Perhaps if after multiple attempts of analysis one can't determine whether or not there is a channel assignment error, and if so, what layout makes the most sense, that's a sign that a quad mix wasn't done all that great.
Being a GRT cart, it makes sense to be wary of the channel assignment.
Things that jump out as possible signs of an assignment error:
In Hocus Pocus, the vocals are on the left, with reverb to the right. If one were to think that the vocals should be anchored to the front or back, that would suggest a swap of a diagonal pair, with GRT I believe front right to back left is an error that comes up. That would also put another vocal part in the rear, panning back and forth between the back channels, instead of panning back and forth between the right channels.
But....I'd go as far as to suggest following this logic to do the fr/rl swap would be a rookie mistake.
After all, the stereo mix of this song does do a stereo effect of vocal to one side, reverb to the other. Was it decided to keep this in the quad, resulting in what we see? I'll need further evidence before making a swap.
And then we get to some areas that have common elements between the diagonals, which is often a sign of a channel assignment error. But that requires a non-diagonal swap to correct. Tyipcally, with GRT, that would mean swapping the lefts.
Ok, swap the lefts, and you still have vocals to the left, reverb to the rights, and flute to the front, instead of split to front right/rear left. This also "fixes" the track that follows, that has diagonal paring channels.
But, then you get to "Moving Waves", and the vocal now moves around the room in an X due to the "correction"
As we've learned, sometimes diagonals is a valid mixing choice. And also, sometimes X's are a valid mixing choice.
So now we're playing a game of....guess the mix?
Ok....did anyone in the past analyze this and come to a conclusion? A forum search turns up a reference to a conversion with "corrected channels".....(I suppose I could track that down and see what "correction" was used there)
But....I"m starting to lean towards, leave it alone, and consider the diagonal pairs a mixing choice. Seems more likely than the X panning.
Anyways, I've gone through this exact same dilemma/process multiple times now, which is why the Teac recorded files continue to be closed, forgotten, not worked on.....until the next time I decide, come on now, you can figure this out, just open it up and take a listen....how complicated can it be to figure out what someone behind a mixing boards was thinking 40 something years ago.......
Anyways, that's my line of thought. Anyone have anything to add to this?
Being a GRT cart, it makes sense to be wary of the channel assignment.
Things that jump out as possible signs of an assignment error:
In Hocus Pocus, the vocals are on the left, with reverb to the right. If one were to think that the vocals should be anchored to the front or back, that would suggest a swap of a diagonal pair, with GRT I believe front right to back left is an error that comes up. That would also put another vocal part in the rear, panning back and forth between the back channels, instead of panning back and forth between the right channels.
But....I'd go as far as to suggest following this logic to do the fr/rl swap would be a rookie mistake.
After all, the stereo mix of this song does do a stereo effect of vocal to one side, reverb to the other. Was it decided to keep this in the quad, resulting in what we see? I'll need further evidence before making a swap.
And then we get to some areas that have common elements between the diagonals, which is often a sign of a channel assignment error. But that requires a non-diagonal swap to correct. Tyipcally, with GRT, that would mean swapping the lefts.
Ok, swap the lefts, and you still have vocals to the left, reverb to the rights, and flute to the front, instead of split to front right/rear left. This also "fixes" the track that follows, that has diagonal paring channels.
But, then you get to "Moving Waves", and the vocal now moves around the room in an X due to the "correction"
As we've learned, sometimes diagonals is a valid mixing choice. And also, sometimes X's are a valid mixing choice.
So now we're playing a game of....guess the mix?
Ok....did anyone in the past analyze this and come to a conclusion? A forum search turns up a reference to a conversion with "corrected channels".....(I suppose I could track that down and see what "correction" was used there)
But....I"m starting to lean towards, leave it alone, and consider the diagonal pairs a mixing choice. Seems more likely than the X panning.
Anyways, I've gone through this exact same dilemma/process multiple times now, which is why the Teac recorded files continue to be closed, forgotten, not worked on.....until the next time I decide, come on now, you can figure this out, just open it up and take a listen....how complicated can it be to figure out what someone behind a mixing boards was thinking 40 something years ago.......
Anyways, that's my line of thought. Anyone have anything to add to this?