missing - Declan says the Rhino "run through" was a rough mix. He also says it could not be found for this release so he put the Rhino final mix of DOTD in instead.
Anyway here it is:
"A number of comments about Tales From Topographic Oceans CD2 & Blu-Ray have been brought to my attention in the last day or two which need to be addressed.
1) I tested these discs & I personally approved all of the content on them.
2) There are no "defects" on these discs. However, some decisions taken in the final days of mastering are inaccurately represented in the printed copy of the booklet & the disc labels. These will be addressed & altered in any future pressings.
3) When the authoring process of this album was started, with Neil Wilkes at Opus, we were confident that a 50GB dual layer disc (actually 45GB of usable space) would hold all of the music I wanted to include. This was the same point at which final authorisation was being given for the artwork. On that basis, I listed all material at 24/96.
4) When the final numbers were added up, it became clear that we would run out of space. A simple decision was required with choices: remove some material - needle drops (for example), include the (amazing sounding, in my opinion) original master not at 24/192 but at a lower 24/96 bit rate (again, a compromise I rejected) or, retain all material with the 'lesser quality' (in terms of original source audio) included at 24/48 resolution.
5) I took the decision to allow the latter material to be included at the lower rates.
6) I also took one further decision. When a suitable source file for the "studio run-through" (actually an early rough mix) of "Dance of the Dawn" from the Rhino 2003 remaster couldn't be found, I opted instead to include the better sounding "Dance of the Dawn" final mix from the same edition.
7) In the rush to meet all of the deadlines involved, I neglected to get the artwork altered. Simple error.
8) Both mixes, Steven Wilson's 2016 mix of "Dance of the Dawn" & the Rhino 2003 master are included on the discs.
Claims that the two tracks are 'merely repeats' are, factually, incorrect.
9) All of the key material: all 2016 Steven Wilson mixes; stereo, 5.1, singles edits & instrumentals - are included, as mixed, in 24/96 with no compression, mastering or alteration to that which emerged from Steven's studio. The original master is presented - again, with no compression, mastering, or alterations from the source transfer at 24/192. The additional material, a full album of alt takes & two full album needle drops, is included at 24/48.
Again, claims that the original master transfer appears at 24/48 are, factually, incorrect.
I'll happily apologise for the misprints in the booklet. But the discs are not defective in any way & I stand by the claim that this is the best sounding & most comprehensive presentation of this album to date.
Should anyone wish to miss out on the best sounding original master of the album ever issued or Steven Wilson's considered (& in my opinion wonderful) stereo & 5.1 surround mixes by not buying a copy because the additional material is included at a lower bit rate than erroneously & mistakenly stated in the booklet, that's entirely their choice.
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Finally, to address a concern raised in the same thread about earlier discs in the series & a claim that the label "did nothing about it" with regards to XTC’s Oranges & Lemons & Yes’ Fragile - XTC not playing on SONY PS3 & Yes playing - but without menu functions - on the same players. I had extensive contact with Sony over several months regarding this issue. Sony's tech team examined the discs & could find no flaw with them. Indeed, had the masters not complied with Blu-Ray spec, we could never have manufactured them. Any master that does not comply with Blu-Ray specs can't be manufactured. Sony was unable to explain why the discs would not function on PS3 (and a couple of same generation Sony Blu-Ray players). That this issue could not be resolved for those who only had access to those Sony machines was a disappointment. However, as a label, this issue was pursued on behalf of customers over several months & to a far greater extent than would, I believe, have been the case with many labels facing a similar issue with a hardware/equipment issue.
Declan Colgan
Panegyric Recordings"