Radiohead 'In Rainbows' mastering - vinyl vs CD

[GoldMember]

Originally Posted by 24-96 Mastering

I think most here are aware that there are de-clipping algorithms that can aid in bringing back a little bit of fidelity and freshness to clipped audio. .../...
But it's still worth pointing out that the effect is quite limited in the what can be achieved when compared to the unclipped original;
and that by principle, no algorithm can actually restore what was there before, i.e. actually undo prior damage; but instead only "estimate" by extrapolation.

the HDCD algorithm purchased by Microsoft does that with 20-Bit signals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_De...atible_Digital
http://www.goodwinshighend.com/hdcd.htm
http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_pacif...rosonics_hdcd/
http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/c/HDCD/HDCD.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/hdcd
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/wiki/HDCD/

Originally Posted by The Listener

"In Rainbows" is one of the rare cases of overcompressed masters that I can tolerate and even like.

Originally Posted by Spartacus

I listen to this album now since several weeks...
I don't really understand why people don't like the mastering here,.

0:23 vs. 0:54

Originally Posted by swirlyd

I got the UK CD version and made a cassette for a friend of mine - he later bought the US CD and complained later that the cassette I made sounded much better than his US CD - when we compared the two CDs, we found the US CD sounded TERRIBLE in comparison - really flat and nowhere near as warm and rounded in the lows. A Japanese CD of Oasis first album sounds way different than the UK version, which in turn sounded way different than the US version.....
was it common back then (or now, for that matter) to have different mastering done for different territories?? The sonic differences seemed too extreme for it to be a mere pressing issue??

same happens with Bruce Springsten - Born In the USA CD,
but also with Vinyls from other countries...
i have pressings from all over the world "same record", they all sound different.
its fun.

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by GoldMember

the HDCD algorithm purchased by Microsoft does that with 20-Bit signals.

No, HDCD seeks to maintain a larger perceived dynamic range than the CD carrier medium natively supports by a specific encode / decode process before recording and after payback.

The HDCD algorithm does not restore/undo any prior signal damage. It has no bearing whatsoever on clipping or any form of unspecified signal distortion. And even at its encode/decode process, HDCD is not lossless. There is no free lunch.

[MarkJohn]

Originally Posted by GoldMember

0:23 vs. 0:54

WOW! I want the whole album to sound like that... it really is night and day, with beautiful depth and clarity.

How can they let someone screw up their music so badly?... surely they can't think it's original CD form is better?

[wado1942]

Originally Posted by MarkJohn

WOW! I want the whole album to sound like that... it really is night and day, with beautiful depth and clarity.

How can they let someone screw up their music so badly?... surely they can't think it's original CD form is better?

They didn't "let" somebody screw up the music, THEY INSISTED ON IT! That guy badly compressed the stems in this example as well. Imagine how great it could sound in the hands of a good engineer.

[audioaddict]

Originally Posted by Marshall Oliver

Man, that is alot of "ifs"...

That's a lot of "ifs" for vinyl perfection perhaps...

But to outperform CD, it doesn't take much:

a) Great recording (analog or digital source)
b) Great mix
c) Great mastering/cutting

As we all know, most of today's vinyl is cut directly from a CD master....often already too loud.

Examples of this disappointing practice:

Justin Timberlake - both albums
Jay Z - American Gangster (and probably most of his newer work too)



Some good "digital" vinyl:

Donald Fagen - The Nightfly
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Bob James - Grand Piano Canyon
Michael Jackson - Bad (I believe this was digital)

I'm not sure if Taylor Dayne's "Leave it to my heart" was digital or analog, but great vinyl either way.

[MarkJohn]

Originally Posted by wado1942

They didn't "let" somebody screw up the music, THEY INSISTED ON IT!

Really?*... if that is the case then it's a great shame and for me personally a strange artistic decision to make, but it's their call. The above example turns mud into living music, which sounds more like a band playing together.

* I don't know the history of it, but would like to learn more please.

[GoldMember]

Originally Posted by audioaddict

As we all know, most of today's vinyl is cut directly from a CD master....often already too loud.

Examples of this disappointing practice:
Justin Timberlake - both albums
Jay Z - American Gangster (and probably most of his newer work too)

Some good "digital" vinyl:
Donald Fagen - The Nightfly
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Bob James - Grand Piano Canyon
Michael Jackson - Bad (I believe this was digital)

I'm not sure if Taylor Dayne's "Leave it to my heart" was digital or analog, but great vinyl either way.

Analog Recorded, Digital Mixed, Analog Mastered:
Paul McCartney - Tug of War.

Digital Master:
Dave Grusin - Night Lines

Digitally Mastered:
Seduction - Nothing Matters Without Love (Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk)

some records are mixed... 1 song digital, the others analog.
some re-editions are Digital, but first editions were Analog.