Does any have any preferences as to whether they prefere the Digicube prints of Squaresoft soundtracks vs. the newer Square-Enix label prints?

If there is no difference between them, I'd take Digi-Cube CDs since they might have scarcity value due to being out-of-printed.

Seriously, it all depends. what I noticed about SQUARE-ENIX reprints I have (FFT and FFTA) is their cases look cheaper than Digi-Cube. Also, I hear SF2 has an additional liner note (and some tracks are renamed) and Vagrant Story gets remastered.

I don't really have a preference; if the music is all there I'm good - unless there is a MAJOR difference (i.e. VS)

Still, it is nice to have an original print of something - I'll pay more for original print of something than a reprint respectively, but it's not a necessity to me. As long as it's legit I'm good.

I can't speak for the other albums, but the remastered Vagrant Story was a disaster. Stick with the original DigiCube printing on that one if at all possible.

What happened on the remastered that went so horribly bad, going by this?

http://www.gamingforce.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7292

Basically, the remastering does away with the reverb, not to mention changing the balance of volume between samples.  Having owned the reprint for a time, the difference is quite noticeable.  It sounds much more flat and artificial when compared to the original mastering.  In essence the ethereal and majestic qualities are diminished, and the misrepresentation of a score as great as that of Vagrant Story is a crime in itself.

Well, I'm no expert on audio and remastering, but it's a much drier sound. The original album had some echoes built in that gave the music a fuller, slushier feel. It helped cover up some of the synth limitations and give the music its unique feel.

The remaster does away with all that, and essentially leaves the naked synth with no echoes and a very crisp sound that shows off every flaw in the software and sounds like it was recorded in a closet.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

EDIT: I think Megavolt put it better than I did.

Ugh, and I just ordered the Vagrant Story reprint, too...shouldn't be too bad if I haven't heard the Digi-cube version in the first place though, right?

...

Heh, forgot to put in my own chimes.

I've noticed the packaging has definitely been degraded, and that the inserts and cover graphics have been printed on cheaper, cardboard-like, possibly recycled paper, which doesn't have that glossy texture, or that "new insert" smell.

Also, I liked the disc graphics that were originally used. While the present disc graphics for the SQEX prints are rather coordinated, well...I guess I just like the original disc graphics better; they were more formal-styled, while the graphics for the new prints seem too casual.

Just curious... Which tracks got renamed?

~Andy

I totally remember nearly every Digicube release past the very earliest ones having crappy non-glossy cardboard inserts.  Are you sure the Square reprints are just reprints using the same material the old ones used for later releases?

I'm not the best person to comment on this, since I have only the Digi Cube copy. I just saw someone saying such and can't recall where it was, for the life of me.

So, I'll edit this later if I find the post again.

EDIT: Okay, I found it. According to my online acquaintance's blog,   

"Roman" becomes "Romantik".
"Freudenbezeigung"s become "Freundschaftsbeziehung"s.
"Hauptmann" becomes "Der Hauptmann".
"Unmacht" becomes "Ohnmacht".

Although I've studied German in my university for 4 years, I completely forget it. So, I have no idea why they had to change.

For reference to Hamauzu,  it's also rumored "Judy's theme" and "Anxiety for Wonders" are listed other way round on the Unlimited Saga soundtrack. If that's true, these two tracks will most likely be reversed when it's reprinted from SQUARE-ENIX.

They are. I have had a few of them, and the quality was no less than the DigiCube ones. I have also owned both Vagrant Story albums concurrently, and the only difference in the packaging that I noticed was that the reprint's case was a normal single-CD-size, 2-CD case, while the original had a more sturdy jewel case. I can also say that the SaGa II OST was printed on the same high-quality rice-type paper as the original DC release.

I don't understand how "the packaging has definitely been degraded". Have you owned the original DigiCube albums to compare the reprint(s) to? That "cardboard-like" paper was standard for a lot of DC releases.

Yes, the Digi-cube prints I got were nice, shiny, and glossy!

Final Fantasy X
Xenosaga Episode I
Unlimited SaGa

And pretty much the whole slew of PSX RPG OSTs! E.G., all those that had SSCX catalogue numbers).

Well, some original DigiCube prints weren't so shiny and glossy like the ones you mentioned. The ones that were printed on flat paper were reprinted on the same paper, so there was no downgrading on the packaging whatsoever. I would assume that the shiny ones were reprinted with the same or very similar material as their original print.

Wow, those changes to the SF2 OST are fairly important.

"Unmacht" means, essentially, to "Unmake." But "Ohnmacht" means Faint.

Roman to Romantik is obvious. "Roman" generally refers to a story, or novel. Romantik = Romantic.

That big word is essentially the victory theme. The meaning goes from Freuden (Joy) to Freundschaft (Friendship, Companions). So in one it's like, "Joyful Celebration," and in the new listing it's "Celebration among Companions."

of course, that little change with Hauptmann isn't a big deal. "Der Hauptmann" just adds "The" to it.

Thanks for noting those differences!

Ramza