Bookshelf speakers for Bollywood music

[prem]

Yes. This makes me very angry at the situation. No wonder people say Vinyl is superior to CD. In fact if you listen to the old songs on Vinyl, you will exactly hear the difference like the Aaa…aaa’ in the Yeh Ratein Yeh Mausam song. The lower quality Youtube version the 'Aaa...aaa' reveals the pronounced vibrations in Lata's vocal chords. The better quality YT Music version of the same song, the vibrations of Lata's 'Aaa...aaa' is substantially muted.

It would be good idea to ask @prem as he has a SOTA vinyl rig, if this song 'Yeh Ratein Yeh Mausim', has the same variations on vinyl, as heard on the Youtube version. I too have this vinyl. Probably I will listen to this in the coming weekend and find out.

I will try and hear in the weekend and revert. I have this song only in a Asha Kishore compilation lp which is very average or one might even say below par sounding. They tried to fit in many songs in the lp and as a result it’s not good sounding.

 

[prem]

For guys looking to build a digital collection of old Hindi film songs, my suggestion is either track down old Bollywood CDs made in England or track down VCDs of old films made in the 90s and digitise the songs from those VCDs. The songs do have some generation loss but on the flip side they sound authentic.

What you are hearing on those YouTube song videos is probably a version of the VCD

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

or track down VCDs of old films made in the 90s and digitise the songs from those VCDs.

That’s a good suggestion. I have 90s films’ audio CDs released by Tips in the last decade - they sound good enough. But let me try getting one VCD and comparing the audio quality with those.

What about the 70s or earlier songs we hear on YouTube, @prem? Where have Shemaroo and Ultra sourced their content from, because it sounds good on their YouTube channels, far better than the streamed versions. Did they digitise from the original film tapes?

 

[prem]

That’s a good suggestion. I have 90s films’ audio CDs released by Tips in the last decade - they sound good enough. But let me try getting one VCD and comparing the audio quality with those.

What about the 70s or earlier songs we hear on YouTube, @prem? Where have Shemaroo and Ultra sourced their content from, because it sounds good on their YouTube channels, far better than the streamed versions. Did they digitise from the original film tapes?

I meant films of 60s and 70s released on VCDs made in 80s and 90s. Not VCDs of 90s films.

Chances are it would have been sourced from tapes given to DD and satellite channels for telecast. In those days they were usually transferred on Beta tapes.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Speaking of really old and rare Hindi film songs, has anyone checked out Javed Raza’s YouTube channel ‘Melody is Always Queen’?

https://youtube.com/@javedrajamelodyisalwaysqueen

The way he has arranged the songs in videos, with pictorial introduction to all the artists and posters of the given film makes for a highly viewable experience.



And his audio quality is decent too, sounds bit analogish.

Give it a try!

 

[prem]

I just heard Yeh Raaten Yeh Mausam on vinyl. The feel of the song is more along the lines of the video song, the one which sachinchavan15865 liked

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

I just heard Yeh Raaten Yeh Mausam on vinyl. The feel of the song is more along the lines of the video song, the one which sachinchavan15865 liked

Thanks for the confirmation.

I meant films of 60s and 70s released on VCDs made in 80s and 90s. Not VCDs of 90s films.

Chances are it would have been sourced from tapes given to DD and satellite channels for telecast. In those days they were usually transferred on Beta tapes.

Ah, ok. Anyone knows where those VCDs might be available? Of older Hindi films (40s to 70s) but made in the 90s. Which labels to look for them in?

 

[Chandan]

Hi friends! Its been a long time since I was here. Was looking for Warfedale 12.1 in the net and saw it is available in HifiMart! Surprised to find out that this site is promoted by HifiVision! Do members of HifiVision get some discount in HifiMart?

 

[alpha1]

Those keen on Bollywood (of for that matter even other Indian languages) old film songs (till the 70s) try listening to the video tracks on YouTube (not the same as audio track on YT music). The audio streaming apps (even lossless of Apple and Tidal) have versions (re)mastered for CD/radio whatever and they just miss the soul of these songs. OTOH the audio-video tracks on YouTube are so much more emotive. Even the bass and instruments are livelier. Even if YT might have lower resolution, I tend to enjoy the old songs there. What more, if you watch on TV, you also get a Chitrahar effect.

For example, this song. Listen to both versions and see the difference.

Apple Streaming (audio) version:

YT Music streaming (audio) version:

YouTube (audio-video) version:

Just compare the ‘Aaa…aaa’ at the start by Lata. The one in the video is so much more textured. The two audio versions have flattened those nuances taking away the ‘taralta’ I’m Lata’s voice. Of course it may not be true with all old songs and also depends on the YT channel that uploads.

Somewhat related ... why do older hindi songs always have two versions (you can hear this difference within youtube itself)?
One version will always sound higher fidelity (extended frequency range with clarity in >5000 Hz spectrum) and slightly lower in pitch.
The other version will always sound lower fidelity (poor / reduced spectrum > 5000 Hz) and slightly higher in pitch.

 

[ajuvignesh]

Hi friends! Its been a long time since I was here. Was looking for Warfedale 12.1 in the net and saw it is available in HifiMart! Surprised to find out that this site is promoted by HifiVision! Do members of HifiVision get some discount in HifiMart?

Hifimart runs this forum.