This is the grey area. Officially, Peter Gabriel’s store does not sell a file tagged “upd.” So where did it originate?
The most credible theory points to a Qobuz or HDtracks regional re-issue in late 2012 (November/December). Some European distributors received corrected master files after complaints about the initial summer 2012 release. A user on a private tracker purchased the corrected files, ripped them with Exact Audio Copy (EAC) or dBpoweramp, verified the AccurateRip database, and then shared them with the note “UPD” to distinguish them from the botched first edition.
Alternatively, it could have been a vinyl-rip of the 2012 “Real World Half-Speed Master” that was subsequently converted to 24/48 FLAC. However, most evidence points to it being a genuine digital master download—vinyl rips usually carry “24/96” or “24/192.”
[Verification] Matches the original "PGCDR 5" high-res stereo master. [Source] DVD-V (LPCM 24/48 Stereo) – NOT the Dolby Digital track. peter gabriel so 2012 flac 2448 upd
Note to moderators: This is the official 2012 high-resolution stereo mix, not a vinyl rip or an AI upscale.
Download / Magnet Link: (Placeholder)
As of 2025, the 24/48 version occasionally appears on: This is the grey area
Avoid “2002 remaster” FLACs – they are 16/44.1 and heavily compressed. Look for the 2012 Real World catalog number: RWCD1 (digital).
This is the highly sought-after 2012 "Upd" (Update) pressing of Peter Gabriel’s masterpiece, So. Unlike the standard CD remaster or the 2002 SACD, this specific 24/48 FLAC rip originates from the limited DVD-Video layer of the So (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition).
Why the 24/48 "Upd"? This specific transfer bypasses the heavy compression found on the standard 2012 CD remaster. The "Upd" (referring to the updated 2012 stereo mix for high-res video) retains incredible dynamic range (DR12+) and offers a much wider, deeper soundstage than any previous digital release. It is widely considered the definitive digital version of the album by collectors. Note to moderators: This is the official 2012
Why 24/48 and not 24/96 or 24/192? Cynics call 24/48 “high-res lite,” but engineers know it’s often the most honest transfer.
Most digital audio workstations (DAWs) in the mid-80s were locked to 48kHz for video compatibility (the DAT standard). The original digital master tapes of ‘So’ were almost certainly mastered at 48kHz. Therefore, a 24/48 FLAC is a direct, sample-for-sample clone of the studio master. A 24/96 file would require upsampling, which adds no new information—only empty digital “space.”
The 2012 “upd” 24/48 FLAC is special for three reasons: