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Question about Avocado, Backspacer vinyl

Black Circle SpinBlack Circle Spin Posts: 55
edited May 2011 in The Porch
Hi all, long time no post!

Despite my bitchin' user name, I am a vinyl enthusiast in spirit only. I like my digital music collection, as I lack the funds for a nice turntable / speaker setup, and I only own a handful of vinyls.

I might consider splurging on modern PJ vinyl in particular, but I have a question for the audiophiles here. I'm a big anti-compression guy. I dislike the mastering on newer records. I love Avocado and Backspacer, but I hate the CD's over-compressed sound. My question is this: Is the vinyl mastered equally as loud?

If anyone doesn't know what I'm talking about, google the "Loudness Wars" or watch this pertinent example: http://youtu.be/-v6ML2DsBfA

I know that Bruce Springsteen's 2007 "Magic", for example, has about 15 to 20 percent more dynamics on the actual record than it does on the CD / mp3. Not much, but it still makes a huge difference in how enjoyable the album is to listen to. So, has anyone actually ripped the newer PJ vinyl to digital and compared the waveforms?

Depending on the day, Avocado is my favorite Pearl Jam album, so if I can hear it in even greater capacity than I will get a record player in no time. If the sound isn't any "better" on the vinyl (no analog vs. digital debate here, I'm more concerned with having dynamics than "warmth"), then I won't bother to put down my hard-earned pay for the vinyl and just stick to my CD and Ipod.
I'm not too concerned with PJ20, because I celebrate the band's existence every year.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • joely_91joely_91 Posts: 795
    I'm not sure on the opinion of the avocado vinyl (dont own it either) but I've read that the backspacer vinyl is actually mastered from the cdrip.... and sounds worse then the cd.....my ears arent that good at distinguishing completely but I can definately tell that the vinyl version of amongst the waves during the chorus sounds so muddy. I suppose its nice to have the vinyl for novelty factor, I spin mine on the off occasion. This whole analogue and digital thing does my head in....and the loudness war is stupid really detracts from what could be a good sounding album/song. Someone may be able to post waveforms of the lossless versions of the vinyl and cd against each other for you though.
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Eddie-Vedder-to-Perth-2011/106914609379873
  • Digital TwilightDigital Twilight Posts: 5,642
    Avocado is the same as the CD
  • Jokertt14Jokertt14 Posts: 2,566
    what they do when the make a CD is . chop the highs and lows .

    when you play vinyl its all there no loss :mrgreen:
  • Better DanBetter Dan Posts: 5,684
    jokertt wrote:
    what they do when the make a CD is . chop the highs and lows .

    when you play vinyl its all there no loss :mrgreen:


    Not necessarily true :(
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  • Vedd HeddVedd Hedd Posts: 4,620
    Better Dan wrote:
    jokertt wrote:
    what they do when the make a CD is . chop the highs and lows .

    when you play vinyl its all there no loss :mrgreen:


    Not necessarily true :(

    Correct.

    I really dislike the compression on the Avocado vinyl. Backspacer, its not as detectable, but still not what I would expect out of a vinyl.

    The re-releases sound better to me. But the original vinyls sound the best, as they have recorded them with the full spectrum, and the vinyls include that.

    I think the way they recorded Avocado determined its fate for the vinyl.
    Turn this anger into
    Nuclear fission
  • FatalFatal Posts: 821
    I'm far from an expert on this stuff, but my understanding is that both of these records are mastered from the CD rip.

    Kind of a strange practice coming from a band that claims to love the format so much.
    Shows: Montreal 98, Barrie 98, Montreal 00, Montreal 03, Montreal 05, Ottawa 05, Toronto 06, Vancouver Night 1 08 (EV), Vancouver Night 2 08 (EV), MSG1 08, MSG2 08, Montreal Night 2 08 (EV), Toronto Night 1 08 (EV), Toronto 09, Hartford 11 (EV), Ottawa 11, Ottawa 16, Ottawa 22.


  • Vedd HeddVedd Hedd Posts: 4,620
    Fatal wrote:
    I'm far from an expert on this stuff, but my understanding is that both of these records are mastered from the CD rip.

    Kind of a strange practice coming from a band that claims to love the format so much.


    Agreed. Perhaps it was the independent thing, and they didnt have the equipment? Where Sony could provide that stuff for them?
    Turn this anger into
    Nuclear fission
  • Black Circle SpinBlack Circle Spin Posts: 55
    I appreciate the feedback guys. Looks like I will have to wait for PJ40 and hear the reissued Avocado on brain implant ;)
    I'm not too concerned with PJ20, because I celebrate the band's existence every year.
  • mcthudmcthud Posts: 366
    Wow. Some cool info on this thread, guys. So is using the cdrip for the vinyl common Monkeywrench practice or no? I find it odd as well that the Avocado and Backspacer albums were done this way.
  • joely_91joely_91 Posts: 795
    mcthud wrote:
    Wow. Some cool info on this thread, guys. So is using the cdrip for the vinyl common Monkeywrench practice or no? I find it odd as well that the Avocado and Backspacer albums were done this way.

    Not sure myself....the tres mountains album doesnt sound to bad on vinyl....havent heard the cd though.... and I'm assuming that the LOXL tracks were taken from the digital flac files.... It's strange reading that some records pressed from digital masters can sound just as good as analogue and then other people think its not possible.....I guess in a perfect world it would all be recorded to analogue tape and wouldnt even see a computer during the different stages and wouldnt be mastered extremely loud.
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Eddie-Vedder-to-Perth-2011/106914609379873
  • Black Circle SpinBlack Circle Spin Posts: 55
    I did a little digging, and according to a seemingly knowledgeable person at the Steve Hoffman forum (some dude who does like....stuff), Backspacer on vinyl does have more highs and lows. I also found that this issue has been discussed previously here at The Porch:

    viewtopic.php?f=4&t=112620&start=15

    I guess that about wraps her up. I'll get the vinyl, and hope for the best.
    I'm not too concerned with PJ20, because I celebrate the band's existence every year.
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