Do Mobile Fidelity Vinyl Re-issues Have a Digital Step in the Process?

[Audire]

The DSD file is Zero Step. Far superior !

DSD is numerous steps backwards from the real thing. That’s one reason why MoFi went to extremes to try to convenience everyone that their one steps were AAA vinyl. If as you state it was better, then why did they feel the need to fake it? They faked it acknowledging which format they knew was superior!

 

[microstrip]

That all depends on the mastering facility. The way we did it was to create a motion file which then was synchronized when the cut was made. But you could do that with analog just as easily. So the tape machine really isn't going to tell you anything unless you can see the preview head on it.

Oops - you should not tell people a digital file is used to control the cut spacing ... The high-end transparency committees never sleep!

 

[Atmasphere]

Oops - you should not tell people a digital file is used to control the cut spacing ... The high-end transparency committees never sleep!

I had friends telling me about the digital preview head back in the late 80s and into the 90s as if that was a bad thing. The 'bad thing' turned out to be them not knowing what they were talking about

Digital preview heads work great! But many audiophiles thought the the digitized signal was being converted back to audio to drive the cutter head and such certainly isn't the case. When they find out that it was just to drive a motor they can be a bit sheepish...

 

[microstrip]

it's not that i do or don't enjoy it.....it's that it's exactly what i come to the forum to escape from. might as well stay in the kitchen and listen to Fox News with my wife. or stay at work.

just negative noise. not choosing sides in the rancor. and no signs of this abating anytime soon. i wish it was in a sub forum unseen. sucks the joy out.

Mike,

We are having a participated thread, referring to many other aspects, such as transparency in stereo, transparency in marketing and the complete process of recording . You are simply focusing on the people who are angry against MoFi. I do not see more negative noise than expected in this thread - we are disagreeing a lot as expected, but happily in a civilized way.

Although I personally have little interest in the US legal system IMHO this is a very relevant WBF thread about an event of great significance in the high-end.

 

[microstrip]

(...) i don't need to learn anything about this subject. (...)

Well, I am learning from this thread and I hope to go on learning.

 

[Ron Resnick]

this is a very relevant WBF thread about an event of great significance in the high-end.

I appreciate this, Francisco. I am trying to post on this thread developments in the matter as they occur, or promptly after they occur, and to make this thread a clearinghouse of information, as well as a venue for responsible discussion, on this matter.

 

[XV-1]

Went over to a mates place this morning and compared Marvin Gaye What's Going On.

One Step Modfi 45rpm and Universal 50th anniversary 33.3 release, mastered by Kevin Gray.

Another mate was also present who owns the One Step. My mate played the tracks DBT so we couldn't see what he was playing.

Kevin Gray $30 has the clear win against the $125 One Step.

KG's mastering just made Marvin's vocals magical and the ambience of the studio was more present. Bass was similar. Overall the KG was just more engaging.

Thanks to @April Snow for bringing the cheap KG to our attention. It certainly is the modfi giant killer.

I am pretty sure the KG analog el cheapo 2020 remaster will be equally impressive vs the One Step version of Santana Abraxas.



Cheers

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Went over to a mates place this morning and compared Marvin Gaye What's Going On.

One Step Modfi 45rpm and Universal 50th anniversary 33.3 release, mastered by Kevin Gray.

Another mate was also present who owns the One Step. My mate played the tracks DBT so we couldn't see what he was playing.

Kevin Gray $30 has the clear win against the $125 One Step.

KG's mastering just made Marvin's vocals magical and the ambience of the studio was more present. Bass was similar. Overall the KG was just more engaging.

Thanks to @April Snow for bringing the cheap KG to our attention. It certainly is the modfi giant killer.

I am pretty sure the KG analog el cheapo 2020 remaster will be equally impressive vs the One Step version of Santana Abraxas.



Cheers

But it doesn’t have the big black box and gold writing

 

[dminches]

This video confirms to me that the "MoFi debacle" is not a "MoFi" issue but an industry issue. (No, I am not letting MoFi off the hook but just pointing out that most of the labels are not being transparent.)

 

[Joe Whip]

My guess for the Saturday night issue is that the original tapes were not in the best shape and the DXD transfer was made to make these releases possible. I know engineers who swear by DXD as being transparent.

 

[dminches]

My guess for the Saturday night issue is that the original tapes were not in the best shape and the DXD transfer was made to make these releases possible. I know engineers who swear by DXD as being transparent.

That may be the case but from a lack-of-transparency perspective it isn't relevant. (Not trying to be harsh to you, but to Impex.)

