Good luck with that. With the exception of a handful of audiophile labels on LP, a lot of labels are not transparent about source, let alone a so-called first generation master tape. I know the tape heads here will say they have a connection and get some stuff that’s not at a large remove, but most multitrack once mixed down to stereo is already a generation removed, no? Direct to disc is fab but it’s largely banal fare (yes, there are exceptions).
I’m not doing streaming (nothing against it, just have more music than I can already handle) and often wonder- what "master" does a given streaming service use?
At least with older LPs, there is lore, anecdotal info, you can sit with a pile of copies if you are industrious and decide for yourself. In some cases, the records I’m buying were only released in limited quantity, private label, and tapes are MIA.
I did check with one of the 800lb gorilla labels and they indeed had the "masters" for a label they bought as part of a big acquisition years ago. I was shocked. The records have been reissued in some cases, but the original pressings are the most desirable, sonically and marketwise.
What’s a mother to do? :)
We just consumers unless you producing....
I’m not doing streaming (nothing against it, just have more music than I can already handle) and often wonder- what "master" does a given streaming service use?
At least with older LPs, there is lore, anecdotal info, you can sit with a pile of copies if you are industrious and decide for yourself. In some cases, the records I’m buying were only released in limited quantity, private label, and tapes are MIA.
I did check with one of the 800lb gorilla labels and they indeed had the "masters" for a label they bought as part of a big acquisition years ago. I was shocked. The records have been reissued in some cases, but the original pressings are the most desirable, sonically and marketwise.
What’s a mother to do? :)
We just consumers unless you producing....