Digital Vinyl: What's the point?

Contemporary vinyl releases are almost all sourced from digital files, so why should we care about vinyl, might as well just listen to digital music, right? Wrong! Discover why in this episode.
Links:
Why today’s music is depressing?: • Why today's music is D...
Fonoprint mastering studios: • Recording, mixing & ma...
Analog distortion can be hi-fi?: • Can Analog Distortion ...
High-res digital music on cassettes: • High-Resolution Audio ...
How to critically listen to music: • How to critically list...
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#vinylcommunity #vinylrecords #records

[@anadialog]

Each time I forget to say this because for me its obvious but we are talking about mainstream (except the last point clearly) what is currently dominating the market, not niche quality digital products. PLUS, another important reason why vinyl makes sense, is that the mastering in several cases uses high-res material as source!

[@Feliciano12v]

One of the reasons to appreciate physical media is that you always have it. Rare, but it happens, some artist or platforms remove music from streaming services.

[@anadialog]

Indeed, true ownership, I agree! Part of the physicality aspects.

[@cjay2]

It's not 'rare', and anything you really want, you need to find and buy. I've never used streaming.

[@latheofheaven]

Oh yes! That is why I very *STRONGLY* believe in collecting. Not to be a 'Completist', Not to resell, Not to amass a bunch of crap that I'll never listen to, No... But, to have my own library of whatever when I want to see it (movies/shows) or listen to it (lovely vinyl!) MANY of these streaming services switch out what they have available, and I never, *EVER* want to be beholden to that!

[@seancurtin5131]

Unless your vinyls get stolen because they sell well on the 2nd hand market these days.

[@latheofheaven]

@@seancurtin5131 Thanks a lot for that... 🙄

[@trevorbartram5473]

In 50 years of collecting physical media I've learnt a few things. Everything you mention is valid. When you've done the research ahead of time, you are 'invested' in your purchase, that enhances the experience. However, a counter experience, some of my favorites were instant gratification bargain bin purchases! For jazz & classical, the liner notes are an essential part of the experience, that is missing from digital releases. I learnt to not buy too many items at once, one item will become a favorite & the others will often fall by the wayside. Cheers!!

[@jasontenney4991]

Everything today is too easy to find! Vinyl for me is the thrill of the search even when I clean it I treat it like holding a baby! I have records from the 50s all the way to today and for me since I was a kid and now 50 it's my music platform of choice. I never got the thrill of collecting CDs ( which I did as a teenager) which is why I haven't bought a CD (music oriented) since 2010 and I purchase straight from my favorite artists that way they make money and don't get screwed by streaming platforms!

[@anadialog]

True!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

As you said - it's all about the mastering! Well said!

[@chrislj2890]

A vinyl record is going to last longer than anything else. There are still shellac 78rpm records that are over 100 years old that still function. A record player is easier to maintain or create than a tape or CD player. For digital you need computers and the internet for downloading or streaming. Someone with an old hand cranked record player and 78s could listen to music after the downfall of civilization. Remember the Voyager 1 and 2 space probes from the '70s? They both contained records in case another civilization found them. They were gold plated copper analog records to be played back at 16 ⅔ rpm. A diagram was included showing how to play back.

[@maxborde210]

CD Quality = Rolls Royce. LP Quality = Suzuki Ignis Streaming = TUK TUK

[@maxborde210]

@@melancholiehypochonder7905 I mean the driving experience;-)

[@reyiiteleco]

You restored my faith in vinyl, thank you!

[@mlblue5355]

Great video! Lots of positive energy. Even though my music is recorded digitally, I never put it on Spotify. One reason that I moved back to America from China, was to focus on releasing vinyl. I like the idea that people are opening the vinyl album up, possibly cleaning it, then playing it. Like you said, at least sitting down and listening to one side or the full record. The songs are listened in the order that they were meant to be listened to. Also, they are looking at the artwork, getting the whole experience. Each person’s stereo system is different too, it’s a complete trip to image what kind of gear it’s being played on. A few people have written emails and told me what amplifier/receiver, speakers, turntable that they use.

[@anadialog]

Cool! Good job!

[@lanakias1]

the most important is not the "mastering" itself but "who" make the mastering. Who engineer. That I have learn in my big journey. If the engineer doing good work, the sound will sound great in every format, especially in vinyl. So, if the engineer not know to mastering (almost the 85% out there not know), then you will have crap sound even it is vinyl. Especially on vinyl. Keep your money and listen the casual mp3 if the engineer is bad. Buy vinyl which was mastering from good engineer. In short, not go yolo and buy what vinyl is out there. Care your money

[@analoguecity3454]

The point is if the LP is cut with an uncompressed file over Redbook CD specks (preferably 96k 24 bit or higher), then it already is better than the CD version because the LP can capture over 20k with not "abrupt shut off"!

[@Albee213]

99% of amps/receivers and speakers are unable to reproduce those frequencies and 100% of years can't hear them either. Those higher frequencies are not music, it's just noise. If you take a microphone that can pick up higher than 20khz and put it in front of a speaker while playing an LP or hi-res the sign wave will look exactly the same as a CDs with a sharp drop off at 20khz. Digital audio can reproduce a sign wave between 20kz and 20khz perfectly. Higher bit rates and samples will not reproduce them any better. Its literally impossible. Take a hi-res file and down sample it to 44.1 and it will sound exactly the same. Lower bit rate will raise the noise floor, but its imperceivable because the difference is so darn small.

[@karellen00]

One thing I like is that you can decide each component to build a kind of sound you enjoy: each turntable, cartridge, stylus , phono preamp, but even turntable mat, cartrddge headshell, and so on give to the system their own sound signature. When you start it might be overwhelming, but with time you end up building a system that is truly yours, that in my opinion is really enjoyable. Also be able to play sounds that are recorded as a groove carved into a plastic surface is absolutely cool!

[@anadialog]

True!

[@Blacktearlazyqueen]

Thanx, never turning back.

[@hacmustafaus173]

I agree with you especially at point number two. I recorded many hi-res tracks onto VHS cassettes using my hifi recorder from various sources and I am feeling what you say while listening them. I think people that say vinyl is not better didn't listen any audiophle vinyl.

