Ned
It seems we are basically in agreement, and I know there is little
hope of a return to true analogue, so improvement in the density of
digital recording would be the goal, but this is becoming very
difficult to achieve while MP3 becomes acceptable to so many.
It is possible that there is more variation in vinyl (as you suggest),
but perhaps this is because it is so much easier to make a stereotyped
sterile sound with digital technology (similar to what we sometimes see
in digital photography as oposed to silver nitrate).
Nevertheless, it is striking to compare the Astree POD LP with the same
POD Astree CD, and to hear a definite degradation.
You are right that the quality of the LP playback system makes a huge
difference. This is less the case with CD, probably because there is
simply less encoded information in standard CDs.
I imagine that the Astree team were much more interested in giving us
the sound differences produced by the string choice, and there must
have been more dedication to this in the recording, but they don't come
out so well in CD.
David Tayler is correct in suggesting that SACD or DVDa is a better
format (but SACD which was the better format, seems to have already
lost the battle.
I am interested in what you say about the Q3 which could be a good
teaching tool.
I have just been finding that recording my playing reveals my rhythm to
be rather unstable. I was not fully aware of it. My perception while
playing seems very much effected by what I am aiming to do, and is not
objective enough.
I hate to think what filming with a Q3 would show me.
I have read that the Q3 is excellent value, although some regret the
absence of a line input, and suggest waiting for the next model; but
that seems to be the advice with all new machines.
So does one buy a Camcorder and a good digital recorder, or settle for
the Q3? The price of the Q3 will stop most people hesitating. What are
the draw-backs apart from the line-in?
Regards
Anthony
__________________________________________________________________
Anthony,
The digital vs. analogue battle will never be resolved, I think. I
still have a library full of records, in addition to a sizable
collection of CDs. I think my best vinyl still sounds more natural
than my best CDs, but the CDs are more consistent in quality. Certainly
a portion of my vinyl is inferior to CDs of the same material. ( And
were it not for Nakamichi's record-centering turntable, I would listen
to less vinyl than I do! ). But for sure I wish all lute recordings
were as good as the Astree POD ones!
If I were more technology (primarily computer) oriented, I would get a
good video camera and use my AKG mics and preamp for my home
recording. But for simplicity, I use a Zoom Q3 - usually about 4 to 5
feet from me. Sure, these units don't have the best mics, and
certainly not great pre-amps, but over all youtubes recorded with such
technology still sound more natural - honest - to my ears than
over-reverberant commmercial recordings.
Ned
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