Mastering Engineer Kevin Gray on Half-Speed Mastering

Рет қаралды 20,080

5 жыл бұрын

Ever see "half-speed mastered" on a package and wonder "what is that?" We're here to help! Kevin Gray, Mastering Engineer at CoHEARent Audio, has strong feelings about half-speed mastering. What is half-speed mastering? Watch the video to find out and also hear why Kevin is not a fan of the process.

Пікірлер: 58

@MrRom92DAW 5 жыл бұрын

There’s a reason why KG does some of the best cuts around. 45 gives you all of the benefits that half speed was meant to give you, except its actually for real.

@spiritlevel66 5 жыл бұрын

Some context from one of Kevin Gray's colleagues: "Kevin has never said a bad word about anyone or anything in print. Never. So for him to allow himself to be recorded on video showing his displeasure of the half-speed mastering system speaks volumes as to how he feels about it. He really, really doesn't like what it does to the sound or the ability of your turntable to reproduce it."

@David-by8ev 4 жыл бұрын

Brilliant explanation for what my ears told me already! Thanks a lot, Kevin!

@JWD1992 Жыл бұрын

I think he makes a great point about JVC needing a use for their leftover quad cutting equipment! I remember thinking half-speed mastering was a genius idea when I first learned of it, but it is no guarantee of great sound in my experience. And according to this, it only seems to guarantee sound that is worse to some degree.

@rixvspinner 2 жыл бұрын

Kevin's mastering is second to none. From Fleetwood Mac Rumours (pressed at Pallas) reissue to the Blue Note Tone Poet series, his analogue sourced mastering makes it worth buying the reissues. He has done countless reissues and they are all the reference version of the release . It's interesting to see what he says about half speed mastering. The effect on the cutting of the vinyl being a negative makes you wonder whether to buy half speed masters. I would love to see Kevin work on some of the early to mid 80's Virgin Records releases by bands like Japan, Simple Minds and more. I gotta, Andrew Hill's Black Fire - Blue Note Tone Poet is stunning. This is one of those Kevin Gray masters in the last while that really stands out for me. You get that full sound stage with front to back dispersion/imaging, the detail in the drum high hat and cymbols (drums overall really) is stunning. This also happens to be a great record as well. I recently picked up Jimmy Smith's Bashin on an orig Verve (Quality Records CAnada) -not QR Accoustic Sounds release but the original. This is another great sounding jazz record and if you can't have the original, the all analogue Kevin Gray reissues are the way to go. The packaging often exceeds the original actually and I have had good luck with RTI so far but I realize that Opitcal (Germany) is a notch better overall. I bought my Beatles Mono vinyl individually when they first came out, all except 3 titles, all Optical, perfect pressings.

@JWD1992 Жыл бұрын

If he did Japan, I'd have to hear it!

@CrazyAboutVinylRecords Жыл бұрын

Well, as much as I respect Kevin Gray he doesn't have the final word on anything in this business. All of the great sounding half-speed mastered albums I own don't suddenly sound bad because Kevin Gray doesn't like the process.

@AiMR Жыл бұрын

IKR? #1 rule is judge the technology with your ears.

@rockrecordreport7136 Жыл бұрын

I agree, all those Super-Disc, and the Nautilus 1/2 speeds are killer records with depth and details often not found on standard records. "S's" are not a problem on any of them. Now DMM and digital cut LPs is another matter.

@tlooknbill 4 жыл бұрын

Came over from SHF thread on the subject and noticed Kevin Gray's name as recommended vid and his point about bass frequencies in the low end gave me pause for concern. I've done a lot of "bass sculpting" with an EQ on tinny sounding CD music and one thing you don't want to do is lose "audible" octaves. It's like knocking one or two support beams out from under giant bridge. Sure there's still bass but it starts sounding unnatural or wonky especially in the low end punch on particular styles of bass heavy music.

@jameszimnicki4846 2 жыл бұрын

I enjoy Command record albums from the late 50's to early 60's done with the Scully and Westrex.

@TheBluRayCritic 3 жыл бұрын

I wish Kevin Gray mastered the new Sade box set.

@zachjarrett8730 Жыл бұрын

Can you detail your grievances with the Abby Road version?

@user-cd8ri1mc6s 10 ай бұрын

Note, the earliest 1/2 speed mastering user I know of was UK Decca/London (if UK pressed). 1/2 speed from the very first Stereo LP lacquer until 1968, when UK Decca bought a Neumann SX-68 lacquer disc mastering system.

@GatilloGuitarra 5 ай бұрын

1:15 “there’s no provision for doing that (at half-speed)… unless you do it digitally” . Like Miles Showell at Abbey Road?

@jimovergaard1254 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the accurate explanation. Physics and chemistry are a forgotten science. It seams like selling is #1

@ingonagel7169 Жыл бұрын

I understand it this way. Sometimes you just have to do it right. A workaround is not always good, especially if you have a workaround of a not existing problem. I suppose the lesson to be learned: stay alert.