[@GiveUsMusic]

The problem with comparing what medium is better is that folks dismiss the effects of mismatched or unsuitable systems or components that give off varying degrees of sonic characteristics that are either interpreted by the listener as appreciable or unpleasant. Having degrees of bias and non-uniform components working together can easily go undetected with non audiophile ears when making critical judgments or assumptions as to which medium has a better sound. At this point it’s a bit of the Bordeaux’s vs. the Napa’s and maybe the point is it’ll never be answerable, as the listener is just as critical to the sound system that reproduces the sound when it comes to the experience of what is excellent and what is poor.

[@anadialog]

True. That is always something to take into account. I can only say that both my systems, analog and digital are high-end and careful matched because in the end I love both, in a different way.

[@somebody9762]

Actually, this is one of the best videos I have watched from you. Lots of common sense and clear explanations. Thanks for sharing it.

[@victorlgcarvalho]

"Some buy vinyl without even having a record player". THATS ME! And I already own the CDs for those!

[@GiveUsMusic]

Point #1: The Mastering (mostly better than digital masters meant for phones, gadgets, services, etc., and not hi-fi purposes) Point #2: Analogue Distortion (as in coloring the sound with EQ roll offs, not as in harsh artifacts or feedback) Point #3: Physical Product (larger product/artwork than CD, including collectibility) Point #4: Audiophile Releases (upping the game for the market and consumers, AAA releases, etc.)

[@mayankkakkar2945]

Thank You for the brilliant video just at an appropriate time, many people just do not understand the finer details of getting a vinyl for newer music and just consider them a cd file on acrylic. I also believe that more consumer awareness is pushing the producers and mastering engineers to get better with every next title that they do. Better technology and demanding consumers should produce exciting results in coming times.

[@ProgressiveTrancer]

Well a lot of times the digital masters prepared for vinyl are less compressed then the ones put on streaming services and download shops available to the general public. It's a stupid but unfortunate truth. Edit: Nevermind, that's literally your first point, lol

[@electroimpyo]

The sound of vinyl sounds great analogue connection or digital recording

[@volpedo2000]

In the many-world interpretation there exist a world where Sony and Philips released audio laser discs instead of CDs. Allowing all enthusiasts to enjoy the benefits of the vinyl experience and of the digital format.

[@anadialog]

Yes, but remember that laser disc is analog!

[@MohsinWadee]

Why don't they apply the same care to CDs? I still purchase new CDs and this is depressing, especially when new high end CD players are being launched like Hegel's new Viking. Can you do some investigation on this?

[@anadialog]

That is just the current trend of the last 25 years or more, vinyl in most cases is better but it is always fairly compressed unfortunately unless it’s an audiophile release or jazz/classical music.

[@gerihifi]

I'm on the track of CD again and if you have a decent gear (I use acomplete modified Sony CDPX505ES from Swoboda Audio & a Cyrus CDi with external D/A to a Grimm Audio MU2)...if I play on this players, people are shocked and never believe it is CD and always think it is my roon/MU2 😉 .....but, as with Vinyl, I ONLY buy high quality from Labels like ECM, Stockfisch and The Lost Recordings. Not starting with Vinyl anymore, complete over-heated market and prices are redicilous (necessary phono pre + player completlyinsane) !! My best high quality CD are around €35 (highest)...

[@att0987654321]

Physical media also helps the artists get paid adequately

[@anadialog]

Good point!

[@JG-pj3bg]

People always want to bring up high end $10,000 turntables to say they can better a CD, but we can say the same thing, there are $10,000 CD players out there too

[@arize84]

It's also much easier to find a great sounding phono stage than it is to find a satisfying DAC (at any price point).

[@yuzhang2755]

@@arize84 DAC is a solved problem. There is no way you can hear any difference from different DACs made by competent manufactures, e.g. Topping, SMSL, and etc. Even an $80 SMSL SU-1 is transparent.

[@anadialog]

That is why I have enhanced both sides of my system also because I truly love both

[@michaelwoods9005]

I think you're strawmanning.

[@klepp19]

​@@yuzhang2755 So Holo May same as Topping?

[@TheSoundrookie]

Hi Guido. The main reason to buy vinyl is that we don't have a good enough digital consumer format. The resolution used in studios has to be compressed, and that really damage the otherwise awesome quality. Though vinyl ain't perfect it actually still delivers a more perfect result. (Not to be confused with the loudness war or anything else). The day we get a digital format as easy and cheap to mass produce as cd's etc with room enough for TRUE high res, will be the day there won't be any good arguments left for vinyl. But until then the best digital format we have is analog. Stay cool Mate.

[@fernandomoraledasamso750]

SACD, Super Audio CD!!!.

[@anadialog]

Good point!

[@yuzhang2755]

For the same mastering, redbook CD is superior to vinyl in every aspect. Lossless streaming has both convenience and superior quality. Whatever "perfect" sound delivered by vinyl can be reproduced by redbook standard exactly. These are facts not opinion.

[@TheSoundrookie]

@@fernandomoraledasamso750 Yep, SACD and Blu-ray Audio are both a step in the right direction, but still not quite the resolution we're moaning for, and sadly with a limited selection. Having said that, it's still an improvement that in an A-B comparison convinces most cd mongers (at least those who hear) that cd's are far from perfect, and that we need a better format. They tried to make records from SACD resolution, but gave that up pretty quick since the vinyl format merciless revealed it. Yet another example of why vinyl still is the best format to get the most from the resolution used in studios. The cd format abruptly cut's all frequencies above 22 khz, and those frequencies are more important than most realize. Guido made a video about it a while back, and there's loads of research on the topic which can be looked up in an instant. The 20 - 20k frase is BS, and a stupid standard they just settled for, but the cd resolution is too limited to go beyond. Vinyl on the other hand reaches 35 khz (if present on the recording of course). The correction of the latter stage results in pre-echoes which they haven't been able to filter out though ongoing attempts to improve the filtering, and the list goes on. Cd's are convenient, practical, easy and cheap to mass produce, and in a lot of ways sound quite okay, but when it comes to serious sound quality they are no match for vinyl. What we want is the convenience AND the sound quality in one format. We shouldn't settle for less than the studios in fact can deliver, should we?

