Why are CDs digitized from master tapes?

Posted by magiccarpetride (A) on March 19, 2017 at 10:22:19

It seems that majority/most people, given a chance. tend to prefer the sound of LPs to the way CDs and digital files sound. Still, a lot of people are not prepared to make the plunge into the vinyl world, for a number of valid reasons (cost, inconvenience, etc.)

On the other hand, there are a lot of claims that if one were to record a good LP playing on a good turntable, and then turn that recording into a good old 16 bit/44.1 kHz FLAC or AIFF or WAV file (the so-called Red Book format), all the charming qualities of the vinyl playback would be impeccably preserved for posterity. The argument furthermore goes that the reason people don't seem to prefer the CD sound is because CDs tend to present more faithfully the actual sound of the original master tape. When master tape gets converted to an LP, the turntable playback adds all kinds of sexy coloration etc., rendering that playback more seductive to human ears. All that charm is gone when converting the master tape to CDs, because CDs are 'perfect sound forever'. Well, it turns out human ears do not really dig that kind of perfection.

If that's the case, why don't music industry switch to the so-called 'needle drop' production? Meaning, when planning to reissue a classic album, why don't they digitize it by playing the good LP copy on a top flight turntable, and then encode it into the Red Book digital format, and then cut the CDs?

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Topic - Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - magiccarpetride 10:22:19 03/19/17 (30)

As opposed to what??? /nt\ - John Elison 23:40:25 03/28/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - gordguide 02:13:03 03/27/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - gordguide 00:46:58 03/27/17 (0)

It's all about the mastering moves - Garven 09:55:37 03/21/17 (0)

CDs digitized from master tapes - hifitommy 18:55:07 03/20/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - rbolaw 12:59:41 03/20/17 (2)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - John Elison 13:17:47 03/22/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - magiccarpetride 14:59:34 03/20/17 (0)

You can already buy these cds digitized from vinyl - jeromelang 07:30:37 03/20/17 (1)

RE: You can already buy these cds digitized from vinyl - PAR 03:09:39 03/22/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - Tre' 18:16:29 03/19/17 (5)

It's been done - Analog Scott 02:13:46 03/21/17 (2)

and.........? (nt) - Tre' 10:26:33 03/21/17 (1)

"and.........? " - Analog Scott 09:37:29 03/23/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - John Elison 20:17:18 03/19/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - Crazy Dave 19:57:56 03/19/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - John Elison 17:08:09 03/19/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - John Elison 13:45:59 03/19/17 (1)

Good point. nt - 3+4=5 17:47:40 03/19/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - jubal62 12:32:06 03/19/17 (1)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - Crazy Dave 20:05:49 03/19/17 (0)

Well, first of all - M3 lover 12:11:12 03/19/17 (4)

RE: Well, first of all - magiccarpetride 14:22:49 03/19/17 (0)

RE: Well, first of all - SpotcheckBilly12345 13:43:02 03/19/17 (2)

RE: Well, first of all - Crazy Dave 20:09:41 03/19/17 (0)

RE: Well, first of all - magiccarpetride 14:25:56 03/19/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - mr.bear 12:10:13 03/19/17 (1)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - simpletwist 20:55:10 03/19/17 (0)

RE: Why are CDs digitized from master tapes? - Waxxy 10:43:05 03/19/17 (1)

Needle drop MP-3 - Dave Garretson 13:46:15 03/19/17 (0)

Why are CDs digitized from master tapes?

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