This one is for the vinyl junkies. I read the following dispatch of email replies to Bob Lefsetz with interest. In particular, take note of the forwarded email from legendary mastering guru Bob Ludwig.

In reply to Sound Quality

Here are the replies.

In particular:

Michael Fremer:

A) Blu-ray is not a disaster. In fact, what’s happened is that Sony supplies a particular part that’s in such short supply now that player demand is up, there’s a serious bottleneck, but the stats are distorted. Blu-ray will succeed. People will not be downloading their movies in HD any time soon on a regular basis. Even with the broadest band it takes too long and doesn’t include extras and sound choices (etc.)

B) Analog is hardly dead. Forget that I am a cheerleader: I am also way on top of the situation and it’s explosive right now and vital. No, it will not return as it once was, and that’s great but the numbers you will see over the next year or two will surprise even you. Remember: MP3 was nothing for years and grew virally until it dominated. Vinyl will not dominate but will become far more important than you currently believe. Save this email.

C) People didn’t used to “move” when listening to music because they paid attention to the sonic picture. Except for vinyl listening, we’ve lost that but it will come back and people will sit and not move or do other stuff while listening with undivided attention. That will return. Save this email.

D) the labels WILL convert all of their analog material to 192/24 bit files and sell them in an open, downloadable format within the next two years. Directly, with no middleman. that’s my prediction. However, even then vinyl will still sound way superior and more than sound superior, vinyl will still produce an emotional response in the listener high rez digital files WILL NOT. I’ve done the comparisons….I know, I’m hopelessly prejudiced and old but I’m talking to the kids….

The Mucrutch on vinyl is supposed to be INSANELY good…I hope to have one soon….

all the pressing plants around the world are working beyond their capacity to keep up with demand….this press was busy with yet another go round of “In Utero.” Who do you think is buying this on vinyl? middle agers who missed the vinyl era but are trying to catch up with their favorite music heard the way it was supposed to be heard…

Sound is too important a sense to suffer the degradation of the last 15 years and have it remain so degraded. It will not stay this way, I guarantee you! The computer geeks will give way to the quality geeks once again….

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Bob Ludwig
Date: April 24, 2008 4:22:07 PM EDT
To: Michael Fremer
Subject: vinyl madness

Hi Michael,

I just wanted to report that, during the past month, it seems almost EVERY project I do will have a vinyl release. I don’t know how to explain this, it is amazing.

Do my other mastering colleagues report the same thing?

All my best,

Bob