I enjoyed the conversation. I think Mike will be pleasantly surprised by the album cover of The Cars album. It's more like a Tone Poet than it is a Blue Note classic cover. Take care.
Great discussion boys! Really a pleasant chat about our hobby, which is so refreshing. I hope you get together again soon! I will get into these Rhino releases too, and I can’t wait for my set of DG Original Sources to arrive. I really wish they offered tracking information, or at least an email to say it’s on its way.. always room to improve. Thanks again Steve, Michael
So entertaining to listen to the two of you with different views. Michael‘s interpretation of MoFi’s current standing in Germany is also what I am experiencing. So is his view of the new Original Source Series of Deutsche Grammofon - outstanding releases, esp. Stravinsky’s Sacre Printemps, whole nine yards. Your live stream content is getting really great, Steve. Kudos!
Michael's take is spot on in regards to MOFI and how many Americans look at what happened. It feels like we as a nation are welcoming of corruption and dishonesty. Moral decay in our country has been/is rampant.
Sorry but this is B.S. This is AAA devotees being butt hurt to find out many of the records from Mofi that they championed as prime examples of the superiority of AAA mastering were in fact not AAA but had a digital step. Mofi never claimed in any of their promo material that any of their masterings were done all analog. This was an assumption/misunderstanding of the actual promotional material. Conflating "sourced from the original mastering recordings" to "all analog mastering chain" and conflating specific descriptions of the Gian II Ultra Analog System TM which is really just two pieces of modified gear with the entire mastering chain.
People need to realize that this Use of AI with the Beatles is NOT recreating John or any of the Beatles voices or music. It is techno that now will allow Lennon’s vocals to be isolated from the cassette. It what was used to isolate tracks on last years Revolver. The One Steps and UHQRs are over for the larger audience. They are back fir a very small view. But if and when MoFi releases different titles, they will sell ; Zevon, Run DMC, etc. but not a bunch of boxed Joni Mitchell and Van Halen. Good titles from MoFi and AP at $60 is their sweet spot.
57:44 - Rhino Vinyl already did a Kevin Gray Black Sabbath - Paranoid - in 2004 and again in 2006 and repressed AGAIN in 2104 for Vinyl Me Please (on Purple) I have that one - they are all AAA from the original master tapes. Rhino then released BS/MOR/Vol.4/Sab - all AAA from the original masters. Chris Bellman did the cuts for the Vol. 4 and Sabotage. Of course - they should do it again - and this time add those cool OBI's and I will but them all again!
Hi Steve, really like your channel and the discussions you present here, so I was looking forward to this one. But when Michael-45 started his talk/rant about MoFi and mentioned his opinion about 'the germans', I was out. I mean, I'm a german myself, have a music channel and recently reviewed the new Warren Zevon 45rpm MoFi release of 'Excitable Boy'. I love what MoFi did (as did Mazzy and countless others) and I know a lot of people here in Germany that agree with me and so they bought the album because of the music and the fantastic job MoFi did with it - regardless of that DSD-step. The real problem here in Germany are the ridiculous high prices for audiophile vinyl (the Zevon costs approx. 90 Euros). THIS is preventing most music lovers from buying them. So be sure, there are no 'the germans' - everyone has his individual opinion, just like people in the US, Canada or elsewhere in the world. So maybe Michael-45 is talking about his loyal fanbase, but everyone who uses the term 'the germans' in discussions like this is definitely NOT speaking for the vast majority of people here. Keep up the good work, cheers from Germany.
These older guys who prided themselves on being critical listeners who prized analog had their egos bruised when it came out that MoFi had a digital step the whole time. They may never recover.
Many artists approved test pressings before mass production of the records. So their “stamp of approval” (no pun intended) was in the very essence of the first releases.
Without specific info this broad generalization doesn't mean much. What gear did the artist use? Did the artist say "wow! this is exactly what I hoped for" or "wow, if that's the best you can do I guess I'll have to live with it." The idea of "artist's intent" is dubious when judging different masterings.
@@scottwheeler2679 hi Scott, my specific comment was aligned to the opportunity afforded when a Lp is first recorded and the band being most engaged to have some input. Your perspective on that aspect of instrument evaluation wasn’t the degree of evaluation I meant to imply.
@@rjsoto 100% correct. I was only speaking of the quality of the LP gatefold. Shipping wise, it was very poor for a record company (or even someone selling used records!).
Steve, thank you for this interview with one of the individuals who is highly respected in the VC. Michael 45 Audiophile has a channel that offers honest, heartfelt reviews with entertainment for individuals that Love Music.
