Wow...Just found these 'Master tape' videos on the Youtube machine...

These sound incredible. Apologies if these have already been posted here.

 

Yeah, open reel is still the best-sounding consumer analog audio format.

 

Really is amazing how good these sound even after youtube's encoding.

 

that is a lovely machine, but anyone who runs open-reel without a top flange scares the hell out of me...

 

You can certainly hear where the Japan black triangle CD gets its pedigree from. Very close. That Highway Star is the best I've ever heard it since it was released. Great stuff and thanks for letting us know.
I'm not sure if it's just me with my El Crappo® PC system, but there are other youtube renditions that sound better.

 

I keep telling the folks at The Tape Project, if they would issue artists like the Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Rush, King Crimson and the like on 1/4" tape it would sell like hot cakes....Does not have to be 15ips, 7.5ips would be best....I don't think they would be able to keep up with the demand.

I would buy them.....I would never buy anything they put out now.

 

I was thinking the same thing, even if the machine is complete horizontal that is just strange.

From the Highway Star Youtube description:

Of course, this tape is not directly the master tape, but rather a copy of a copy sent out to a vinyl pressing plant. This recording has never seen digital equipment prior to digitizing it, in order to be able to upload it here. The sound quality is still better, than anything I heard.

I've heard of others at Whatsbestforum having copies of tapes sent to vinyl mastering facilities, some are very famous albums.

 

I think that may be more typical in Europe.

 

Oh, if only there were a better digital format from which I could hear an even lower generation open reel tape of Dark Side of the Moon.

 

You like the Japan black triangle CD more than the Audio Fidelity gold CD?

I can't say I've ever seen it before from pictures with members from Norway (big open reel contingent here), France, Russia, etc.

 

I wasn't aware there was an Audio Fidelity gold CD of Dark Side Of The Moon. Can you provide a link please? Ohhhh, you're talking about the 32XD, not a black triangle BTW, Japan 1st pressing promo CD I have of Machine Head. Yes.

 

There isn't an AF gold CD for DSOTM, I thought you meant Deep Purple Machine Head since you said:

You can certainly hear where the Japan black triangle CD gets its pedigree from. Very close. That Highway Star is the best I've ever heard it since it was released.

And the video link in your post was for Highway Star.

 

Here’s a tapeheads thread about them:

Unusual hub in spool of AGFA tape - Tapeheads Tape, Audio and Music Forums

I wonder if Steve ever got a master tape on this type of reel?

 

Understood where the confusion came from. I just thought it might be more common knowledge that Warner Bros., only did Target CD's out of standard pressings and Virgin/EMI did the black triangles.

 

Might be a beaches analogy in there somewhere...

 

For Machine Head I've only compared the old EMI CDP (can't recall where this was pressed) with the AF gold CD so I was genuinely wondering if there was something better than the AF CD. I've been a vinyl listener forever, only got back into digital a couple of years ago after hearing a DAC that is completely transparent of live Tape Project playback vs the digital transfers I did, so my CD mastering/pressing knowledge is a bit rusty

 

I have the UK 45, and this is a good example of why you don't want 'a copy of the mastertape'. It's fine, clear -- but boring. Maybe Steve will be along to give us some eq settings to wake it up.

Try



Though that sounds like the CD. The 45 is like, loud, man.

 

Thats cause mastering and original recording is most of how something sounds, not the format.

 

That Money video has been in my favorites since summer. Really is amazing.

 

Then you would probably like the black triangle CD.

 

I've got to wonder if this tape, is a slightly different mastering or if something is causing an upper frequency boost?

Not sure which version of DSOTM I have, but tonally mine is a bit less trebly overall.
The tape sounds quite clean and clean and compared both on same phones and comp sound system.

 

Wrong, but thanks.

 

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