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Magic and mystery of master tape

I keep hearing the phrase closest to master tape. The fact that it is the closest thing to neutrality, and the best 'reference' that said who actually has master tapes? who can get their hands on them? how do you get them? Has anyone audiophile got proper access to them?
I ask this because people keep saying their system sounds like master tape of x or y recording, but is this simple bluff - ie is it just a journalistic phrase from those saying that what they have have heard is neutral? or is it a genuine comparison?
I only say this as I can recall about one or two occasions at shows where I have heard master tape, and that is it - even then it was of rather obscure material/music.
Surely digital masters are more readily available? That being the case surely modern/current digital recordings are the closest to the master/ master tape.
This is a genuine question of curiosity that I would be grateful if someone will kindly shed some light on. Thanks.
lohanimal

Showing 4 responses by lowrider57

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
I would use the term "purity" when talking about a copy of a master. And a studio would not lend out a master tape; they would send a submaster or a clone. If someone is telling you he has a master, it's most likely going to be an exact duplicate (clone). Anyway, nowadays master tape is being transferred to digital files.

But we need to be specific; are we including analogue tapes that have been remastered to digital?
With digital masters (which are files), a studio can burn a copy, that in theory, is the same quality of the master.

So with a master tape, you are hearing the purity of the sound on the tape, however, at a show where music is being demoed, the coloration's of the system and the room will never match the original studio.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Thats the problem, magnetic tape and other media degrade.
That's why archivists welcomed digital. But many masters had
to be restored before transfer to digital, and some were
beyond repair so they were transferred with the flaws.
I worked at the Library of Congress to setup the transfer of
different formats of analogue to digital tape (music, video,
film). Now they are using digital files for archive.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
The degradation of tape i was referring to is the 40 or 50 year old masters and dubs, usually produced by major labels. Poor storage conditions, temperature, humidity are factors and they're usually put in a room not setup for archiving. Or sent to a warehouse and not even cataloged.

I,ve seen the recording side of tapes flaking off and it was hit or miss trying to dub down a 2 inch tape to 1/2 inch for preservation. The old tape decks also put a lot of wear on the tapes during a recording session.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Mike, i love the world of reel to reel. I worked in the studio, but must be a joy for you to have good gear and good quality sources at home.
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