Virtually every product manufacturer wants to have a "thing" that separates their product from others. Half-speed cutting, 45 rpm, single-sided discs, direct-metal mastering. The fact is, IMO, no single attribute has ever been shown to produce a consistently better-sounding product. The quality of a record starts with the quality of the master tape, the lathe, the skill and care of the people involved, the demand for perfection... Sometimes the reissues are great, sometimes the old-fashioned older pressings are better. Unfortunately, it's often plain old trial and error to find the best pressing.
1/2 speed cutting not usually so good?
Any mastering engineer or other person in the know care to comment on Bob Ludwig's letter in the March issue of The Absolute Sound where he indicates that 1/2 speed cutting is a trade-off. He says that a cutter head flat to 20Hz is only flat to 40Hz at half speed. In combination with the RIAA cutting curve, Ludwig says that an additional equalization circuit is needed for 1/2 speed cutting that introduces extra ringing and distortion. He concludes: "For some music, half-speed cutting is an advantage, for the majority, probably not."
Perhaps I misunderstand the process. But if I have it right, some other folks including those at Mobile Fidelity may want to provide a different viewpoint.
Perhaps I misunderstand the process. But if I have it right, some other folks including those at Mobile Fidelity may want to provide a different viewpoint.
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- 11 posts total
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- 11 posts total