The new version of Steely Dan’s album Aja was reissued just a few days ago, the 2023 edition. This is therefore a reissue but also, in this case, a remastering (by Bernie Grundman). The album is available in an UHQR (Ultra High Quality Record) vinyl edition, 45 RPM (LP), 200-gram pressing, for the hefty price of $150 US.

We could start by saying that an album can be reissued without necessarily being remastered, but before diving deeper, it’s important to first understand (briefly) what mastering is for a song or a complete album in order to grasp the nuances.

Mixing

Once a song has been mixed—meaning all the instrument and vocal tracks have been balanced against each other to achieve a pleasing sound balance, processed with equalizers to reduce masking between elements, and effects like reverb and delay have been tastefully applied—the next step is mastering this mix, now consolidated into a single stereo track.

Mastering

Mastering provides a fresh, critical perspective, allowing someone to listen to the mix as a whole. It can be difficult to step back after spending 12 hours or more mixing a song. The mastering engineer listens to the track to assess the overall balance. For example, it may need more bass, more high frequencies, or different compression to add energy.

Mastering also ensures that the track’s volume level is competitive with other songs played on the radio or distributed through online platforms like Spotify.

Mastering is the stage where the mix is polished, optimized, and finalized. Sometimes, it simply results in a confirmation from the mastering engineer that everything is perfect and no further adjustments are needed (which is rare), or it can significantly enhance the unmastered version.

Remastering

So, what is the difference with remastering? In general, it is the exact same process, but applied to the original unmastered recordings for a reissue. As mentioned earlier, it is entirely possible to reissue an already mastered version without returning to the original recordings.

One of the main reasons an artist may want a track or album to be remastered is to take advantage of the latest audio processing technologies, which allow for finer control of the final product, better suited to today’s playback and distribution systems.

Music mastered in the 1970s was optimized for turntables, in the 1980s and 1990s for CD players, and in recent years for streaming services, Bluetooth speakers, and earbuds.

Going back to the unmastered tapes also allows the engineer to get a better sense of the original intent of the recording and potentially be more faithful to it.

It’s worth noting that sometimes only an already mastered version is available for a digital or vinyl reissue (a situation I often encounter). While this is more limiting, it is still possible—and even advisable—to perform remastering from this mastered version, as playback and audio processing technology has evolved over time.

Another reason for remastering is that an artist may want to change the structure of a track, adjust the balance of instruments, or clean up certain noises. Modern technology even allows for “demixing”—separating different instruments in an existing track and creating a new balance, such as bringing the vocals forward.

The remastering process takes all these factors into account and more. It is both a work of enhancement and preservation.

So, does this mean the latest version is necessarily the best? Not always.

I own three versions of Steely Dan’s album Aja: an early CD version, probably from the late 1980s, a 1999 remastered version, and the newly released 2023 digital distribution version.

All three versions sound different, especially depending on the track. Trends change, and today, there is a movement against excessive compression (limiting audio peaks to increase volume)—a battle against the loudness war.

The latest version has the lowest overall volume level and the least frequency correction applied. It sounds the most “natural.” However, if taken to the extreme, the final version may lack excitement or “punch.”

Mastering, and remastering, are also somewhat subjective processes, and ultimately, the most important thing is meeting the client’s expectations.

If you have a reissue or remastering project, feel free to contact me to discuss your needs.

You can also visit this page to discover examples and excerpts from completed projects.