Thank you Steve and Michael for this video. Was a fun watch! Of course my 2 'pfennig... To preface my post: Remember, I am mostly an original pressing kind of guy. I was part of the original, original buyers club for 35 yrs ;) and still am. Im not loyal to any company, only what sounds best. Given that.. Regarding the Mofi Eagles: "Why do we need another Hotel California"? Well, the real question is: "Why do we need a reissue of anything?" Answer: Because it might improve the sound. Why did I buy the Mofi mono "Surrealistic Pillow"? because it sounds really good and even bests the original. What if this Mofi Hotel California One Step, like the Abraxas One Step turns out to be the end all be all version? Guys, I get it. I get the disappointment. But sometimes we dont see the forrest for the trees. If its a "principle" issue, then so be it. Be all means on principle of being lied to boycot Mofi. But please dont give me this: "Why do we need another reissue of _____?" We mostly dont NEED any reissues. We want them because we strive for the next level of sound improvement. As far as the Mofi being another digital version of Joni Mitchells Blue,well, that isnt entirely true. The last step Mofi does is analogue. So this either a misunderstanding of the process or simply a jab at the company. Which is fine also. Therefore, again I ask: What if this Joni Mitchell Blue One Step turns out to be the best sounding version? Will the Mofi be justified then? Or will many stick to their guns on principle yet mascarade it as "well its digital, it cant be the best" even when it very well might be the best. Come on now. In ending, I would like to say I respect both of you gentlemen and value you as contributors to the world of listening and vinyl. But I cannot agree with this continual illogical stance. As one wise vinyl fellow once stated: Its case by case basis. And on a side note, and I debated whether to post this-- but its such a generality that I feel I should.. In the discussion about Mofi, Michael seems to infer that somehow german people have more integrity than americans. That we are somehow willing to accept a lie and german folks are not. Not cool. One visit to the long Mofilied thread at the Hoffman forums will attest to this. Bad form my friend. As far as the Beatles new song (and there have been 2 songs before this that used Lennons voice and technology to combine George, Paul and Ringo: Real Love and Free As A Bird) It isnt AI as in the sense of John Lennon is being computerized and some sort of cgi figure will be on stage eventually (though that probably will happen one day). Rather, it is the same technique that many loved (not me, I cant stand Giles remixes) which is called demixing. Its an extraction process used first on the "Get Back" film and then on the Revolver remix. So if you liked it on Revolver you will most likely enjoy this "new" Beatles song as far as the process. What I would be more cringed about is Paul's croaky voice and how many layers of processing it will take to make him sound decent and match John's younger voice. Who knows what George will be, if even included. Plus the song is not that good. There are articles on this new demixing technique on the internet. Id post links but youtube seems to frown on that now. PS: Trying to guess what the Beatles will do next as far as a big campaign is like trying to guess what is down the long and winding road. The Beatles camp rarely do what we expect. And march to their own drum that looks far into the future. Thanks again guys for the video! Always good to see Michael up on screen😎👍🏻
@@stevewestman7774 yes the Guru of Steely Dan, Tim Tolberg, gives a lot of insight to the lyrics. I find I'm a melody first, lyrics second kind of listener and the other albums did not give me that same feel. I do have a copy of Aja and even though it's truely a wonderfully made album, I just don't get into it. Tell your daughter that yes the Beatles are the base, but where would we be without them. I was 14 and devastated when they split. Alas the old days, thanks again for great guests and topics
What Michael 45 is referring to at the beginning is that people in the US are accustomed to shady businesses and being lied to regularly and for that reason we tend to move on and accept things more readily. Where he is and in other European countries people expect integrity and when companies do not abide by this they let them know their displeasure through their wallet.
Sorry corruption exists everywhere - Europe is not immune to it. A lot of us who have been buying records for a long time realize not every repressing is an improvement and move on. We don’t change our opinions of the sound based of further information. Personally I been avoiding most Mofi since the seventies because they don’t sound right for various reasons.
True as to the inflated prices in Europe. Question: If one cannot sense a fraud, does it make it less of a fraud? Nothing is wrong with the ears of most listeners but something is wrong with MoFi‘s „mouth“.
Speakers Corner has been / is a VERY GOOD reissue label. Was turned on to them about 10+ yrs ago. Own ~75 of their jazz, blues, rock, & some classical. Good stuff.
Steve, pretty sure that 4000 were pressed of ‘ The Beatles in Mono’ vinyl box set. Had quite a few in the shipping box & the boxes are numbered. Just sold a #2028 box set. MR Stickermania
Steve, forgive me for not checking through all your vids but would appreciate a forward to the link for a store & eq. tour which I'm definitely interested in. If it's been awhile, an updated vid about the shop and hifi store biz and hifi client would be entertaining bud. Thanks. 👍
Oh and on Rhino, their customer service and responses seem to be a dead end. I got their number in CA and called them on behalf of several people who ordered and couldn’t get order status and sat in hold loop where no one picked up. That’s not a great face for such a good product.
