Neil Young on MP3's and his hatred of it

Runicen wrote:

For that matter, what happened to the old sales approach of actually SHOWING people the difference?  Where are the Youtube ads, tv commercials, etc. that push the increased fidelity and resolution on consumers?  

Because it's impossible to demonstrate that difference if the person watching the youtube video is listening to their crappy laptop speakers or a $15 pair of earbuds. You can't show off a 70mm film on 4x3 classroom projector and screen either.

Has that ever stopped the marketing masterminds before? I mean, by all accounts, Beats headphones are overpriced garbage that are not only poorly made but also sound like garbage as well and those things still sell like hotcakes. I have no doubt in my mind you could do the same with hi def by overemphasizing the awfulness of MP3 and overembellishing the glory of hi def.

Runicen wrote:

Has that ever stopped the marketing masterminds before?  I mean, by all accounts, Beats headphones are overpriced garbage that are not only poorly made but also sound like garbage as well and those things still sell like hotcakes.  I have no doubt in my mind you could do the same with hi def by overemphasizing the awfulness of MP3 and overembellishing the glory of hi def.

Clever marketing. You need the Kardashians or Kanye to promote the benefits of hi-def. Noone is listening to the ravings of Neil Young

Using Neil Young to appeal to a young music-buying audience is like the Victoria's Secret commercial I saw that had the Bob Dylan cameo in it. I still have nightmares...

Actually more and more of the young music buying public is discovering vinyl and considering it the ultimate sound to go to these days...

brokentulsa wrote:

Actually more and more of the young music buying public is discovering vinyl and considering it the ultimate sound to go to these days...

Weird as it's going to sound to say so, it's kind of a shame that's what's going on. It's this weird, almost superstitious belief that vinyl is somehow superior being put forward by a generation using crap Crosley turntables that are nearly lathes on your records instead of demanding better quality digital stuff (which IS actually superior sonically). Granted, vinyl's got "the ritual" to it and it does sound cool, but it's a fool's errand to pretend it sounds objectively better than digital recording in the modern age.

And, unfortunately, you see this in overpriced vinyl that's pressed poorly as a very real market risk. How many "premium" vinyl sets have dropped only for people to say, "my copy arrived warped/damaged" straight out of the gate?

Well, actually alot of the young people where i live are buying nice turntables with high end amps and speakers...our best buy (we have 5 of them in the area) all have a sound room with tons of different turntables, receivers/amps and speaker systems... I cant even think of a store in the area selling those crap crosley units...even our target sells component turntables.. and vinyl is absolutely superior over digital in the modern age!!

Quality scale (consumer formats - S.D.'s subjective list)

Highest Quality
Analog - 1/4 inch reel to reel tape played back at 30ips
Digital - 24bit/192khz

Consumer audio formats

Blu-Ray/SACD/DVD-A (average of 24bit/96khz) - Digital
Hi-Rez download (24bit, range from 44,000 to 192,000 khz depending on master) - Digital
Vinyl LP - Analog
Audio CD (16bit, 44.1khz)

There are many, many variables that go into play on whether an LP or CD is going to sound better overall. Both formats have limitations, both formats require special mastering to achieve the highest quality results. The problem with most CD releases are modern mastering techniques, which have gotten so bad I've almost completely abandoned the format. Some modern LPs sound like utter crap...but some sound friggin' amazing. A LOT has to do with WHO did the vinyl master and WHERE was the duplication performed. Some pressing plants have horrible reputations, some have excellent reputations. It is a bit of a crap shoot.