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Hex [2024 Refurb]: General Discussion

Anyone care to described the new effects? (In spoiler tags obvs)

I distinctly remember the spooky twig twinkling the whole time when I was there years ago
 
So not done reopened hex yet but been listening to the released music and have had a thought about some of the reviews on sound quality and would like the opinion of people more knowledgeable than me on audio (who knew).

Listening to the Hex theme on very high quality headphones there was a lack of base and definition, is it possible the original recording just isn’t up to being played on modern sound systems?

Basically is it possible that unless they re-record (which I don’t trust them to do at all well), will the Hex audio struggle in the digital age?
 
Dave said:
So not done reopened hex yet but been listening to the released music and have had a thought about some of the reviews on sound quality and would like the opinion of people more knowledgeable than me on audio (who knew).

Listening to the Hex theme on very high quality headphones there was a lack of base and definition, is it possible the original recording just isn’t up to being played on modern sound systems?

Basically is it possible that unless they re-record (which I don’t trust them to do at all well), will the Hex audio struggle in the digital age?
Click to expand...
Were you listened to it through Spotify? I only ask because Spotify currently does not support CD quality, or higher, fidelity. Relying, still, on a lossy (albeit high) MP3 codec.

I'm not sure how the original was recorded, but given the time frame it was likely to audio magnetic master tape (for the orchestration). This would provide a perfectly acceptable high fidelity recording.

What is likely to have happened is that the soundtrack has been digitised / ripped, initially poorly and rather than going back to the original tape we've just had enshittification iterations from the original mediocre / poor rip.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
I'm not sure how the original was recorded, but given the time frame it was likely to audio magnetic master tape (for the orchestration). This would provide a perfectly acceptable high fidelity recording.
Click to expand...
Was it actually an orchestra, or was it done with computer samples etc (I have no idea about audio terminology)?

It was apparently remastered for this year, but no idea other than that
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
Were you listened to it through Spotify? I only ask because Spotify currently does not support CD quality, or higher, fidelity. Relying, still, on a lossy (albeit high) MP3 codec.

I'm not sure how the original was recorded, but given the time frame it was likely to audio magnetic master tape (for the orchestration). This would provide a perfectly acceptable high fidelity recording.

What is likely to have happened is that the soundtrack has been digitised / ripped, initially poorly and rather than going back to the original tape we've just had enshittification iterations from the original mediocre / poor rip.
Click to expand...

I was listening on Apple Music if that makes any difference.
 
Mykeprime said:
Was it actually an orchestra, or was it done with computer samples etc (I have no idea about audio terminology)?

It was apparently remastered for this year, but no idea other than that
Click to expand...

Having spoken to Crispin a few years back, the vault track is a combination of live performance and samples assembled in Akai samplers (S6000).

The live voices were the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, recorded at Amphonic Studios in Surrey (RIP), and a 40 piece string section, recorded at Angel Studios in London.

In terms of the track - I would concede that it does lack a bit of fullness and depth (especially when comparing directly against comparable material). As has been said, this is probably down to loss of quality over the years - I highly doubt they got hold of the original stems for this "remaster". Given the quality of the original recordings, I would imagine that a lot more could have been done had they done so.
 
I got it downloaded from Amazon, sounds clearer than the old one I have, but probably reveals that the brass samples were always a bit more... 'eh' (technical term). Lower sound quality hiding some sins.
 
Dave said:
Basically is it possible that unless they re-record (which I don’t trust them to do at all well), will the Hex audio struggle in the digital age?
Click to expand...
Hex was produced digitally like most music post 80s and the new audio system will probably allow for higher quality digital playback than before. Hex's sound system in the vault sounded fine to me when I did it this week and more like it used to. If more bass was desired, so long as the sound system is capable it would simply need EQ adjustments which is a simple tweak.

I think possibly people are overthinking it too much, the sound quality of the Vault is one of the upsides of this revamp.

The branch doesnt have fairy lights, it has the same fibre optic effect it always had but now it comes on for the whole ride cycle and cycles rainbow colours. There is also a new star / snow projection effect at the end. Very ill fitting changes in my opinion. Based on the responses Ive seen online, the revamped Vault hasn't gone down well.
 
Euro Theme Park Archive said:
Hex was produced digitally like most music post 80s and the new audio system will probably allow for higher quality digital playback than before. Hex's sound system in the vault sounded fine to me when I did it this week and more like it used to. If more bass was desired, so long as the sound system is capable it would simply need EQ adjustments which is a simple tweak.

I think possibly people are overthinking it too much, the sound quality of the Vault is one of the upsides of this revamp.

The branch doesnt have fairy lights, it has the same fibre optic effect it always had but now it comes on for the whole ride cycle and cycles rainbow colours. There is also a new star / snow projection effect at the end. Very ill fitting changes in my opinion. Based on the responses Ive seen online, the revamped Vault hasn't gone down well.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I have seen a pov but not ridden so I am reserving judgement. But based on the POV I’m curiously optimistic about the lighting changes to the machinery (electrical cables) but the overuse of the fibre optics on the branch don’t appeal.

The rest the POV didn’t show very well.
 
Poisson said:
It's a mad Earl doing some Witchcraft based nonsense, having the branch light up isn't that extreme considering the entire room is spinning.
Click to expand...
Some may like it and others not but surely the new light show in the Vault (more than just the branch) is out of character with the tone of Hex.

I would still advise anyone to go in with an open mind but in my opinion the Vault additions detract more than they add. The branch fibre optics used to be a really nice touch at the end.
 
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It’s a change in vibe, but that’s the point.

The general public don’t respond well to subtlety, so the refurb leans into spectacle and bombastic, attention grabbing finales.

Is it to my taste as an enthusiast, perhaps not. But I’ve NEVER seen a full ride of guests as engaged in the finale as I did last Saturday
 
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