Digital vs Analog audio: Which do you prefer? - GoFuckYourself.com

2MuchMark · 11-11-2018, 01:11 PM

Digital vs Analog audio: Which do you prefer? Streaming and CD's? Or Records & Tapes?

astronaut x · 11-11-2018, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2MuchMark

Digital vs Analog audio: Which do you prefer? Streaming and CD's? Or Records & Tapes?

Just say no to tapes...records are kind of cool, but not practical and too much work.

BaldBastard · 11-11-2018, 02:04 PM

I have a sonos music / tv sound system, and being digital only its a right pain in the wallet

Many devices don't pass full audio to the digital output. sure they have them but the signal sent in many cases is just low quality

digital out in NO way refers to the signal quality .. just the cable used.

https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/inpu...io-passthrough

MaDalton · 11-11-2018, 06:10 PM

Fully analog would mean also tape machines in the studio, analog mixing consoles, no digital effects etc - not one piece of digital equipment between recording and the final record. And then a tube amplifier when listening to the record.
Once you put a piece of digital equipment in that chain, it becomes pointless.

2MuchMark · 11-11-2018, 07:52 PM

I was thinking about this debate and I think I have the answer.

Digital types like me will say that the sound is perfect. Low sampling rate aside for the moment, Digital should sound perfect because it has no unintended sounds.

Records on the other hand suffer from all kinds of artifacts. Scratches and dust on the record, motor noise transferring to the needle, the friction of the needle against the vinyl itself, feedback from the speakers, etc.

But today it occurred to me. BOTH formats are great.

Digital gives you just about any music you want on-demand thanks to services like iTunes, Spotify and others at the tip of your fingers. Great sound, no unwanted artifacts.

Analog is great because all of those unwanted artifacts are, surprise! Wanted! People describe vinyl as "warm" sounding, etc, which it isn't really, but the extra noise is somehow pleasing to alot of people, myself included.

This plus the fact that you can actually hold an album in your hands, appreciate the cover art and read some info too all makes for a pleasing, maybe more pleasing, music listening experience. There's of course lots of nostalgia mixed into that too if you are someone who grew up before the 90's.

I've decided that I really want to buy myself a turntable for Christmas. A certain little Technics LP120 is begging to come home with me. Can't wait.

TFCash · 11-11-2018, 08:43 PM

I guess it depends on what I'm listening too. I like my rock-n-roll digital, but my blues and old country on vinyl. We have a spot here in town that presses records still, and you can't beat Miles Davis on vinyl

Tasty1 · 11-11-2018, 09:15 PM

We had a community for high end freaks and went to some shows.
Unbelievable how speakers of 50.000 euro each can sound.
Or a record player of 20.000 euro. And than they used golden cables.
And more gadgets that might never work, but cost a fortune.
I think las time i had a vinyl record player was in 1993.
And that was also last time i bought a DVD, after 1996 only mp3.
Threw away all my dvd's and vinyl long ago.

VRPdommy · 11-11-2018, 10:29 PM

Kinda a strange argument that has been going on for some time.
It just depends on many things to long to list hear.
I thought these arguments were over a long time ago.
But know that all your major label records masters that were recorded in the 80's and up were made from digital recordings.
Quality in and recorded in hi-res digital with artifacts removed (digitally) will yield high quality out.
Less is less.
The nice thing about digital is control of signal over noise.
But not everyone does quality artifact/noise removal without effecting the main signal.

I like both when they are done correctly.

They have been digitally re-mastering old analog films for the last 20+ years with the same issues.

11-11-2018, 01:11 PM	#1
2MuchMark Videochat Solutions Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 48,553	Digital vs Analog audio: Which do you prefer? Digital vs Analog audio: Which do you prefer? Streaming and CD's? Or Records & Tapes? __________________ VideoChat Solutions \| Custom Software \| IT Support https://www.2much.net \| https://www.lcntech.com

11-11-2018, 06:10 PM	#4
MaDalton I am Amazing Content! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 39,826	Fully analog would mean also tape machines in the studio, analog mixing consoles, no digital effects etc - not one piece of digital equipment between recording and the final record. And then a tube amplifier when listening to the record. Once you put a piece of digital equipment in that chain, it becomes pointless. __________________ AmazingContent.com - providing only the best content and service since 2003 Monetize your content on Veegaz.com - one of Germanies largest VOD sites Got German traffic? We convert it into money for you! Skype: madalton02826 - Email: oltecconsult [at] gmail [dot] com

11-11-2018, 07:52 PM	#5
2MuchMark Videochat Solutions Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 48,553	I was thinking about this debate and I think I have the answer. Digital types like me will say that the sound is perfect. Low sampling rate aside for the moment, Digital should sound perfect because it has no unintended sounds. Records on the other hand suffer from all kinds of artifacts. Scratches and dust on the record, motor noise transferring to the needle, the friction of the needle against the vinyl itself, feedback from the speakers, etc. But today it occurred to me. BOTH formats are great. Digital gives you just about any music you want on-demand thanks to services like iTunes, Spotify and others at the tip of your fingers. Great sound, no unwanted artifacts. Analog is great because all of those unwanted artifacts are, surprise! Wanted! People describe vinyl as "warm" sounding, etc, which it isn't really, but the extra noise is somehow pleasing to alot of people, myself included. This plus the fact that you can actually hold an album in your hands, appreciate the cover art and read some info too all makes for a pleasing, maybe more pleasing, music listening experience. There's of course lots of nostalgia mixed into that too if you are someone who grew up before the 90's. I've decided that I really want to buy myself a turntable for Christmas. A certain little Technics LP120 is begging to come home with me. Can't wait. __________________ VideoChat Solutions \| Custom Software \| IT Support https://www.2much.net \| https://www.lcntech.com

11-11-2018, 08:43 PM	#6
TFCash Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 1,738	I guess it depends on what I'm listening too. I like my rock-n-roll digital, but my blues and old country on vinyl. We have a spot here in town that presses records still, and you can't beat Miles Davis on vinyl __________________ TeenFlood.com Online since 1998. TFCash KissMeGirl VirginRiches MondoBucks tim at tfcash.com or submit a ticket at our HelpDesk

11-11-2018, 02:04 PM	#3
BaldBastard Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 15,884	I have a sonos music / tv sound system, and being digital only its a right pain in the wallet Many devices don't pass full audio to the digital output. sure they have them but the signal sent in many cases is just low quality digital out in NO way refers to the signal quality .. just the cable used. https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/inpu...io-passthrough

11-11-2018, 09:15 PM	#7
Tasty1 Judge Jury and Executioner Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South-America Posts: 9,258	We had a community for high end freaks and went to some shows. Unbelievable how speakers of 50.000 euro each can sound. Or a record player of 20.000 euro. And than they used golden cables. And more gadgets that might never work, but cost a fortune. I think las time i had a vinyl record player was in 1993. And that was also last time i bought a DVD, after 1996 only mp3. Threw away all my dvd's and vinyl long ago.

11-11-2018, 10:29 PM	#8
VRPdommy Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 10,743	Kinda a strange argument that has been going on for some time. It just depends on many things to long to list hear. I thought these arguments were over a long time ago. But know that all your major label records masters that were recorded in the 80's and up were made from digital recordings. Quality in and recorded in hi-res digital with artifacts removed (digitally) will yield high quality out. Less is less. The nice thing about digital is control of signal over noise. But not everyone does quality artifact/noise removal without effecting the main signal. I like both when they are done correctly. They have been digitally re-mastering old analog films for the last 20+ years with the same issues.