[@TheSoundrookie]

@@yuzhang2755 As much fact as cd's are superior and perfect. 🤣

[@marcinwilk5718]

There are many excellent sounding vinyl records released in the 80s that were purely digital from finish to start. Madonna's Like A Virgin is a fantastic sounding record and the album was recorded using digital equipment. I have many other records from the same period like that. One should also not forget that professional digital equipment is on a different level than your run-of-the-mill DAC. DSD256, for instance, is fantastic. I have heard several DSD256 rips of older vinyl records and they sound like the real thing (unlike PCM 96khz rips, for example). Nonetheless having a record that is entirely analogue has its appeal. I mostly collect vinyl from the 70s/80s and occassionally buy newer records however I am not willing to pay 50 €+ for a single album. Spearkers Corner however is an excellent label offering great value for a very reasonable price (25-30 € per record).

[@rogra2087]

☆I luv music in all its forms. Agree that its fun to figure out how to get the sound you prefer, whether that be by DAC, EQ, phono selection, and the nearly innumerable other solutions... But as i mostly like old 77-84 punk, in my case the magicsl charm is this doesnt take too much-lol. For the rest, if you do the homework the end result is mostly a satifying one. Great vid♡♡♡☆

[@kenknight5983]

If it's cut from a REALLY high definition source (much higher than regular people can afford) your record player can be a good way of preserving that quality

[@andrewbrazier9664]

I'm a CD album collector. Although I do have a small collection of pre digital transfer vinyl. Vinyl is definitely more tactile & the full sized album art is way better than cds. Unfortunately a vinyl release here in UK 🇬🇧 is typically 3 times the price of cd. These days however there seem to be more engineers that can master vinyl better than cds lll Many new cds suffer with over compression & yes the dreaded over loudness. Most recently a victim of this the new IO album from Peter Gabriel both Brightside & Darkside mix cds. According to owners it's only the Blu Ray Inside mix ( available here only as a package with the cds) that offers a decent physical digital media album.

[@myronhelton4441]

Every digital record that I ever heard sounded very much like a cd, until I heard the Analogue Productions vinyl of Nils Lofgren Acoustic Live on youtube $10,000 turntable. This is the digital album that Analogue Productions remastered.

[@xprcloud]

But youtube is digital, so you cannot claim you enjoyed an analog vinyl through youtube. and youtube's lossy compression is "bad"

[@myronhelton4441]

@@xprcloud Some cds are DDD AAD ADD. You see the A;s means there is some part of the cd that is analog, like an old Beatles analog recording put on a digital cd. I hate almost all cds & vinyl recorded in 1972 & after. I love 1971 & before cds & vinyl.

[@xprcloud]

@@myronhelton4441 What you said proves the superiority of CDs, as digital CDs preserve analog faithfully, while the opposite cannot be said, all LPs are DDA or ADA, analog generations are always degraded, have you ever edited tapes and film?

[@myronhelton4441]

@@xprcloud I like both cds & vinyl, sometimes cds are better than vinyl, but I have never heard a cd come anywhere close to the sound of the original Santana Abraxas on an expensive turntable. A tremendous amout of money must be spent on a dac, over a turntable cost, to get the cd to sound as good a record, but some cheap cd players can sound good like theR@R ladder dacs do. Something digital was added to harm album sound in 1972. Cassette tape noise reduction button cut out the noise, but you couldnt hardly hear the highs, the same thing happens in cds, where the lazer dont touch the cd, li9ke the needle touches the record, SACD is 32 bit, but vinyl has a higher bit. Digital is improving DXD 256 helps records in the highs & maybe someday soon, it will be better. I like the original record of David Crosby Remember My Name, I also like the DXD 256 remaster record of it. They are different, but I like both, one is good as the other, I want both. You hit the nail on the head that cd keeps the sound of records from degrading. A saxophone has better distortion, that transistor amps makes a saxophone not distort like a horn. I have noticed that almost all MFSL cds sound the same as regular cds, I can say the same for most sacds sound like cds, while most mfsl records sound better than most of the latest regular records do. I have never edited tapes or film. All the sixties & later Rolling Stones cds have been remastered again with Bob Ludwig doing a digital remaster that is great, that I dont want the original cds. Some remaster cds are inferior than the original cds. The all analog recorded cd Ry Cooder Meeting is slightly less harsh than the later digital remaster of it, the record only came out later. Many of the records mastered by Rudy Van Elder, he later remastered them digitally & most of the later ones are better. Rudy was the best, some say he added unnatural reverb, hey if it sounds better, go for it. I go see & hear natural bands, I sure dont want albums to sound like what I go hear. A digital cd called Keith Lofgren Acoustic live sounds great, but the analog productions remaster of it sounds better on vinyl, is wasnt put out on cd. A lot of the good remastered records are not put on cd, but some are. Sometimes the records put on cd sounding bad is the masterer's fault. I have heard 400 records & can only stand listening to half of them on cds. I have heard 400 records, but I have only 50 records, it cost too much money to find the other records that was cheap years ago. I listen to cds more. But I have real good copies of the original records copied from better WAV files from $10,000 turntables copied to a computer harddrive & backed up to other drives, played from better dacs & oter equipment. So the music copied from lps doesnt wear out & sounds better than store bought cds. And some cds sound better than vinyl. Since many people dropped cds, there wont be anyone trying to remaster better cds. The good cds are rare & getting more expensive. I had the devil of finding just the right remastered 4 Gabor Szabo cds I was looking for. Gabor used the world;s best of everything on his recordings. Its a shame they limit the remasters of many albums now. Michael Hedges was a great guitarist with a great cd 20 years ago called Oracle, & they quit making the cd, & you can buy it cheap is weird, maybe people didnt know of Hedges. The few years that they made cds, but didnt make vinyl, it is rare to see remastered new vinyl of these few years, or see remastered versions of these few years. These new files that dont sound as good, has ruined cds & vinyl. I didnt like the White Stripes analog sound on cd or record, but the record was analog remastered & sounds great, But I dont understand why it is rare they dont put these good remasters on cd. Tom Petty cd Wild Flowers was analog recorded, but was put on cd as digital, but was later put on cd as much better analog. Maybe you can read about this, because its confusing how this album was recorded.

