1990s to Present: All-Analog Recordings
LB260405
Posts: 62
in Other Music
Disclaimer: I do not play music professionally, nor do I record or master audio files. My guess is that you do not do any of these things, either. Opinions are just that -- opinions. If someone misspeaks, please give them a break. We are all humans. With that being said, let's have some fun with this one.
I just read that there are very few records from the 90s to present that use all-analog recording and mastering. I also read that even though a record's hype sticker says "cut from the original master tapes", it does not mean that it was recorded all-analog -- apparently, there is digital tape. Also, even though a band may have recorded to analog tape, there is a good chance that it was converted to digital in post.
That got my gears turning -- why would anyone want digital files cut onto an analog medium (vinyl)? Sure, it may sound good. But even the slightest speck of dust will make it audibly inferior to the CD/FLAC/WAV/etc.
The reason we all love vinyl is subjective. It's the "warmth", right? I don't have an answer to this question. But when the music was not mastered from an analog source onto an analog medium, is that warmth really there? Or is it all in our heads?
I'd like to get a good discussion going on this topic. I am really interested to get people's opinions on modern, digital music cut to vinyl. Is it really worth the extra cost? I'd also like to get a list going of albums from the 90s to present that were recorded all-analog.
I'll go first. The reason I started overthinking this subject is because I just found a copy of Analog Sparks' cut of The Cranberries "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?". Apparently, this one is all-analog. I'm really looking forward to hearing it. I also read that Steve Albini is an analog-only producer, so that puts Nirvana "In Utero", PJ Harvey "Rid of Me", and Pixies "Surfer Rosa" on the list. It appears that Rage Against the Machine's eponymous debut album is a candidate for this list, as well.
I just read that there are very few records from the 90s to present that use all-analog recording and mastering. I also read that even though a record's hype sticker says "cut from the original master tapes", it does not mean that it was recorded all-analog -- apparently, there is digital tape. Also, even though a band may have recorded to analog tape, there is a good chance that it was converted to digital in post.
That got my gears turning -- why would anyone want digital files cut onto an analog medium (vinyl)? Sure, it may sound good. But even the slightest speck of dust will make it audibly inferior to the CD/FLAC/WAV/etc.
The reason we all love vinyl is subjective. It's the "warmth", right? I don't have an answer to this question. But when the music was not mastered from an analog source onto an analog medium, is that warmth really there? Or is it all in our heads?
I'd like to get a good discussion going on this topic. I am really interested to get people's opinions on modern, digital music cut to vinyl. Is it really worth the extra cost? I'd also like to get a list going of albums from the 90s to present that were recorded all-analog.
I'll go first. The reason I started overthinking this subject is because I just found a copy of Analog Sparks' cut of The Cranberries "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?". Apparently, this one is all-analog. I'm really looking forward to hearing it. I also read that Steve Albini is an analog-only producer, so that puts Nirvana "In Utero", PJ Harvey "Rid of Me", and Pixies "Surfer Rosa" on the list. It appears that Rage Against the Machine's eponymous debut album is a candidate for this list, as well.
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-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Analog music exists in the world. It is actually cut into the plastic. In order to play a vinyl record, all one needs to do is spin the disc with a stylus on it. It is faint, but it is there. A preamp boosts the sound to give us the audio. So, in my mind, analog recording cut to an analog medium makes all the sense in the world.
A CD, or any other digital music, needs a DAC (digital to analog convertor) in order to bring the sounds into the real world. When converting that digital file to analog by pressing it onto vinyl, I would think that there is some sort of loss in quality. And if there is no loss, it is still digital on plastic. Maybe someone with more knowledge could shed some light on the subject.
At the end of the day, I do realize that the mastering is really what makes a recording sound good to our ears, be it analog or digital. A band could play a perfect set, and it could be ruined by an inexperienced mastering job.
And thank you, brianlux! I just listened to a few tracks off of Only Everything. This is the first I've heard of Juliana Hatfield. Her sound is right up my alley. I'm going to seek this one out. And it would not surprise me at all to find out that Jack White is an all-analog enthusiast.
Anyone else? I mentioned Analog Spark earlier. I have Blind Melon's Soup and Nico from them and, damn, do they sound fantastic. I'm not sure if Blind Melon recorded all-analog, but Analog Spark really made these records shine.
A band goes into the studio to record an album. They decide to record using both analog and digital techniques. When finished recording, the same person does the mastering for both versions, and the vinyl records are cut by the same plant. Which of these final versions sounds best?
1. The analog recording cut to an analog medium (vinyl)
2. The digital recording converted to analog and then cut to an analog medium (vinyl)
3. The digital recording (I am including both CD and WAV/FLAC in this category, as that is another can of worms that should probably not be opened in this conversation -- ha!)
Again, this is subjective. "Best" is ultimately up to the listener's ears. But does option #1 give us that "warmth" that we all love? Does option #3 give us the ultimate in clarity and sound stage/separation? Is option #2 the same quality as the CD/WAV/FLAC in option #3?
I suspect most of it isn’t audiophile to begin with so to my pretty untrained ears it seems like it’s not quite as simple as analog is automatically better as there seems to be a ton of other variables as well
I guess I'm just looking for a way to vet the recording before purchasing. Will the vinyl record sound best? Does the CD sound just as good as the FLAC file? If so, why pay extra for the high-definition digital file when new CDs sell for $10 these days? Used can be had for $2-3 on Discogs!
I recently purchased the Cambridge Audio AXC35. I had always thought of the CD as a convenient way to listen to music (Walkman back in the 90s, crappy car stereo, clunky/noisy 5-disc changer, etc.). When I setup the AXC35, I was absolutely stunned. It brought my CD collection new life. It must have something to do with Cambridge's DAC. I'm now struggling to make my vinyl collection sound as good as my CDs, which was never the case on my previous setup.
Yes, vinyl records are fun. But does the fun outweigh the fact that the recording may sound like garbage? I guess that's just the risk music fanatics take. Streaming is always a way to alleviate the uncertainty, I suppose. But I'm not ready to take that plunge just yet. Haha.
Blake Babies – Innocence And Experience
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
TMR really makes me wish I had a good reason to go to Detroit.