Michael Fremer from Tracking Angle Focus on the MoFi Video
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- M. Fremer talks about: the MoFi crisis and the M. Esposito Discussion with MoFi and Records,Records,Records
Michael Fremer new Channel: / @trackingangle929
Audiophile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An audiophile is a person who is enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction.[1] An audiophile seeks to reproduce the sound of a live musical performance, typically in a room with good acoustics. It is widely agreed that reaching this goal is very difficult and that even the best-regarded recording and playback systems rarely, if ever, achieve it.[2][3]
Audiophile values may be applied at all stages of music reproduction: the initial audio recording, the production process, and the playback, which is usually in a home setting. In general, the values of an audiophile are seen to be antithetical to the growing popularity of more convenient but lower quality music, especially lossy digital file types like MP3, lower definition streaming services, and inexpensive headphones.[4]
The term high-end audio refers to playback equipment used by audiophiles, which may be bought at specialist shops and websites.[5] High-end components include turntables, digital-to-analog converters, equalization devices, preamplifiers and amplifiers (both solid-state and vacuum tube), loudspeakers (including horn, electrostatic and magnetostatic speakers), power conditioners, subwoofers, headphones, and acoustic room treatment in addition to room correction devices.[6][7]
Although many audiophile techniques are based on objective criteria that can be verified using techniques like ABX testing, perceived sound quality is necessarily subjective, leading to some more controversial audiophile techniques being based on pseudoscientific, magical or paranormal principles.[8][9]
vinyl community analogue productions vinyl mastering vinyl collection rti chad kassem qrp tracking angle
There is only one way we can make a change cancel your thriller order from mofi
Their dishonesty deserves the cancellation, but I cancelled MoFi out of my record buying circa 2015 when I received a poorly pressed Miles Kind of Blue 45 rpm box set. After this revelation, I'm so glad that I did!
@@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker its fine but they should put this on the cover thats it find a good name dont lie
@@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker What? So MoFi proved a question nobody was asking? The point of this consumer product issue is TRANSPARENCY. Period. It is NOT about analog v digital by any stretch. Had the On-Step MoFi releases been truthfully labeled, we wouldn't be here. Truth-in-labeling is the end game goal. Nothing else.
@@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker Digital cutting can sound really good, but it doesn't surpass all analogue. You may be willing to accept a second rate vinyl release, but there are those of us who hear the difference in all analogue and won't. I won't touch the Thriller release with a 10 foot pole and others who feel the same way should do the same.
@@mazzysmusic Correct. Absolutely. But instead of doing that one small thing in the beginning, now we have this whole thing coming out.
4 things I know:
1: In Groove Mike got info from MoFi that no one in this industry has ever gotten 👏
2: MoFi most certainly & purposely deceived everyone
3: Fremer annoys the living hell out of me
4: Everyone is named Mike
Esposito did a great job.
@@jamesmachado9366 yeah, I mean we now know for a fact that they use a digital source. Mike didn’t go to do an exposé on MoFi. I’m certain it was also fun to be there and see all the stuff. Shit I would geek out to. No blame on him for not getting all the specific answers that some might have. I think we all now know what they’ve been doing more or less.
They invited him only because they knew it was the easiest way to deflect and do damage control. However, it is true that with his approach he was able to get something out of them. If a journalist went there and started pounding them with the hard questions everyone wanted asked with specifics they would have said interview over.
Everyone is named Make. You get my like lol
@@jivy2 Yes, this exactly how I feel. People seem to have this fantasy of an aggressive cross-examination where Mike would force them to answer every single question that people have, but that just doesn't seem realistic. I think the only way MOFI was going to start opening up about any of this was in a relatively non-confrontational setting.
Mike E. got the answers to his questions without being aggressive or confrontational. Job well done as far as I’m concerned.
Yup. And it leaves the door open for other interviews
Yes, I agree. I dont understand why M.Fremer is so angry about all that. Maybe because it was NOT him going to MOFI to get information. Obviously, getting direct information directly from MOFI within a week, even if not 'perfect interview', is something that should be considered highly positive. Stop shouting at the screen and at everybody's else face, M.Fremer !!!
You two sound so self righteous, sorry my perception
Mr Espisito opened the door and got Mofi to admit to doing dsd, in the first minute
He then gave Mofi the ability to talk about there process
For anyone watching this, it is obvious that there were concessions between the two parties
That is why Mike got the interview and the answers
Now let light be the disinfectant
Mike E and MoFi fanboys in the house...
@@zamkezambo observant ≠ fanboy
To both Michaels, you missed it. Esoosito directly asked about the OneStep Abraxas. They used DSD files for it.
Fremer is clearly his own biggest fan.
BIGGEST FANBOIII
6 times Mr Fremer diverted conversation to speak poorly of Mike Esposito. 8 times Mr Fremer diverted to speak of himself or his new channel. Only 3 times did Mr Fremer add any insight to the MoFi situation. He clearly did not watch the video seriously. His questions were all answered in the video in a way that MoFi wanted to. As a long time fan of Mr Fremer’s reviews and videos, this was not a good day for him.
Fremer is a bought and paid for industry insider who's job it is to protect industry lies.
Batt, I really do like his reviews and find I enjoy most pressings he recommends, but his recent video tour and interview of the United Pressing Plant (one of the videos to launch his new channel) started to change my feelings for him. He had the exact same opportunity with United that Mike Esposito had with MoFi, and got MUCH LESS from them than Esposito did from MoFi! He did not address AT ALL the fact that many feel United are the plant with the worst quality pressings in the world! No ahead of time agreed to easy lead question allowing them to state they have taken certain steps to increase quality, and definitely no ”hard, investigative questions only a reporter could ask”. You think the guy that’s “just a record store owner” that he is going out of his way to bad mouth would have passed up that opportunity? Heck no. It was a total puff piece. I fear my trust for Mr Fremer’s word has changed just as much as MoFi’s, and that’s too bad.
@@jeffwhitehead6268 That's a very interesting and honest take. I have a feeling you're not the only person to now feel this way about Fremer. I have for a long time felt this way, but I'm a lot more cynical than the average bear. He always has to go out of his way to defend himself, the most visible sign of of a breakdown.
Michael 45 - I stopped listening after about 2 minutes in. This is about when I decided that Fremmer either didn't watch the interview very closely or was just pissed that Mofi didn't ask him to conduct an interview. I thought they were pretty clear in their process. The send their equipment to where the tapes are, verify that it is the master tape, put it on their machine and make a 4X DSD copy. While they did not state how long they have been doing it this way the impression is for a very long time. They were also very clear that they think this is not only appropriate but is the absolute best way to get the best sound for the record. Sounds like there are several reasons for this both technical and logistical, which they also discussed. Pay attention Fremmer.
I'm 9 minutes in and all Fremer has talked about is Mike Esposito, with Mike 45 constantly trying to get Fremer back on topic. This is so tiresome. If only MoFi was as transparent as Fremer's agenda here. I'll pass on the remaining 46 minutes. Thanks Mike 45. I genuinely appreciate the effort, as this is a topic I very much care about, but I just can't take this guy seriously.
Skip to 37:00. Fremer gives a great explanation of his experiences at Sony regarding DSD vs live vs PCM 16 bit 44k vs 20 bit super bit mapping vs tape vs 96k 24 bit vs vinyl.
Fremer is THAT guy that can’t stop talking about himself. He is like that old senile uncle that doesn’t know how to read a room or know when to STFU.