[@aa5az423]

Not long ago, I was watching a channel and the guy hit the nail on the head (as you did as well) but he said that the mix of a DSD and vinyl presents something that is ethereal, it's a "good mix." It's something you can't put your finger on, it's a quality you can't explain that comes through the product. The listening is different and it's a good different. I'll agree with him.

[@robertyoung1777]

Yes - I love the artwork of record sleeves. There is a lot of space (especially on gatefold covers) for creative visual expression. If recording artists could get back to the old model of making money from record sales, it would free them from the burden of big arena shows they must do now to make money. Music could be much better if artists could focus on making great recordings rather than putting on stage shows. Contemporary music is all about shows and commerce. There is a lot of potential for artists who focus on writing, arranging and performing but the current financial model only rewards artist’s looks and showmanship - usually near naked or violent in nature.

[@anadialog]

Good point!

[@yuzhang2755]

I think you forgot one point: higher prices, the industry has every incentive to promote it.

[@anadialog]

Well, also higher expenses. With streaming, once produce, it works with no expense just some ridiculous royalties

[@yuzhang2755]

@@anadialog I should have said higher profit 😁

[@peterbriggs2771]

Good presentation, most also applies purchasing CDs, albeit the madtering is different to cater for that format. As with albums there are good and bad CDs, not all are bad with a DDD designation, again this identifier has long gone and like an album care is provided to retain a good dynamic spread. As has been proven in a number of your video's. I used to love albums but when CDs were only on a small rack, I consciously moved to a CD front end. My point I guess what I am trying to articulate is their are CDs that are mastered well..I/0 by Peter Gabriel that springs to mind. 😎👍🎶🎵🎵🎶

[@anadialog]

Indeed, but they are rare (and streaming music is even more rare), which is why I prefer AAD Cds as explained here (again for the better mastering): kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmawnZWsia-Npcksi=I3JLVdH0HuZbv3w2

[@peterbriggs2771]

@@anadialog Just as well I am of an age that 70% of my collection is AAD. And I still trawl charity shops for the original CDs👍😎

[@david-xg6zl]

Guido, thanks for another great video. So, from one of your past videos I have critically started to list to CD vs vinyl. Also CD types AAD ADD DDD. My last purchase is the CD from Supertramp( I saw them at the Keil Opera House in St Louis as a teenager in the mid 70's). The album Crime of the Century new CD/new Vinyl comparison. 1st off what a cd/vinyl reproduction! After listening to each, the best I can describe is that the vinyl album has a fuller encompassing sound. I have attempted to try and use my Schiit equalizer for the cd (sound adjustment but to no avail. Thank you again for the continued education. You may want to listen to this cd/vinyl recording. It is truly one of my favorite sounding albums besides great music from the 70's and a great band even live! Dave

[@anadialog]

So good to have feedback like this, thanks David!

[@carloperuzzo194]

Dear Guido thanks for this interesting video, as usual. I would mention as a important point, in favor of binyl, the jitter problem that you have listening digital music, that contributes largely to the so called, also by you in a previous video, digital desease.

[@MadelnMachines]

I love the etchings you sometimes get on vinyl - like a hidden message from the artist. In some of the original plus 8 releases you can see the excitement and youthful exuberance in these etched messages and pictures - like they knew they were pioneering the future of techno. When I used to buy records in the late 90s / 2000s it was £3-5 or sometimes £6-8 for an special import single. These days it seems to be £13-20 for a single which compared to a lossless file for £1 or £2 seems way too much.

[@anadialog]

It’s part of the fact that it is truly a handmade object, an artisanal artifact.

[@GovindaRadja]

Hi there! thank you for your interesting videos and accompanying explanations. I really enjoy that and I always learn something from it. I might have a nice topic for a new video. I recently came across AAA vinyl. Beautifully designed packaging with the best of the best vinyl available. The price is therefore high, or rather: correspondingly. At least, judging by what the makers have to say about this. My idea is that you could dedicate a video to AAA vinyl and the lesser qualities of vinyl. And is AAA really as good as they promise? I still have a lot of questions, but maybe you are also interested in this topic? Kind regards, Gōvinda, Netherlands

[@anadialog]

Taking notes…thanks!

[@TarBabyJim]

Im so glad all of my favorite artists music is being remastered after her death. Thank God she saved all (40 albums) the original master tapes! Like you say, analog is best for remastering.😊

[@DavidDatura]

Interesting points. But what about, say new vinyl you purchase at places like Urban Outfitters? I very much doubt those records are mastered to high quality levels. Yet that’s part of the new vinyl market too 🤷‍♂️

[@anadialog]

Indeed! As I said, there is plenty of crappy mastered records, but not the majority as for the digital counterpart

[@peterlagroove6555]

Vinyl is as if today we stopped using automobiles to return to horses

[@anadialog]

Hell yeah! If instead of Mustangs and BMW we have to drive the Citroen Ami or similar electric boxes, I prefer go back to horses!

[@peterlagroove6555]

@@anadialog no one buys vinyl records in 2024. by the way it's 2024. not 1974....

[@anadialog]

Once again, get informed my biased viewer. Take a look hear, as I said sales are higher than 1989, and this is just the US. Enough said! www.riaa.com/u-s-sales-database/

[@peterlagroove6555]

@@anadialog vinyl it's over

[@latheofheaven]

Wonderful, beautifully done Guido! Ah... Points 3 & 4... You can't beat 'em Bro! 😁 Just picked up the quickly OOP Analog Productions 2-45 of Stone Temple Pilots - Core. WOW! Just snagged a beautiful copy of the original MFSL Zeppelin II from a nice member at the Steve Hoffman Forums. Again, WOW! And, the Rhino Hi Fidelity Cars albums, WOW & WOW! 👍👍

[@pezincan]

Judas Priest and Iron Maiden made their first digital produced albums in 1986 ( in the vynil era). It was marketed that if it is digital it means better. It was not the same how it is produced on vinyl record today ? from digital to analog. Also I watched Metallica Nothing else Matters videoclip and there is shown how Metallica is recording that song in studio and they recorded onto bit tape not computer, so that album is produced in analog not in digital in 1991 !

[@starg47]

A digital vinyl can be very good if the engineer who mastered it was passionate about doing it correctly, some are poorly made for sure. I prefer CDs, and the truth is people who are enthusiasts will always collect them no matter what, I personally don't understand it but to each their own.

