True Analog LPs versus Digital Recordings

Older recordings pre-dating the early 80's are almost certainly pure analog.

Otherwise, you will find more and more digital in later years. Today I would suspect most everything is digital unless analog processing is clearly identified otherwise.

I the early 80's, digital was novel and recordings advertised that as a selling point.

Today, digital is the norm and analog novel so I would expect those using analog gear would want to make it clearly known to buyers who are looking for that.

Really, if you can't tell by listening, does it matter?

Old_6,

I think 1978 or so is about the time i recall first seeing the first digitally recorded lps, on Telarc label I believe, but these were quite novel and very few and far between at that time.

Their most distinctive sonic attributes were the dynamics. The grooves in these records were heavily modulated accordingly and presented a challenge for many turntables around in that day to track well without breaking up.

Then, as digital matured, the vendors realized that most systems out there could not handle these kinds of dynamics without distorting severely (be the source vinyl or CD) so they gradually geared things back over time with recordings in general in order to make digital more digestible for the masses.

Conversely, I assume sonic smearing due to jitter was a common problem with many digital recordings early on as Kijanki points out and digital recordings actually improved over time in this regard.

"I would submit that vinyl made out of digital recordings would not be as good as the original digital recording, so why not buy the cd in hi-rez? "

One reason might be if the digital source is higher res than redbook CD and that resolution makes it onto the vinyl.

The thing is I have no idea if this is a common scenario or not. Unless the lp package indicates technical details that went into teh recording, you would have no way to know and could be paying mercedes prices for what's really a volkswagon.

"I would have to agree with this."

"The Things we do for Love" (of vinyl!)

LOL