Question about contemporary vinyl

[andyjm]

Having just invested in my first turntable for twenty three years I am keen to build on my existing yet modest collection of vinyl from the eighties.

Does anybody here know whether modern master recordings are digital or analogue? It struck me that if contemporary artists are recorded and mastered in the studio in a digital format then the lacquer which is cut will be a reproduction of a digital format. Am I way off the mark here and does it really matter in terms of experiencing the full analogue chain?

Thank you everybody. A wealth of knowledge and extremely interesting stuff which goes a long way to clarifying why vinyl may have a "different" sound signature. So it sounds as if the use of digital recording and mastering has been integral to the vinyl production process for many, many years, and that there is nothing to really be concerned about with contemporary vinyl and re-releases.

Very much so. Given that performance-wise the CD is far superior to the LP, it is very interesting that many prefer the sound of the LP. Perhaps the pre-processing, cutting and stamping process masks or enhances certain sounds which result in a sound listeners find pleasing.

The classical music fraternity still seem to prefer CD, but they are lucky enough to have access to masters that haven't been 'improved' for listening on iDevices.

 

[Frank Harvey]

A few tend to post links to how vinyl is made/mastered to try and put doubt in some people's minds, but for me, the more I see posted on the negative side, and the more I learn about exactly how it has been made, along with the issues throughout the production process, it only serves to impress me more and more as to how close vinyl can get to digital's reproduction quality. In theory, with all the benefits touted for digital, it should leave vinyl behind in a dust cloud - so why doesn't it?! Listening to both, it should be quite clear as to which is the supeerior technology - like comparing VHS to Bluray.

 

[keeper of the quays]

I won't be purchasing these new lps..ill stick to my charity shop ones..

 

[davedotco]

A few tend to post links to how vinyl is made/mastered to try and put doubt in some people's minds, but for me, the more I see posted on the negative side, and the more I learn about exactly how it has been made, along with the issues throughout the production process, it only serves to impress me more and more as to how close vinyl can get to digital's reproduction quality. In theory, with all the benefits touted for digital, it should leave vinyl behind in a dust cloud - so why doesn't it?! Listening to both, it should be quite clear as to which is the supeerior technology - like comparing VHS to Bluray.

You just have to make the right comparisons.

If you took a top quality recording of acoustic instruments, with minimal compression and other 'production' it would be quite obvious which is the superior technology, like, mmmm, comparing VHS to Bluray perhaps.

But of course vinyl is not like that, even 'good' recordings are heavily compressed, bandwidth limited and noisy, that is just the way it is.

Over the years vinyl players have developed to make the most of such recordings, mechanical playback 'modifies' the music and this gives it a sense of perspective, distance even, that smooths off the edges and whether by accident or design gives the playback a sense of reality that 'works' for many listeners.

Good vinyl playback can, and often does sound fantastic, I have absolutely no issue with that and for many/most listeners that is more than enough. Quite right too, but understand that a discussion of how and why this is the case is not a criticism, but simply a discussion by those people interested in such things.

And no. Just because some have an interest in such 'technical' matters, does not mean that they do not enjoy the music, that is just nonsense.

 

[Frank Harvey]

And no. Just because some have an interest in such 'technical' matters, does not mean that they do not enjoy the music, that is just nonsense.

Have I implied that?

 

[davedotco]

And no. Just because some have an interest in such 'technical' matters, does not mean that they do not enjoy the music, that is just nonsense.

Have I implied that?

Of course not.

It was a general comment about an attitude that appears to be quite widely held that technical know how and interest somehow precludes an interest in music. That is indeed nonsense.

Given that I quoted your post, it was perhaps an inappropriate statement to made in that particular instance. Certainly not implying that you said anything of the sort.

 

[BigH]

I think links were posted about vinyl production as it seemed clear from some comments that they had no idea about the problems of producing a record and the vinyl limitations. It was not meant to confuse people but educate them. The problem with many cds is the remastering or mastering of them and this is the annoying thing about the music industry. Fortunately jazz and classical don't tend to suffer these problems. Problem with vinyl is the cost and getting a decent quality pressing.

 

[andyjm]

A few tend to post links to how vinyl is made/mastered to try and put doubt in some people's minds, but for me, the more I see posted on the negative side, and the more I learn about exactly how it has been made, along with the issues throughout the production process, it only serves to impress me more and more as to how close vinyl can get to digital's reproduction quality. In theory, with all the benefits touted for digital, it should leave vinyl behind in a dust cloud - so why doesn't it?! Listening to both, it should be quite clear as to which is the supeerior technology - like comparing VHS to Bluray.

A very good point. It is a miracle that vinyl sounds as good as it does - although to be fair they have been at it for over 140 years. Given that the performance of vinyl is measurably worse than CD, it would make an interesting study to see what it is that makes listeners prefer it. Is it what it misses out or is it what it adds in relative to a CD that listeners prefer?

 

[steve_1979]

One album I bought recently on vinyl was Sound City, Reel to Real which was the album Dave Grohl and his mates made using the old Sound City desk which Nevermind was recorded on and which Dave bought when Sound City went bust. He made a documentary of it and I recommend anyone who's interested in analogue recording watch it. So I know that that album is entirely analogue! Good album too IMO.

A very interesting documentry too. I watched it yesterday.

 

[Frank Harvey]

One album I bought recently on vinyl was Sound City, Reel to Real which was the album Dave Grohl and his mates made using the old Sound City desk which Nevermind was recorded on and which Dave bought when Sound City went bust. He made a documentary of it and I recommend anyone who's interested in analogue recording watch it. So I know that that album is entirely analogue! Good album too IMO.

A very interesting documentry too. I watched it yesterday.

And if you enjoyed that, or enjoy any music related documentaries, Grohl's Sonic Highways series is highly recommended too, even if you're not keen on the Foo Fighters. Eight 1 hour documentaries, plus 2/3 hours of extras. More about the history of music in eight cities across the US.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

It sounded great, but it just had something about it - a certain "glassiness" to the sound, is the best that I can describe it - lacking a bit of sweetness. Thinking about it now, it reminded me of Michael Jackson's Bad, which I find soulless. Maybe it's just showing its age.

I don't know enough technically to contribute to this thread, but I do like to see someone correctly distinguishing between "its" and "it's"! *dance4*

 

[steve_1979]

One album I bought recently on vinyl was Sound City, Reel to Real which was the album Dave Grohl and his mates made using the old Sound City desk which Nevermind was recorded on and which Dave bought when Sound City went bust. He made a documentary of it and I recommend anyone who's interested in analogue recording watch it. So I know that that album is entirely analogue! Good album too IMO.

A very interesting documentry too. I watched it yesterday.

And if you enjoyed that, or enjoy any music related documentaries, Grohl's Sonic Highways series is highly recommended too, even if you're not keen on the Foo Fighters. Eight 1 hour documentaries, plus 2/3 hours of extras. More about the history of music in eight cities across the US.

I saw a couple of episodes of Sonic Highways which were quite good but they didn't hold my attention as much as Sound City.

 

[woodster]

I think almost all albums are recorded digitally now, but they are usually recorded at very high sample rates and bit depths so I don't think you would notice any of the issues associated with digital mastering. Pro Tools has been used since the mid eighties and I don't think there are many tape based studios left.

One album I bought recently on vinyl was Sound City, Reel to Real which was the album Dave Grohl and his mates made using the old Sound City desk which Nevermind was recorded on and which Dave bought when Sound City went bust. He made a documentary of it and I recommend anyone who's interested in analogue recording watch it. So I know that that album is entirely analogue! Good album too IMO.

You are bang on there with the Sound City LP and docu, great recordings by some great artists