 

[microstrip]

Went over to a mates place this morning and compared Marvin Gaye What's Going On. (...)

Did you try to equalize sound levels for the comparisons?

 

[microstrip]

That may be the case but from a lack-of-transparency perspective it isn't relevant. (Not trying to be harsh to you, but to Impex.)

IMHO we have to clarify what is exactly meant by "lack of transparency". In the case of MoFi it was a clear point, as they claimed to not use any digital steps in their re-issues in the past. But for companies that did not make such "pure analog" claims I do not see the problem in including such links in the process of re-issuing LPs.

 

[dminches]

IMHO we have to clarify what is exactly meant by "lack of transparency". In the case of MoFi it was a clear point, as they claimed to not use any digital steps in their re-issues in the past. But for companies that did not make such "pure analog" claims I do not see the problem in including such links in the process of re-issuing LPs.

Did you watch the video and see how they changed the description? That change illustrates a complete lack of transparency by Impex. If they were transparent to being with they wouldn't have had to change the wording. The original wording made it seem like it was an all analog process, which it wasn't.

 

[dminches]

For those of you who don't feel like watching the video, here's what changed.

The original wording on the descriptions of the Impex "Saturday Night In SF" LP release was:

• Assembled from the original 16-track analog live session tapes by Al Di Meola with engineers Katsu Naito and Roy Hendrickson.
• Mastering and lacquer cutting from analog tapes by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering.
• Pressed at Record Technology, Inc.
• Deluxe new packaging with never-before-seen photos and an exclusive essay by Charles L. Granata. This fascinating appreciation features new interviews with Al Di Meola and original recording engineer Tim Pinch.

The new wording is:

• Assembled from a direct-to-DXD (32 bit/384kHz) transfer of the original 16-track analog live session tapes by Al Di Meola with engineers Katsu Naito and Roy Hendrickson
• Analog mixing direct-to-tape by Roy Hendrickson at SPIN Studio
• Mastering and lacquer cutting from analog tapes by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
• Pressed at Record Technology, Inc.
• Deluxe new packaging with never-before-seen photos and an exclusive essay by Charles L. Granata. This fascinating appreciation features new interviews with Al Di Meola and original recording engineer Tim Pinch

Like MoFi, Impex has a reputation of being an all analog shop...up to now.

 

[Ron Resnick]

For those of you who don't feel like watching the video, here's what changed.

The original wording on the descriptions of the Impex "Saturday Night In SF" LP release was:

• Assembled from the original 16-track analog live session tapes by Al Di Meola with engineers Katsu Naito and Roy Hendrickson.
• Mastering and lacquer cutting from analog tapes by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering.
• Pressed at Record Technology, Inc.
• Deluxe new packaging with never-before-seen photos and an exclusive essay by Charles L. Granata. This fascinating appreciation features new interviews with Al Di Meola and original recording engineer Tim Pinch.

The new wording is:

• Assembled from a direct-to-DXD (32 bit/384kHz) transfer of the original 16-track analog live session tapes by Al Di Meola with engineers Katsu Naito and Roy Hendrickson
• Analog mixing direct-to-tape by Roy Hendrickson at SPIN Studio
• Mastering and lacquer cutting from analog tapes by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
• Pressed at Record Technology, Inc.
• Deluxe new packaging with never-before-seen photos and an exclusive essay by Charles L. Granata. This fascinating appreciation features new interviews with Al Di Meola and original recording engineer Tim Pinch

Like MoFi, Impex has a reputation of being an all analog shop...up to now.

Thank you for highlighting the changed wording. The original statement was materially misleading, at a minimum.

 

[dminches]

Thank you for highlighting the changed wording. The original statement was materially misleading, at a minimum.

How so?

 

[microstrip]

Thank you for highlighting the changed wording. The original statement was materially misleading, at a minimum.

No where we see any claim that it was "pure analogue". And our members loved its "tape like" great sound in the past . https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/impex-records-is-it.29465/

I only have some digital issues - they have excellent quality in my Vivaldi. Still did not listen to them in the APEX - should do it soon!

 

[dminches]

No where we see any claim that it was "pure analogue". And our members loved its "tape like" great sound in the past . https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/impex-records-is-it.29465/

I only have some digital issues - they have excellent quality in my Vivaldi. Still did not listen to them in the APEX - should do it soon!

Please show me where on MoFi’s older descriptions where they said their records were “pure analogue.”

 

[microstrip]

Please show me where on MoFi’s older descriptions where they said their records were “pure analogue.”

I am just referring to the fact that when specifically questioned about the digital rumors people from the company denied them.