Does it cost more to reissue AAA pressings?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Is there a definitive answer to this question? My gut tells me it is more expensive, but I have no facts to support it. Does anyone here?

I bring this up as I suggested over at the SHForums that budget could possibly be an issue for the PF catalogue to not be AAA. Several members there said I was out of my mind as it doesn't cost more, but they couldn't support their opinion with any facts. Guthrie and company prefer to work in the analogue domain and will always do so when possible. If budget weren't a concern why then would these new reissues not be AAA? I have a difficult time believing that cutting from a digital file would produce a higher quality product, which is why I maintain that budget was an issue due to AAA vinyl costing more to produce.

[Beaur]

Well the easy answer from someone who's never mastered a record is that if the studio/mastering facility is set up for AAA it may not cost much more. If it's a modern facility, AAA might require them to reinvest in equipment which I am not sure is sold any more. Then you have to have the expertise to work totally in the analog domain so you may have to hire someone to come in.

So if you are interested in AAA your first step would most likely be finding a facility that specilizes in analog mastering. Have no idea how many there are but my WAG is that there aren't many and another WAG would be that they can charge a premium for their services. Then there is probably the discussion of whatever upcharge you can justify that AAA brings will you sell more than the same recording done in say ADD to make it worth it?

All of this presupposes the availability of a good master to work from in the first place.

[JCOConnell]

I believe the issue is not cost but risk of loss or damage to the original master tapes. It's safer to just send out a digital safety dub for cutting.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I believe the issue is not cost but risk of loss or damage to the original master tapes. It's safer to just send out a digital safety dub for cutting.

Yes. But if they can remaster from the original analogue tape, then the tape should be fine.

[JCOConnell]

Yes. But if they can remaster from the original analogue tape, then the tape should be fine.

Yes, but what if the a/d remastering takes place in the home studio of the analog tapes, then the digital dub gets sent out to the mastering lab? That's the safest way to do it.

[mep]

This question would best be answered by someone like Chad who does this for a living.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I agree. I understand the variables, the need to protect the tape and all of those things, but it still remains a bit of a mystery to me.

[MylesBAstor]

I believe the issue is not cost but risk of loss or damage to the original master tapes. It's safer to just send out a digital safety dub for cutting.

And even so, getting a digital master is easier. You don't have to pay for a courier service, armed guard, insurance, etc.

[MylesBAstor]

Yes. But if they can remaster from the original analogue tape, then the tape should be fine.

Don't forget so many of these tapes have to be baked before you can even play them. I'm sure there are only so many bakings in a tape. Then don't forget, you might have to cut five lacquers to get one good one. That means having to play the fragile master tape five times. Hmmmm......

[Beaur]

Don't forget so many of these tapes have to be baked before you can even play them. I'm sure there are only so many bakings in a tape. Then don't forget, you might have to cut five lacquers to get one good one. That means having to play the fragile master tape five times. Hmmmm......

Yes but these things aren't a piece of art hanging on the wall to be appreciated. To me it does no good to hoard the tape and then say oops we can't play this after 50 years. As long as it's sitting around it can't be appreciated. Only the craziest of audiopile would ooh and aah over a master tape that can't or won't be used!

[mep]

More importantly, I would think that the recording label would have made some safety copies from their baked copies and use those for making LPs.

[MylesBAstor]

Yes but these things aren't a piece of art hanging on the wall to be appreciated. To me it does no good to hoard the tape and then say oops we can't play this after 50 years. As long as it's sitting around it can't be appreciated. Only the craziest of audiopile would ooh and aah over a master tape that can't or won't be used!

IIRC the original master tapes of DSOTM have only been removed from the vaults four times. Same thing goes for the Beatles. They made what 10, 12 safeties and those are what go out for making CDs, etc. Bruce posted a picture somewhere of the safeties that were sent to him for transfer a while back.

[MylesBAstor]

More importantly, I would think that the recording label would have made some safety copies from their baked copies and use those for making LPs.

That's an interesting question that would love Bruce's input. We know Bruce gets masters in he has to bake before doing transfers (unless they are safeties he has to back?) So is the label sending those masters to everyone who in turn also have to bake?