Direct-to-disc LPs (aka Direct Cuts)

[Lerxst]

Hi,

My Dad inspired my HiFi interests.

He was a Big Band fan. He had some Direct-to-disc recordings from various artists, the one I remember being one by Harry James called Comin' From a Good Place.

He had a Thorens TD 160 and it played through some NAD amps and a pair of Sony speakers (don't sneer, they were really good).

That album was so dynamic it made people jump. I recently managed to get it on CD - what a let down! All the dynamics were gone. You can fall asleep with that CD recording playing, not with the LP version though.

Direct cut LPs seemed to go out of fashion - my peers have never heard of them. They are recorded live, not to tape but to the cutting lathe and limited edition.

Anyone have any of these albums? What do you think of them? I thought most of them were great.

Seems like a long-lost treasure.

Chris

[struth]

Hi,

My Dad inspired my HiFi interests.

He was a Big Band fan. He had some Direct-to-disc recordings from various artists, the one I remember being one by Harry James called Comin' From a Good Place.

He had a Thorens TD 160 and it played through some NAD amps and a pair of Sony speakers (don't sneer, they were really good).

That album was so dynamic it made people jump. I recently managed to get it on CD - what a let down! All the dynamics were gone. You can fall asleep with that CD recording playing, not with the LP version though.

Direct cut LPs seemed to go out of fashion - my peers have never heard of them. They are recorded live, not to tape but to the cutting lathe and limited edition.

Anyone have any of these albums? What do you think of them? I thought most of them were great.

Seems like a long-lost treasure.

Chris

sheffield labs

[Ali Tait]

There are some direct cuts being produced now. I have a copy of The Syd Lawrence Orchestra which is superb, and interesting in that it is a double album, one the direct cut, the other recorded onto reel to reel first. Both from the same session.

[Firebottle]

Direct to disc are superb. I have the Toronto Chamber Orchestra playing Mozart.

The quality is second to none

Look for the reference UMB-DD6.

[Lerxst]

Sheffield Labs - yes, that was it. Gatefold of course and the vinyl was 4mm thick

Interesting they are still around. I grew up with Syd Lawrence!

I sold my LPs and turntable years ago so I don't look around for LPs now. Some of my dad's ones were recorded badly - I remember one Latin American dance band recording where the percussion drowned out the rest.

When done right, these things are hands down the best "being there" experience I have ever had.

[Minstrel SE]

Didnt the Kitty Daisy and Lewis family have all the Ampex valve equipment and direct cutting lathes in their front room. I read that they would cut it as directly as possible using this older quality equipment.

Sounds very alive, organic and vibrant when converted to Cd :D