wjm (12/15/82)
I couldn't agree more with the last article citing the January, 1983 issue
(sent to subscribers this past weekend and should be on the stands shortly)
of H_i_g_h_ F_i_d_e_l_i_t_y_ discussing digital audio.
Several points raised there I feel confirm my personal experiences with
digitally mastered (but conventionally pressed and played back) recordings.
The digital recording process provides the artist(s), producer, engineer,
and record company with considerably better fidelity to work with (90 dB
of dynamic range and computer assisted editing for starters) but what happens
after that is the responsibility of those who produce the recording.
I agree that some digtally mastered recordings sound dreadful ( I have some
I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy) but I wouldn't blame the digital process
for them-if they were conventional analog recordings they'd sound just as bad
if not worse.
I suspect that the H_F_ article hit the nail on the head about the alleged
"sharpness" of digital recordings when they discussed the Beatles release from
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.
Some engineers boost the high end to compensate for treble losses introduced by
analog mastering, cutting, and pressing, and therefore a digital recording (which
has flatter response) will sound too "bright".
Certainly I'm looking forward to CED - The idea of a virtually indestructable
disk medium which doesn't wear out and has digital fidelity is the dream of
any audiophile and a considerable improvement over the noisy surfaces put out
by some US record companies.
Like some other writers to this group, I'm bothered by record companies who
digitally master a recording, put that fact in large type on the record cover,
and then charge a premium price for it, yet still press it on the same noisy
vinyl as their regular product (most of my experience and record buying has
been on the classical side of the house but I've heard its even worse on the
pop side).
I don't mind paying more to get quiet surface, but wart something for the
extra bucks (CED??)
End of flame....
Bill Mitchell
Bill Laboratories - Whippany
(harpo!wjm)