[@TunisianRocksBlueIce]

Anyone mention half speed mastering?

[@64akon]

Abbey road mention it

[@SPAZZOID100]

It’s a gimmick.

[@sonniecagnazzi7996]

I would also say that because of technical limitations: bass must be summoned to mono during mastering. So in the end the sound is less boomy and therefore less closed than digital even for modern albums hence if not better at least more bearable most of the times. I still hope that due to streaming normalization the industry will get a grip at some point and start releasing good digital masters like during the early 90s.

[@anadialog]

Bass is summed to mono when the engineer doesn’t know how to do things properly or simply the production doesn’t care a dam. That is also why we should support quality productions and quality mastering on vinyl.

[@todoreldub]

Los vynilrips de Radiohead de Ok computer que es lo que conseguí, suenan mucho pero mucho mejor por diferencia que las versiones digitales de las plataformas. Menos ruido, menos loudness, y más dinámicos y más cálidos a mi oído.

[@mikewinburn]

Excellent presentation…..

[@dennisvanmierlo]

Thank you for these insights. I have been thinking about this a lot. The only question I have is how do I know or what do I look for when purchasing a good quality master production on vinyl? Lot’s of greetings, Dennis 🇳🇱

[@anadialog]

Good question, the only way to be certain is try to follow and purchase reissues and releases done by manufacturers that aim at high-quality and usually they are AAA (100% analog) products. But I am thinking of doing a dedicated video since others have asked similar questions.

[@hansbogaert4582]

Perhaps a strange thing to do ? but if you would play the final vinyl master via a "fake turntable" that with the right Riaa and then convert that output back into digital wouldn't you get the same engaging vinyl sound but now in a digital way ?

[@TDip]

Luv the channel and bought some tshirts - could you do a vid on mono vs stereo vinyl and why jazz remasters are being released in mono (Sarah Vaugh & Billie Holiday)? Is mono better sometimes? -Tony in USA

[@anadialog]

I don’t see my answer anymore…I will write it again. Thank you very much. I am actually cooking something for the future but for now, if you haven’t seen it here is my (old) video dedicated to mono: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2fUY314hM53bpIsi=vOXArCraPtee-iY_

[@jimromanski2702]

There is a difference in how the music is finally rendered with analog just as it's different with DSD vs PCM regardless of how it is recorded. It may have to do with the quality of each individual's playback systems. On the other side of the coin for the record companies I don't hear anyone else pointing out the obvious. You can't make your own vinyl copy of a vinyl record. Sure we can record it on tape or digitally but I can't cut a vinyl record. There's no need to encrypt analog records and the companies love this. So why not sell vinyl?

[@ilestojanov6140]

As everything in our society,the common human being only gets the crap,that's it!

[@bikeman7982]

Mastering is an issue only for certain genres or time periods. It doesn't affect my favorite genre - classical - where digital is vastly superior.

[@anadialog]

I completely disagree. Quality mastering affects all genres and periods. Perhaps you are not aware but great engineers are behind your beloved classical albums. One example for all, the amazing work done by Wilma Cozart and Robert Fine on the Mercury Living presence recordings. I made a dedicated video on their story: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHXdfYSjisqer5osi=CdIPscOOPF72pyTA

[@bikeman7982]

​@@anadialog I am fully aware of the engineering that goes on behind great recordings of all genres. Reference Recordings, Telarc, etc, make great recordings. I didn't imply all classical recordings are automatically great. Even the not so great classical recordings are not butchered as badly as many of popular music albums. Also classical has a lot more choice. For a given composition, I can find not one or two, but several recordings across different time periods, that not only sound great bur are great performances.

[@MagicMaus29]

Is "just because" a reason?

[@djnixmixMTL]

Can they make 2 version of a cd, the loud one and the nice one? Cds are being out sold by vinyl... again!

[@anadialog]

Exactly! I proposed the same thing in an older video!

[@xfoolsgoldx]

We love buying stuff we don't need.

[@nanchanger]

Their point is they know suckers on KZbin will talk about it...

[@raphaelroth1456]

Of course it makes sense to put Digital Files onto records. Just look at the quality of DACs that a Mastering and cutting facility has when compared to a DAC that an end consumer has in his preferred way of listening. In 99.9% of these instances the DACs used in Mastering and cutting will be way superior, thus leading to a better representation of the music into an analog signal that one can listen to.

[@doodahdavesrecords4319]

I got to say I have Bop Til You drop Ry Cooder and sounds very very good 👍 1979 all digital recording on vinyl

[@joyspring5643]

che bel video... complimenti, è un piacere seguirti like!

[@JG-pj3bg]

I’ll stick to CD’s, cost less and way easier to maintain and way easier to sound good, just need a good CD transport and a great DAC

[@JG-pj3bg]

@@radiotvhistory That's your opinion, I'm 55 years old and have had every audio format too, including audiophile systems, listening to vinyl sounds okay but limited(some people like that), that's why they started pressing digital onto vinyl, to give it more range, a CD made from the same digital source used to press your new vinyls would sound even more like the original source master than the vinyl, I'm not comparing CD to Reel to Reel or Hi-Res files, even though there are other Disc formats that could handle that too

[@ghcaudio]

Es verdad que la masterización en vinilo es mas cuidada pero también es una cuestión de marketing, se puede hacer cosas de calidad en el dominio digital como por ejemplo: DCC/Mfsl tambien estan las páginas que venden material en alta resolución como Hdtracks o High Definition Tape Transfer esta ultima usa master production ( transferenciaa planas sin curva Riaa sin EQ y sin la compresión que tiene que usar el ingeniero de sonido en adaptar el master original a un vinilo que por varias razones tecnicas no es una copia 1:1 del master) y la otra razón es la piratería de ntro del dominio digital, es mas facil copiar un Cd o in archivo digital Hires que digitalizar un vinilo.

[@anadialog]

Certainly, and in fact the last point says this and it is also valid for pure digital releases (which I also love when done correctly) but the focus of what we are talking here is mainstream, normal releases, the vast majority of what is boing sold!

[@ghcaudio]

@@anadialog Totalmente de acuerdo, gracias por responder, amo tu canal!!!!!