What is wrong with Fremer? He must have said "Mike Esposito is not a journalist" and "Mike Esposito doesn't know what he was doing and he got rolled over" at least a dozen times. Here are the facts of the matter, despite the picture that Mr Fremer wants to paint of Mike Esposito as some kind of a bumbling dilettante:
Mike Esposito broke the story about MoFi cutting lacquers from digital files. Not some "journalist", not Mr Fremer, but Mike Esposito.
Mike Esposito followed up on his story to take the time out of his busy schedule to go talk to MoFi to get his questions answered.
Mike Esposito got MoFi to admit that pretty much every record they make today is cut from a digital intermediate file. And that they have been doing this for a long time, apparently beginning as early as 2007 or 2008. And that all the MoFi One-steps and the Miles Davis reissues were cut from digital intermediates.
What else is there to ask? Does Mr Fremer feel that he should have made them pledge their first born children as some kind of sacrificial offering to the vinyl gods? Should he have shamed them and made them beg for forgiveness in public? Mr Esposito handled the conversation with grace and empathy, something many "journalists" lack, in my opinion. And he got the pertinent facts, something Mr Fremer would have been aware of had he actually been paying attention while watching the interview. Mike Esposito delivered the facts, and he appears to understand that it is not his place to speak for the vinyl community at large or to editorialize the content of the story - he left that for the viewers to decide, as every good journalist does.
Again and again, Mr Fremer comes across as being petty and mean spirited. I have a great deal of respect for his opinions when it comes to music, but I think he is working hard to tarnish his personal brand and his legacy by behaving the way he does.
Well written - Fremer can’t have paid attention to what was said. He seems to have lost is… Sad…
Eposito didn't accomplish anything in the interview, he made MoFi happy. That's all. Period.
I think Mike handled the interview well. As a non journalist He couldn’t go in there guns blazing…..I’m sure they would have shut him down and we would have gotten nothing. By taking the “ you catch more bees with honey approach” I think he was able to get enough out of them to where we know most of their titles in recent years, and obviously in the future, are digital
Exactly Kris, Mike E. kept his balance throughout
Yep there was a reason Fremer wasn’t there, apart from who wants to be grilled by an a-hole?
Agree.
How on earth is the main takeaway that Mike Esposito blew it or got rolled over? He got MOFI to admit on video that they are using digital for the vast majority of titles people thought were AAA. That is a very big deal. The fact is that Mike Esposito did that and journalists didn’t. Now the more detailed questions can proceed. It’s not as if journalists are never allowed to ask MOFI another question about this.
They didn't invite any journalists. Duh! A journalist knows how to ask follow up questions and not be sidetracked. By any definition of a good or bad interview, this one was bad. Just a fact.
@@trackingangle929 You are now free to ask your follow-up questions and report on them. Everybody wins.
@@trackingangle929 you've lost all credibility - you a journalist ADMIT to covering for mofi many times in your past dealings here 15:11 and 6:07. This is all I can hear when your lips move 14:37
'Duh!" is a personal put down. Please let's try to keep this discussion content focused and avoid personal slights, or that a technique to create engagement? Journalism also comes in many styles and techniques; lacking follow-up questions is not a mandatory definition of a bad interview. Judgment of the quality of an interview is subjective. It can be said the Layman truly scooped the Pro with this Mofi interview.
It's Fremer. All he can do is boast for himself. It's so obvious and constant.
Mike E's interview was extremely well done, and very effective. He let the Mofi engineers speak about their process. This isn't the end of the story. It wasn't going to happen that in a single interview, every question across a broad range of issues would be thoroughly discussed. Fremer's comments here are off base, how soon people are forgetting that in just 3 minutes, Mike E had official confirmation that Mofi has been cutting from DSD files, something Fremer never uncovered in many years of writing. The next interview needs to be with Mofi's marketing department or senior management to explain their misrepresentation of their processes, and roll out the apologies from the people responsible. That isn't on the mastering engineers. Until Mike E's interview, we did't even have confirmation customers were even owed this explanation.
I can't help but feel that Fremer is jealous because the journalist was scooped by the record store owner. He got the scoop followed by the invitation and interview, not Fremer. Mike E did a great job with a story that blew up FAST and clarified things in a second video. And no, this isn't the end of the story.
@@jeremiahdrueke2610 100% Fremer comes off a bit butt hurt here. rather funny as he cannot drop it (bringing it up atleast 10 sep times over the course of this video) hhaa
@@JS-wi9mw Fremer seems upset that he knew all along, kept it under wraps to help MoFi and then MoFi allows a Record Store Owner to break the news and not give Fremer the time of day. LOLOLO I love it
I understand that record companies bear full responsibility for allowing their recordings to be used in this way.
I think over time Fremer will regret his resentful attitude in this video. The fact is that Mike Esposito did a better job than ANY journalist in raising this subject AND getting the information from MoFi - recorded in video - that all One Steps were cut from 4xDSD transfers of the master tapes.
This is the latest in a few ill-tempered videos from him.
Actually you're dead wrong- any journalist worth his salt would have done a FAR better job grilling Mofi and getting definitive answers from them. Watch the YT video by 'poetryonplastic'- the best video on this whole subject, he's a collector and a journalist. They are experts at research, getting answers, extracting info, and backing everything up with actual evidence. Mike was kind of winging things 'on the fly', in doing so he kind of lost perspective. We can all appreciate his video and effort, but he seriously let Mofi off the hook in many ways. They needed to explain the exact verbiage they have used in the past which directly implied all-analog (again, please watch the video from 'poetryonplastsc').
@@Matasky2010 I get it and I agree. Too bad any journalist worth his salt didn’t get the interview.
@@luizfcoimbra82 Mofi would never agree to it lol. But I encourage everyone to watch the video I mentioned-‘poetryonplastic’ provides exact examples of the misleading verbiage Mofi has used- some ppl still think they were simply ‘vague’, not really the case.
He probably won't because he is just arrogant and angry someone stole this scoop from him!
Pretty hilarious how Fremer constantly tries to twist this from being a discussion of Mofi's disingenuous marketing to a critique of Esposito. Clearly he was deflected in his questioning for the most part, but let's keep the fact forefront in all of our minds that Esposito broke this whole thing, which is what is most important. It can be parsed and more deeply investigated by the community at large now, but only thanks to Esposito's efforts. As much as I respect Fremer he really comes off as bitter toward Esposito after that whole back and forth that Kassem moderated awhile back.
Exactly. Journalists have had years to probe this topic, yet they haven't.
Exactly. Mr Fremer is not doing himself any favors by behaving this way in public.
@@SC-29229 he’s been digging this hole for years, Mike Esposito just gave him a new shovel.
One of the main reasons that ultra disc cost so much is because they can only stamp about 1000 albums from one father lacquer that they got from the original analog tape. But now that they have the files on dxd, they can make as many fathers as they want. For this reason, they should NOT be charging $125 per disc.
People were scammed ...............final !
Yep!
Fremer can call himself a journalist or whatever title he wants; facts are the MOFI digital masters is the biggest story in hi fi in a decade, and the story was scooped by Mike Esposito. Incredible Fremer missed this story when he can “always hear digital”. (MC O‘Connor)
he claims very clearly in this IV here that he always knew and lied to us as well....he said more than once that he was "covering for Mofi" !!! so Fremer is to blame as well!!!
He can’t hear crap. The entire analog vs digital debate is a total hoax, a fantasy perpetrated by phony “golden ear” reviewers.
