Need help from vinyl community regarding bad pressing I bought - Blu-ray Forum

dobyblue · 06-05-2009, 04:47 PM

So, Dave Matthews Band's new album was released this past Tuesday and it's the first album they've released on vinyl in wide release and only the 2nd album ever.

I was listening to it last night while cleaning other records, so the listening wasn't critical. However I did sit down to listen to SIDE D and that's when I noticed the pitch was changing. At the end of one of the slower songs as the strings fade out you can HEAR the pitch warbling and in the video I took of this section you can see that the pitch bends as the needle moves backwards and forwards horizontally.

VIDEO - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IO9E0p4FDE

In addition in my vids there's also a recording of the CD of this track in which you can notice there is no pitch bending.

This record was not pressed dead centre!! Three of the four sides are like this where you can watch your stylus moving back and forth like an old jukebox 45rpm without an adapter that you've tried to centre yourself.

Only SIDE A plays like every other record I have.

In the DMB community www.antsmarching.org/forums is the place I post the most and it appears that just about everyone that's bought the vinyl is noticing this.

1) What do you think will be done?
2) Is it a waste of effort to try and get RCA to correct this?

DMB is not huge outside North America, despite being one of the top grossing acts year in and year out for 20 years. I don't know if there is any chance of waiting on an EU, UK or AUS pressing.

This is a bummer, because obviously these guys are my favourite band and they've NEVER had anything above a CD come out aside from 1,000 vinyl copies of their '98 release which goes for $400 sealed, well out of my price range.

In 2005 their new album came out on DualDisc and was first advertised as having a 24-bit track, but eventually was replaced with "enhanced stereo" which is 16/48 or CRAP as I like to call it. It's very frustrating to finally have DMB on a good medium and they mucked up the pressing. Ideas?

Johnny Vinyl · 06-05-2009, 06:17 PM

Hi Steve,

Man, what a complete bummer that is! Over the years I've had this same occurrance on several LP's, but I only seem to remember the odd one as having it severe enough to effect the pitch. If, like you say, others on the DMB forums are experiencing the same, then by all means write the record company and voice your opinion strongly. I'd take it a step further and contact Dave himself to let him know. I think a recall is in order and replacement copies should definately be offered.

John

dobyblue · 06-05-2009, 07:20 PM

So you can totally see the stylus floating left and right eh?
Man, what a bummer. RCA's phone keeps telling me to "call back between 9:30am and 6pm" and I'm thinking "what time zone are they talking about"?

Hopefully the e-mail contact might have better luck. What a pisser.

Johnny Vinyl · 06-05-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobyblue

So you can totally see the stylus floating left and right eh?
Man, what a bummer. RCA's phone keeps telling me to "call back between 9:30am and 6pm" and I'm thinking "what time zone are they talking about"?

Hopefully the e-mail contact might have better luck. What a pisser.

Yeah..I can absolutely see it moving from side to side...pretty significantly at that as well. No doubt that the record plant didn't have their quality-control standards in effect.

John

FreddieFerric · 06-06-2009, 09:24 AM

Unacceptable! Refund is in order at a minimum. Of course that doesn't solve the problem, but what else can you do at this point.

richteer · 06-06-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John72953

Hi Steve,

Man, what a complete bummer that is! Over the years I've had this same occurrance on several LP's, but I only seem to remember the odd one as having it severe enough to effect the pitch. If, like you say, others on the DMB forums are experiencing the same, then by all means write the record company and voice your opinion strongly. I'd take it a step further and contact Dave himself to let him know. I think a recall is in order and replacement copies should definately be offered.

John

Absolutely agree. Another avenue would be to complain to the place where you bought it. If they get inundated with complaints, I'm pretty sure they'll pass them on up the chain to the record company.

dobyblue · 06-08-2009, 01:23 PM

This is a shame because I know Sony has a brand new lathe.
If this was a string concerto it would be mind-numbingly noticeable. As it goes I'm really only noticing it on this quieter track.

I might buy another 2~3 copies and see if I can pair together 4 sides that are all good! Then sell the others. I don't think most people seem to notice the pitch changing - but this forum has more members with discerning ears.

dobyblue · 06-22-2009, 03:14 PM

I have to say that probably my eyes reacted more than my ears. In that tiny one section I can hear a faint pitch change...but throughout the rest of the record I can't notice anything and I've found it to be a much more pleasant experience than the CD.

I just received an e-mail from one of Ted Jensen's project managers as well at Sterling Sound who confirmed that the vinyl was mastered at 24-bit which confirms what my ears suspected all along.