@mymixture965 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for straighten these audiophile myths out.

@drwinstonoboogie4349 5 жыл бұрын

Anyone listened to the Abbey Road Half Speed masters from the hand of Miles Showell, very nice indeed.

@leon9021 5 жыл бұрын

Rarely are they as good as original pressings when compared. But a nice alternative when those are expensive or hard to find.

@spittindatruthaboutrecords9421 3 жыл бұрын

they are all digital,,, so that changes things ( miles can go back and make whatever corrective measures he wants because he is not cutting from tape, he is cutting from a digital file at halfspeed,, but as one knows , the farther you get away from the master tapes the more sound is lost,, this is not a opinion but a fact, sure you can EQ the hellout of it to try to get the sound back but it almost never works,,,,,,,

@-elijahriggs- 2 жыл бұрын

They suck.

@thomascars1 Жыл бұрын

Some are great, some are okay. Mile’s cut of Exile on Main Street sucked, but his cut of Disraeli Gears rocked

@TheMirolab Жыл бұрын

I am currently lamenting my $50 purchase of Best of The Police HSM.... the high frequencies are DREADFUL. It sounds like mis-aligned noise reduction is happening... no air, space, or ambience around anything. I'm fortunate enough to own 1st pressings of all the Police albums, and KNOW what they sound like. This Abbey Road reissue is not good at all. The vinyl is nice & quiet. That's the only upside.

@MBinDenver 6 ай бұрын

KG is the man.

@thechuckster6838 Жыл бұрын

The Stan Ricker cuts were great! Half speed is king. It sounds like Kevin has an issue with cutting at half speed. Case in point... listen to Stan's cut of Surfer Girl by The Beach Boys, and listen to Kevin's cut. I rest my case. The Beatles MOFI box from the 80's still holds up and the sound is superb. Kevin does great work, but I am a fan of the sound of Half speed. Miles is another half speed guru from Abbey road who does a great job with half speed.

@simonemurray1345 Жыл бұрын

Well you're clearly in the minority since the AP Kevin gray surfer girl is widely considered as the best pressing, far better than the mfsl. Hell its often listed as one of the best sounding audiophile records of ALL TIME. Same with the mofi Beatles box. Most of the mofi Beatles box sounds worse than even US 1st pressings, 90% of audiophiles on hoffman hate it, the EQ is horrible and lacks bass. The blue and red boxes are FAR superior, along with the 70s reissues. A majority of the mofi Beatles absolutely pale in comparison to OGs a fraction of the price. It's just funny that you picked those 2 as examples since the Beatles box is widely hated and the Kevin gray surfer girl is widely beloved far beyond the mofi. I say this as a Ricker fan, those are just poor examples, and maybe you have hearing loss(not saying that in a bad way) that makes you favor the highs that are improved on half speed masters considering that most do not agree with your statement. Ive seen a very few people like the mofi box mostly because of paying so much for it, but a few people due like it, but to then say surfer girl Mfsl is better than the AP in the same comment is like borderline blasphemy, where your ears most seriously favor the highs over anything else, even separation. Since this is a burning hot take. Hell the AP 45 of in my room is considered by many as one of the best sounding songs ever. However Stan Ricker is still great. His half speed wish you were here Japanese cut is the best that album sounded and goes for like $500. Many of his mofis are stellar mastering wise, however many are poor due to the smiley EQ used after the fact. I'm still shocked at this take. The KG AP surfer girl 45rpm isn't only better than the mofi, but it's widely considered to be one of the best sounding vinyl remasters ever. While the Beatles box is widely hated, with many audiophiles convinced they didn't use the masters. Hell most prefer the DSD 2012 box. It's only expensive due to being mofi and Beatles collectors being crazy. Post this on the hoffman forums and I doubt a single person would agree and I'm just utterly shocked at this crazy hot take. Stan ricker had some great cuts, and hardly ever made a truly bad master, but those mofi Beatles come close EQ wise, and while the mfsl surfer girl is good sounding it's not even in the same dimension as the AP surfer girl. There's much better examples for Stan rickers greatness and you sort of lose credibility when saying the mofi is better than the beloved AP. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but most would not agree with that take at all. And my god I didn't even notice your last part there. The Abby roads have been mostly horrible. The who and Roxy music's aren't bad. But my God the rolling stones specifically were atrocious to a borderline offensive level with the Marleys not much better. You must be a serious half speed mastered guy with a deep connection to it to like the Abby roads , since most sound terrible compared to the OGs and are digital not even DSD with heavy EQ. I've yet to hear an Abby road half speed that sounds better or even close to the original, with most being decent but dull. You're the first person I've ever seen praise them as a whole and I've probably read 500 forum posts and watched dozens of reviews on them. I'm not trying to hate on your opinion, I'm just genuinely shocked by it.

