Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has been cutting vinyl from digital since a long, long time ago...

From Mike at The ‘’In’ Groove:

 

He's, uh... he's got solid evidence. At least more so than MoFi does thus far to the contrary. Quite deceiving if true.

 

I just saw this video too. That would be pretty major if true.

 

Ooh blimey…the boogers!

 

No more so than any other label cutting vinyl these days... and does it really make a difference?

I've only bought a handful of their SACDs since 2015, and they sound good. Vinyl from the same hi-res mastering should be equally good (if not better, on a really dynamite analogue rig) but I don't have the cash to justify a direct comparison between the formats

Anyhow they totally lost me as a vinyl customer with that one-step hooey. $100 box sets for records you can easily get in the bargain bins? I'll pass...

 

I predict Mike will get attacked big time on this

It’s the end sound results that is important
The clarity of less steps refines things
One Step Monk, Mingus, Eagles ST are all just jaw dropping

What MoFi does to “enhance” some One Step records in the mastering is more important to final sound. They have had some issues there

Analog Productions printing analog stamper and the copies in batches of 1,ooo-2,000 versus MoFi seems the better process and they have had hifi releases that beat the One Step version.
QRP did not go the One Step route. That limited stamper process is sounding pretty good right now. Personally I think it’s more about the MoFi mastering choices.

 

I have heard some phenomenal records cut from digital (even 16/44), so from a purely objective perspective, it shouldn’t matter. But if true, it does to me (and probably most folks).

Interested to see how this develops…

 

If he gets attacked, then the attacker(s) didn’t pay attention to how even-handed the video is.

 

It’s impossible that they are digital because so many people on here can ‘sense the naturalness’ of analog over the ‘harsh superficial glare’ of digital. So they would have known already and told us.

 

Well...this should get interesting.

 

HA!!

 

Mixed emotions for me.

ASSUMING the allegations are true, it’s upsetting that MoFi would be so deceptive, no different than other reissue labels who use fuzzy language about sourcing. Makes me not want to purchase anything from them again until they become transparent about the source, as a matter of principle.

Also, I feel like this vindicates the “digital is just as great as analog” crowd. These releases for the most part outshine their OG counterparts, and that’s a testament to great mastering skills being the more important factor over just using a tape.

 

this thread title should be their new marketing tagline

 

…and also underscores that if you want all analog, you really do have to look for the “all-analog cut from the original analog tapes” language. Anything less is open to interpretation apparently.

 

Maybe I can get my 99 dollars back on that Abraxas One Step!

 

Pretty sure you could even get someone to pay you 105 dollars for that.

 

Is Mike saying EVERY MFSL release since circa 2015 is digital, or just the one-steps?

Yup. Or just shoot right for the original.

 

At least this makes their “cool” digital font more relevant.

 

I wonder how many people are gonna cancel their Thriller orders tomorrow.

 

It makes a difference if people thought they were paying a premium for AAA and were not getting that.

 

Funny enough, I just met Mike today at his store in Phoenix. Really nice guy. If there is truth in what he says, we’ve been misled by Mofi for years in their holding back of important information.

My Mofis are awesome. I just wish I had all the info.

 

What does this mean for their Miles Davis releases?
I have On the Corner and it sounds great, but I wonder if I should have gone with first press and saved some money.

 

Masters
Of
Faking their
Image

 

Very interesting and looking forward to how this develops. I’ve not been able to justify the cost of a one step given my modest rig. Mixed feelings here because I would be disappointed to learn Mofi has not been forthright with their customers. However I’ve also been totally satisfied with all but one Mofi purchase I’ve made since I’ve been buying their vinyl in the late ‘70’s. I guess for me it’s the final product that should be judged (and in almost all cases Mofi is excellent) but be transparent with me in how it was derived.