Re: DJ Preference

From: Dave Haynes (gvcontact@hotmail.com)
Date: Fri Mar 30 2001 - 20:36:54 CEST

  • Next message: Dave 'n' Val: "Re: Napster"

    You do need to be careful when mastering onto vinyl. Some people assume that
    CD will sound exactly the same when put onto vinyl - but there are always
    gonna be distortions. People seem to forget this nowadays. You will probably
    not notice a lot of it - but when you get the test pressing back and play
    them out over a decent system you could be disappointed. However as long as
    you account for this and you have a good engineer then it usually isn't a
    problem.

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Chris Widman <chriswidman@hotmail.com>
    To: <acid-jazz@ucsd.edu>
    Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 6:35 PM
    Subject: Re: DJ Preference

    > For those who don't know, vinyl sounds better than standard CDs for
    several
    > reasons...
    >
    > First off, vinyl has a greater dynamic range (75db) and frequency response
    7
    > Hz to 25kHz resulting in that more detailed, nuanced and "warm" sound.
    This
    > is probably more noticable on a large or hi fi sound system that can
    > reproduce near the full frequency range.
    >
    > As Keyser has said before, some pre-digital records will never sound
    better
    > than thier original vinyl form. This is because, back in the day, albums
    > were made in recording studios and mastered onto analog (magnetic) tape.
    The
    > analog tape was then cut onto record. No analogue to digital convertion.
    >
    > [OT: One of the brilliant things about old blue note records and CD
    releases
    > is that they were mastered to two track tape! So when you hear the CDs
    there
    > is no remastering...its just as recorded. one of the first label sounds to
    > emphasize the drums & hi-hat properly]
    >
    > The difference is can be visualized by comparing an actually photographic
    > print to a photographic reproduction in a magazine. If you look at a photo
    > in a magazine it looks nice, but if you look very close you will see that
    it
    > is composed of a fine pattern of dots. This is a convienent way to fool
    the
    > eye just as a CD is a convienent way to fool the ear at 44.1 million
    samples
    > per second and for all due puposes its probably the best way for most
    > people.
    >
    > And finally to answer Richard's question...
    >
    > At 12:29 PM 3/30/01 +0000, richard n wrote:
    > >Am I right in assuming the common consensus that vinyl has better quality
    > >than cds? I am wondering how this can be when, before being pressed, the
    > >music on vinyl is *already* in digital form. If you take an audio tape
    and
    > >convert to cd, its not going to sound better than the original. So why
    does
    > >digital music converted to vinyl feel better than cds? cheer richard
    >
    > This is because most producers, who know what they are doing and have the
    > resources, use a DAT which has a greater dynamic range than a CD, a
    higher
    > sample rate 48mhz/sec (this small bit makes a difference) and sometimes a
    > greater bit depth. Combine this better than CD quality with a solid
    > knowledge of vinyl mastering and you get better sounding records.
    >
    > The digital sound can also be fattened up by analogue processors that add
    > harmonics and other bits before the final cutting to plate.
    >
    > As far as CD vs. Vinyl, DJs should utilize both, but there are still quite
    a
    > few establishments that don't have CD decks. I also find it difficult to
    > weed through music in your CD collection during a dancefloor set without a
    > bit of prep work (I would never show up at a lounge or my radioshow
    without
    > CDs!). Previewing through all of 12+ tracks and beat matching them seems
    > more difficult in the distracting, sensory overload world of the Dj booth.
    > There is just something very tactile, easy to organize and reasuring about
    a
    > 12" record with one tune to a side...;p
    >
    > Also try finding current DnB on CD!
    >
    > here is a cool, semi-technical article about vinyl mastering...
    > check it
    >
    > http://www.acousticsounds.com/acoustic/acoustech/
    > records.html
    >
    > peace
    > Chris Widman
    > _________________________________________________________________
    > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
    >
    >



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Mar 30 2001 - 21:16:58 CEST