Fremer is full of shit, like most "audiophiles". I don't believe he'd even be able to distinguish between a direct feed from his turntable and a CD recording (from the same turntable).
maybe he just don't got paid...
so nothing for him...
He know he had pie on his face
Fremer knew about the digital step but kept quiet “out of professional courtesy” yet has the gall to slam Mike Esposito for “poor journalist integrity”…. Ok.
I don’t believe he mentioned journalistic integrity. He was it seemed, upset that the interview didn’t have a journalistic purpose and as a result didn’t chase down a story or get specific answers. I don’t know who Esposito is but if you are a journalist, you are there on behalf of your readers trying to ask questions and reveal a story that is informative and hopefully diverting or, engrossing. If in Michael’s opinion the journalistic brief was unclear or not being met, it’s fair comment. There seems to be a story about product branding and product integrity and that is a big story that needs discussion by the parties involved. When records can be bought new for four or five times the price of more mass produced ones but seem to be misleadingly described, some buyers would be interested in what MoFi does and how it does it. Michael was bemoaning the missed opportunity. I haven’t seen it yet but it begs a question, doesn’t it?
Fremer didn’t actually “know”, he only suspected based on his listening. He is on record (pun not intended) that Carlos Santana Abacus vinyl previous to Mobil Fidelity sounded better.
Mr Fremer is somehow more upset with Mr Esposito than he is with Mofi.
very telling eh...
Because Esposito has exposed Fremer as a crap journalist.
This is why I’ve always liked Analogue Productions more. They have always been willing to answer questions and detail the processes used. Not that I suspected digital records were being produced, but always wondered why MoFi wasn’t more readily available in videos or for consumers. Now I know.
Yes
How can a ‘real journalist’ who openly admits to ‘covering’ for Mo-Fi be viewed as anything other than compromised? Either you knew what was going on and chose not to go public or you didn’t know for certain and, having been scooped by a lowly record store owner, you wish to imply you did. Either way it’s not screaming integrity.
I would hardly refer to Mike at the Inn Groove as a "lowly record store owner"
Me neither. I said that in reference to the narrative some are spinning - namely Mike is somehow not qualified to question the Mo-Fi team since he isn’t a professional journalist.
Not convinced Fremer really listened that hard to the interview, as he mispositioned what was said. Found him annoying after a while I’m afraid
Exactly
@@JonKentplus same here seems they didnt Listen to the interview
Fremer claims Mike E isn't a real journalist, unlike Fremer, but then when Michael 45 asks him why he hasn't asked these questions of MoFi, Fremer has the audacity to say, "Who do I ask?" A sophomore in high school could figure out who to contact at MoFi, and could move down a list of people with questions. Fremer wants to have it both ways, because he hates Mike E for some reason. This is silly. Fremer is objectively obfuscating to hide his own embarrassment. This is stupid.
Hi Michael I love your channel but this Mister Fremer (who I don’t know by the way) is so disrespectful to Mike E. I’m glad that you and Mike E bring the topic on the table.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that Mo-Fi said everything was cut from a digital copy of the master tapes, going way back. This included the Miles Davis catalogue (which Mike asked about specifically).
Thats what I got from the interview too - they qualified that some things in the pipeline during the transition were all analogue and some weren't but after the transition, all had a DSD step
Yeah, pretty sure they said the Miles catalogue was cut from DSD digital files produced from the master tapes.
They did indeed. Michael was too busy hurling insults at Esposito to notice.
Exactly right 👍
That’s what I heard too
Fremer on asking tough questions and calling them out: "I didn't want to get into that. I just didn't want to get into that." Also Fremer: "Mike didn't ask the tough questions." What a hot bag of air, I mean what a windbag.....
Exactly this!
Also he kind of claimed he new it the entire time, he would hear a difference, it would be a big deal, but apparently he just didn't think about sharing this knowledge with the public, or its simply not true.
@@moritzm.3671 He’s a complete gas bag at this point. So pleased with himself, he can no longer accept outside opinions, criticism or ideas.
Thanks for this contribution. The interview with Mike from the 'In' Groove was maybe not the best interview possible, but listening between the lines we get a lot of interesting information. Mike's not an interviewer by profession and the guys from Mofi are not smooth talking sales men. That's maybe why Michael Fremer missed the confirmation that the Miles Davis records were done from the 4x DSD (having first been transfered from the orginal master tape, played on MOFI's own Studer at the Sony facility). Krieg Wunderlich answered this around the 23:09 mark in the video. Yes, they should definitely up their game and start issuing information how a certain record pressing came to be. I would almost argue including an additional insert for that specific record (including the cataloguemumber, etc so that you can always refernce it against the sleeve and LP itself (so no generic information) that gives us the information we like to see. For that matter: any re-issue label that releases audiophile records should do this. So in the end 2 things matter: a) being transparent about the whole production chain and b) experiencing a record that blows you away and leaves you in awe! Cheers!
Fremer is too preoccupied trying to bash Mike at any opportunity to notice.
The MoFi MoFos never apologised for misleading people. If they have heard people saying these are all analog and kept schtum then they have been wilfully duplicitous.
Too true.
Thanks for staying on this issue. I appreciate the need for integrity from a company charging top prices. I for one will avoid the mofi stuff for the foreseeable. What a PR nightmare for them. Keep up the good work M & M!
Mike asked in the video and they confirmed that the Miles Davis titles were all cut from DSD. It was right at the end when they confirmed that the Thriller one step will be from DSD.
And I was told point blank that they would use a "tape copy" for "Thriller" so ....
So is DSD digital? Or from Analog?
@@trackingangle929 looks like they lied right to your face
@@trackingangle929 I wonder if they created the DSD from a tape copy?!
@@daleclark4160 no “they” didn’t lie to his face. His alleged source did. There’s a difference.
Let’s knock this on the head. Mike E is not a journalist, however he got the answers he was looking for. He has spent thousands of dollars with this company as a collector. The MOFI guys are a smug bunch. Hopefully someone ( a journalist) will investigate a more in depth story. It’s up to the individual now whether or not to stick with this company. I say hit them where it hurts and spend your money elsewhere.
Indeed. There was no need for Fremer to criticize Mike E's interview skills. Fremer has had the access and the resources to investigate this story and he didn't do it. It's odd that Fremer insists on spinning this to be about Mike E, but I guess they have beef going back a ways.
@@nickfowler515 Fremer has the beef, because he knows people like and listen to what Mike E says. He just comes off as an old jealous pr*ck who yells at clouds these days.
I am not sure if we watched the same interview...it is pretty clear to me that MoFi was cutting from a 4xDSD transfer for the last years (including all of the 1 steps). They do not cut from a tape to tape transfer because they feel that this is inferior (I think the same way too). We don't know when they started this because they were still able to cut directly from the master until the tapes were not allowed to travel anymore. Yes, Santana was cut from 4DSD...I am sure I heard that in the interview. And that's that...no apologies, no clarifications on the prior 10 years titles and hopes for the future. I will stay away from their 1 step titles, unless the title is really going to outshine the process hiccups. You have to settle for the best thing you can get, and if you cannot use the original master tapes...what else is there? MJ, Van Halen, Eagles...not really for me at the price point. UHQR from AP will became my go to but I do hope for better titles from them.
I agree, I didn't get the over critisim of Mike, and how he should have pressed harder. He asked the question, and the answer was muddy but clear. It is all DSD, and it is kind pointless to ask about title by title.
