Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 3/11/2000 10:04:56 AM Eastern Standard Time, jeffs@hyperreal.org writes: << The high end audio market is a luxury market that is often noted for its cultist tendencies, and has no impact on the production of music. >> You meant "recorded" music I presume? But what you say is pretty much true however there is a strong back- to -tube movement in pop as well. I just saw an article by Lynn Olsen (well-known in audio circles) about the upswing in the production and use of tube mikes, mixers, consoles and even processors in professional studios. Also, the new high bit, high sampling rate recorders are sounding very analogue-like. Furthermore, Lexicon and others have been producing sonic "sweeteners" for years to make digital sound more like analogue. The difference is that unlike analogue audio's interfaces with the listener (records or tapes) which are basically flawed, photographic silver paper and slides are as analogue as the image recording medium - quite often one and the same! Btw, your friend is not and will not be alone in his quest for high quality sound. For example, Sony's new Super Audio Disc is truly wonderful and is not digital in the traditional sense. This medium far outperforms the standard 16/44, 20/48 and 24/96 formats and will, by most accounts, raise the sonic level of even recorded pop music. "Cultist" afficiandos can and do drive the mass market - go to the the CES next year and see what is going on and put your observations in historical context. High quality photography is cultist, too, but I think there will always be a market for cheap throw away film cameras in the foreseeable future and, thus film for our high-end. Bob Figlio