[@TDip]

Could u do a video on mono vs stereo vinyl and why jazz remasters are being released in mono like Billie Holiday? Is better? Luv channel and bought tshirts - Tony

[@anadialog]

Thank you so much for your support Tony!! I am actually cooking something in that direction. In the meantime, if you haven’t seen it, here is my video on mono I did almost at the beginning of the channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2fUY314hM53bpIsi=Tp1RGGNIiOZQPtI9

[@LyndonSoulGroove]

Maybe its because when any music played back on a good Turntable with good cartridge adds something to the sound , maybe the attack & delay of instruments when recorded Well in Digital Or Analogue. Recently came across some Lp,s from late 1970's which have on front " Digital Recordings " they sound great ....this was the intoduction to Digital before CD's were mass produced. examples of these are "Studio 2 stereo " EMI

[@anadialog]

Indeed, also the Telarc digital LPs were great

[@netster]

10:25 Damn you brother! Did you just described me? 😂😂😂 I have two album and no record player 😅

[@anadialog]

You will in the future! Try!

[@AndroMediaLand]

Всегда говорил, что звукорежиссеры виноваты в том, что мы слушаем, ссылаясь на какие-то свои выдуманные мотиваторы к производству непотребной музыки. Что мешает сделать один качественный мастеринг для CD, винила и стримингового сервиса? Очевидный ответ - ничего. Но начинаются фантазии на тему, а где я это буду слушать? В автомобиле, в лифте или дома на Hi-Fi системе? А какая разница тебе, звукорежиссер? Просто сделай, чтобы было хорошо всем. Но нет, приплетают какой-то фаст-фуд. Фаст-фуд изначально задумывался, как максимально дешевая и быстрая еда. Она на всех этапах массовая, максимально быстрая и дешевая. И если уж переносить производство музыки на фаст-фуд, то правильнее было бы сказать, что ингредиенты для производства блюда выращивались в максимально благоприятных условиях, все требования были максимально направлены на сохранение всех питательных свойств, свежести и максимально приятного вкуса. Повар до самого конца соблюдал все требования к приготовлению блюда, всё получилось по высшему разряду. Блюдо готово, оно бесподобно. И вот его берет официант, и несет его к вам. Казалось бы, что может пойти не так? Но по дороге блюдо меняется до неузнаваемости. Официант взял и тупо насрал поверх этого кулинарного шедевра. И вы спрашиваете резонно, а почему? Ведь всё имело шансы на прекрасный финал, вы могли бы насладиться кулинарным творением. А официант вам отвечает, что вы пришли в ресторан без смокинга, поэтому и жрите, что дают. Официант в системе производства медиаконтента - это и есть тот самый звукорежиссер, который почему-то считает, что тот, кто без смокинга, должен жрать дерьмо

[@martinhinge1462]

As a CD buyer, I don't understand why I can't have an equally good master. Don't I pay for my physical medium too? Clearly, the mastering engineer knows how to make a nice, dynamic master for vinyl so why can't it be used for CD as well? Is it some kind of prejudice? "They only ones buying CD's today are grannies buying Hansi Hinterseer at the filling station. They don't care!" I'd like to buy newly produced music once in a while but the knowledge that I'll be paying good money for something that's mastered for walking down the street, 'listening' through Airpods, is turning me off. I'm left with scouring Discogs for vintage CD masters which is kind of sad, and it's only useful for music that's 30+ years old anyway.

[@anadialog]

In one of my video on why “today’s music is depressing” I actually proposed to make two distinct masters at different prices, one for the mass (and phones) and one for the audiophiles: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZTMdWyZZr5rjs0si=eFjtvaK4NZnCZX1X

[@fernandomoraledasamso750]

@@anadialog Master 1 => PostMaster => format Vinil. Master 1 => PostMaster => format CD. Master 1 == Master 1... A single master degree, two PostMaster degrees. One for each format. (sorry for the bad translation).

[@LanceGreidet-bi9zk]

The younger people today think records are cool but just remember CD's replaced vinyl for over 30 years why because they sound better that's not really my point you watch in ten years or so the music company's will push CD's again same stuff in a different package they have done it for years

[@BC-qb7tx]

This is some years out I think. But in mid-far future, physical formats from todayish and before will serve as a kind of pedigree to certify that the music content on the media is NOT AI-generated music. It's going to get nuts when AI will be able to generate music content in real-time that is individually tailored to taste, mood, and state. Musical libraries can be replaced with personal profiles in AI music generators.

[@anadialog]

As later as possible I hope, and always recognizable.

[@Downhuman74]

Vinyl sourced from digital sources has been around for over 40 years now. Whatever special sauce the vinyl format adds to the mix exist outside of that source. People just need to get over it. But they won't.

[@vinylmastersgr1036]

Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish vinyls cost around 50-60 dollars each one and they are exactly the same as digital files!They have so hard bass, closed sound and much distortion, I can barely listen high frequencies.

[@starg47]

Vinyl enthusiasts don't care, they will buy them anyway. I want them to just admit that they lunatics who like to play with giant discs, but I'm not criticizing, I personally won't pay that price for a substandard product, I view as taking advantage of the hobby.

[@vinylmastersgr1036]

@@starg47 Thanks for the comment! I am in the generation of compact disc and I find perfect the sound of compact discs, for example first editions and not remastered. I am from Greece and I have a friend who is collector of oldies, especially Michael Jackson. He has 80s editions of Thriller and other cds and they are perfect productions, they are ageless albums and they sound so fresh nowadays. They have not so much loudness, they are perfect produced and bass-treble are balanced. Now new songs are more bassy and overcompressed. Vinyls need much money to keep these in perfect condition, also they need expensive turntables and cartridges. and other equipment to play good sound! It's also ridiculous that many older greek vinyls have been re-released nowadays and their sound is awful, they have cut many highs and sound is so fake digitized, also I think they have the loudness war and something like overcompression, and they also cost around 50 euros each one.

[@StrangeBrewReviews]

The sound is vastly different.