Some of these releases are amazing, and some are not. The thing is, if they can use a digital step and produce some as great as the Bill Evans one Step or Miles Reissue, then they should be celebrated.
I am not sure why they are hiding it. It is innovative. All are we asking is just be upfront about the source
Fremer didn't want to believe what he heard.
@@luizfcoimbra82 doesn't seem like he understood what he heard. But he's the pro....
Good point. Also 4x DSD has only existed for a decade.
They go through great effort to describe in detail how their one-step process works, and yet they were silent about the DSD copies that they are so proud of now. The reason is obvious, they knew it would hurt their sales.
They said all their Miles Davis titles were from DSD. What did you expect them to say? What matters is the end result. I agree that they could have been more open about their process before this blew up but it no big deal really. Storm in a tea cup!
No big deal?
@@solomonstewart1025 What matters is the end result. Before "Mo-Fi Gate" broke, Mo-Fi customers were generally very happy with their purchases.
Fremer's patronizing condescension is way over the top.
I can’t believe it’s come to this! They’re making our vinyl out of digital! Paid $50 or $125 for the vinyl but $30 for the SACD is at least one generation better than the vinyl!
But is lower resolution in terms of the processing used. Not as good.
This 125 usd is price for adding pops, cracks, vinyl noise to dsd dude. Enjoy
@Pioneer Dude, you do understand that 1) The comparative resolution used for mastering is important. There are different resolution DSD files. The lower the resolution, the more information is lost in the process. 2) Ticks and pops aren't the music. It's like going to a jazz club and saying that tinkling of glasses lowers the quality of the music. The potentially more musically involving aspects of analog reproduction are separate from the physical imperfections. Sure, too many of them can become annoying. But with very sporadic ones, the better musical qualities come through for many of us. If analog isn't for you, then it's not for you.
@@jeffbellin8224 Imagine ignoring all scientific literature
yes, as someone pointed out, there is an upcharge for pops, clicks, surface noise and other vinyl attributes.
I disagree with Fremer. They did answer it. Every one-step is cut from DXD. Mofi occasionally gets master tapes sent to them, but it sounds like in most cases, they prefer the sound of the DXD and its easier to use and so they use that. When they need to fly out of the Mofi office to capture the tape and make a copy, it's transfered to DXD.
I would say in most cases, which we obviously can't put a number on, its digital. Miles davis was digital, abraxis was digital. I don't understand the disconnect.
The "original master recording" moniker is used by them to say that an original tape was used to make a digital file from. So they are taking the very best source they can, but it seems to me as if they think the DXD gives them better sound. One of them even says the words "proof is in the pudding". So you either like it or not. But it sounds like its been digital for a long time. Probably before the "sudden 2015 switch over". I think they were cutting with a digital step long before that.
I'm pretty sure that became the norm, when labels stopped wanting to ship out the master tape.
Am I missing something? Fremer has an ax to grind with Mike because I think he is jealous that he didn't "break the news".
Curious to see what the outcome would be if Fremer went to MoFi?
Let’s stop with the bickering and support each other instead of unprofessional and childish comments towards fellow music lovers.
@@akosalbertoszabo honestly Mike did fine. Would Fremer ask some better questions, probably. Did we get the information we needed? Yes.
The argument should be did we assume something or did they intentionally mislead. I think it's both. We assumed it was AAA and when things started to change, mofi didn't correct the record (no pun intended).
Fremer is still acting like a child.
They said DSD 256 (4x), not DXD which is PCM 24/352 and sounds different.
@@chipsnmydip thanks for the correction!
If someone even walks by a CD rack with a record in their hand Mr. Fremer will say that the album lost its analog warmth. I'm just kind of pleased that the Mofi DSD "Thing" knocked the analog zealots off their soapbox. LOL I recall just a month or so back that 45 RPM was gushing over his new pile of Mofi releases, which we all know he will never play those Damn Dirty Digital records again. Maybe Mofi can use the DDD from the old CD source logos on their future releases for transparency... DDD=Damn Dirty Digital
There are no "Master Tapes" pre-1990s that that a DSD recording cannot completely and accurately capture, tape hiss and all.
Spin on you crazy diamonds!
Fremer is way too hard on Mike E. The guy has to relax. He can’t go in there and start shit talking him to their faces about how they aren’t answering questions, he’s going to be kicked out and the interview would’ve ended prematurely. We already got enough info about them from their non answers. There’s a reason why a guy like Mike E talked with them rather than someone like Fremer.
Are we 100% sure we know Analogue Productions, Impex, and others are producing all-analog records? Do we need more interviews? Also, I didn't tune in to hear Fremer say Esposito got rolled over and isn't a journalist a dozen times. Again Fremer taking the low road and has no class. I did notice Michael 45 didn't trash Esposito once. Classy.
My thoughts precisely. It will be interesting to see how Chad Kassem and others respond to all this. Will they reaffirm their AAA cred and be fully transparent, or will there be some backpedaling?
AP, IMPEX, INTERVENTION, CRAFT, etc need to confirm what their process is… I don’t think they’ve ever said their lacquers are cut directly from the master tapes. I beleive the AP nat king Cole stuff was tho. It says in the booklet that comes with the record .
Michael Fremer is very opinionated, he rubs people the wrong way. He doesn’t bother me at all.
This seems like a very “egg on the face” moment for Fremer.
Hmmm...I think Micheal Fremer is a little hard of hearing. They admitted that the Miles Davis stuff was all digital. I heard it...so did a lot of others. I think he is bitter that they didn't ask him to do the interview.
@Fremer - are you just a teencie weencie bit jealous of Mike E ?
I think Mike F has not come out of this looking to good, continually putting down Mike E and calling him names. Mike E never claimed to be a journalist, he wanted to find out if their is a digital step in MoFi process. And he found that out - end of story! Mike E didn’t have to get them to apologise, thats up to MoFi to do if they choose to - if we accept it, thats up to us.
@TrackingAngle instead of thrashing Mike Esposito you should go there, make an appointment and ask your own questionas to them! He did the better job he could on his own.That was not an official press conference.
I have enjoyed this topic a lot - I have been into Collecting Vinyl now for 12 years and I absolutely gravitate towards the recordings that a completely analog - i think we all deserve to know the sources of the records we buy! Northern New Jersey loves you all (all Mikes included) :)
Mr Fremer should stop tutting his horn , he's pissed he didn't get invited. Esposito went on his own and got MFSL to invite him. Bravo Mike Esposito
Espo is entertaining and does a great job through his store but he is what Stalin used to call “a useful idiot” A naive person who can be exploited easily to advance a political or business objective. Hate to be so cruel, but you tube is loaded with them (anyone who creates a great niche and then builds followers who then thinks he’s an expert). Good on em but let’s be real
Esposito went there to entertain MoFi, ans he didn't achieve ANYTHING.
I just watched 2 mins of this video and I only heard that MoFi never said if Abraxas or the Miles Davis catalog had any digital involvement (??!!) They clearly answered that in the interview, and also with details on why they used digital, advantages and how they went around issues with some other records. You can be in agreement or not about what they are saying, but please don’t confuse people.
I was really looking forward on hearing your opinion, I can’t really tell now if this will be an informed opinion or not
yeah, but you were listening rather than doing another video and trying to make it all about you. What's up with that?
@@scottwheeler2679 I didn’t get this comment, I was listening instead of making a video? Or are you referring to them?
@@augustoalvarez82 yes, you were paying attention. Fremer was busy making a video about the video.
