On July 14, Mike Esposito went public with explosive claims that threatened the credibility and value of record label company, MoFi Records. In a video posted to Esposito’s 40,000 subscribers, he revealed that MoFi, the Sebastopol Californian company who claimed and prided themselves in using analog reproductions were instead using digital files during production.
Audiophiles strive to recreate the album’s original recording. By using digital, MoFi tramples upon sacred ground. MoFi Records not only had used digital techniques during production but had also denied its usage; effectively tricking the community for profit.
When Esposito’s video reached the MoFi’s headquarters, John Wood, the executive vice president, felt crushed as he heard the disappointment in Esposito’s voice. In an effort to make reparations for their disappointment, Wood invited Mike Esposito to their headquarters for a tour.
A second video quickly followed the invitation, in which engineers confirmed Esposito’s accusations. Reactions from the community immediately accompanied the release of the video. The general consensus bashed and condemned the actions of the company.
Kevin Gray, an engineer who was not part of MoFi, said “It’s the biggest debacle I’ve ever seen in the vinyl realm.” While Richard Drutman, a NYC filmmaker who has purchased more than 50 MoFi albums, said “I never would have ordered a single Mobile Fidelity product if I had known it was sourced from a digital master.”
However, MoFi’s use of digital technologies while passing under the radar also reveals to the community the very minimal difference digital production and analog production has. Randy Braun, a music lover, hopes that the MoFi scandal vindicates what he has been saying for years to the anti-digital crowd, that they have been lying to themselves: These people who claim they have golden ears and can hear the difference between analog and digital, well, it turns out you couldn’t.”
links:
https://thatshelf.com/mofi-caught-cutting-from-digital-is-their-line-of-audiophile-vinyl-dead/
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659888353723x984082876618075100/MoFi%20Records%20has%20been%20using%20digital%20all%20along%2C%20a%20scandal%20in%20the%20audio%20community%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
Audiophiles strive to recreate the album’s original recording. By using digital, MoFi tramples upon sacred ground. MoFi Records not only had used digital techniques during production but had also denied its usage; effectively tricking the community for profit.
When Esposito’s video reached the MoFi’s headquarters, John Wood, the executive vice president, felt crushed as he heard the disappointment in Esposito’s voice. In an effort to make reparations for their disappointment, Wood invited Mike Esposito to their headquarters for a tour.
A second video quickly followed the invitation, in which engineers confirmed Esposito’s accusations. Reactions from the community immediately accompanied the release of the video. The general consensus bashed and condemned the actions of the company.
Kevin Gray, an engineer who was not part of MoFi, said “It’s the biggest debacle I’ve ever seen in the vinyl realm.” While Richard Drutman, a NYC filmmaker who has purchased more than 50 MoFi albums, said “I never would have ordered a single Mobile Fidelity product if I had known it was sourced from a digital master.”
However, MoFi’s use of digital technologies while passing under the radar also reveals to the community the very minimal difference digital production and analog production has. Randy Braun, a music lover, hopes that the MoFi scandal vindicates what he has been saying for years to the anti-digital crowd, that they have been lying to themselves: These people who claim they have golden ears and can hear the difference between analog and digital, well, it turns out you couldn’t.”
links:
https://thatshelf.com/mofi-caught-cutting-from-digital-is-their-line-of-audiophile-vinyl-dead/
https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659888353723x984082876618075100/MoFi%20Records%20has%20been%20using%20digital%20all%20along%2C%20a%20scandal%20in%20the%20audio%20community%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf