Bach Goldberg variations played by Glenn Gould analogue master


The 1981 recording of the Goldberg was released on CD and was all digital. I've listened to it for years.
this past week I purchased the vinyl release of the analogue safety tape. 
Its warmer and has more connective tissue than the CD. I hear more of the wooden sound board. It flows a bit better too and I can hear Gould singing in the background just like the digital recording. The silence between the notes seems more interesting too.  With the CD I hear more of the hammer hitting the strings. The CD has more focus on the attack of the piano which I find interesting as well. Both CD and vinyl have something to offer. The vinyl allows the very strong rhythmic pulse of Glenn Gould too breath a bit more than on the CD. 
I can also hear that the analogue tape was stored improperly- occasionally i can hear the bleed through of the next musical passage. Some tape speed variation can be heard as well. Overall it's a very nice record to have.




jetrexpro

Showing 1 response by tostadosunidos

Tapes are stored "tails in" or "tails out."  One (the former, I think) means the tape is rewound so that it is as it was when new and unused--i.e., the tail of the tape is in the original plastic reel with the rest of the tape wound around it, ready to play from the beginning.  If the tape is played or fast-forwarded to the end then the tail is out and the tape is wound around what had been the take-up reel  on the right.  "Tails out" is preferable for long-term storage, as I recall.  The particular advantages I do not recall.
I think a safety tape is simply a backup copy made as insurance in case of the demise or loss of the original.