Are 320s really better quality than vinyl?

[Shae]

OK technically Vinyls might be better quality because they are uncompressed and not sampled but I just did an experiment where I started playing a 128 kbps mp3 of nude and the vinyl of it through exactly the same sound system at the same time and just altinated between the two. And I swear I really couldn't tell any difference (And I was trying hard to hear it). I mean sometimes I thought I could tell a difference but to be honest I think if I was blindfolded and someone switched between the two I wouldn't know.

Maybe it's because I don't have a good enough sound system (cost about £300) or it wasn't loud enough or something but that's just my experience.

You must have really bad hearing.

Personally, I prefer vinyl, I can certainly notice a difference in sound when I mix in an mp3. Usually the cd deck's just turned off now, cos it isn't realible enough when recording a set, I don't just mean skipping, I'm referring to the sound quality, the tracks jus sound flat. I can hear specific sounds on a record which I can't on a cd, not the needle/crackling, but certain elements to the track, some of which make the track...

[lifeafter1984]

download the free 320's at www.lifeafter1984.com and judge for yourself

[Be-1ne]

brickwall limiting has to do with the mastering/mixdown not the format

Sorry i obviously didnt explain myself properly. that was what i was refering to, anyone who brickwalls a mix is a donut. as even if you do brick wall it is at the mastering stage it should be done. just to try and clarify the difference between the two processes.

if you take the same track both specifically mastered for vinyl and cd the only difference you'll notice is the colring to the sound different needles on a deck will give to it

I really do have to beg to differ on this one, but it does also depend on the cd i.e. artist / style of music, and who produced and mastered it.

and just to clarify on top... im only taking part in this discussion because im bored of writing my dissertation.

[deadly_habit]

brickwall limiting has to do with the mastering/mixdown not the format

Sorry i obviously didnt explain myself properly. that was what i was refering to, anyone who brickwalls a mix is a donut. as even if you do brick wall it is at the mastering stage it should be done. just to try and clarify the difference between the two processes.

if you take the same track both specifically mastered for vinyl and cd the only difference you'll notice is the colring to the sound different needles on a deck will give to it

I really do have to beg to differ on this one, but it does also depend on the cd i.e. artist / style of music, and who produced and mastered it.

and just to clarify on top... im only taking part in this discussion because im bored of writing my dissertation.

well any time you limit you're gonna lose dynamics which gets fatiguing on the ears at extreme levels, then again some producers use it as a technique and is becoming more and more prevalent with the lovely loudness wars

and yes it will differ depending on the m.e. and style of music, but speaking from a dubstep/edm point the majority of stuff is done inside the box (comp) with not too much analog gear is being used until the mastering stage

don't get me wrong i love my black crack to death, but when it comes to a club pa setup like i said before if any difference is noticed it's going to be negligible
with a little bit of research on the frequencies and cutoffs on most pa rigs and dj specific cartridges designed to boost certain frequencies etc a cd burned from a 320 mp3 or used straight out of the box with something like serato it really comes down to a matter of personal preference

[escobar satan]

THE CROWD DOESN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT MATTER.

they might not know why your set doesn't sound as good as the guy playing vinyl tunes but they will feel it and be aware of it

No they won't. All vinyl starts as a digital file. As long as you're playing the original content - not some dong playing a LAME rip somebody cut off vinyl - the crowd will never be able to tell the difference. Every DJ I know uses Serato. DJ Lord even uses it when he does his turntablist gigs. Vinyl is primarily for people playing tunes after they're released now. Virtually nobody gets acetate cut anymore 'cause it's inconvenient and expensive. We all carry thumb drives or CDs now. Crowds always seem quite pleased.

[reptilian]

THE CROWD DOESN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT MATTER.

they might not know why your set doesn't sound as good as the guy playing vinyl tunes but they will feel it and be aware of it

Vinyl is primarily for people playing tunes after they're released now. Virtually nobody gets acetate cut anymore 'cause it's inconvenient and expensive. We all carry thumb drives or CDs now. Crowds always seem quite pleased.

thats enough bullshit now ffs

speak for yourself, personally i couldnt give a toss what dj lord does cos - i dont know or care who he is

skream, benga, mala, coki, n type, hatcha etc etc etc all play dubplates

this is DUBSTEPFORUM - you're trying to say that no-one uses acetates

seriously go and get your coat

if i was producing my own stuff i'd press dubplates too cos its the best way to hear dubstep

thumb drives? please for god's sake..

