1990s to Present: All-Analog Recordings

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.

Comments

  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,300
    Juliana Hatfield's 1995 Only Everything is not only all-analog, but a terrific album! The vinyl re-issue on the Run Out Groove label is also all-analog. 

    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • ZodZod Posts: 10,657
    Just because something digital doesn't mean it's cd quality.   If they pressed a high res digital copy (say like the ones Pearl Jam sells for concert shows) I would guess it would be fine.  I'm not sure ears are good enough to hear the difference... it's amazing quality.

    I like vinyl because I like collecting stuff, I love just putting something on the record player.

    but I also love digital and anytime I'm not playing music at home I'm using digital.

    but yah... I think many analog tapes and what not were lost, destroyed etc. too. because no one thought they'd be needed because at the time everyone loved cd's, and cd's can be replicated byte for byte.

  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,300
    I don't know this for a fact, but I've heard most vinyl Third Man record releases and White Stripes releases are all analog.
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • LB260405LB260405 Posts: 62
    I'm right there with you, Zod. I've got the collector's itch. And, unfortunately, a completist's itch, as well. But it is a fun hobby.

    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.
  • LB260405LB260405 Posts: 62
    Scenario:

    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?
  • Cropduster-80Cropduster-80 Posts: 2,034
    edited March 2022
    brianlux said:
    I don't know this for a fact, but I've heard most vinyl Third Man record releases and White Stripes releases are all analog.
    If they are I wouldn’t say the pressing/recording quality for most of their stuff is overly great. 

    I’ve got many, many non analog records that sound better than every one of my third man albums.

    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 
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,225
    As I’ve gotten older I’ve gotten less precious about Analog v digital. I just want something to sound good. I like vinyl because it’s fun. Chasing audio purity is a fools errand. 
  • jerparker20jerparker20 St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,512
    edited March 2022
    As I’ve gotten older I’ve gotten less precious about Analog v digital. I just want something to sound good. I like vinyl because it’s fun. Chasing audio purity is a fools errand. 
    +1

    Most people don’t have the ears to differentiate the differences between digital and analog sourced records (unless it’s a truly bad recording/heavy compression), nor do they have the proper rigs (or willing to pay for one) to get the sound. I do have the ears and the rig to know if a pressing is shit though regardless of the source material.
  • LB260405LB260405 Posts: 62
    I completely agree, Tim. I just want an album that I purchase to sound good. Unfortunately, I have been burned many times by the vinyl format. I have also found gems on vinyl that completely blow the CD version out of the water quality-wise.

    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.
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,225
    LB260405 said:


    Yes, vinyl records are fun. But does the fun outweigh the fact that the recording may sound like garbage? 
    Always
  • May 30thMay 30th Posts: 1,761
    LB260405 said:
    I completely agree, Tim. I just want an album that I purchase to sound good. Unfortunately, I have been burned many times by the vinyl format. I have also found gems on vinyl that completely blow the CD version out of the water quality-wise.

    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.
    Totally agree with you regarding playing cds. 
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,300
    LB260405 said:
    I'm right there with you, Zod. I've got the collector's itch. And, unfortunately, a completist's itch, as well. But it is a fun hobby.

    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.

    Fantastic, LB!  Always good to hear of another Juliana fan.  One of her earlier works here from when she was in Blake Babies is one you might like.  It's one of my favorites!

    Blake Babies ‎– Innocence And Experience

    Genre:
    Style:
    Year:


    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    The Juliana Hatfield Three FTW!
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 49,988
    edited March 2022
    LB260405 said:

    TMR really makes me wish I had a good reason to go to Detroit.
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
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