@@scottwheeler2679 agree, I think he was too concentrated on trying to criticize what Mike E was saying and never paid attention to what the video was about
I thought it was just me. I thought I must have watched a different video to the one Fremer watched!
Thank you guys for digging into this. It's so frustrating when marketing lies are played off as innocent semantics.
Without Mike E. we would still not really know for sure about MoFi's use of DSD. Now it is time for MoFi to tell their customer's how their LPs are brought to market.
I totally agree but they said they want to put it on the website. Hell no. Put it on the box or vinyl cover like Neil young does for his music. Cancel thriller mofi did
Exactly. Esposito wasn't able to get all of the answers out of mofi, but he deserves so much credit for breaking this thing. Fremer clearly has a grudge against Esposito.
@@matthewjerome3496 he didn't really break this though. Michael ludwig did. If michael never made his video causing the discussion to start then he would have never made his.
Mike constantly takes ideas and revelations from other youtubers. Someone called him out for not crediting michael and he smugly said he knew for years. So he was lying to all his customers that whole time saying he "doesn't speculate" as he speculates. If michael never broke the store Esposito would never made his video. He had no issue selling them as AAA while saying he thought they were digital himself. He didn't break anything. The discussion started, almost every youtuber was questioning it, so he had a source tell him they're digital and he made his video. Michael is the one to truly start the discussion and question thriller. Esposito was talking up thriller telling everyone to buy it and that 40k would sell out soon.
Esposito is the toxic one. He hates michael ludwig just because he questioned him as in it for the money when discussing erc as a retailer Esposito made the same claim about fremer much more hostile and smeared him, setting the tone for his fans to trash him. So he can dish it but can't take it.
Esposito is the petty one. In mazzys interview he wouldn't even mention either Michael's name when mazzy brought them up. He wouldn't even respond. He made a highly offensive video about ludwig the week before and was actively defending mofis shitty jackets fully knowing they always seem split and are subpar. He ripped up erc for their jackets yet defended mofi because he carried them. Michael ludwig is the nicest guy in the community and yet Esposito openly despises him. He wouldn't even mention his name in the mofi video, and chose to refer to him as "some youtuber" as he apologized for his juvenile Alan parsons video. He wasn't apologizing to michael but his offended fans.
He holds grudges and hates both michaels for disagreeing with him. He makes his fans act extremely toxic.He constantly steals revelations and video ideas, never collaborating with or crediting other VC members.
Without michael ludwig, this michael, we would have never known if mofi is digital. He started the convo not Esposito. Esposito cares about his buisiness first and foremost and prove that by said he knew they were digital all along when someone said to credit ludwig. He assumed they were digital yet told no one because he's one of the biggest retailers for mofi. He just defended their jackets in the most juvenile video and smeared ludwig. He only got the interview because he's a major retailer. And he acted as one by not properly questioning the guys at mofi. His whole focus is the store. He will be transparent but only so people go to him to then buy his products. He's not altruistic and he even said that himself by saying "I'm a retailer, I won't speculate". He was merely getting infront of a breaking story so he didn't look bad recommending them as all analog. But he does look bad because he himself said he assumed this for years. He defended the jackets and tried to make ludwig look like a fool. He praised thriller, didn't question a thing. Only when ludwig questioned it and got the whole VC community angry did he jump infront of the parade and act like he was the story breaker.
Dudes toxic. He's the one who holds grudges. He won't even mention either Michael's names. He starts toxicity by getting personal and making degrading videos like the Alan parsons one. It's so awkward when mazzy brings up the Michael's because Mike just sits there and refuses to acknowledge their existance. After he made it personal with them. Literally half his videos are stolen from other youtubers and he doesn't credit them or collaborate, he just uses them as promotions for his store with ridiculous prices. Infact he's banned from local stores cuz he'd buy up their stock to go mark up at his store.
Why should fremer respect Esposito when Esposito won't respect him? Esposito made things toxic and personal. Why does he deserve recognition for michael ludwigs breakthrough? Like I said Esposito was praising thriller and questioned nothing. Only when ludwig started an uproar did he reveal he's know for years that they're digital because his reputation was on the line. Which means he lied to his fans and customers for years to make money. Just like how he called out ERCs jackets yet defended mofis in a childish way only because he sells 100a of the mofis. He didn't break shit he was protecting his own reputation and hopped on the train. He only got the interview because he's a massive retailer who isn't a journalist and mofi knows he will put it I the best light as possible to keep selling records at his store. That's why he never challenged a word they said. He wants to be able to say "yeah they're digital but they're great! Preorder thriller!!!" He didn't break anything, this is all damage and image control. he was praising mofi and ridiculing ludwig for critiquing mofi not even a week before. A day before ludwig questioned the process Esposito was praising onesteps not questioning a thing. He only said something when he had no choice but to defend his reputation.
Final thing in my ramble. Here's an example. Say there's a company lying to customers for years. A major retailer assumed they're lying for years yet continues talking up and recommending their products as the best, never once publicly questioning them. Then a reviewer thinks "this doesn't make sense" and questions the companies process by putting 2 and 2 together and realizing something is wrong. Sure they didn't have proof but they knew for certain digital or copies had to be involved and had the courage to say "wait a minute!" As a result of this viewer the floodgates open and all major community members start questioning it. Only then does the retailer, who knew all along, poke his head out to act like he's the breaker of the story and to protect his reputation. Yet he never said a thing all these years of making $10000s selling a false advertised product yet saying himself he heard rumors and assumed they were lying for years. He is then invited as a major retailer for a softball interview.
Who deserves the recognition? The reviewer who put 2 and 2 together, had the revelation and courage to say something; or the retailer who assumed and heard rumors for years yet continuously sold and talked up the products, only saying something once the whole community was talking about it and his reputation was threatened. And ontop of all that he wont credit the
reviewer and in the very same video he goes on to apologize to his fans for a hostile toxic video he made targeting the reviewer, yet doesn't apologize to him nor mention his name, referring to him as "some youtuber" in a disrespectful tone.
Who deserves recognition and respect? The conversation starter/whistle-blower? Or the retailer who stole his revelation as his own? In his own words he assumed and heard rumors for years yet never said a word.
Michael ludwig broke this story on youtube, and michael fremer first questioned it. Esposito talked up 40k thriller with no questions, saying to buy one fast. The two Michael's deserve the recognition. Mike doesn't deserve respect since he was so toxic and hostile to them. He picks on ludwig the nicest guy ever till this day for merely questioning his motives as a retailer as he did the same to fremer. His fans are often cruel, personal and toxic because he sets that tone. He can't even acknowledge them as mazzy mentions them 5 times in their interview and he just sits there stone faced. Maybe he's autistic or something but dudes very toxic and doesn't deserve respect since he won't respect other VC members as he steals their ideas and videos to promote is store, never once acknowledging their existances. Hed be happily selling mofis saying their AAA though knowing they're not if ludwig never said anything.
@@simonemurray1345 Thanks for providing some extensive context. Much of it I agree with, particularly in regard to Michael Ludwig, who I appreciate so much. I do disagree with some of your positions, but I won't belabor all that. Resent Esposito or not, he brought this controversy to the attention of a wider audience than it otherwise would have registered with and now an important conversation is taking place as a result. It took some measure of integrity for Esposito to do that, given his status as a mofi retailer who has consistently championed the label. You might speculate as to his motives in doing so and who am I to argue that point? I'll leave it at that, but I am glad this issue is being broadly examined now. Cheers. By the way, I also disliked Esposito's video mocking the people who were dissatisfied with the APP jacket. Didn't realize that was an attack on Ludwig, but it makes sense. My own copy of that arrived with 3 1/4 inch seam splits on the bottom of each of the gatefolds. Took 2 weeks of back and forth to get mofi to agree to exchange it for me. Still waiting for it to come back.