To quote from THE LION IN WINTER "The day those stout hearts band together is the day that pigs get wings." I doubt there will be any "pork in the treetops" in Dusseldorf anytime soon.
Never been that keen on mofi pressings and would not buy £180 for 1 LP . The other issue with the audiophile labels is there's prices have gone up a lot and the steely Dan's are proof that they are selling very slowly .
The issue, I believe, and correct me if I am wrong w/ Black Sabbath is the best sounding versions by far are the UK Vertigo pressings. In the states what has been used are the Warner tapes not the original UK masters. So no matter what they do, I dont believe anything will come close to the UK pressings. Get the UK tapes, then there is a chance of the best mastering ever. I would much rather see AC/DCs catalogue. But I dont think thats happening as an audiophile product. That ship is tight in Angusville. The Cars Rhino packaging is much better than the Classic Series BN. The shipping is the issue. The cover art however is not as sharp or vibrant. But that is a fairly common occurance. The artwork is probably long gone that was used on many originals.
Mofi exposed AAA audiophiles. And THAT is why folks like Mike have written them off and are mad at them. He had no idea that there was a digital step until told and he completely changed his opinions on the *sound* of Mofi and jumped on the original pressings bandwagon. I wonder what he will do when he finds out many of those original LPs were cut on a Neumann VMS 80 lathe that used a 12 bit digital preview.
Hi Scott. I just got a message from Kevin Gray. Here is what he says about the VMS 80: The 12bit computer is machine control. It takes the preview from the preview head on the analog playback deck and controls the pitch motor that moves the cutterhead across the disk. It is not in the audio path and has absolutely nothing to do with the sound.
Not to mention Michael 45 does not get FREE records from Mobile Fidelity. They put him back on the promo gravy train and watch Michael 45 change his tune faster than the fall of the Berlin Wall.
He’s also been exposed as a fraud, plain and simple. I stopped following him a long time ago after his MoFi tantrum and I’ll never watch this sitdown. Look forward to your next one, Steve.
Mike from the In Groove is pretty picky and he had positive comments about the Rhino package, not the shipping box. He also likes the Sony Japan pressings in addition to the RTI and QRP.
Sorry about shooting down the Coltrane for not being an original. But I want to say that is not necessarily a "mistake." Between the originals and the audiophile reissues are numerous reissues/remasterings with no hoopla that were quietly done by the likes of George Piros and other excellent mastering engineers who ended up doing the best sounding versions. I have a late 70s Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy that IMO beats the Classics reissue and the original UK. And I don't even know who mastered it. You just can't be sure based on these rules what will end up being your favorite. If your Coltrane sounds great you may come to find it sounds better than the original or any audiophile reissue. It's rare but it does happen.
I agree with M45 in that Mofi played and lied to us, but his fetishism of original pressings has become a joke. I have plenty of originals that have been blown out of the water by reissues. Also, most bands do not have control how their initial pressings sound on the mass market. Their labels do.
I'm not a fan of "remixing"to replace "original mixes" ! That's like "repainting the "Mona lisa" with a different smile! 50 years later , I'd like to think kids will be listening to these LONG GONE artist 🎨 in their "original" form to get an idea of those times! Just like you said, I also was born after the Beatles split (1970, so right on the year), and my (80's generation) get to listen to their art in its original form/intention!
The problem for me isnt that they remix. It is the fact that they are so crappily done by Giles. Let It Be is good. The White album is pretty good. The rest range from awful (Peppers) to wth were they thinking in spots (Revolver) to this did nothing to make an interesting or artistic positive difference (Abbey Road). The extras are sometimes very cool. The later I am grateful for.
It’s more that it’s a bland title of an easily available record. You can find an original press of that in almost any record store in the world for less than $20 and probably closer to $10!
@@mazzysmusic exactly! And I say the same thing and shrug my shoulders with confusion and indignation when I think about someone shelling out over a $100 for a one step Van Halen when you can literally still find originals(which sound rocking to my pedestrian ears) in the bargain bin and many cases for $5.00….
UK and Germany originals Michael’s comment UK good highs vs Geman good midrange does not match the general experience of collectors. Many german pressings used original UK plates. Others used a later generation tape
Most of the Audiofools are Listening to Streaming / Digital Vinyl what aa joke / Overload the Market with RE-RE Reissues that are everywhere / Just bring back High Rez Digital or Buy yourself a Proper Dac for your c.d. player 90% of the Market has not heard Proper Digital