Half Speed Mastering

depends on many variables, mostly skill and execution. Direct Disc Labs had skill, talent and ears….. 

Sbank- that’s interesting about Peter Gabriel.  I have two of his albums, both just used copies for $10 or less at my local record store, and after good ultrasonic cleaning, they are among the best sounding albums I have.  But my system loves that percussion.

Experiences like that have kept me from going down the “what pressing/mastering/deadwax rabbit hole, though I’m sure there is some merit.  I’m not motivated enough to learn and remember.  It would be great if labels all said where they were pressed, though.  I’ve yet to get a bad record from Quality Record Pressing.

I yearn for a time such as when I was young and didn't know if a record sucked unless it misstracks or was outright horrible.

Isn't Half Speed Mastering a bit over rated and maybe more of a Marketing thing (like Blu Spec Cds)? I know its a biggie marketing thing to have "half speed Abbey Road" sticker on the cover. 

I would be curious what Kevin Gray and the boys opinion on the process.

Isn't Half Speed Mastering a bit over rated and maybe more of a Marketing thing

Apparently not. All cutter heads have resonance issues and that is treated with feedback from windings in the cutter head. But it can still be an issue and by cutting at a lower speed the resonance is pushed up an octave.

Its also easier for a tape machine to playback all the highs present on the tape. IMO the biggest technical challenge is getting the bass right but all cutter heads have good bass bandwidth so that much of it isn't an issue.