Dan Fogelberg - Greatest Hits - MFSL like audiophile lp

$

73

You're bidding on an audiophile pressing of Dan Fogelberg's "Greatest Hits" lp released by Columbia Records (HE 48308) in 1982 and containing the hits "Longer", "Run For The Roses", "Same Old Lang Syne", "Leader of the Band" and "Heart Hotels", among others.  This Half-Speed Mastered extended range recording was part of Columbia Records' Master Sound audiophile pressing series that was their version of Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs' (MFSL) way of producing high quality sounding lps.  The lp and jacket are in excellent condition.

Here's how Columbia Records described their Mastersound process:

HALF-SPEED MASTERING

     Once the master tape is complete, the next step is to cut the lacquer master.  This is an extremely difficult electro-mechanical art which can have a major effect on the quality of the resulting sound.

     All MASTERSOUND lacquers are cut with a computer-controlled cutting lathe known as the DISComputer.  Designed by CBS scientists and proprietary to CBS, the DISComputer uses advanced microprocessor techniques to control with greater accuracy the complex movement of the cutting head and to assure a more faithful transfer of the master tape to lacquer.  Specially selected lacquer blanks are used because of their superior signal-to-noise ratio and handling characteristics.

     Normal mastering is done is real time, which means that the master tape moves at the same speed it did during the recording session and the lacquer spins at the standard 33 1/3 RPM.  It is also possible, though more difficult and expensive, to run both machines at half speed.  While extensive modifications must be made to the equipment, and obviously the process takes twice as long, the advantages of half-speed mastering are significant.

     When mastering speed is halved, the power required for the cutting head is reduced by a factor of 4.  This reduces the load on the power amplifiers used and allows them to run in a completely linear fashion.  The cutting stylus is able to trace the delicate groove undulations more accurately, with major improvements in frequency response, distortion and transient response.  Crosstalk between channels is substantially reduced, control over groove dimensions is improved, and the ability to cut high energy passages without distortion is greatly increased.

     In addition to recordings made from digital master tapes, the MASTERSOUND series includes special half-speed remasterings of high-quality analog masters selected for their artistic merit and sonic quality.  The hald-speed mastering and special manufacturing processes used for these records provide a new and exciting clarity and realism.

THE MASTERSOUND AUDIOPHILE RECORD PRESSING PROCESS

     A major focus of the MASTERSOUND series is to upgrade the quality of record pressings.

     While it may look like simple black plastic, the vinyl compound used is actually a complex amalgam of many different chemical substances.  The composition of this compound has wide-ranging effects on molding properties, groove accuracy, noise characteristics, wear factors, static retention, stylus tracing, etc.  Many of these factors interact, so an improvement in one area may be achieved at the expense of another.

     CBS has developed a new compound that offers substantial advantages over earlier formulations.  Noise has been reduced significantly over earlier premium compounds, which themselves were better than much of the vinyl used in the recording industry today.  The molding characteristics, which are a major detriment of the accuracy of the pressing process, have been greatly improved, and many other performance variables have been enhanced as well.

     The molding process itself has been extensively modified for MASTERSOUND pressings.  The cross-sectional contour of the stamper has been improved, record weight has been increased by 12 percent, and the operating coefficients of the record press have been modified for maximum quality.  MASTERSOUND pressings also undergo special and more critical quality control tests, using both custom-designed computers and extensive visual and aural inspection.

     Special packaging techniques help assure that the high quality of MASTERSOUND pressings is maintained throughout the distribution process.

Additional Information about Greatest Hits
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