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MoFi controversy

I see this hasn't been mentioned here yet, so I thought I'd put this out here.  Let me just say that I haven't yet joined the analog world, so I don't have a dog in this fight.

It was recently revealed that Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs one step LPs are being cut from digital masters (DSD) rather than being straight analog throughout the chain.

Here is one of the many Youtube videos that discusses it

 

To me, it seems that if MOFI is guilty of anything, it's "deception by omission."  That is, they were never open about the process and the use of digital in the chain. 

One thing to mention is that hardly anyone is criticizing the sound quality of these LPs, even after this revelation.  Me personally, I wouldn't spend over one hundred dollars for any recording regardless of the format.

 

ftran999
blisshifi's avatar
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blisshifi
1,199 posts
 

@atmasphere and anyone else who might know. You mentioned when you were cutting LPs:

digital release files are compressed since there is an expectation they will be played in a car

Is this still true today, especially for modern high resolution digital files, for instance those that are offered on hdtracks or on SACD? I know most modern pop music still doesn’t have high dynamic range, even when pressed to vinyl, but there are still a number of productions across genres that strive to preserve the integrity of this range.

If what @mceljo is saying is true about SACDs having greater dynamic range than vinyl (which seems plausible), and say the digital playback chain (clocking, DAC’s digital chip and digital implementation, the DAC’s analog stage, low noise, etc) is of a reference quality, then this would mean that there really is no benefit to playing the vinyl version of same mastering regardless of how great the pressing quality is, unless the listener prefers how their cartridge and phono stage sounds over their DAC or “prefer the distortion characteristics built in to record playback that are pleasing” as @jallan says, right?

Under these specific circumstances, there is really no possible benefit to the vinyl? Or am I missing other variables to consider?

I’m not trying to argue this in a “one is better than the other” manner, but just trying to understand the full picture for consideration. Thanks.

whart's avatar
whart
3,047 posts
 

@blisshifi - I’m not Ralph @atmasphere but I posted this to another site as my understanding of MoFi’s work flow:

According to AZ Mike in today’s recap video (this one, the day after the "interview" video posted), once they have the 4XDSD file, they use their analog mastering system. There’s a video a page or so up thread (here), which has 3 minutes of Krieg talking about mastering and shows their set up.
People asked about mixing or working with 4XDSD- my take, more as an analog than digital guy, is that the file gets played back (not sure they told us what digital recorder and playback they use) into the analog mastering set up. There, it looks like Krieg has a pretty full board, can mix (to the extent two tracks allow you to do anything), pan and probably EQ. I know they can use outboard units too- @TLMusic (who I haven’t seen in a while told me George Peckham aka Porky was famous for using those rare Fairchild tube limiter/compressors on his mastering set up, which gave it that beefy, bombastic sound).
Anyway, it seems like one of their advantages is process, apart from custom made Tim de Paravicini analog paths (probably preamps, amps and modifications to the lathe?). They are able to cut an acetate, have it plated and pressed and listen to it, as one would a regular LP. And they claim they did this multiple times, to hear how their "work" actually played. That would be an advantage. Over tape? Maybe if you are worried about a fragile tape, but I think the problem isn’t the condition of the true mixed down master, it’s that the labels won’t let ’em out the door. And if these guys found it easier, faster, better for work flow to just do the 4XDSD (I dunno), we’ll see how many of the recent releases went the DSD route rather than analog tape. Based on the interview, I suspect a fair amount.
Happy to be corrected on any of this."
@blisshifi -I don’t know if that answers your question. The benefit to you (as opposed to MoFi) is that you are playing a digitized file (cut by analog means and processes) through whatever turntable playback system you have; in my case, my vinyl front end is far better than my digital front end, so I benefit from that. Does it have some of the drawbacks of vinyl? Of course-- out of my cold dead hands, right?
I don’t think this is about the superiority of either format or medium. Both can be good or bad. It’s all about MoFi’s integrity, selling based on process for improved sonics. The argument about "well it sounds better so what’s the harm" excuses what I think are some serious efforts to mislead regarding their "steps." I think the fact they hid this to be appalling, but I’m also willing to give them the time to make it right, if that is possible. It is not going to happen overnight.
 

 

daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,877 posts
 

While all of the posts so far have been interesting, no one seems to know for 100% certainty that ALL of the MoFi "One Steps’ are sourced from digital mastering/ files?

For example, i would be surprised if the recent Muddy Waters ’One Step’ was sourced in this manner...or for that matter the previous Anadisc 200 gram release of the same title!

whart's avatar
whart
3,047 posts
 

@daveyf - You've seen the "interview" video right?

daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,877 posts
 

@whart I’m not sure, is that the video that is in the OP?

That I did view. Is there another video with an "interview"?

 

One question though, and I do agree with your last two sentences 100%, is this:

MoFi absolutely should have been more transparent and disclosed these issues, if true...BUT what if they knew with 100% certainty that the very best way to make these records sound their absolute best was to go the DSD route, given the anti-digital bias that most of us have ( including myself), would they have been wise to disclose this fact and have to somehow convince the folks that they were right all along (probably impossible); or simply just release the best sounding vinyl that they knew how to make, and let the results speak for themselves? Ethically, like you say...appalling, no question....

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