Vinyl Carver Sound Test

[Godzilla]

Not sure if this should be here or in wants - so mods, feel free to move.

I'm thinking of maybe having a couple of unissued gospel sides cut for a gig I have in a few weeks time. Now, I've seen the debate and it appears opinion as to the sound quality is pretty much evenly split, so I wondered if anybody might be able to help me to decide for myself. Anyone out there got a carver of a track available on CD that they can record to MP3. If so, how about sending me both versions by PM or email so I can have a listen. Obviously, both tracks will have to be recorded at the same bitrate etc so that a fair comparison can be made.

Actually I've just realised that might be a bit of tall order so I'm fully prepared to be underwhelmed with responses

Off to post office so I'll check to see if anyone's up for it in about 40 mins.

Cheers

Paul

[Guest dundeedavie]

Not sure if this should be here or in wants - so mods, feel free to move.

I'm thinking of maybe having a couple of unissued gospel sides cut for a gig I have in a few weeks time. Now, I've seen the debate and it appears opinion as to the sound quality is pretty much evenly split, so I wondered if anybody might be able to help me to decide for myself. Anyone out there got a carver of a track available on CD that they can record to MP3. If so, how about sending me both versions by PM or email so I can have a listen. Obviously, both tracks will have to be recorded at the same bitrate etc so that a fair comparison can be made.

Actually I've just realised that might be a bit of tall order so I'm fully prepared to be underwhelmed with responses

Off to post office so I'll check to see if anyone's up for it in about 40 mins.

Cheers

Paul

If it's any help i've always found the sound quality of carvers to be excellent

[Dennisoul]

I`ve had a couple done and both times sound quality was spot on.

[Godzilla]

Thanks chaps but I really would like to hear for myself. I know a lot of people are very happy with them but others have said there's a marked loss of quality and the comments that they are a bit "middley" fill me with dread. Also I struggle to see how you won't lose some quality a) during transfer and using a medium that's designed to be carved into rather than just the best material reproduction wise. And I'm a bit picky too

Think I'll probably just take a punt and put down to experience if I'm not happy.

[Guest]

Thanks chaps but I really would like to hear for myself. I know a lot of people are very happy with them but others have said there's a marked loss of quality and the comments that they are a bit "middley" fill me with dread. Also I struggle to see how you won't lose some quality a) during transfer and using a medium that's designed to be carved into rather than just the best material reproduction wise. And I'm a bit picky too

Think I'll probably just take a punt and put down to experience if I'm not happy.

never had problems with sound quality myself. having recorded a track from an album to pc the quality was not brilliant (LP's seem to be lower sound). once on pc i ran it through a programme called 'cooledit pro' and up'd the sound quality. then sent that off to vinylcarvers and hey presto - better sound quality than the orig.

those tracks that have sounded ok to start with have been sent to the same company 'as is' and come back on a carver with the same sound quality.

hope that helps

[Guest]

....and on a side-note

if you have records that have seen better days i.e. clicks, pops and hiss, cooledit pro has facilities that can greatly reduce or even remove these defects

easy and quick to use

[Mattbolton]

Thanks chaps but I really would like to hear for myself. I know a lot of people are very happy with them but others have said there's a marked loss of quality and the comments that they are a bit "middley" fill me with dread. Also I struggle to see how you won't lose some quality a) during transfer and using a medium that's designed to be carved into rather than just the best material reproduction wise. And I'm a bit picky too

Think I'll probably just take a punt and put down to experience if I'm not happy.

Hey Godz,

I pressed a track with them last year. It sounds great. Though I did mix and master it myself. Since they work with a lot of house/dance DJ's I'd be surprised if they were infused with more mid. Cutting records is an imprecise science as there can be. We had our album come back twice from the pressing plant, too loud, too much bass etc.

The loss of sound quality is imperceptible really. The key is to give them a shit hot 'master copy'. For Godz sake(sic), don't give them an MP3 of your track. The quality is awful and it's a shame how my generations ears have become atuned to the sonic vomit that are MP3 and AAC files. Lossless my ass. Make sure it's a .WAV file and there should be no loss at all.

Don't quite understand your second bit. All records start life 'carved into' master plates. And a lot of the time are the best material.

I can vouch for the Vinyl Carvers guys. And they were road runner fast on delivery even in the run-up to Christmas.

I know someone who can do it straight from vinyl and to a cutting lathe if you're interested? Though it's costly and since VC are about £10 there's not really much to lose.

Good Luck.

Matt.

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