Is there a point to Pressing VINYL just for Live shows?

jkung · 4th July 2008, 11:35 AM

I need the opinions of my fellow slutz....

For a hip hop show, many DJs are now using serato torq etc. Many spin MP3s with their vinyl. Now, I read FLETCHER on another vinyl thread begging DJs to please use WAX because it sounds better. If my music is primarily mastered to CD, would it make sense to even press a few vinyl copies just for stage use? Or would it be stupid because i didnt have a proper mastering session specifically for VINYL.

OR

Should i just have my DJ spin WAVS as opposed to MP3s. I am sure that on common speakers the difference between an MP3 and VINYL is minimal compared to a huge LIVE SETUP.

jef

Paul_G · 4th July 2008, 11:47 AM

Hey Jef,

I love vinyl more than any other format, but in this day and age if I were to create a new disc for the stage I would go digital. It is far more convenient and flexible and by the time it has gone through a pa system it will not sound any worse, in fact it'll sound better in the bass as there will be no feedback from the turntable cartridges.
My records for our live show are coming to the end of their long lives and after that I'll switch to our Numark CDX players as I wouldn't feel completely comfortable with a laptop/serato type set up, although many of the DJ's I have met get amazing results with the latter.

Cheers

Paul G

dangoudie · 4th July 2008, 12:00 PM

Vinyl seems to be making a bit of a comeback recently- at least over here in London. A band I produced recently went to No.2 in the Indie charts with a single release on 7". If you release it as both digital download and 7" then the novelty of vinyl apparently sells better than CDs.

The kosmos · 4th July 2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_G

Hey Jef,

My records for our live show are coming to the end of their long lives and after that I'll switch to our Numark CDX players as I wouldn't feel completely comfortable with a laptop/serato type set up, although many of the DJ's I have met get amazing results with the latter.

Cheers

Paul G

Deeeammm mane. I've heard from DJ's that the feel of a CD mixer is not as good as vinyl.

Paul Gold · 4th July 2008, 12:15 PM

If you want vinyl for a stage setup it would be a "dub plate". That's a record that is made on a cutting lathe. It is an aluminum disc that is coated with lacquer, which is like nail polish. Lacquer is softer than PVC vinyl and "wears out" more quickly. When it wears out the high frequency is slowly wiped of the disc. It will always play unless it is seriously abused. Manufacturing just a couple of real vinyl records would be very expensive. There are some dub plate cutters that cut into a PVC blank. While the record is more durable the sound quality is not as good as a Neumann setup and the noise level is higher.

Paul_G · 4th July 2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The kosmos

Deeeammm mane. I've heard from DJ's that the feel of a CD mixer is not as good as vinyl.

The Numark feels really good as it has a full size spinning platter.
Nothing feels exactly like Vinyl but Vinyl though.
Paul G

travisbrown · 4th July 2008, 03:24 PM

I've never been to a Hip Hop or DMC show where the sound system and listening environment would reveal any quality difference between wax and digital formats. I think it's a purists' pursuit that's lost in the mix, so to speak.

chris carter · 4th July 2008, 03:40 PM

In clubs CDs will actually sound better than vinyl, as some people have stated above... it's true.

If you are one of those guys that can only FEEL vinyl under his hands, then have someone make a stack of dub plates for you. But if you are fine with any of the modern digital turntables, that's the way to go.

Almost every DJ now spins digital. All the DJ pools are mostly digital now and some don't even accept wax anymore (!)

DannyMac · 5th July 2008, 06:57 AM

A CD in mix at a club stands out like a soar thumb. Well cut vinyl makes an IMPACT. If there is some good SUB in there don't throw it away on CD/MP3.

ALWAYS wav instead of MP3. It is an OLD codec that has always sounded like

jkung · 5th July 2008, 08:30 AM

Thanks for all the advice guys. Looks like I will be going 16bit 44.1 Wavs for now. I am not sure if serato/torq can handle 24 bit wavs but i will be see if it work. DUB plates sound really awesome but seems more trouble than they are worth?

DannyMac · 5th July 2008, 08:43 AM

What country do you live in ?

Paul_G · 6th July 2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkung

Thanks for all the advice guys. Looks like I will be going 16bit 44.1 Wavs for now. I am not sure if serato/torq can handle 24 bit wavs but i will be see if it work. DUB plates sound really awesome but seems more trouble than they are worth?

