greg@olivej.UUCP (Greg Paley) (09/18/84)
Craig Dory doesn't give me much benefit of the doubt as to what listening and comparisons I've done, presuming "no" answers to questions he hasn't asked. Record companies haven't made direct comparisons easy since there have been very few recordings made available of which duplicate master tapes were made, one analogue and one digital. I've listened and compared those I could find - the London recording of the Beethoven 3rd Piano Concerto and the Vanguard disc of Haydn symphonies (both sides had the same program - one side digitally mastered, the other side analogue). I had to go by the vinyl pressing of these "digital" recordings since they were not, at the time I compared them, available in CD format. I have had a chance to compare a number of analogue-mastered recordings in CD format, vinyl LP, and, in some cases, pre-recorded open reel tape. Among these have been the Solti/Vienna Verdi "Requiem" (London/Decca), Haitink/Concertgebouw Debussy "Jeux" and "Nocturnes" (Philips) and the Bruno Walter/Columbia SO Beethoven Symphony #6 (CBS - a friend brought me the CD from Japan). I've never wanted to hear an analogue recording sound better than a newer digital recording. I don't like the idea of great recordings being a thing of the past. However, I can't hide the disappointment I continue to find when comparing the newest digital recordings with what I find to be the "best" of the analogues and I'm not about to be intimidated by the "Digital is absolutely better - believe it and shut up" attitude presented by the mass media and a number of net contributors. I keep buying the digital issues in the hope that they'll start to justify their press, and I eagerly await the day that happens. - Greg Paley
rentsch@unc.UUCP (Tim Rentsch) (09/25/84)
From the replied-to article:
(2) I doubt that this comment was made on the basis of sound scientific
reasoning. Have you ever listened to a CD and an analogue disc with
the CD being made from digital master and the analogue disc being
made from an analogue master tape of the same performance with
identical source and good production -- no, I didn't think so. Or
better yet, have you actually heard respective analogue and digital
master tapes made side by side from a single progam source (e.g.,
same mics, mic preamps, etc.). -- ditto. This is the ONLY way that
you can make any meaningful comparisons between the technologies.
Otherwise, there are so many variables (both hidden and out of your
control) that any other conclusions are meaningless.
My comments:
The use of "ONLY" here is nonsense. Scientific reasoning is not "sound" --
go back to theory of knowledge ideas. Scientific reasoning is inductive,
and all inductive arguments are basically hogwash. Now it is true that
certain arguments are accepted by the scientific community, and others are
not, but that says something about the community, not about the "soundness"
of the arguments. More to the point, just because scientific research is
accepted only when strict double-blind testing has been done, does not at
all mean that other testing is useless. It may be that the only way to
convince a scientific research audience is through means such as are
suggested, but "the ONLY way you can make any meaningful comparisons"? No
way.
"Back off, man. I'm a scientist."
cheers,
Timherbie@watdcsu.UUCP (Herb Chong, Computing Services) (10/04/84)
I might point out that you just used inductive reasoning to arrive at your
conclusion. Therefore what you say, also, is hogwash.
Herb...
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BITNET: herbie at watdcsrcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (10/15/84)
> I might point out that you just used inductive reasoning to arrive at your > conclusion. Therefore what you say, also, is hogwash. The disadvantages of INDUCTIVE reasoning can be offset by adequate use of brain CAPACITY. Just don't overREACT. -- Dick Dunn {hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd (303)444-5710 x3086 ...Relax...don't worry...have a homebrew.