who cuts masters here?

[cymbalism]

i'm sitting here listening to some new vinyl i picked up and shocked at the difference in mastering on them and wondering if anyone here is guilty of the good and bad i'm hearing from my 1200 and alesis monitors

verdict:
mr bungle "california" on plain - horrid mastering job, flat and lifeless, WAY too much midrange for me. sounds like it's stuffed in a sock.

deerhunter "have you digest" on 4AD - pretty good, a bit sloppy on the highs but overall a good listen

three mile pilot "the inevitable past is the future forgotten" on temporary residence - another well done release. stretched out on two pieces (wise choice) and very warm sounding at that. nice work for a fairly new label on the block.

my chemical romance "danger days" on warner bros - definitely better than their "three cheers" pressing which i indefinitely filed away because it is unlistenable. still a bit crispy sounding but that's due to the brickwall mastering i suppose. still, better than the bungle one.

wanda jackson "the party ain't over" on third man - loud and proud - would expect nothing less from mr. white.

the greenhornes "****" on third man - another rocker and sounds great!

tim kasher "the game of monogamy" on saddle creek - probably the best out of all of these so far, good dynamics - lows, mids and highs perfectly mixed

twilight singers "dynamite steps" on sub pop - amazing album and mastering is completely on point. i actually had to turn it down because it was cut so loud. totally blows the previous lp "powder burns" mastering out of the place, that lp is another one that is permanently filed away due to unlistenable cutting.

how to dress well "love remains" on lefse - lo fi album but translated greatly to vinyl. adds even more charm to an already amazing sounding lo fi recording.

elvis costello "my aim is true" / "armed forces" / "this years model" original master recording reissues on MFSL - a bit disappointed with the transfer for a master recording. a bit quiet and not very punchy unlike their early pressings. still not too bad and definitely worth more than one listen unlike *cough* sad sad mr bungle.

thats my rant. end rant.

[Bonati]

I cut but I didn't do any of these records. So you were comparing the vinyl to the CD versions at matched levels, right?

[fraggle]

I have some more really dull sounding records.
Basically the last 3 mars voltar (picture discs)

[mossboss]

Hey All
It may be known or not but pic discs are always of rather poorer quality than black vinyl pressings
They tend to be dull with a heavy loss of highs as well as mid freq's
The reason for that is the manufacturing process so as to produce them
So do not compare picture disks with even the equivalent/same record pressed in black as it will be of quite a lower quality that is a fact
Cheers

[fraggle]

yeah i know that but i also have pretty good sounding picturediscs.
it might also be the master who knows.....

[gengy]

in general it's true that picture disk have a slightly more low quality,but it's true also that there's place around the world where the picture disk are excellent as much as the black vinyl!

[dietrich10]

You have to keep in mind that often lacquer cutters are given the CD masters to cut. I often asked for 'vinyl premasters' if the CD masters are pushed beyond-sometimes request is granted others not in budget or not available.

cutting 20 minute sides with -7RMS CD masters does not always yield the best lacquers

[cymbalism]

I cut but I didn't do any of these records. So you were comparing the vinyl to the CD versions at matched levels, right?

No comparing, just flat out listening thats all.

I don't buy CDs that often, only when the release isn't made on vinyl or the record is so horrible sounding I have no other choice.

With the Costello records, I own the original US presses and the original UK presses so I did compare those which as always it seems the UK versions blew them out of the water. I own the Bungle cd as it never had a vinyl issue until late last year and the record was over a decade old. The MCR I bought on cd when it came out and the vinyl when it also came out which was like 4 months apart.

[dietrich10]

I bit the bullet and ordered the mofi.com pressing of Beck's Sea Change since I love that album.
This record sounds like crap. there is just low and low mids. the records are so flat. $40 for 180gram vinyl that arrived a tad warped...bad bad and overhyped

[cymbalism]

I bit the bullet and ordered the mofi.com pressing of Beck's Sea Change since I love that album.
This record sounds like crap. there is just low and low mids. the records are so flat. $40 for 180gram vinyl that arrived a tad warped...bad bad and overhyped

I was gonna get that one too but the original press isn't too bad so I skipped ordering that one. Supposedly the Santana "Abraxas" mofi release is shit too.

[dietrich10]

It is etched RWL.....i know bob ludwig did the mastering but to my knowledge there is no lathe in Maine with him now.

[mossboss]

in general it's true that picture disk have a slightly more low quality,but it's true also that there's place around the world where the picture disk are excellent as much as the black vinyl!

Well mate when you get one or two of those I will be happy to sit down and listen to them with you any time so we can compare
Just ask these guys whoever they are (I can guess who) to get a black puck stick a couple of white labels and press a couple for you on the same press and on the same stampers as they do the picture discs on Than compare the two No big deal really
In isolation a listening test is meaningless
Cheers

[gengy]

in general it's true that picture disk have a slightly more low quality,but it's true also that there's place around the world where the picture disk are excellent as much as the black vinyl!

Well mate when you get one or two of those I will be happy to sit down and listen to them with you any time so we can compare
Just ask these guys whoever they are (I can guess who) to get a black puck stick a couple of white labels and press a couple for you on the same press and on the same stampers as they do the picture discs on Than compare the two No big deal really
In isolation a listening test is meaningless
Cheers

A comparison between the two makes no sense. We all agree that the black vinyl is better, but I think a picture disk is not only an object. for an average audience is ok.....then if we want to see what's out there on black vinyl....sometimes the picture disk is even better!

[mossboss]

So who is the average audience Gengy?
The guy who buys the picture disc for looks ?
Plays it once and pins it to his wall as it certainly looks good Like lady Gaga in her tight Bik's or less
Ok i buy that
Picture disc due to the manufacturing process it is not audiophile material That was the point
If you are telling me that some black vinyl records are crap and sound bad in comparisson to a picture disc that does not alter the facts
You just listening to a crappy record or crappy music on a crappy record which can be a lot of crap in any ones auditory senses
Cheers

[fraggle]

Lady Gaga lol

[gengy]

moss.....the audience is the mass and that some black vinyl around the world sound like a shit is a fact.

however in my home there's some picture disk that are beautiful and sound decent.

peace

[mossboss]

Yes Gengy
No need to get all hyped up man
Clear vinyl records sound harsh due to no filler in the compound
Picture discs are made with a clear PVC sheet on the outside again no filler
They do sound fine indeed if they are well made but regardless they will never sound as good as a black filled PVC well made record
Next time I am in Settala I will do that and send you two copies
One a picture disc and another a black vinyl copy as well
They will be made on the same press with the same stampers one after the other
You may than A-B them on two turn tables so you can make further comments from your very own experience mate
Peace indeed
Cheers

[MEGAMIKE]

a picture disk is only good if it is a lathe cut one..

[gengy]

Clear vinyl records sound harsh due to no filler in the compound
Picture discs are made with a clear PVC sheet on the outside again no filler
They do sound fine indeed if they are well made but regardless they will never sound as good as a black filled PVC well made record
Next time I am in Settala I will do that and send you two copies
One a picture disc and another a black vinyl copy as well
They will be made on the same press with the same stampers one after the other
You may than A-B them on two turn tables so you can make further comments from your very own experience mate
Peace indeed
Cheers

I agree with you on this ( i know the difference between black and picture) and I'm also happy to see that you also agree that however some picture disks if well made are not so bad. Surely these will never be as the black...on rare and fortunate occasions only decent.
cheers

[mossboss]

a picture disk is only good if it is a lathe cut one..

I thought you only embossed Big Fella
(more than 2" less than 12")
Have branched out into pressing?
Cheers