Real "dub plates" suck for cutting and scratching, they are too heavy and the sound is gone in about 4 bars.
Test pressings are the only way to go with vinyl.
Good luck with the Wavs, I'm sure that nobody in the audience will be able to tell it isn't actually vinyl.
Cheers
Paul G

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4th July 2008, 11:35 AM	#1
jkung Gear Head Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 65	Is there a point to Pressing VINYL just for Live shows? I need the opinions of my fellow slutz.... For a hip hop show, many DJs are now using serato torq etc. Many spin MP3s with their vinyl. Now, I read FLETCHER on another vinyl thread begging DJs to please use WAX because it sounds better. If my music is primarily mastered to CD, would it make sense to even press a few vinyl copies just for stage use? Or would it be stupid because i didnt have a proper mastering session specifically for VINYL. OR Should i just have my DJ spin WAVS as opposed to MP3s. I am sure that on common speakers the difference between an MP3 and VINYL is minimal compared to a huge LIVE SETUP. jef

4th July 2008, 11:47 AM	#2
Paul_G Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London Posts: 300	Hey Jef, I love vinyl more than any other format, but in this day and age if I were to create a new disc for the stage I would go digital. It is far more convenient and flexible and by the time it has gone through a pa system it will not sound any worse, in fact it'll sound better in the bass as there will be no feedback from the turntable cartridges. My records for our live show are coming to the end of their long lives and after that I'll switch to our Numark CDX players as I wouldn't feel completely comfortable with a laptop/serato type set up, although many of the DJ's I have met get amazing results with the latter. Cheers Paul G __________________ http://www.myspace.com/morcheeba "My advice for any one working in this business - lower your standards" - Randy Newman

4th July 2008, 12:00 PM	#3
dangoudie Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Brighton/London Posts: 313	Vinyl seems to be making a bit of a comeback recently- at least over here in London. A band I produced recently went to No.2 in the Indie charts with a single release on 7". If you release it as both digital download and 7" then the novelty of vinyl apparently sells better than CDs. __________________ NEW WEBSITE! Engineer/Producer www.DanGoudie.com I'd love your comments as I've never done it before. Musician www.myspace.com/BigDanSings

4th July 2008, 12:15 PM	#5
Paul Gold Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 417	If you want vinyl for a stage setup it would be a "dub plate". That's a record that is made on a cutting lathe. It is an aluminum disc that is coated with lacquer, which is like nail polish. Lacquer is softer than PVC vinyl and "wears out" more quickly. When it wears out the high frequency is slowly wiped of the disc. It will always play unless it is seriously abused. Manufacturing just a couple of real vinyl records would be very expensive. There are some dub plate cutters that cut into a PVC blank. While the record is more durable the sound quality is not as good as a Neumann setup and the noise level is higher. __________________ Paul Gold www.saltmastering.com most mixes that sound good usually look like a sort of puffy cloud - j ward

4th July 2008, 03:24 PM	#7
travisbrown Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,439	I've never been to a Hip Hop or DMC show where the sound system and listening environment would reveal any quality difference between wax and digital formats. I think it's a purists' pursuit that's lost in the mix, so to speak. __________________ I'm not a producer, but I play one on Gearslutz.com

4th July 2008, 03:40 PM	#8
chris carter Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 389	In clubs CDs will actually sound better than vinyl, as some people have stated above... it's true. If you are one of those guys that can only FEEL vinyl under his hands, then have someone make a stack of dub plates for you. But if you are fine with any of the modern digital turntables, that's the way to go. Almost every DJ now spins digital. All the DJ pools are mostly digital now and some don't even accept wax anymore (!) __________________ Chris 'Von Pimpenstein' Carter Producer / Mixer www.millraceonline.com www.myspace.com/chriscarterproducer

5th July 2008, 06:57 AM	#9
DannyMac Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 188	A CD in mix at a club stands out like a soar thumb. Well cut vinyl makes an IMPACT. If there is some good SUB in there don't throw it away on CD/MP3. ALWAYS wav instead of MP3. It is an OLD codec that has always sounded like

5th July 2008, 08:30 AM	#10
jkung Gear Head Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 65	Thanks for all the advice guys. Looks like I will be going 16bit 44.1 Wavs for now. I am not sure if serato/torq can handle 24 bit wavs but i will be see if it work. DUB plates sound really awesome but seems more trouble than they are worth?

5th July 2008, 08:43 AM	#11
DannyMac Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 188	What country do you live in ?

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