@thechuckster6838 Жыл бұрын

@@simonemurray1345 That MOFI Beatles set sounds great. Your copy must be worn. I'm still sticking with the MOFI Surfer Girl. It's a much fuller cut. As far as Miles at Abbey Road, listen to Paul McCartney's first album cut at half speed.

@rockrecordreport7136 Жыл бұрын

@@simonemurray1345 You blew your credibility with this statement: "Most of the mofi Beatles box sounds worse than even US 1st pressings,"

@TheFibtastic 6 ай бұрын

@@rockrecordreport7136 The MoFi Beatles box is legendary for how badly EQed it was, even Stan Ricker admits to it. The President of MoFi insisted the treble be boosted due to him having some issue with his hearing, he wouldn't back down, and it got pressed very brightly. The only way it sounds good is if you have top-end hearing loss (then yes, you just hear the good parts of it being a master tape sourced box)

@rockrecordreport7136 6 ай бұрын

@@TheFibtastic I know all of that. But they still sound better than US pressings - for sure. You back off the treble a tad and all that detail is there. I particularly like AHDN, and don't care too much for Abbey Road, with Pepper being one of the better of the bunch. It's not so simply as you imply, its case by case on those Beatles MFSL LPs.

@mikerussell5699 3 жыл бұрын

My MOFI Al Stewart, Steve Miller and Fleetwood Mac have a much deeper bottom end than the standard issue. I can't remember my others. He said 1/2 speed should not have that. Maybe I misunderstood.

@NoEgg4u 8 ай бұрын

That was probably the result of an equalizer.

@TheZoRLT Жыл бұрын

what a genius

@themotownboy1 4 жыл бұрын

As the caption at the beginning says, this is his opinion..........

@-elijahriggs- 2 жыл бұрын

It's Kevin Gray. I'll guarantee BG, RKS, RL, CB would all back this up. It's a gimmick. Use your ears. That missing low end octave is apparent to me and they have to digitally fix it for the sibilance. Why bother? JVC needed to market this crap or lose money.

@randysantoro270 Жыл бұрын

Kevin, Your 2011 pressing of Kind of Blue is 100% analog? Regards Rndy

@BreakfastInEurope 5 жыл бұрын

100%

@TheMirolab Жыл бұрын

I am currently lamenting my $50 purchase of Best of The Police Half-Speed.... The high frequencies are DREADFUL. It sounds like mis-aligned noise reduction going on... no air, space, or ambience around anything. Kevin's description of the lacquer issue makes sense, and I can imagine maybe that's what I'm hearing... All the low-level High-frequency information is simply gone. I'm fortunate enough to own 1st pressings of all the Police albums, and KNOW what they sound like. This Abbey Road reissue is not great. The vinyl is nice & quiet. That's the only upside.

@DjNikGnashers Жыл бұрын

I'm struggling to understand how recording anything at half speed on any analogue format would sound 'better'. Any analogue media can record audio, and store more information the faster the media is running when the audio is recorded. A 2" tape can capture more information, the faster the tape moves across the record head, it's basic science and mechanics. A slower method of capturing information, such as a slower speed tape, is basically trying to cram the information onto half the amount of tape.

@DavidKing-by4ph Жыл бұрын

And the slower it's cut , the more time it has to cut in more information , I also think his mention of dropping an octave is BS as the record is played at normal speed. I have a few half speed masters and they sound excellent.

@oldvideos6330 Жыл бұрын

big whoop, uhh most people dont have sound systems that can accurately reproduce below 30-40 hz, there is a reason high pass filter buttons exist on all quality levels of studio gear. Besides, who wants to get hit with sub sonic bowel movement brown frequency sound waves when listening to KG cut lps? "i want my money back, my 22hz bass freq are lost", miami computer bass trunk rattle release cut by Kevin Gray!

@keeferdog5617 2 жыл бұрын

If you’re into sssss….sibilance and shitty muddled bass 1/2 speed mastered rocks!

@rockrecordreport7136 Жыл бұрын

Sounds like you are describing digital cut on DMM to me. Not the luscious 1/2 speed of the 70s where the original MFSL made their name.

@kevinturchin 3 жыл бұрын

Half-speed marketing.

@HollywoodNobody Жыл бұрын

Isn’t that the BTK killer?

@yyzyyz706 8 ай бұрын

Not a fan of Miles Showell’s HS pressings. This confirms it.

@jrgenholteng1529 Жыл бұрын

Trust your own ears!

@zachjarrett8730 Жыл бұрын

The idea that the elastic property is diminished would suggest that what ever speed you cut some part of the spectrum is compromised. As a former machinist I can tell you heat is never your friend when cutting. The softer the material usually benefits more from the cutting pressure, not speed. Half speed is one approach that produces a range of results inside the limitations of material science and the broader physics.