How can you (Mike Fremer) say ANYTHING about Mike from the In Groove and then PUSS out when told no to an interview. Seems you have no issue to trash Mike for something YOU should have been questioning LONG ago as a "professional" as you're trashing Mike E. about....either do something proactive, or shut up. At this point, your just late to the table and you again are getting smoked by Mike E.
Sort of rude and bitter sounding Fremer here, I think just because he didn’t get the interview and the revelation himself. If Fremer thinks Mike should’ve been harder on the guys, then he doesn’t understand interaction between humans… the tone would’ve turned sour and the interview would’ve lasted 5 minutes.
I can agree that they did more TALKING than TELLING, but I didn't at all think Mike was "rolled". They clearly noted that they ALMOST NEVER use the master tape, and that they always use DSD. Simple as that.
Agreed, Fremer is salty that he wasn't invited and the salt is seasoning his commentary. There is also bad blood b/t Fremer/45 RPM and In 'Groove Mike over the Electric Recording Company controversy a few months back.
The DSD is made from the Master Tape.
Mike E *looked* like he could have been rolled as it was presented but the Mofi team came clean. And good on them. Mike E didn't need to press them. And good on him for not acting like the fool inside investigator. He was their guest, he acted accordingly and they told him and us pretty much everything there was for us to know.
@@calebkeen8967 brilliant line “the salt is seasoning his commentary “. 👍
Esposito did more in a couple of days than so called professional journalists in years. Now everybody knows thanks to that guy!
Especially when Fremer says in his own words he was covering for MoFi
They should just sell high rate DSD files. If they're cutting from DSD, there's no reason the quantities need be limited and the price so high. They lied to protect their profits. It's not about the quality. It's about the grift.
Yes! Just give me the quad DSD!
They admitted that Miles and Santana were DSD as Thriller will be. Come on Fremer??
I thought it was quite clear... they use DSD... They said that clearly. This sounds like Fremers sour grapes because he didn't get the interview
Great video both Michaels. I agree 100% that MOFI have been deceptive. I think their sales will suffer as a result. I still love the Dylan and Miles titles, and I will buy Bitches Brew and Sketches of Spain as they will be the best versions available. But if I have a choice of AP instead of MOFI, I know which direction I’ll be going from now on - with the company who is transparent about their product and has respect for their customers.
Find the 40th anniversary of Bitches Brew the Best of Both world the Vinyl sounds great and CDs sounds very nice and it Release from Columbia
yes John Lamarca well played sir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My question on this is: Are we all a 100% sure that all the other companies are not doing the same? Do we know for a fact? Not judging, just asking because I don´t know.
I learned so much from Michael Fremer in the past, his suggestions on what originals to own etc.. His review on the Beatles mono box made me go right out an order one. And i enjoy you Mike for your honesty. I have to say i do feel duped by Mofi, i enjoy some of them, but i feel i was taken in a way.
I find it ironic that in a video exchange in which you both criticize Esposito’s interview skills and lack of follow-up q’s, Michael 45 you never ONCE ask a follow-up when Fremer says a few eyebrow-raising things. “What do you mean you knew about this but decided not to write about it?” Simple in theory but not so easy to do in the moment, perhaps.
The questions were answered Abraxas=digital. Miles Davis=Digital, Thriller=Digital this video is so disingenuous
The visit to MoFi was informative I liked to hear them talking about their work. It was a good way into their philosophy and it seemed to be all about the sound. They gave some examples of what they did and why. I thought it was a watchable and engaging piece.
If Fremer is the "real" journalist, why didn't he break the story? He either didn't know MOFI was cutting from digital, which means he's a step behind Esposito, or he knew and he wasn't telling... which is far more egregious. In the end, Esposito got MOFI to admit it on camera. In the world of real journalism, that's a pretty big scoop... and probably the biggest audiophile story of the year. Sorry Fremer, you failed.
We've learned two things. 1. MoFi was not trasparent, and 2. Digital sounds fantastic and should be taken seriously by audiophiles.
Digital is taken seriously by audiophiles. I have a very good SACD player and an SSD NAS drive setup with 8000 file on it. You have a very wrong view of audiophiles.
Rose colored glasses
@@trackingangle929 amen the same here I don't want digital LPs and sacds are less
Digital is taken seriously by audiophiles. There’s always a segment of people who always make it about analog vs digital.
How’s that Santana Abraxas one step sounding to you now?
People act like nobody had ever asked mofi about their cutting chain, they had, and they were directly lied to. Fremer's email about Thriller was a direct question and they lied to him. This is not about analog vs. digital, this is about a company (Music Direct) not only misleading customers, but straight up lying to journalists in direct communications.
Which is why it's slightly amusing to hear Fremer say that a journalist should have been at that interview. HA!! For what?! They've been lying to you for 15 years and you kept it moving.
Let me tell you something, nobody can lie to me about any subject matter where I possess expertise...
well said...
Absolutely to your point #poetryonplastic. The body language alone in that video showed there was a lot of passive-aggression on MoFi's part. I thought Mike did as well as could be expected under the circumstances, but no, he's not a professional journalist.
@@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker It is NOT about analog v digital by any stretch. Had the On-Step MoFi releases been truthfully labeled, we wouldn't be here. Truth-in-labeling is the end game goal. Nothing else.
@@The_One-Eyed_Undertaker yet no one could tell the difference
OK, first 10 minutes and its Fremer getting a chance to shit on Mike E again. Talk about a broken record.
Just waiting for fremer to reply to you and act like a baby for no reason 🤣
Mike E. is a nice guy, but Fremer is telling the truth here. The reason Mike E. got the interview is that the guys at MOFI didn't feel threatened by him. There's no way in hell they would've agreed with an interview with Fremer.
Hey Fremer, doesn't matter if it's digital or analog, you obviously can't hear the difference
@@Diatonic5th yeah coz Fremer is exhausting and would’ve gotten the same info from them anyway
i think Mr. Fremer is not the biggest Fan of Mike E. What I think sucks is that he always acts like he's the expert and Mike E. is only a record dealer. You don't have to like everyone, but to deny someone indirect knowledge all the time I don't think is very great.
Guys, thanks for your take, but Mike did not get rolled over. Not at all. He got the answers and showed them a little respect at the same time. There is a digital step in producing their records, and got them to admit they need to be more transparent about what is what in the future. That was the whole point.
Esposito broke this story. He deserves a lot of credit for that. He did the job Fremer should have done.
Mike did enough to get a very important fact out to the rest of the word. A journalist or tough interviewer would not have been invited.
With 40 K records in the works, I don't think they realized how serious this issue is. I guess we'll see. I really don't care what people thought they were getting. The fact that a record is made available, and the sound quality is the best it can be are what's important to me. In the future we'll thank whoever made the DSD copy from the master tape. Tapes don't last forever.
I don't think many will disagree,, however honesty & transparency is the only issue in question here.
@@512bb People want to say they were lied to, but no one has put up proof of a lie and they are looking. My only pre-conception when buying MoFi is that it is audiophile quality. I don't feel lied to.
@@TRamone01 Good, then keep on buying. However if you know something about the recording business then you know they're being less then honest.
