Neil Young - Harvest - Nautilus Super Discs Vinyl LP 1/2 Half Speed Mastered

$

59

Item Photos
click to enlarge
Neil Young ?– Harvest

• Nautilus SuperDiscs
• Half-Speed Mastered
• Original inner sleeve with blue is split at the bottom,
  Vinyl kept in MFSL inner sleeve (both included)
• Comes with protective plastic outer sleeve (last pic)

Condition:
Vinyl: VG (looks VG+ but noise throughout, still an amazing recording)
Cover: VG
see key below:

Label: Warner Bros. Records, Nautilus Recordings ?– NR 44
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Gatefold
Country:US
Released: 1982

Tracklist:
A1     Out On The Weekend     
A2     Harvest     
A3     A Man Needs A Maid     
A4     Heart Of Gold     
A5     Are You Ready For The Country     
B1     Old Man     
B2     There's A World     
B3     Alabama     
B4     The Needle And The Damage Done     
B5     Words (Between The Lines Of Age)

Additional Nautilus SuperDiscs information:
A "SUPERDISC" is a very special record created with only one thing in mind: "QUALITY". What makes a SUPERDISC so "super" is that it is the perfect integration of artists, musical compositions, production, manufacturing and packaging. There are three main groups of superdiscs which are represented in the Nautilus line of products:

(1) DD - the direct-to-disc recording

(2) DGT - the digital recording

(3) HSM - the high-technology, analog recording

(HSM includes variations and combinations of all three processes).

 DD - The Direct-to-disk recording

Direct-to-disc recordings are always performed "live." Until the commercial applications of digital recording were available, direct-to-disc performances were the only way to accurately record a session with a minimum of distortion, maximum dynamic range and widest possible frequency response. Analog signals from the artists are passed directly through the recording console to a modified cutting lathe which etches in real-time the master lacquer. By eliminating tape machines and magnetic tape, there can be no wow and flutter problems, no tape hiss, no tape saturation, no tape transport noise, no electronic distortions or abnormalities.

Because these sessions are live, there can be no editing or overdubbing. Any mistakes during the recording of an entire side, of up to 22 minutes of material, will ruin the lacquer. The music will have to be recorded again until the side is perfect. The performers will naturally be under extreme pressure, but it is this need for complete accuracy that adds immeasurably to the excitement of such a session.

Since only a very limited number of lacquers may be cut during these live sessions, the manufacturing capabilities are significantly reduced. On the average, only 25,000 records are ever available per title of a direct-to-disc release.

DGT - Digital recording

Digital recording is an outgrowth of space and computer technology applied to the recording industry. Also called pulse-code-modulated recording (PCM), digital processes convert continuous sine wave (analog) energy into a series of pulses identified by the digital recorder as numerical values. This is accomplished by sampling the audio spectrum at a series of defined points at up to 50,000 times per second. Since all that is recorded on the digital tape is "numbers" there is incredible accuracy. No matter how badly the values are stored on the recording medium, when played back they cannot be decoded inaccurately. A distorted number "5" can only be interpreted as a "5," and not some other value. In addition, almost ten times as much dynamic energy, before tape saturation, can be captured using digital recording techniques. Frequency response is literally from the lowest possible bass notes to the very highest harmonics in the musical spectrum with little or no deviation from "flat" or reference levels. Distortion, wow and flutter, tape hiss and tape transport noises are non-existent.

The advantage to digital recording is that multi-track recorders have been developed which allow artists to over-dubb, mix and edit performances in the studio. This flexibility alone makes digital recording the basis for some phenomenal records from major artists of today.

HSM - High Technology Analog Recordings(HSM: High Speed Master)

The main drawback to direct-to-disc recordings is that major recording artists in contemporary music are not capable of recording their music in real-time. They rely on editing-out mistakes and remixing and re-recording (over-dubbing) counterpart melodies or additional instrumental passages. The problem therefore was "how to get a major artist on a superdisc?" Two methods were devised. The first was to carefully remaster original tapes (half-speed mastering) of the desired performers and the second was to record them using a new technology called "digital."

Half-speed mastering(HSM) is a process in which the original master two-track tapes are run at half of their normal speed during the mastering (lacquer cutting) process. The cutting lathe is also run at half of its normal speed. Thus the playback ratios remain the same. The advantage to this slow cutting speed is that'a more perfect groove can be etched onto the lacquer. Better frequency response, wider dynamic range and considerably less distortion are the benefits.

If compared to the equivalent commercial pressings of the same music, halfspeed mastered records are significantly better. Unfortunately however, the music available as half-speed mastered releases is older catalog titles. The problem still remained: "How do you get contemporary artists with NEW MATERIAL on a SUPERDISC?"

A FINAL NOTE

It should be pointed out that each of the processes described has certain advantages and disadvantages. It takes experience to determine which technique to use with which artist/s, in which studio and with what type of music, to make the finest possible SUPERDISC. Regardless of the recording techniques however, without extreme care in cutting lacquers, plating them, and pressing the final discs, a SUPERDISC will only be as good as the weakest link in this chain.


*  I always use actual pictures of records, not stock photos, unless noted
     
*  Combined shipping available for multiple purchases, just wait for invoice

• I can only ship on Saturday
• Item ships Media Mail
• US bidders flat rate shipping of $5.00
• If you would like to add insurance or choose USPS Priority Mail just let me know and wait for new invoice before paying
• All international shipping will be done USPS First Class International or USPS International Priority depending on the country. Some countries I will only ship with insurance and insurance is only available trough USPS International Priority.
 
Item will be carefully packaged to ensure that you will receive it in the condition described.  I take great care as a collector myself in packaging my items for shipment.  I use professional packing material that can withstand even the rigors of international shipping.  I generally sell mint condition collectible vinyl and even though I am selling it; as a collector I still do not want to see it damaged in any way, so rest assured that your purchase or rather investment will be well protected.  If the item is not sealed I will ship vinyl outside of the cover to avoid seam splits in transit. 

I am a private record collector.  All my records are kept upright, out of direct sunlight, and in a smoke free environment.  Please be prepared to pay within 3 days of auction closing if you win or buy it now.

• Condition Code / Grading Scale:

Mint:

New, Sealed, Never Opened, Never Played, Undamaged

NM = Near Mint:

Record looks and sounds new. No scratches, surface noise, ticks or pops. If there would be any surface noise, it would be very soft. If there would be a tick or pop, it would only be one or two soft ones.

EX = Excellent:

Record looks and sounds very acceptable. This is a record that can be enjoyed. It may have some slight visible marks and may have surface noise and a few ticks and pops, but this will still be minimal.

 VG = Very Good:

Record looks and sounds used. This record has lots of surface noise and has visible scratches. For listening or collecting it is only good as "filler".

 + = Plus: (such as VG+)

Indicates the degree of closeness to the next higher grade.