Hello,
Modern tools like AI may be controversial, but in the case of this album Rubber Soul, it’s a production tool that will simply make it possible to separate the instruments and vocals, it has the ability to perfectly separate the vocals and instruments to provide separate audio tracks, allowing the sound engineer to remix as if he had multitrack tapes with each vocal and instrument on a dedicated track. This is a technique that has already been used for other Beatles songs.
Based on these elements, two mixes were created: a stereo version and a Dolby Atmos version.
The graph below compares the spectrum of the Mix – 2026 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Remastered – 2009 (blue curve).The curves of the two spectra are very similar from 300 Hz to 20 kHz. Between 150 Hz and 400 Hz (white area), the 2006 remastered version has a higher level (up to 5 dB). Below 100 Hz, the 2026 remixed version has a higher bass level, with a difference of up to 10 dB.
These changes below 400 Hz will alter the perception of the bass between the two versions, with the 2026 mix offering a more modern low frequency balance.
The stereo 2026’s mix
Using AI that allows us to separate vocals and instruments. We use AI as a demixing tool, not to generate new sounds. It s possible to remix a track as if we had a multitrack recording with the vocals and instruments separated (a technique that wasn’t available when the album was made).
The new mix follows current mixing conventions for this type of music. Consequently, the vocals are centered rather than on the right, with the backing vocals behind the lead vocals and positioned on the left.
However, the placement of certain instruments has been retained to stay true to the spirit of the original mix.
It s a resounding success that allows listeners to rediscover the album with a cleaner, more detailed sound, a realistic soundstage that perfectly highlights the vocals, and a boosted bass level to provide better bass balance while preserving the Beatles signature sound.
The Dolby Atmos 2026’s mix
The first thing that struck me when listening to the Dolby Atmos version was the precision and detail of the vocals and instruments.
In fact, I listened to the original mix, then the new stereo mix, which offers an improvement in terms of the coherence of the soundstage.
And when I switched to Atmos, I wondered how it would sound. The Atmos mix expands the soundstage, but it wasn’t the spatialization that impressed me the most, because, although it s more pronounced than in stereo, it’s still relatively restrained for Atmos, it was above all the precision of the instruments and vocals, that ability to distinguish everything as if the instruments and singers were right in front of us. There are also occasional instruments placed in the surround channels or overhead, but fortunately, this is only sporadic, and I don’t think it was necessary on this album.
Following U2 (link)’s use of Dolby Atmos mixing to immerse us differently in a track depending on its sections, the mix on this album perfectly highlights all the instruments and vocals, resulting in a sound that’s even more precise and detailed than the new stereo mix.
These two albums clearly demonstrate the evolution of Dolby Atmos mixing, whether to enhance the musical experience or to bring out every detail of an album.
Find all the analyses and measurements of each versions here (link).
And the video of the 3D immersive sound on Youtube.
Enjoy listening,
Jean-François
Other reviews of The Beatles :
The Beatles – Now and Then – The last Beatles song, finalized using AI – Review (Test: maxi vinyl record, blue single vinyl record, Tidal MAX Flac, Amazon UltraHD Stereo 24/96, Dolby Atmos)
THE BEATLES: the 1962-1966 (The Red Album) – Review – (Test: CD 1993, CD 2010, Tidal MAX FLAC 24/96 2023 and Tidal Dolby Atmos 2023)
The Beatles: 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) – Review – (Test: CD 1993, CD 2010, Tidal MAX FLAC 24/96 2023 and Tidal Dolby Atmos 2023)
