Audiophile witch hunt or basic common sense?

[Kenneth Fernandes]

Lots of bands still record to tape, and it's more trendy than ever. But very few mastering studios still use it. So I can only imagine that most tape becomes a wav once the mix is finalised.

A standalone large OLED touchscreen mixing console with responsive feedback could play an important role, so the audio signal from analogue instruments and vocals are converted digitally only once and then digitally mastered and recorded and stored in the highest possible digital formats for the most linear analogue to digital conversion.

 

[twinkletoes]

Yes, CD was produced to give higher quality sound. It preserves more of the original recording, while vinyl doesn't. I can't believe you think early CDs were analogue. It's a digital format. CD has the resolution to capture most of the information held on tape. It's a closer approximation than vinyl. Vinyl cannot hold the same amount of information as CD. When you transfer an analogue recording to vinyl, it doesn't have the capacity to hold this information. CD is able to hold more information transferred from analogue tapes. It really is incredible that people still insist vinyl is a better format than a more recent one, such as CD. People don't like CD, because it reveals the limitations of poor recordings, while vinyl will flatter these shortcomings. If you don't like CD, you're listening to poor recordings. New studio recordings on CD sound amazing and are totally wasted on vinyl. Every single technical aspect of CD is superior to vinyl. These are facts and I still believe the reason people are fixated with vinyl is because of the ritual and 'lifestyle' associated with this format. People bang on about the sleeve notes and the packaging. That's fine if you are into this stuff, but it doesn't add anything to the sound quality.

Technically, CDs are neither digital nor analog. However, they can be considered both simultaneously. Until read and compiled by a computer, CDs are essentially nothing.

It is not solely because CDs sound better that CD where created, increased durability was a massive driving force with CD’s development. they also have numerous industrial applications as we all know. The primary factor was their cost-effectiveness and speed of manufacture and thats the bottom line. Its could have easily been a poor VHS type product but it just so happened they actually sound pretty good.

Vinyl records cannot store the same amount of data we no know this everybody knows this. However, CDs and digital media have been repeatedly compromised by the “loudness wars.” While I am not suggesting vinyl is a superior format, the limitations imposed by the format make it a more preferable medium in some cases. For instance, Death Magnetic’s vinyl pressing actually sounds better than its 2000s CD release. The CD is unlistenable by comparison.

“New studio recordings on CD sound amazing and are totally wasted on vinyl.” Are they? As mentioned above, it is not always a given. It is not as straightforward as that. I have music that sounds great on pre recorded mini discs, even the early examples of which are extremely compressed to fit on the medium. Even the humble cassette had its moments and Id put them up against CD counter part and challenge you to tell them apart.

Additionally, I own some modern vinyl that sounds incredible. Leftfield’s “Rhythm and Stealth” is much better sounding than its 1998/1999 CD release. DJ Shadow’s “Introducing” received an incredible remaster on vinyl that is not available on CD and there is no ticks or pops again id challenge you to tell what medium its being played back on in blind test. But granted there are some CDs that sound out of this world but in my experience especially in the POP mainstream its a rare experience.

It is evident why individuals prefer vinyl records over streaming services. Contrary to popular belief, it is not solely driven by nostalgia, as many individuals in their thirties grew up with digital music and transitioned to low-quality streaming options iTunes for example. The primary reason for vinyl’s appeal lies in its superior sound quality compared to streaming services like Spotify. For these individuals, CDs are considered “old hat,” while vinyl represents a novel and tactile experience that most of those 30 somethings have never experienced.

Some may argue that streaming services offer a more convenient and accessible listening experience. However, it is important to note that vinyl offer a unique and immersive listening experience, you cant just skip to a track and dot around all over the place, you have to listen you have to engage. The mechanical needle employed in vinyl playback contributes to the overall sound quality, allowing for greater control over the listening experience allowing you to tune to taste. So yes it does add to the sound quality experience.

While personal preferences play a role in media consumption, it is undeniable that vinyl records provide a more substantial support for artists compared to streaming services. By purchasing CDs or vinyl records, individuals can directly contribute to the success of lesser-known artists and thats a great thing and maybe thats major contributor to vinyl resurgence as its been suggested many dont listen to there purchases, treating them more like posters than media so there's that.

