CT Digital Masters or Mixdowns

[empanadilla]

Just wondering;

Were any of the last recordings ; 4CC or M&K recorded and or mixed to digital or did they remain analog until the very end?

Cheers,

Empa

[empanadilla]

...hmm...looks like the answer is pretty hard to come by...
Major Digital recording was not totally popular until the late 90's , so my guess is that none were digitally recorded at least. I worked in a major studio in 1995 and they still had good ole' 24 track 2 inch "Shtudahs" , mixed to 1/4 inch tape at 15 ips. They also had a DAT which was used for copies and horrible ADAT decks ...
Now digital MIXDOWN was another thing since DATs were pretty common by the early 90s, so the probability is pretty good on that.
I am asking since I do not have the vinyl of either 4CC or M&K to compare to the CDs I've listened to all along,
aaannnnddd,
to see if it was worth it to get 'em on LP.....

[postlibyan]

this is really a question for Mr. Guthrie. he posts here periodically. perhaps he can answer your question next time he is around.

PJK

[andylama]

...and I still want CT tracks cut onto Edison wax cylinders.

Can you imagine how wicked awesome that would be?

[empanadilla]

...and I still want CT tracks cut onto Edison wax cylinders.

Can you imagine how wicked awesome that would be?

Andylama!
I was wondering where you were, hehehe..
And..
Yes, Edison was absolutely right- (this is not news to you, but)
CYLINDERS do not have any inner groove distortion like LPs, because of their linearity ; surface area/speed.
But , dang , storing them! Or, how about parties in the 60-70-80s (I'll grab a few cylinders that I got this week, now don't scratch them!!)??
Not to mention DJ scratching! maybe with a crankshaft

Now, I know you'll keep poking fun at me, but I have resolved to not buy any new CDs unless
-(obviously) if the release is available only on CD-(modern releases)
-the recording is an "early" digital one (truncated at 20kHz)

Yees, yes, it sounds snobbish and "elitist" (yeah right , like I'm part of an elite, I'm not even rich!), but despite its many shortcomings; surface noise, pops, moms, clicks, warps, scratches, lions, tigers and bears, oh my!; vinyl sound is heavenly. All those 20K+ harmonics DO add to the music ....
Last night I was listening and needledropping Kate Bush "The Dreaming" and, in an A/B with the CD version, the LP won hands down.

Another eye opening one is Synergy's "Cords"- all those harmonics from analog synths are not there on CD and , on LP my ears were "bleeding" from all the stuff up there.....I LOOOVE IT!!!

Analog is analog; LPs are the "Hi Resolution" media we've had all along.
I'm not totally blasting CDs, there are some great sounding ones out there
(and great sounding 8 track cartridges, e.g. Joe Walsh "The player you get..." it's the best I've heard in all my life- mind you , most sound like crap, but a friend of mine actually takes them out of the shell and records them on a reel to reel at half speed and if the source is good , the results are even better!) If you like it , I can tell you were to find it.

Oh , the thread ;=).
Well , right now I've got Victorialand, BBK, HOLV and TMATM.. on vinyl, I got BBK yesterday so we'll see. If you want to we could exchange CD/LP comparisons just for gigs and shittles- and you tell me what you think...
Anyway, nice to hear from you-Cheers to all!

Empanadilla de Langosta

[andylama]

Yes, Edison was absolutely right- (this is not news to you, but) CYLINDERS do not have any inner groove distortion like LPs, because of their linearity ; surface area/speed.

Like so many things: a great idea in principle, but the squashed dynamic range (~5.5 KHz?!) and the limitation of about 4 minutes per cylinder was a killer. Still, a totally charming artifact of recording technology history.

I was delighted when, a few years back, They Might Be Giants actually mastered new songs directly onto wax cylinders.

Not to mention DJ scratching! maybe with a crankshaft

Great idea! That would be truly impressive!

...despite its many shortcomings; surface noise, pops, moms, clicks, warps, scratches, lions, tigers and bears, oh my!; vinyl sound is heavenly. All those 20K+ harmonics DO add to the music ....

I agree with all that, but ironically, my reasons for still liking vinyl have little to do with the audio quality. For me, it's all about a format big enough to feature artwork, legible text, and clever folding packaging...and beautiful colored vinyl! I still have Simple Minds' New Gold Dream with the transparent purple/orange streaky vinyl with gold labels...gorgeous. CDs can offer no analogous aesthetic, convenience notwithstanding.

a friend of mine actually takes them out of the shell and records them on a reel to reel at half speed and if the source is good , the results are even better!

Not making any assumptions about your friend, but he may be making a mistake--getting less than optimal results based on a bad assumption. I'm talking about the "half speed" part. Remember: tape decks' electronics are calibrated to reproduce the correct EQ at a specific speed. The 8-track was recorded at a specific speed. Playing it back at any other speed will render EQ distortion unless carefully compensated for (and who would bother, really?).

Fun stuff though.

[empanadilla]

I agree with all that, but ironically, my reasons for still liking vinyl have little to do with the audio quality. For me, it's all about a format big enough to feature artwork, legible text, and clever folding packaging...and beautiful colored vinyl! I still have Simple Minds' New Gold Dream with the transparent purple/orange streaky vinyl with gold labels...gorgeous. CDs can offer no analogous aesthetic, convenience notwithstanding....
Not making any assumptions about your friend, but he may be making a mistake--getting less than optimal results based on a bad assumption. I'm talking about the "half speed" part. Remember: tape decks' electronics are calibrated to reproduce the correct EQ at a specific speed. The 8-track was recorded at a specific speed. Playing it back at any other speed will render EQ distortion unless carefully compensated for (and who would bother, really?).
Fun stuff though.

Cool-didn't know about the TMBG wax cylinders, great..those crazy Bostonians!

I totally agree with you about the packaging- LP covers should have never disappeared.
I thought of that when CDs came out and I suggested having a normal LP cover with a small cardboard sleeve for the CD for portability...I might still do a pressing like that for our group...
ahh,yes album covers...a thing of beauty, especially covers like TMATM which are art objects...

and not to mention the "ritual" of playing an LP: kneeling in front of the turntable goddess and cleaning the vinyl (I am a freak that way), having learned to take care of my vinyl at an early age, I had used Discwasher up until 2 years ago when I tried "L'Art Du Son" and I haven't looked back since. Besides, my linear tracking TT with its lovely Ortofon cartridge are a marvel!

About the 8 track-yes, it does sound weird since he records them at 48kHz and converts it to 96 but what I've heard sounds great for an 8 track conversion!

[empanadilla]

Our one and only bassiste-extraordinaire Simon Raymonde has been kind enough to shake the few brain cells he thinks still have some info about it and confirmed that "although his memory ain't what it used to be..." he remembers only recording to good ole' tape and mixed to half inch (!?) tape

...dang , no wonder it sounds so huge...half inch!!

If Robin were kind enough to confirm this, it would be peachy keen!!!