mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

Attached are photos of Merle's Record Rack in Orange CT. It's been in business for over 50 years and provides music lovers a place to spend hours perusing albums we grew up with.
Also the go-to place to have your equipment repaired.

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Neat!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

That's all very nostalgic, and I would love to browse those stacks. But reality sets in:

I played a 50-year-old copy of Yes' *Close to the Edge* album last week. It sounded snap-crackle-poppy, muddy, thin, and hissy compared to the "remastered for digital" versions. The 1974 Yes *Relayer* album I played after that was even worse. It was a first pressing, that I remembered sucked when I bought it as a college student. That's too bad, because it is one of Yes' best albums! Both of these albums are incredibly complex and important pieces of progressive rock that show off the band's original composition skills and musicianship, and transport listeners to amazing places.

Most people aren't very familiar with how the old vinyl was made. I toured a Nashville studio and a pressing plant in 1978 when I worked in radio.

First, a multi-track tape deck or two were used to record original performances. This could include 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, or (with two tracks used for time code synchronization) up to 46 tracks synchronized by connecting two 24-track decks.

Next, an engineer/producer worked with the band to mix the multiple tracks down to a stereo master. That involved a LOT of dynamic range compression, dynamic range limiting, equalization (tonal adjustments to certain sound frequencies), noise reduction (to reduce tape hiss), level matching, and more. Most of that audio post-processing is necessary to fit the dynamic range of the source material into the dynamic range of a vinyl recording, which is usually about 50 to 60db! Some of it was to make it sound louder on the radio in a noisy car.

As part of this, that master was processed through a special RIAA (record industry association of america) "pre-emphasis" circuit to apply an equalization curve to the sound. That curve is neutralized by a "de-emphasis" processor during playback. This helps avoid some of the ticks, pops, and surface noise inherent in dragging a needle through tiny grooves in a circular vinyl disc.

Finally, the master tape is played to cut the grooves into a physical mold that will be used to make the stampers for the record presses. This involves a lot of experience and care and compromises, based upon the kind of music, its complexity and dynamic range, and the limitations of the equipment and medium.

By the time the "sound" has gone through all that, it has been altered dramatically from the stereo master.

For digital (CD, SA-CD, etc.) releases, the original analog multi-track tape is copied through an analog-to-digital converter, track for track, to digital media at a very high sample rate at 32-bits. This is akin to using raw capture in photography! The sound that is played back in the studio from the digital copy of the multi-track tape is indistinguishable from the tape, if the process is done correctly. It can be remixed

Next, the digital copy of the multi-track tape is RE-MIXED, meaning each individual track is processed individually to optimize its sonic character. This can include compression, equalization, limiting, reverb, delay, echo, phasing, flanging, distortion, "exciter" treatment... using both analog gear and digital processors that emulate or replace analog gear.

Finally, the multiple tracks of the DIGITAL recording are mixed down to stereo. This may include additional compression, equalization, etc. The result is a set of files that can be output as final media at the maximum quality capability of that output medium, whether AIFF files on CD, or .mp3 files or .aac files for downloads.

The result is that remastered digital recordings often sound vastly better than the original vinyl releases. Parts of performances that were buried in the original mix may be audible for the first time. Vocal performances can be clearer, and often you can hear and understand the lyrics for the first time. There is also less noise, due to many factors, including better dynamic range of the digital processes.

The net result of this knowledge is that I prefer listening to CDs and other high end digital recordings. Play 'em through a tube amp if you have one. But personally, I prefer to skip the turntable.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Wow! I would love to visit that place.

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

Thanks for the education burkphoto. I spent many days and weeks at the Pitman NJ pressing plant while working for Columbia Records (then SONY Music)
I was also fortunate enough to make serval visits to one of the world's first CD plants in Holland (Philps). It looked like a NASA installation.
You are absolutely correct in comparing LP sound to the pure digital recordings. However much of the pleasure in playing LPs comes from opening the package, sliding out the sleeve, and reading the liner notes. To some even flipping the disc to side B was sort of sensual. Some of the jacket graphics were absolutely beautiful.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I wholeheartedly agree with you! That is why I've kept all my vinyl records from my youth in the 1960s and '70s. I've bought CDs of many of them. I keep the CDs in or on the vinyl albums, in plastic disc pouches.

I do think the record companies missed a marketing opportunity to promote bands and musicians when they went to jewel cases. Maybe that's better for the environment, but all the great posters and photos of musicians are greatly missed, along with lyrics big enough to read, and liner notes.

It's not the packaging of vinyl albums that bothers me. It's the inferior sound quality. With cassettes, it's both.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

It's only been in Orange for a portion of the time they've been in business and I believe they've been in business for over 60 years. I remember them at their original location in the Hamden Plaza in the late 50s and early 60s.

I bought my first ever 45 rpm record there, Venus by Frankie Avalon which came out in 1960.

Several years ago I stopped at the Orange store looking to perhaps sell some older mint condition Kenwood equipment, a receiver and their top of the line dual cassette deck. The guy gave me such a low-ball price I told him I would rather throw it in the reservoir on my way home. I still have the equipment.

hippi Loc: Sedalia MO

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice set of photos. I remember record shops.

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

And of course we've haven't even mentioned our collections of 8-tracks!
BTW.... How many of you out there were members of either the Columbia or RCA Record clubs? If memory serves me you started with 10 LPs for a dollar.

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

Much of my record collection is from the Colombia record club, you are correct in that it started with 10 or so free albums. I was in 7th heaven when they came in the mail. I loved music then and I still do.

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

Love the photos, it really takes me back, I just loved to spend an hour or two going through the many albums.

bwilliams

I have survival direct-to-disk albums and they still sound great. Some pressings sound a lot better than others.

pj81156 Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

We were married in 1956. Our first LP was Les Elgart. Our second Frank Sinatra. Both the records and album covers hang on our hall wall. Hundreds of others are long gone. So many ways to listen to good music—including Les and Frank.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Wow!! Cool place - cool photos. They were common place in the 50's/60's. Would love to visit it.
Mark