As I said above its just another Bob trying to tell me/us how to enjoy our hobby.

 

[plastic penguin]

I can't be bothered to watch these type of vids. There's always been so-called comparisons between different formats - I've lost count of discussions over the years on this forum. I embrace any format, if that's over simplified, so be it.

 

[Al ears]

For now and in the future, I’m sure no Studios are going to go back to full analogue recordings. Digital recordings and distributions in similar or higher audio formats are the future, like >32-Bit 96 kHz PCM audio tracks.

You might be wrong....

 

[Kenneth Fernandes]

You might be wrong....

Just like different music genres there could be two distinctive and separate groups. One is the analogue group with artists and composers producing music solely for analogue music on vinyls. And the second digital group with respective music artists and composers who produce and distribute their music only on digital platforms. That way the music awareness among masses would be phenomenal with discrete likeness to individual artists pertaining to those separate groups.

 

[Al ears]

Just like different music genres there could be two distinctive and separate groups. One is the analogue group with artists and composers producing music solely for analogue music on vinyls. And the second digital group with respective music artists and composers who produce and distribute their music only on digital platforms. That way the music awareness among masses would be phenomenal with discrete likeness to individual artists pertaining to those separate groups.

There are indeed companies that still record using analogue production onto vinyl, unfortunately they are limited in the genres they produce and, as such, it's an expensive business.

 

[good_enough]

Yes, CD was produced to give higher quality sound. It preserves more of the original recording, while vinyl doesn't. I can't believe you think early CDs were analogue. It's a digital format. CD has the resolution to capture most of the information held on tape. It's a closer approximation than vinyl. Vinyl cannot hold the same amount of information as CD. When you transfer an analogue recording to vinyl, it doesn't have the capacity to hold this information. CD is able to hold more information transferred from analogue tapes. It really is incredible that people still insist vinyl is a better format than a more recent one, such as CD. People don't like CD, because it reveals the limitations of poor recordings, while vinyl will flatter these shortcomings. If you don't like CD, you're listening to poor recordings. New studio recordings on CD sound amazing and are totally wasted on vinyl. Every single technical aspect of CD is superior to vinyl. These are facts and I still believe the reason people are fixated with vinyl is because of the ritual and 'lifestyle' associated with this format. People bang on about the sleeve notes and the packaging. That's fine if you are into this stuff, but it doesn't add anything to the sound quality.

Recency of invention has nothing to do with anything - MP3s are also a more 'modern' format than LPs.

The comparison on 'quantity of information' is a knotty one. On the one hand the dynamic range of LPs is lower than CDs, meaning that you'd only need 11 or 12 bits to capture it. On the other, LPs can deliver frequencies up to 40KHz which would require a 80KHz sampling rate to capture (simple maths).

So a pristine well pressed LP could deliver the equivalent of a 80Khz/12 bit digital recording, versus the CD's 44Khz/16 bit. The situation is complicated because the all-analogue recording path would be targeted (naturally) at that golden 20 to 20 range, meaning that the upper frequencies are tailed off. In other words you get a tapered profile above 20KHz on a LP and an absolute hard stop at 22KHz on the CD, with only silence above.

Up to you whether you want to argue the toss about which has more 'information'. But the difference in sample rate soon adds up - if you said an LP was only reproducing up to 25KHz, then that's a 50KHz sample rate, and you're comparing 50,0000 x 12 bits per second versus 44,000 x 16 bits per second. Again simple maths says if you get 29KHz out of the LP, you have the same data rate or 'information' as your CD. Whether that matters two hoots is in the ear of the listener. Coincidentally my Hana cart is rated to 30KHz meaning that on a level, straight road, it just pips your CD on data rate. Who'd have thunk it?

I would suggest that quality of reproduction equipment plays more of a factor than any of this. On good kit you can hear a poorly mastered CD and a well mastered first pressing LP and prefer the latter to the former. Or vice versa. I've said it once and I'll say it again - the only answer to the question 'which is best, CD or LP?' is 'Which CD? And which LP?'.

Those of us blessed with decent replay equipment for all formats exploit the facility to pick up music here there and everywhere. If buying new recordings I invariably buy CD (unless there's something distinctive about packaging, or it's vinyl only).

Old stuff I frequently buy on LP if I see something I like, and I don't feel short-changed on sound quality.