Cassette's Not Dead, Apparently!

Tony,

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Depending on the sound the artist is looking for I would agree sometimes the analogue master is better suited...

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That again suggests some form of desired coloration, which is not the point being made.

What I'm saying (and I think also my fellow tape enthusiasts) is that often the analogue master is the most faithful (read as 'accurate') format for music to be recorded onto in the first place.

I don't prefer tape (or anything analogue) because I'm seeking some form of specific 'sound'; I prefer it because I consider that it offers the best fidelity (along with vinyl done well) and is the least compromised of all the available media.

Marco.

Marco,

Perhaps that may be the case for a few, however a few bands love to use distortion of varying degrees in their material, I would say that the analogue machines make this more to the bands taste than say digital equivalent.
The interesting thing is, what is recoded in the studio is very rarely recreated in the home.

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Originally Posted by Mr. C

a good digitally recorded master UNFESTERED with by record companies is pretty special, again this is down to the person. behind the desk and their complete understanding of the technology he/she is using.

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In this case we are not talking about 44.1 kHz and 16 bit, I suspect ;) . High-resolution digital audio can be awesome in right hands and so would be the top level analogue audio, like Ultimate Analog, for example. However a plain CD 44.1kHz/16bit digital audio can not compete even with a good quality cassette, IMHO.

Alex

Hi Alex,

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However a plain CD 44.1kHz/16bit digital audio can not compete even with a good quality cassette, IMHO.

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I presume then you've not heard a high quality modified NOS DAC using Philips TDA 1541 chips? You might be quite surprised if you have a listen ;)

However, I do agree, as I've already said, that tape done well is still better than ANY form of digital done well, and so that includes even my very capable Audiocom-modified Sony CDP and 44.1kHz 16bit DAC :)

I rate high-res, too, but the problem is the lack of available music which utilises the format. I will not consider investing in this technology until there are as many new albums released on high-res as there currently are CDs.

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

I presume then you've not heard a high quality modified NOS DAC using Philips TDA 1541 chips? You might be quite surprised if you have a listen ;)

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There are some good DACs, however there is nothing a good DAC can do about an inherent lack of low-level resolution and ambience on the CD format. You can paint a dead body to make it look more like a live one, but it can only trick you for a short while ;) .

Alex

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There are some good DACs, however there is nothing a good DAC can do about an inherent lack of low-level resolution and ambience on the CD format.

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It's not as simple as that, though, Alex - nothing in audio rarely is! :)

However, that's a discussion for another time and place.

Marco

Alex,

We record from between 24/96khz and 32/352.8khz. If you have the playback equipment as you stated 'awesome' is a apt word, as can analogue if again you have the equipment can sound very special without question.
CD can sound very good, though it is limited.
The implimenation is in the data transfer not the medium imho

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Originally Posted by Marco

What I'm saying (and I think also my fellow tape enthusiasts) is that often the analogue master is the most faithful (read as 'accurate') format for music to be recorded onto in the first place.


Marco.

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Completely untrue Marco. I'm not saying that ALL digital recording systems are good, but let's put it this way, the best digital recording systems give you what's there, warts and all. Analogue recording systems are very good at slightly smoothing things out and the playback is never *quite* the same as what's going onto the tape. There was a web-link to a comparison by recording engineers, but I can't remember what it was...

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Originally Posted by Mr. C

CD can sound very good, though it is limited.

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How so? I'm genuinely interested..

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Originally Posted by Dalek Supreme D L

You should absolutely do this and tell us what you think...


Regards D S D L

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I have thought about doing write ups. But, I don't really have much to compare to, nor have I enough of the lingo to fully explain what I'm hearing. But, you never know! ;)