Digital VS analog recording equipment on releases

RJDG14 · 06-27-2015, 12:25 PM

I've compared analog and digital recorded albums (that I know are one way or the other), and have frequently found that 1980s analog stuff sounds slightly sharper than 90s digital (even when on digital CD), although this is not always the case. For example, I've compared the sound quality of Floodland by the Sisters of Mercy (analog) with Vision Thing (digital), and the older Floodland still manages to sound better to my ears. Is this to do with the recording technique or not? I've also compared some other stuff from this era and there is still slightly better sound on average with AAD to DDD. The same goes for modern stuff, very little of which has that sharp edge on high end equipment, which may be to do with the fact that it is almost all digitally recorded. Can somebody name any early 80s DDD LPs (most were AAA/AAD)?

There are also some albums from around the late 80s/early 90s which I do not know whether they are AAD or DDD on the original CD issue (or any rereleases. These are:

*Out of Time - REM (1991)
*Ring - Connells (1993)
*Copper Blue - Sugar (1992)
*Room to Roam - Waterboys (1990)
*In Utero - Nirvana ('93?)
*Under the Gun and Temple of Love - A Slight Case of Overbombing - Sisters of Mercy (1991/2/3)
*Metallica - Metallica (1991)
*Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (1995)
*Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
*The Presidents of the United States of America (1995)

Does anyone have any info on which ones were analog and which were digitally recorded? Also, would you agree with the fact that tracks of digital origin are rarely as sharp sounding on CD or Vinyl as some of those released previously? Which would you use if you had the space and could afford a tape deck rather than software?

~~Dude111~~ · 10-10-2016, 07:15 PM

I see you still visit the site so you will probably see my reply eventually

(Or others will)

For the most part ANALOG is warm and gorgeous.. Digital is flat,sterile and just aweful!!

I do not....DO NOT have any digitally sourced records.... I hate the sound.... If I wanted that garbage I would get a CD or turn on the radio!!

Im sick of hearing thin crap....... Its sad most ppl think it sounds good...... It sounds like absolute crap,ESPECIALLY WHEN ANALOG MATERIAL IS RE-RECORDED DIGITALLY!! (Or its digitally mixed)

**Frownland** · 10-11-2016, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

I see you still visit the site so you will probably see my reply eventually

(Or others will)

For the most part ANALOG is warm and gorgeous.. Digital is flat,sterile and just aweful!!

I do not....DO NOT have any digitally sourced records.... I hate the sound.... If I wanted that garbage I would get a CD or turn on the radio!!

Im sick of hearing thin crap....... Its sad most ppl think it sounds good...... It sounds like absolute crap,ESPECIALLY WHEN ANALOG MATERIAL IS RE-RECORDED DIGITALLY!! (Or its digitally mixed)

10 million dollars says that you couldn't tell the difference between an album recorded digitally and an analog recorded album.

grindy · 10-11-2016, 02:38 PM

Key · 10-11-2016, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

10 million dollars says that you couldn't tell the difference between an album recorded digitally and an analog recorded album.

I'll happily get in on that bet. Can we push it to 20 million?

**Frownland** · 10-11-2016, 02:57 PM

Whatever. 10 million, 20 million, what's the difference?

Key · 10-11-2016, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Whatever. 10 million, 20 million, what's the difference?

10 million.

06-27-2015, 12:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
RJDG14 Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 157	Digital VS analog recording equipment on releases I've compared analog and digital recorded albums (that I know are one way or the other), and have frequently found that 1980s analog stuff sounds slightly sharper than 90s digital (even when on digital CD), although this is not always the case. For example, I've compared the sound quality of Floodland by the Sisters of Mercy (analog) with Vision Thing (digital), and the older Floodland still manages to sound better to my ears. Is this to do with the recording technique or not? I've also compared some other stuff from this era and there is still slightly better sound on average with AAD to DDD. The same goes for modern stuff, very little of which has that sharp edge on high end equipment, which may be to do with the fact that it is almost all digitally recorded. Can somebody name any early 80s DDD LPs (most were AAA/AAD)? There are also some albums from around the late 80s/early 90s which I do not know whether they are AAD or DDD on the original CD issue (or any rereleases. These are: Out of Time - REM (1991) Ring - Connells (1993) Copper Blue - Sugar (1992) Room to Roam - Waterboys (1990) In Utero - Nirvana ('93?) Under the Gun and Temple of Love - A Slight Case of Overbombing - Sisters of Mercy (1991/2/3) Metallica - Metallica (1991) Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (1995) Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) The Presidents of the United States of America (1995) Does anyone have any info on which ones were analog and which were digitally recorded? Also, would you agree with the fact that tracks of digital origin are rarely as sharp sounding on CD or Vinyl as some of those released previously? Which would you use if you had the space and could afford a tape deck rather than software? Last edited by RJDG14; 06-27-2015 at 02:03 PM.

10-11-2016, 02:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
grindy . Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: . Posts: 7,201	__________________ *A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.*

10-11-2016, 02:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Whatever. 10 million, 20 million, what's the difference? __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

10-10-2016, 07:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
~~Dude111~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 758	I see you still visit the site so you will probably see my reply eventually (Or others will) For the most part ANALOG is warm and gorgeous.. Digital is flat,sterile and just aweful!! I do not....DO NOT have any digitally sourced records.... I hate the sound.... If I wanted that garbage I would get a CD or turn on the radio!! Im sick of hearing thin crap....... Its sad most ppl think it sounds good...... It sounds like absolute crap,ESPECIALLY WHEN ANALOG MATERIAL IS RE-RECORDED DIGITALLY!! (Or its digitally mixed)