Donald Fagen "The Nightfly" digital recording to MFSL 45 RPM One-Step vinyl?*

Sounds like the DVD-A.

 

The Ad does say ....so this will be interesting.
"Mastered from the Original Master Tapes with Mobile Fidelity's One-Step Process: The Nightfly UD1S 45RPM Box Set Is the Ultimate Analog Version of Donald Fagen's 1982 Landmark Debut"

 

But the word "analog" does not appear on the official MFSL website.

 

Anyway, this album has always beautifully sounded. In digital.

 

Vinyl LPs are analog.

 

Right.... but they are mentioning original master tapes. Tapes probably from the digital recording then??

 

But if music is recorded and mixed digitally, they are not so analog....

 

But is there really any conventional nomenclature used out there, or in here half the time for that matter? That is the problem of course, they use a short hand not meant for these threads; of course what would we have to debate for days on end if they just told us exactly what they did. Telling us exactly what was done always seems like a can of worms they never want to open.

 

Tapes can have digital information on them. In fact that's how The Nightfly was recorded, on digital tape!

 

The medium is analog.

That's what MoFi means by "the Ultimate Analog Version".

 

Thanks. So, if I understanding correctly, then they are using the original digital master tapes for this.

 

That would be bad if they do, and that original tape-sourced cd sounds really weird. I have one.

 

What is weird about it, in your opinion?

 

Yes, or an analog *copy tape* of the digital master.

 

Phase issues, unnatural decay of notes, warped soundstaging, unnatural eq with a peculiar and somewhat narrow midrange boost.

 

I think the original Warners CD sounds uniformly excellent. The DVD-A is definitive for my ears.

Ed

 

This is an easy pass for me. When I got the e mail from MD the other night, I pulled out the DVD-A disc, enjoyed it, again, and realized that's the version I'd always reach for, the 5.1. Buying this would be like flushing $100. down the toilet.
Abraxas, which I bought used, for nearly 3 times as much, does get played, and wasn't a waste of money.
.

 

Not really. Vinyl LPs are one analog version. But since all the digital master-> vinyl step brings is (not on the recording) coloration from the process and pops and clicks, the ULTIMATE analog version would probably be a wax cylinder, which could add even more coloration and more noise floor.

But I understand that MoFi is now on the third entry in this series, and that at this point they've pretty much exhausted viable titles that were actually recorded on analog tape.

 

There are (at least?) two versions of the old CD. One made from an analog copy, one made from the digital master.

 

Are you sure? The 'Bill Evans - Sunday at...' was charged at pré-order...

 

Is there some way to tell them apart? I think my original CD sounds good. But maybe I'm just used to how it sounds, as I never heard a different version…

 

It is analogue as it's on an analogue medium but it's not AAA. I can't see myself spending £100+ on this, as listening to any excellent vinyl version the limits of early digital are still apparent. That actually goes for Brothers In Arms which is a later digital recording. No doubt it will be the best sounding version to date but couldn't they just do a regular 45 rpm pressing? Still hoping the Abraxas gets a rerun on standard 45 rpm but those are now retailing at £66 over here. Anyhow I am putting the shortly to be released Rumour and Sigh as priority over this one.

 

I've never heard that. I think I got mine around 1993 or so. I was late on the Dan train. I also have a target and a DualDisc - both of which sound excellent.

Ed

 

I would rather they did some Dan. Don't remember Pretzel Logic. Count Down To Ecstasy or The Royal Scam getting audiophile vinyl treatment.