[@morettoyoutube8450]

Hi caro Guido, interesting as usual. But why you are so persuaded that for vinyl they are remastering the digital file? Is it not more logic that for business maximizing they are just transferring cd (or its master) in vinyl machine? This by exception of audiophile series of course

[@anadialog]

Fortunately in most cases you just can’t you need to do a dedicated master exactly because most records aren’t cut by high quality mastering engineers who know how to squeeze all the juice out of a recording. But, yeah, clearly even if they do a dedicated master it’s always going to be compressed to a certain degree. As I said in another comment, only audiophile releases or jazz/classical music are more respectful.

[@starker1971]

On your recommendation I have CDs Dianna Krall, Gomez, and Otis Taylor added to my collection. They aren't the examples I used in the following comparison. The vinyl CD albums compared. Toto IV and Dire Straits Brothers in Arms. Question for your point 1. I don't understand how buying vinyl guarantees you a higher qualitative mastering production. Is this based on the idea that the limitations of the vinyl requires this extra care thus higher quality always becomes the outcome ?? I have experimented many times with pre-level and timing matching between CD and Vinyl of the same album. I can easily switch between them in real time. I have never noticed anything in the vinyl that I was missing in the CD playback. I also noticed the mids and highs seemed much clearer on the CD. This brought about the question. How much expense in the cartridge and other equipment must be spent to get the vinyl to compete with CD ? I suspect an upgrade from MM to MC will yield some gains, but I have my doubts about how much gain. Equipment used: Kenwood KD-4100 Shure r47xt, I replaced the stylus with a JICO Shure N-70EJ stylus made by JICO 0.3 x 0.7 elliptical diamond tip for high fidelity Made in Japan, genuine JICO stylus with each stylus quality inspected & sound tested Lightweight aluminum alloy cantilever 1.5 - 3.0 g tracking force Sansui 4000 JBL Studio 590

[@anadialog]

It is not guaranteed, as I said in the video it’s filled with crappy records but the general trend is more positive than the other media for the reasons explained in the video. The expense for a good system isn’t at all high, especially now that there are so many solutions. Invest a little more in the cart and phono preamp then the tonearm and then the table. That should bring to at the same level or slightly above a quality cd player.

[@Albee213]

For the most part the "loudness" war is over. CDs produced in the late 90s and 2000s had some terrible releases. And I think Metallica's Death Magnetic won that war. Since then, remasters have been much better. When done correctly, CDs are a true copy of a master tape because they can be transferred straight from the studio master without making any changes to it. Not saying they can't be messed up, but theoretically its possible. LPs always have to fiddled with to cut an LPs.

[@anadialog]

Oh my! I wish it was so. What we are living is the worse period of all time. Compression is up to unbelievable levels. I have talked to technicians and visit mastering facilities. It’s a fact. Obviously I am talking mainstream. Audiophile reissues are out of this obsession.

[@georgeprice4212]

I’m more concerned about the music itself, analogue or digital…the actual music is what should be considered!

[@anadialog]

I did, in this video entitled “Why today’s music is depressing!”: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZTMdWyZZr5rjs0si=1REYREjSMA0GS9U3

[@GregMoore-g2o]

Unfortunately most vinyl is not produced from its own master. It will normally be tweaked for vinyl from the digital master.

[@anadialog]

Uhm, not sure what you are saying. Today’s digital vinyl is mastered from the original master mix, with which they create the master for vinyl (when things are done correctly) this is good because in most cases they use high-res files. While for analog, now only audiophile reissues use the original analog master tapes.

[@GregMoore-g2o]

@@anadialog Mastering purely for vinyl is done occasionally if the label decides it wants to put the extra money into the project, this will normally be for major artists. The vast majority of vinyl is cut from masters created for digital use and then tweaked for vinyl. Monoing stereo bass, rolling off low and high frequencies which may be problematic to the cutting head, are common examples of this tweaking. Smaller labels and self released titles will not spend the money to produce a separate vinyl master when they may only sell a few hundred records. There are of course audiophile labels that will produce pure vinyl masters from analog tape.

[@fabe8204]

Remember music is reborn digital! 😉

[@tiborkocsis5819]

For which it's no excuse is digital interface in a record player.

[@anonymex22]

People are the reflection of what there ear, see most of the day, and that's really awful with mainly abuse and swindler in both cases! the past was way more beautiful, peaceful, and honest and the fault always remain to 1000100 1001001 1000111 1001001 1010100 1000001 1001100

[@MrJasonMeans]

MoFi one steps are a great example of how a good DSD from master tape to mastering to vinyl is done right. PS Audio is another example. Just wish the MoFi kerfluffle did not happen - stained their brand and consumer trust.

[@marcbegine]

Really no turning back anymore 😎

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

The graveyard is full of that ..........

[@starlightgrecording559]

@starlightgrecording559 Hi Guido Anadialog*** Gerard Stroh!!! Here Is My Take on Digital or Analogue!!! The Vinyl Record Vinyl Like Reel to Reel Tape Has A Bass Boost Head Bump Around 110Hz and it Colors the Sound The Highs Are Rolled Off*** Digital Sound Does Not Color The Sound of Cd's or Higher The Sample Rate and Digital is No Head Bump and The Highs are Not Rolled off and If You Have A Good Digital Dac and if it is Dunn Right It Should Sound Awesome Guido!!! Now My Tape Machines Do Have A Sound Like My Teac's or Ampex Tape Machines*** Good Video!!! Can't Wait to See Your Next Video on People's Stereo Systems Guido****

[@ValentinDona]

Vinyl is NOT better as digital.... On vinyl all frequencies under 200 Hz are mixed in MONO. Signal to noise ratio is inferior as in digital and, in time, gets worse.... On vinyl, high frequencies, usually after 18.000 Hz must be attenuated because of the engraving head overheat. But, sometimes, digitally recordings (on streaming or CD's) are intentionally made worse than the vinyl for commercial reason.... This is correct....

[@felipebentopereira]

Saudações do Brasil!!👏😁👏😁👏😁👏😁👏😁👏😁

[@anadialog]

Welcome!🤗

[@yea8776]

Sent you an email & instagram message regarding master tapes.

[@anadialog]

Didn’t receive the mail but I think I found your message on instagram. I am currently not duplicating tapes because I am champ some things with my machines

[@denisdube8893]

I do not a understanding why do dude buy those mini speaker and believe it’s hifi come one …

[@ivansbacon]

I am endlessly telling folks i only do vinyl (analog) and your insight here would be the best answer to the response i always get, Why? Analog feels good to the soul, Digital is repulsive to the soul. Most do not know this because they have never experienced true analog hifi.