I might pick up another copy, but I think I overreacted quite a bit.

06-05-2009, 04:47 PM	#1
dobyblue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2006 Location:Ontario, Canada Home Theater Gallery:71 4K collection:55 Blu-ray collection:655 Blu-ray reviews: 15	Need help from vinyl community regarding bad pressing I bought So, Dave Matthews Band's new album was released this past Tuesday and it's the first album they've released on vinyl in wide release and only the 2nd album ever. I was listening to it last night while cleaning other records, so the listening wasn't critical. However I did sit down to listen to SIDE D and that's when I noticed the pitch was changing. At the end of one of the slower songs as the strings fade out you can HEAR the pitch warbling and in the video I took of this section you can see that the pitch bends as the needle moves backwards and forwards horizontally. VIDEO - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IO9E0p4FDE In addition in my vids there's also a recording of the CD of this track in which you can notice there is no pitch bending. This record was not pressed dead centre!! Three of the four sides are like this where you can watch your stylus moving back and forth like an old jukebox 45rpm without an adapter that you've tried to centre yourself. Only SIDE A plays like every other record I have. In the DMB community www.antsmarching.org/forums is the place I post the most and it appears that just about everyone that's bought the vinyl is noticing this. 1) What do you think will be done? 2) Is it a waste of effort to try and get RCA to correct this? DMB is not huge outside North America, despite being one of the top grossing acts year in and year out for 20 years. I don't know if there is any chance of waiting on an EU, UK or AUS pressing. This is a bummer, because obviously these guys are my favourite band and they've NEVER had anything above a CD come out aside from 1,000 vinyl copies of their '98 release which goes for $400 sealed, well out of my price range. In 2005 their new album came out on DualDisc and was first advertised as having a 24-bit track, but eventually was replaced with "enhanced stereo" which is 16/48 or CRAP as I like to call it. It's very frustrating to finally have DMB on a good medium and they mucked up the pressing. Ideas?

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06-05-2009, 06:17 PM	#2
Johnny Vinyl Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:At the crossroad of Analogue Dr & 2CH Ave Home Theater Gallery:19 Blu-ray collection:205 DVD collection:7 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:8	Hi Steve, Man, what a complete bummer that is! Over the years I've had this same occurrance on several LP's, but I only seem to remember the odd one as having it severe enough to effect the pitch. If, like you say, others on the DMB forums are experiencing the same, then by all means write the record company and voice your opinion strongly. I'd take it a step further and contact Dave himself to let him know. I think a recall is in order and replacement copies should definately be offered. John

06-05-2009, 07:20 PM	#3
dobyblue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2006 Location:Ontario, Canada Home Theater Gallery:71 4K collection:55 Blu-ray collection:655 Blu-ray reviews: 15	So you can totally see the stylus floating left and right eh? Man, what a bummer. RCA's phone keeps telling me to "call back between 9:30am and 6pm" and I'm thinking "what time zone are they talking about"? Hopefully the e-mail contact might have better luck. What a pisser.

06-06-2009, 09:24 AM	#5
FreddieFerric Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Mar 2008 Location:NOLA Home Theater Gallery:146 4K collection:14 Blu-ray collection:238 Blu-ray reviews:7 Trading Score:1	Unacceptable! Refund is in order at a minimum. Of course that doesn't solve the problem, but what else can you do at this point.

06-08-2009, 01:23 PM	#7
dobyblue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2006 Location:Ontario, Canada Home Theater Gallery:71 4K collection:55 Blu-ray collection:655 Blu-ray reviews: 15	This is a shame because I know Sony has a brand new lathe. If this was a string concerto it would be mind-numbingly noticeable. As it goes I'm really only noticing it on this quieter track. I might buy another 2~3 copies and see if I can pair together 4 sides that are all good! Then sell the others. I don't think most people seem to notice the pitch changing - but this forum has more members with discerning ears.

06-22-2009, 03:14 PM	#8
dobyblue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2006 Location:Ontario, Canada Home Theater Gallery:71 4K collection:55 Blu-ray collection:655 Blu-ray reviews: 15	I have to say that probably my eyes reacted more than my ears. In that tiny one section I can hear a faint pitch change...but throughout the rest of the record I can't notice anything and I've found it to be a much more pleasant experience than the CD. I just received an e-mail from one of Ted Jensen's project managers as well at Sterling Sound who confirmed that the vinyl was mastered at 24-bit which confirms what my ears suspected all along. I might pick up another copy, but I think I overreacted quite a bit.

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