[Be-1ne]

All vinyl starts as a digital file.

vinyl is made from small plastic pellets that are heated up and then put in between two stampers and the vinyl record is created.

If you meant music starts as a digital file, which i presume you did. Then it all depends on how you make your music doesn't it.

[l que]

my two cents:



vinyl=superior, every way, every time


u can't draw an unkown white label mp3 from your bag at a dance, mix it in and then rewind it now can you


oh yeah and vinyl sounds 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times better than mp3

[shaan]

u can't draw an unkown white label mp3 from your bag at a dance, mix it in and then rewind it now can you

yes you can except you'll just play it from a cd

[shaan]

oh yeah and vinyl sounds 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times better than mp3

ten bucks says in a blind test you couldn't tell the diff between a mastered mp3 and a mastered vinyl

[Alty]

oh yeah and vinyl sounds 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times better than mp3

ten bucks says in a blind test you couldn't tell the diff between a mastered mp3 and a mastered vinyl

I agree. I think people want vinyls to be so much better that they their mind decieves them into thinking their way better when they play them. I think this difference is so small compared to the difference in sound you'd get from different quality sound systems.

[yohan1234]

Even though "all" tunes start off being digital, vinyl has the advantage of covering a virtually infinite frequency spectrum. Some argue that this doesn't matter since we can't hear those extra frequencies that CDs don't cover, but when played on a big system the bass especially needs the high energetic lower frequencies to drive the speakers...creating a warmer sound.

mp3s are just plain shit in comparison...but that depends on what kind of music you are playing. I think that classical music might sound clearer on CDs since clarity and not depth might be of more importance. Dubstep and dnb on the other hand is different.

[Be-1ne]

Even though "all" tunes start off being digital, vinyl has the advantage of covering a virtually infinite frequency spectrum. Some argue that this doesn't matter since we can't hear those extra frequencies that CDs don't cover, but when played on a big system the bass especially needs the high energetic lower frequencies to drive the speakers...creating a warmer sound.

mp3s are just plain shit in comparison...but that depends on what kind of music you are playing. I think that classical music might sound clearer on CDs since clarity and not depth might be of more importance. Dubstep and dnb on the other hand is different.

Take what you said a reverse it

[deadly_habit]

Even though "all" tunes start off being digital, vinyl has the advantage of covering a virtually infinite frequency spectrum. Some argue that this doesn't matter since we can't hear those extra frequencies that CDs don't cover, but when played on a big system the bass especially needs the high energetic lower frequencies to drive the speakers...creating a warmer sound.

mp3s are just plain shit in comparison...but that depends on what kind of music you are playing. I think that classical music might sound clearer on CDs since clarity and not depth might be of more importance. Dubstep and dnb on the other hand is different.

if we wanna get into the bass weight argument then i think you need to look at where most producers roll off their low end on tunes and what lathes are capable of cutting

[shaan]

the real question here is which medium most accurately represents the brown note

[skwirrel]

mp3 = fail
The reason they were created in the first place was because, in the early days of the internet, files needed to be overcompressed so they could be transferred with speed.
Now they have 320kb mp3's but that's not an increase in overall quality, it just specifies how detailed each sample is.
So essentially an mp3 file has an extremely limited frequencey spectrum and when it comes to dubstep you fuckin' need those sub frequencies. And you need those high's to brighten up the hats.

Vinyl is a continuous signal as opposed to a series of samples and it has the natural analogue warmth.

Although vinyl kills mp3, most wouldn't be able to tell the difference in quality. Probably just differentiate them with the identification of crackles and pops

Lol, that's my input.
Sorry if i sound like a douche, mp3's just really suck.
But we need them to survive.

[abZ]

LOL @ the amount of misinformation in this thread. Do your homework folks or you will make yourself look like an ass for everyone to see!

[fooishbar]

Vinyl is a continuous signal as opposed to a series of samples

if you want to get technical, you can never have true discrete units with physical media because it gets kind of difficult at subatomic granularity. anyway, that is almost meaningless and has nothing to do with it. (note: i love vinyl, cut dubs, etc.)

[deadly_habit]

http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007 ... ession.ars

http://www.recordtech.com/prodsounds.htm

[westernsynthetics]

No.