 Rank: Administrator Joined: 18/11/2008(UTC)
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Location: Indiana, USA
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A couple of friends were over today and one had a CD of SALT FOR SALT by BROWN BIRD. I have the LP and since he has gone totally digital [ it is his former LP12 I now use] he bought the CD version. We first listened to the CD; very clean sound with good bass; would have sounded great IF YOU HAD NEVER HEARD THE LP. When we switched to the LP the sound became somehow more complex; I get the definite impression the CD leaves something out. The music flowed better and I was drawn in in a way the digital did not do although it sounded fine taken on its own terms. I recommend both the CD and LP; samples can be heard on the net. It is filed under folk music but judge for yourself. I followed with TIME FURTHER OUT by DAVE BRUBECK; I have had that record since about 1965 and the grooves are actually quieter than the new BROWN BIRD LP. Still sounds good; it was played with some cartridges that audiophiles today would think quite primitive; although they were well respected in their own time. One cost as much as $50, an enormous sum then when typically cartridges were included with a turntable for one cent additional cost. "Those were the days my friend" etc.
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 Rank: HIFI Veteran Joined: 02/02/2009(UTC)
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Location: uk
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I wonder how the Brown Bird album was recorded? The old wisdom was digital masters- CD sounds best, analogue- LP. Obviously this is out of date due to the tiny amount of recording that stays analogue today. Obviously the Dave Brubeck would have been analogue.
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Rank: Administrator Joined: 18/11/2008(UTC)
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Location: Indiana, USA
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We wondered that also; liner notes these days don't seem to say much, in this case I am not sure there are any. The LP SOUNDS analog but ? One of my friends commented to this effect. He is a digital only man but prefers the sound of analog.
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 Rank: HIFI Addict Joined: 23/05/2009(UTC)
Posts: 99
Location: Liverpool
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This highlights a current problem I have with music issued . While I have no doubts as to the honesty and accuracy of what Stan is saying we really have no way of knowing if we are comparing like with like.
In many cases today when a recording is made two seperate masters are made one is flat for the CD the other is often sent to a special mastering suite / company for them to equalise the master suitable for LP creation. With the current price of LP releases being much higher than CD oftne a great more care is being taken with the LP mastering and the person doing it specialises in that sort of master and knows exactly what the result will be to the changes they make.
CD in the past have often been produced with a factory using the LP doctored master for the CD realease(the first run through of Joshua Tree is a famous instance of this ) . Now as all masters are given numbers and logged why can we not have a proper note on the back of each CD / LP that identifies how the master was made and which version was used to produce the CD .
if we knew that then Stan could indeed make a real comaprison of one over the other and he could comment on what is really the difference between tow mediums and that is the mastering . |
System Theta Data Basic II Transport , Perpetual Technologies PA-1 Upsampler, PA-3 Dac , Concordant Exhillirant Pre ,Krell KSA50 Power , Harbeth Compact II Monitors . |
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Rank: HIFI Veteran Joined: 04/10/2008(UTC)
Posts: 538
Location: Oxford
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And of course LPs are produced which are mastered from a CD, how hilarious.
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Hans |
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Rank: Administrator Joined: 15/07/2008(UTC)
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talking of CD mastering
I keep trying what I regard to be a good composition
Clocks by Coldplay
I want to like it but the massive compression just gets in the way
what could, would, it sound like, with some natural dynamic expression, and not pushed hard against the wall as it is?
Herbie Hancock 'Gershwin' ( way underrated this one ) is great , plays at ARC volume 50
Clocks plays at just 18 it is so compressed, (up limited)
Elbow CDs are just the same
Great music making ruined in final production
Maybe we could convince them to do some audiophile versions , not the director's cut
...........but the musician's cut
With these productions all you need is an Apple iPod on a bus , there is not much more to get .
I also found the latest Neil Young reissues devoid of dynamics
Plays loud for sure, ...alllllllll the time
Martin Colloms
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Rank: Administrator Joined: 19/09/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,668 ![United Kingdom]( "United Kingdom") Location: UK Thanks: 8 times
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Totally agree, we need to get this message over to people who care about music and sound, this modern mastering style just ruins it for me and I am sure for others who care about music
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