Living in stereo
August 12, 2022 8:38 AM Subscribe
Audiophile deceptions: Mobile Fidelity and the master tape deception. MoFi claimed their vinyl was made straight from the master tape. That wasn't true. (Washington Post guest link)
This post was deleted for the following reason: Duplicate of https://www.metafilter.com/195995/all-analogue-all-real-all-the-time -- loup
But in my experience, that goal is questionable to start with - as questionable as assuming a high-priced record is a good record. Albums are mixed in order to be reproduced. When that process truly was 100% analog – the last of my own records made that way was Galaxie 500’s second album, in 1989 – the master tape was deliberately mixed with more high end than desired, because it was predictable that some of that would be lost in the reproduction process toward pressed records.
In other words, the original master tape is not how those analog albums were meant to sound. The record is.
-An excerpt from some insightful commentary on the matter from Damon Krukowski (Galaxie 500, Magic Hour, Damon and Naomi)
posted by lefty lucky cat at 8:52 AM on August 12, 2022
In other words, the original master tape is not how those analog albums were meant to sound. The record is.
-An excerpt from some insightful commentary on the matter from Damon Krukowski (Galaxie 500, Magic Hour, Damon and Naomi)
posted by lefty lucky cat at 8:52 AM on August 12, 2022
It would be great if we can avoid pointing and laughing at the audiophiles. It doesn't really add a lot to the conversation, and there's some interesting things to be said about how/why people want to experience music.
posted by The River Ivel at 9:01 AM on August 12, 2022
posted by The River Ivel at 9:01 AM on August 12, 2022
Whoops, if this counts as a double, delete away!
posted by PussKillian at 9:04 AM on August 12, 2022
posted by PussKillian at 9:04 AM on August 12, 2022
I mean tbh, I don't mind laughing at people with wildly expensive hobbies trying to outdo each other on baseless nonsense and eschewing double blind testing.
posted by Ferreous at 9:05 AM on August 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Ferreous at 9:05 AM on August 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
But at a less glib level I don't think you can avoid the fact that the audiophile desire for buzzword or ideological purity of reproduction led to this situation. They're mad that they were calling albums which were mastered in a way that supposedly ruins it as some of the best sounding of the year. The albums sound great either way, they're mad that the rug pull revealed the emperor has no clothes.
posted by Ferreous at 9:10 AM on August 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Ferreous at 9:10 AM on August 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Space Coyote at 8:47 AM on August 12, 2022 [8 favorites]