Relationship Type "Is a Remaster Of"
Link Phrases
release or track is a remaster of release or track
release or track has remastered version(s) release or track
Description
This relates two tracks or two releases, where one is a remaster of the other. A remaster is a new version made for release from source recordings that were earlier released separately.
Hu? What does the fact "separately" have to do with this? Am I reading this wrong? IMO, should just read: "A remaster is a new version made for release from source recordings that were previously released". Please AnswerMe. -- dmppanda 2007-05-22 09:51:47
This is usually done to improve the audio quality or adjust for more modern playback equipment. The process generally doesn't involve changing the music in any artistically important way. It may, however, result in tracks that are a few seconds longer or shorter.
In many ways, a remaster is similar to a remix. The difference is usually that a remix involves more restructuring or rearrangment of the music, in a way that is artistically significant. See RemixRelationshipClass and RemixMeansDifferentThings for more information about this.
If the music has not just been remastered, but also re-recorded, then the OtherVersionRelationshipType is more appropriate.
In line with the DontMakeRelationshipClusters principle, all remasters of a single work should link to the earliest released version.
This AdvancedRelationshipType is part of the AlternativeVersionRelationshipClass.
Relationship Attributes
None are appropriate.
Examples
The release ![[WWW]](http://wiki.musicbrainz.org/-/musicbrainz/img/moin-www.png){kind=small}
Waves (the Bossa Nova Session) (Sacd) is a remaster of the release Waves - The Bossa Nova Session. SACD is an upgraded version of the CD format, with better audio reproduction, so new versions have to be remastered to take advantage of the format.
In 2001 Judas Priest released remastered versions of their releases. For example Hell Bent for Leather is a remaster of the original 1979 version.
The Depeche Mode CD New Life contains two versions of the single: the release version and the 7" version. Hmm, I'm still not sure what the relationship is here... --MatthewExon
Discussion
Should re-releases of remasters be linked to the original release, the first release of the remaster, or both? What about a re-release of a remaster of a re-recording? 
(see also EarliestReleaseRelationshipType and OtherVersionRelationshipType).