Insights on vinyl

True - it's a real shame, as (embarrassing gonzoid stage banter aside) Ted Nugent is on seriously good form on that album & it's his only live album featuring Derek St Holmes (David St Hubbins...??) on vocals/rhythm guitar.
    

Edited by Jim Garten - October 24 2006 at 07:40

Tony R wrote: My vinyl of Machine Head sounds infinitely better than any CD version including the annniversary remaster/remix. The guitar just sounds meatier somehow...

Same thing with my vinyl of Red by KC.

My vinyl of Machine Head sounds infinitely better than any CD version including the annniversary remaster/remix.

The guitar just sounds meatier somehow...

the Steve Hoffmann site is really fascinating, Mark - though i didn't know lp's could be "horny"

Edited by mystic fred - October 21 2006 at 13:41

MikeEnRegalia wrote: ^ what about the new vinyl pressings of DSOTM? As far as I know they're 180gr vinyl and DMM (Direct Metal Mastering) ... I'll definitely buy one of them and compare it to the CD versions.

    
I'm not so sure - I haven't heard any of the newer pressings, mainly because I was put off DMMs by the 3 Metallica issues (KEA, RTL and MOP were released as limited edition DMMs).

I read an article on DMM, and can concur that the overall sound lacks depth, although there is plenty of clarity because the top gets a boost from the process. I found the sound too brittle for my taste - but maybe they've improved the process since. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the comparison(s - you say CD versions = does that mean you have more than one CD version to compare it to?).


Here's a great link to a quality forum post on how records are made, for the curious; http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=44239

This link touches on some of the issues with DMM; http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/archive/index.php/t-68559.html - the real vinylphiles will appreciate the videos

^Indeed, there are some bands to whom vinyl is the natural environment; hearing the Beatles, the Stones, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin (especially DSOTM and Led Zep II) on vinyl is like hearing the music for the first time - every time!

It also depends on the pressing, of course - the first presses are so full of detail you'd swear the band was in the room with you. The FP of "Rubber Soul", for example, is simply incredible, thanks to the solid, thick vinyl and, of course, relatively unworn stampers.

I recently managed to upgrade all of my 1970s Genesis vinyl to first press by finally tracking down a genuine FP of "Foxtrot" - and even though it sounds compressed in the last few minutes (due to packing all that music onto a side), the rest is much, much better than the awful CDs.

Comparing the CD of Foxtrot to the FP makes me realise why so many people think that the production is awful - it isn't, it's the terrible mastering job - which may have something to do with what HeavyFreight is saying.

However, the 24-bit remastered CD of "Script for a Jester's Tear" is sonic perfection and blows the (horrible, thin, 1980s) vinyl away!

Some remastering has practically made new records, though - DSOTM is a classic example. The FP sounds raw - like a Rock band in full swing, albeit with incredible production techniques. Later pressings (presumably either remastered or compressed through cheap vinyl) sound more homogenous and syrupy. The more recent re-masters sound even more syrupy and above all, digital.

That's not necessarily bad, just very different to the original!

There was definitely a habit of over emphasising some aspects of the mix when CD first came in.  The ability to get much clearer and higher levels of high (and very low) frequency sound often drove sound engineers to turn these up and produce some very unnatural sounding mixes.  Couple that with the fact that there were some poor quality CD pressings around back then and you can see why some duff CDs are about.

For sure it's mostly about preferences. But saying that there's no way of saying one is more natural or better than the other!

unnatural ... what if - like the article says - some original pressings were flawed?

I'm enjoying in listening to the vinyls, now even more than in my youth (let's say 40 years ago!); moreover I'm still regularly buying records (LPs) of my favourite bands and I'm especially delighted with first pressing examples being in a mint or near mint condition. I absolutely agree that it is a matter of nostalgia, cover art or even the opening of a gatefold sleeve, but most and above all it is this unique warm, reach and full analog sound that makes my ears feel pleasant.