Is "the vinyl revival" a scam?

Autor

Beitrag

Shahrukh
Inventar

#1 erstellt: 10. Aug 2010, 10:30

The other day, as I was browsing through the ever increasing titles in Rhythm House's new(??) vinyl section, I came across a title which was... wait for it.... DSD REMASTERED!!

As I ignored that album and moved on, I came across some good ol' Beatles LPs. All fresh, sealed, Apple labeled and everything. It was when I was waiting at the cash counter with my soon-to-be proud possessions, did I note the fine print. This album has been created from superior sounding digital files. (or something to that effect).

Irritated, I put these back in the rack and left the shop. After all, if I wanted to listen to digital versions, I'd listen to the new remastered 24/44 Beatles flacs or even pop in an SACD if I wanted DSD. (Plus, wasn't the whole idea behind DSD to make a more "analogue sounding" digital format?)

This has raised a few questions:

1) Is the vinyl revival merely an attempt to combat piracy by the record companies? - You can't duplicate vinyl, we all know that!!

2) Is it a con job? These guys merely "press" digital files on to vinyl and say "its the way it was meant to be heard".

3) Why is new vinyl so expensive? Is it purely to make up for the record company's losses?

4) And finally, are "DSD mastered" vinyls a way of saying that digital has indeed conquered analog?

I love listening to vinyl and those who know me know that I invest a large part of my "hobby budget" on vinyl. But this has really, really got me thinking.

Your opinions please.

Shahrukh
Inventar

#2 erstellt: 10. Aug 2010, 10:37

Manek, I hope I've posted in the correct section.

Arj
Inventar

#3 erstellt: 10. Aug 2010, 10:51

Now there are going to be people buying it and then say digital is better.

ani
Stammgast

#4 erstellt: 10. Aug 2010, 13:05

Shahrukh,

Lucky that you have noted the digital processing in the mastering chain of LP's before you purchased them.

There are many digital remastered albums which may not be true analogue. The master tapes may be analogue and we have to keep in mind that there are only a few analogue mixing facilities available. I belive that even the famous Abbey Road studio have gone fully digital.

Mark Knopfler's Studio is said to have a full analogue desk along with the good old tape recorders.

If you are buying new pressings look for non remastered new stampings of classics or the original pressings (just like NOS in tubes)

Be carefull with tight cling film covered LP, the extra tension of cling film can wrap the dics badly.

Shahrukh
Inventar

#5 erstellt: 10. Aug 2010, 13:41

Ani,

That's you and me. We'll go into the fine print and check. What about the Joe Public? Aren't they being taken for a ride?

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#6 erstellt: 10. Aug 2010, 19:16

Shahrukh ... Thanks for the pointer.

I am "public joe' too...

Fortunately I have not (yet) bought a TT....

herculepirate
Stammgast

#7 erstellt: 10. Aug 2010, 20:56

Any website or Store that offers TRUE analog LP's ???

Regards

HP

Shahrukh
Inventar

#8 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 09:26

All do. But you gotta check fine print man.

My fear is... what if its not mentioned?

Manek
Inventar

#9 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 10:57

Sharukh

You want to make sure you want an lp which has got all its processing done in the analogue domain ?

Buy and old lp :-)

On a Serious note sharukh, one ought to expect a little bit of digital processing on an lp made in these times. There is no escape.

Does the lp still sound better than the cd counterpart ? Maybe

Manek

abhi.pani
Inventar

#10 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 11:36

ani schrieb:

Mark Knopfler's Studio is said to have a full analogue desk along with the good old tape recorders.

Slightly off topic, but is that the reason his solo albums all sound more analougish ? Looks like a dumb question but couldnt hold the curiosity

ani
Stammgast

#11 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 11:56

Hi Abhi,

I dont think Mk albums sound "analogish" because of his studio having such a desk

The old school tonal balance that he and his team tries to get may be the reason why you might have felt so.

They have released Kill to Get Crimson albun on Vinyl from a pure analogue recording. But one cannot be sure of 100% pure non digital domain now a days.

On a different note.. How many vinyl play back systems can bring out to notice that a quality digital processing has been done before pressing it on vinyl ?

abhi.pani
Inventar

#12 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 12:03

ani schrieb:

The old school tonal balance that he and his team tries to get may be the reason why you might have felt so.

Yea, that sounds more logical

Shahrukh
Inventar

#13 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 12:32

Yes, you have to credit a certain Mr Ludwig for it too.

abhi.pani
Inventar

#14 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 12:40

Shahrukh schrieb:

Yes, you have to credit a certain Mr Ludwig for it too.

Not sure about it. AFAIK, Mr.Ludwig had remastered all the Dire Straits Albums. I have them, they were European Pressings. When I compared Mr.Ludwig's work with the original work which I have in Japanese Pressings, I could not understand what he is appreciated for

. He still has a long way to go

.

BTW, is Ludwig also involved in mastering the Solo albums of MK ? I will check it up today anyway.

Shahrukh
Inventar

#15 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 14:02

Yes Abhi, I think he is. When you say "pressings" you mean vinyl, right?

bombaywalla
Stammgast

#16 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 14:40

Just my 2 cents worth - I have bought a few re-issued LPs off Music Direct & all of them seem to be off the originl analog masters. One of them happened to be "Kind of Blue" re-issue by Classic Records on 180gm vinyl.
So, I'm thinking that the vinyl revival is not totally a scam but, as always, caveat emptor!

abhi.pani
Inventar

#17 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 15:11

Shahrukh schrieb:

Yes Abhi, I think he is. When you say "pressings" you mean vinyl, right?

CDs.

goolimangala
Hat sich gelöscht

#18 erstellt: 11. Aug 2010, 15:38

It all depends on the mastering engineer not on the mastering technology how a vinyl record sounds. I own for example a DDD-Record on CD and on vinyl: Aaron Neville - Warm your heart....one of my favorite pop records. The vinyl record which is mastered by Bernie Grundman and reissued by Classic Records sounds much better than the CD which is mastered by Dough Sax. Though Dough Sax is also considered one of the real good mastering engineers in this business.
Regards,
Jochen