Tapes are better storage medium than digital. Digital files fail all the time. Some tape recordings from the early days of vinyl are still producing astounding sounding records.
I'm not saying digital is all bad, but if you want to archive something digital, put it on a tape.
I lost respect for Michael Fremer when he defended the Czech Republic GZ pressing plant after years and years of quality issues. Fremer has a chip on his shoulder and has a very hard time to admit that his judgement sometimes is clouded.
I come away with 2 big disappointments from this whole MoFi debacle :
1. I'm astonished how MoFi deceived us the consumers for years! There is no excuse for this and I agree with the host here that the three people Mike E interviewed should have shown some remorse and owning up. Sure they may feel they just did what they were told to do but some honesty and courage would have done a lot of people lot of good in this situation.
2. Michael Fremer! I had had a lot of respect and credibility for him and followed his advice and opinions for years. I must say he lost all my respect at this point. In a separate video with Steve Westman, he claimed he was told by MoFi that Thriller was mastered directly from master tape or a copy of. Well you got duped!! At least Mike E got the truth out. Michael kept bashing Mike E for the interview and kept insisting that he had known this all along and that he was just covering for MoFi!! That's an excuse?!! No matter what you're the loser in this battle with Mike E. I won't be holding Fremer in high regards anymore.
@@heinebohmann1566 Exactly! That is why people generally do not trust the media.
I'm not remotely surprised that MoFi were ABLE to deceive you! It just proves that vinyl enthusiasts are not able to distinguish between digital and analog. I don't believe anyone would have noticed if it had been an ordinary CD-quality digital stage in the process.
Fremer has unmasked himself. He has a superiority complex. "not a journalist and fanboy" wtf
Acoustic Sounds do great work, Analogue Productions are superb
Fremer, they lied to you but your supreme audiophile ears should have been able to distinguish them as digitally-sourced.
You two sound so self righteous, sorry my perception
Mr Espisito opened the door and got Mofi to admit to doing dsd, in the first minute
He then gave Mofi the ability to talk about there process
For anyone watching this, it is obvious that there were concessions between the two parties
That is why Mike got the interview and the answers
Now let light be the disinfectant
OK I'm 1 minute into this video but I'm 110% sure that exactly what Mike could or could not ask was spelled out long before the camera was turned on. Of course you weren't going to get answers to any uncomfortable questions, or any question that make MOFI look bad. Besides you were told everything you need to know; 1) they are using digital, 2) they've used digital at least as far back as 2008 by their own admission.
ASSUME EVERY RELEASE (from anybody not just MOFI) IS DIGITAL UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE. Don't given anyone the benefit of the doubt; always look for wiggle room in any statement of the mastering chain. Assume that if there wiggle room in a statement it's there because it's needed.
sounds about right
Michael, You should invite Mike Esposito for an interview. Just you and him. I think you two could have a really nice conversation about Mike's trip
Speaking of transparency, it would be great if Fremer would divulge who told him Thriller would be cut from master tape.
Fremer keeps adding “I can’t say who told me” to his stories. Just put cards on the table so we can all get our questions answered.
I call Bullshit…Fremer loves to stir the pot and hides behind cheesy impressions and bad jokes
Fremer has always come across as being full of himself. He tells anyone who'll listen that only he is "the real deal" and loves to refer to his "bona-fides" and people should be wary of listening to others who don't have his knowledge. Right- cause you were spot on with your golden ears, and got the inside scoop, right? Methinks you got taken to the woodshed this time.
Fremer is a know it all jerk, who no longer knows it all.
I really think you need to consider having Mike from The In Groove on if Fremer gets this much time to air out his jealousy and insecurities with that Mike. Fremer comes off looking so terribly bitter in this.
He is bitter because Mofi have lied for the past 10 or 15 years.
@@DrOz-007 Then he should direct his frustration at Mofi and not spend so much time criticizing Mike E. He's obviously jealous he's not driving this story.
Yes I'm so jealous and insecure. lol. I got to visit Abbey Road to hear Beatles master tapes. I was an expert witness in the Quincy Jones vs. the estate of Michael Jackson trial and I'm jealous of a record store owner. I understand.
@@trackingangle929 I don't think you should be jealous. I do think you should have the emotional maturity to thank Mike for getting a scoop you did not. That would be the mature route.
The cult of personality is playing too great a role here. It shouldn’t be about Mike E. “vs” Michael F. The point is that MoFi was misleading at best. Hopefully one of the results of this debacle will be industry-wide agreement on language used when informing consumers. It’s not our responsibility to try to decipher the words on a hype sticker or a website advertisement. It shouldn’t be that complicated. It only is when the company wants it to be complicated because they’re hiding something.
I don't know a ton about mastering and so forth. What I got from Mike's interview was MOFI will travel out to a place, ship their equipment there, get the master tapes, make a digital copy of it, and bring it and back and master it/make pressings. Which seems to me means what they gave us on many occasions was digital. Am I right? ...and if so why the hell do you keep saying things were not "clear" as to the digital/analog question? Help me out if I'm missing something because again this is not my area.
I thought they said they dupe a master tape (and digital) from the master tape if possible. If not, they source the best digital from the original.
Uh, they actually did answer both the question about Abraxas and Miles Davis by saying both were digital.
I jumped back into vinyl in November 2022 and this has already blown over. MOFI records are still commanding high prices on the secondary market, and as far as I can tell they still sell out their One Step releases at the same prices.
Months ago I downloaded Mike Fremer’s digitized Paul Simon one step LP on his $100,000 vinyl rig and I compared it with the DSD/sacd file, and the DSD file sounded far superior to the one step. Like a sucker I bought that one step and five others.
I'm a Fremer fan, but man he did himself a disservice with his attitude in this video. He clearly had a grudge and came across as envious. Sounds to me that a bunch of journalists had an inkling of what Mofi was up to and deliberately buried their heads in the sand. It is laughable that they are now questioning Esposito's interview skills when they themselves were engaged in journalistic malpractice.
Oh please. Mike E did a great job. Fremer sounds bitter because he was flat-out WRONG.
That guy is always is condescending and bitter.
I'm not bitter. It was a terrible interview. And I was not flat out WRONG, fanboy.
Mike F, Dude, if this was Twitter you would be ratioed. And yes you do sound bitter. Your credibility has taken a hit and you fear being irrelevant.
Mike E might not have done the most probing interview, but he got to the nuts and bolts of what the VC wanted to know.
You claim to be a journalist. Well if so, you share in common what most of the current political journalists are: Advocates who push their own agenda while ignoring ( or burying) actual stories, while looking down on the general public with a smug intellectual superiority. Then when called out they call foul.
Seems to me that Mike E, a strip mall record salesman, who claims not to be a journalist, got some answers from MOFI. Meanwhile, the actual proclaimed journalist with "golden ears" did not. You have egg on your face and constantly going after Mike E just looks bad. Move on.
Oh, and Mike 45rpm deserves credit for bringing up the issue that the MJ Thriller, MOFI 1 step just didn't add up.
@@trackingangle929 Which is actually worse. You are saying you knew - when precisely? Before or after you included MoFi records in you 100 Analogue pics? And did you think of maybe telling your readers about this? Given you’re a journalist and all.
@@trackingangle929 Fanboy! love the name calling....very mature.......
I came away with the impression that MoFi has been taking the master tapes, digitizing at 4X DSD, then going through the “one step” process.
Don’t be so salty against Mike, Fremer. I’m sure you would’ve been on your hands and knees if you went to MoFi. He did the best he could.