[@LAHegarty]

All my "Vinyl" is in FLAC format, hahaha.

[@anonymex22]

Even if you're right, we do not should be vinyl whose are done from digital files, in order to reduce this fake vinyl business! Even if sound is better due to continuous signal, The gap between a reel to reel record, and a vinyl of the high res digital master would be next to zero, as every analog device would produce when correctly mastered a good output due again to continuous signal which is miles away better than any digital format! Now if we consider ecological point, well if you own a rtr, putting dsd on tape are more ecological and would give quite the same result, even cheap support like cassette (especially chrome/metal with dolby =>C) or 8 track cartridge, S/VHS HIFI would produce a quite better sound than the original DSD! Vinyl is done like stone, it's for life, so no don't buy fake stone, but only true one, even if it's reduce the selling chart because what you own is an analog conversion of the digital, not the true things! The only acceptable way to produce vinyl is rtr to vinyl, even if the source was digitally recorded on the rtr, but not direct to vinyl digital transfer, to less analog conversion, and a for sure deformed sound of how should really sound a record! I'm well award of this because i like video game sound track and the label whose produce them does direct to vinyl digital, and well that's 25-30Khz bandwidth max, what a pure wast of material, a reel tape even cassette achieve this BW! The analog touch can be achieved by many other analog device than vinyl, but if vinyl is the same as the other analog one.... If someone ask me if those edition are vinyl, i say no, it's a DDA record using vinyl, same for all my analog support, does it is cassette, no it's DDA recorded on it, does it is Reel tape, VHS hifi, 8 track, no all of those are DDA, except the one whose are recorded from RTR or true vinyl! Each time you record to analog RTR reduce this .... digital sound (Professional RTR have a analog curve calibration which easily correct digital master)!!! I make electronic music with digital and analog synth, and how god i thanks the RTR to correct the Low/high curve which is always too fake!!!Vinyl again must be at lest RTR 15/30IPS(depending vinyl record speed)-> vinyl, and when true reel tape master of old record exist, no question, it's not AAA, DON'T BUY! There is also another point to consider which i think it s a good reason to not buy direct digital to vinyl , it's the mastering, they are biased too much low end and fake crisp high as well as too much compression, digital does bad to an analog wave and people whose are working with this technology have also deformed ears, and make deformed sound! The reality is not boom bass, heretic high, and 3LU of digital dynamics but soft low pass curve with high acoustic dynamic which again professional RTR are calibrated for!!! I'm still crying of the Beatles an esher record reissued in 2018 by apple music, with a such bad mastering, how can they deform such master in order to try to make vinyl sound as digital whereas it's pure heresy! WE MUST STOP THAT AND ONLY YOU CAN DO IT BUY ONLY AAA analog support even if source has some digital, it not easy today to make music all analog, but master it is, the master support again and again should be professional tape device!

[@anonymex22]

The world and specially sound/video engineers, artists are loosing the knowledge of how the sound/video should sound/be seen due to digital! Is it good? if we consider digital as the most 01110011 01100011 01100001 01101101 of the century which i think it is, that's not good at all for the next generations! It's a shame that we need to look at the windows or listen to natural sound/orchestral/real band with analog instruments really played to remember it! Just look at movies black and white, no dynamic , no light , extreme contrast, etc as digital music, i don't think it's the right way! People have a bad idea of what is what according that 99% of them spend 18 Hours /day behind digital screen, with dac for everything! Analog support are the safeguard, but if we deform it too much, it's just the end....

[@anadialog]

Sadly true

[@AndroMediaLand]

А как выглядит и хранится аналоговая запись на носителе?

[@anonymex22]

@@AndroMediaLand that's depend of the medium storage but never 011011010101, as for how does look like an analog signal , just sinus! Digital = numbers , analog = sinus!!! The vinyl is an 1:1 print, that means that if you read optically the signal, you got it -> ELP turntable, as opposite digital optically read would give you just drops, imagine someone which don't know anything about us which get a cd and a vinyl, after a lot of research it will be able to read the vinyl, quite sure that it will never read the cd except perhaps of he understand what pulse wave can be used for and that's just the first of many decoding step!

[@AndroMediaLand]

@@anonymex22 , да, виниловая запись выглядит, как синус на носителе, со специальным мастерингом и RIA коррекцией. Безусловно - это достоверный сигнал 😑

[@DrimbleWedge]

I’ve just accepted that analog masters decay with age and use. At some point in the future they’ll be unusable. So I’m fine with digital masters. The other thing is a listen to a lot of DIY indie bands. More often than not, for economic reasons they record to digital, whether by themselves or in a studio. It’s just a fact. Only an idiot would write off bands because of the format they record in. And at least they get royalties, unlike streaming

[@anonymex22]

Don't support direct digital -> vinyl, help on keeping analog different than digital! Help on not deforming our safeguard! Help on keeping eternal life to analog! By real thrust only reels print!

[@erikjohansson1488]

Number 1 is only true for maybe certain so called audiophile music. Everything else is the same mastering nowadays.

[@anadialog]

Not really, first of all you MUST do a dedicated master for vinyl, not only because of frequency problems but also because quality lacquer cutting is difficult so a full frequency record is cut only by master engineers (rare today). Plus I have discussed about this with mastering engineers and they confirmed that in most cases they do a specific master. Besides everything, you can’t use a Spotify master for vinyl.

[@erikjohansson1488]

@@anadialog thanks for explaining.

[@charlesabura472]

Digital Vinyl: "NO GOOD"

[@peterlagroove6555]

Vinyl. it's over.

[@anadialog]

Not really, sales are higher than 1989!

[@peterlagroove6555]

@@anadialog Don't make me laugh...the sale of horses is also increasing

[@anadialog]

It may be so, but horse sales haven’t surpassed car sales, while vinyl surpassed CDs! ;-)

[@thomaspouskas210]

@@peterlagroove6555yoy are a dumphead

[@virtuoosi7037]

i hate remastered music. and this days qobuz also start to sound so digitally and metallic soulless. i dont like anymore and tidal aso .

[@marcbegine]

DMM,