Lick My Legs wrote:
The thing that makes me doubtful is that with the recent re-issues there was nothing in any of the press releases about them being analogue, normally that means they are digital transfers.
Also looking up White Chalk in Discogs, it was mastered at LoudMastering.com looking at their website they dont seem to have any capability of handling analogue tape, they ask only for high quality digital files - though that may have been different back in 2007.
John Parish is very open to using both Analogue and digital but that usually means the final mixdown is going to be digital.
Digital doesn't have to be a bad thing, it would just be nice to know. I think early digital recordings have given it a bad name, I doubt any of us could spot any significant difference between a modern digital recording and analogue.
Interesting point and yeah, you're absolutely right, it would be nice to know - even though my ears can't really tell the difference. I've been really happy with the reissued LPs so far - clean, nice, quiet, hi-quality pressings - but I have no idea if they were sourced from analogue tape or digital masters. I guess the only way we can learn about such technicalities is if someone asks John through Facebook or something? IIRC he sometimes responds to fans' queries on social media.