This is just rude. Mike at the In-Groove asked the correct questions, went there at his own cost and time, helping us all. It was obvious what they were saying. It is simple that MOFI have not been honest, have been digitising product and selling it as direct from the master tapes. The reality is that those who fanaticise over analogue truly don’t know the differences, and it is them who are smarting over being conned into paying audiophile prices for digital product. The real actual music lovers don’t care because if it sounds great it sounds great. What were you expecting them to say, oh yes we have not been always cutting direct from the master tapes, but charged you as if we were?
Michael really like the channel and it was good you had a response to the MOFI so soon but was disappointed in Mr Fremer’s attitude to Mike E. How many times does he need to put him down . Not a journalist, only a retailer, etc etc. Right away less than 10 min in they admitted they used DSD as far back as 2008 with the Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On. While MOFI did try to obfuscate they were very clear about the digital step in their opinion gives a better result in many cases and the Original Master Recording only means authenticating the tape they copy . It’s not Mr Fremer’s fault or problem that MOFI has led him and us a merry dance but he should be more respectful and less defensive when it comes to Mike E. P.S I am not a fanboy!
The more this subject crosses my mind, this is quite interesting and enjoyable. This is why being an audiophile and apart of a community works well for myself. MoFi does produce quality sound and feel this discussion will keep vinyl producers more honest in their communications. Stay Cool.
Wohoo… 0.59 sec in.. “he is a fanboy”, “he got rolled over”.. I think Mike deserves a huge round of applause, I find it rather admirable how Mike managed to receives an invitation from 3 mofi enigineers and that we got a better insight into what is normally not so obvious (for me).
If Mike E were to call Fremer a “FanBoy” we would never hear the end of it 🤦🏻♂️
Michael & Michael, what about the quality of the audio on this interview? The mic on my earbuds can produce more intelligible audio!
To me it seems like Mike reached out to MoFi and asked/emailed the questions that needed to be answered. Did Fremer do that??? They gave Mike 24hr notice to come to MoFi, so there was very little prep time. I think they explained clearly the processes they have used. They may have been misleading in their past 'language', but in the end it is all about the sound while not destroying Masters. Do you want the best sound or do you want analogue only. They are not always the same.
I thank you for your videos about the MOFI issue.
The MOFI case is a mirror faced in front of the Audiophile community that reveals the replacement of the main goal of a common audiophile which is the desire for a maximum/best sound quality reproduction with a race after the isosteric hard to get more expensive all analogue process. This has occurred without us the community stop to ask ourself or even worse, when a digital step added to an audio process is ruled automatically to be bad for the whole cutting process even it enables a (no doubt about it) superior one step pressing. no one is evaluating the whole chain. the word digital has blocked the thinking process of the total result.
The question have to be asked why MOFI who undouble achieved a higher sound quality (as reported for the Abraxas release for example) had to be vague on the fact they are using a digital process in their updated sound reproduction process?
is it because they want to hide a fact they are selling a much easy to produce and inferior "CD on Vinyl" product (the statement is just for the sake of discussion) and continue collecting money with higher profit from the audiophile "suckers"?
or maybe is it because Audiophiles community, who their moto is judging a product sonic quality with their own ears will be too shocked to hear (Double meaning... 🙂 ) that digital process exists and add an advantage to the sound quality, in conflict with the community conception which automatically detach a "made from original master" when a step of a super high resolution digital copy is involved?
If MOFI would have used a 2nd generation analogue copy, done by MOFI from original master, and not a DSD process, would the Vinyl community have accepted this step because the All analogue purity has been maintained? we have to remember that MOFI have replace the "Father + Mother" steps with a 2nd generation copy so there is an important improvement added to the process together with that 2nd generation added step. Why nobody talks about the total results? why focus only on one (important) added step? why nobody evaluate the 2 choice between a DSD vs a 2nd generation Analogue copy which MOFI has gone already for us?
So the vinyl community has to first identify if the latest MOFI "one step" process has a total improvement of sound or not, comparing to any process MOFI has presented over the years, and comparing with other companies audiophile releases, of course also with price tag comparison.
Last, I present you with the most shocking "Elephant in the room" which no one yet on all the MOFI videos so far has neglected to talk about:
In case MOFI "one step" process is found to be actually the best audio quality and efficient way to cut a vinyl from an original master then it means that within the chain of cutting process, The DSD step has the maximum and better sound quality source for the vinyl cut process, better than the vinyl product itself.
This has a huge impact on the vinyl industry, because the DSD (or other high res digital file format) can be sold and streamed with even a better quality than that of the best vinyl pressing there is.
This means that audiophile vinyl format becomes to be in the third place of the highest audio quality possible (the second place belongs to an exotic, expensive and very limited in quantities direct Reel to Reel studio quality copy of the original master Tape) and 1st audio quality posible to obtain at home would become to be a digital file.
This removes the carpet under the whole vinyl industry, or at least the audiophile vinyl industry, and this is in my opinion the real reason for MOFI ambiguity on the cutting process.
What a self indulgent angry old man Michael Fremer has become. I respect him and he definitely knows a lot about records. But I don't enjoy watching him. All he says gives me a subtext of "I am good, you are all idiots".
Being a trained journalist myself I understand that this is exactly how journalists have felt in the 1970s, 80s and 90s when they were the only gatekeepers for public opinion and Fremer has learned his trade. I started in the 80s and believe me, these were different times.
When he repeatedly points out that Arizona Mike is not a trained journalist and should have asked other questions I doubt that it is the questions asked or not asked that make him so angry.
What does he expect? A public prosecutor?
Come on, the MOFI Mastering guys are clearly no media professionals and felt rather uncomfortable in the role to explain what their marketing guys have done. Remember: They make laquers, not the text on the jacket. I don't feel Mike has been rolled over by these guys.
If anyone has been rolled over it is Michael Ludwigs (@45RPM) who gave Fremer the opportunity to continue his crusade against Arizona Mike. Two times in a row. Ludwigs is not a trained journalist himself. But Fremer is and he runs over poor Düsseldorf Mike like a freight train. Ludwigs is no native speaker and has no means of stopping or channeling Fremer who is happy to "utilize" the 45RPM Platform.
So what is it that makes Fremer so angry?
I have a feeling it is mainly two things: 1. Fremer thinks HE should have done the Interview 2. It is hard for him to accept, that he is not so important to the vinyl community and therefore the public than he is to the record industry.
One more thought: Would I have wanted Fremer to do the interview? Definitely not. He would have told the poor guys what they are doing wrong all along. And also what he said to XY (someone in the music business in the 90s). But maybe the MoFi guys would have asked him why Fremer - being the one and only audiophile musical journalist - did not review most MoFi One Steps. Didn't he get them for free?
I better check my MoFi UltraDeck and make sure there isn't a DAC hidden in there...
Better still, sell it and buy a Nottingham Analogue turntable!
Fremer, not a good look. Serious egg on face!! 🤡
#cancelfremer
Mike E did a good job. You both need to watch the video again. Also you should watch Mike E's follow up video. No more needs to be said. Thanks to Mike E its now entirely up to Mofi to get their shit together. Also thanks to you Michael L for questioning the Mofi One Step method in the first place. But there really is no need to criticize the way Mike E conducted the interview. He did very well.
great follow up. And Agree, MOFI really did not show what goes into their sauce.
Fremer should have exposed this a long time ago, not couch it. Not wait for record store dude to do this for the audiophile community