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Kinks Remastered to SACD: The Inside Story
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 31, 2005  |  0 comments

Back in 1998 KOCH licensed both the RCA and Arista Kinks catalogs from BMG. Ray Davies supervised and approved the transfer from two-track analog masters, which was accomplished using an Ampex ATR102 directly feeding a Pacific Microsonics Model One A/D converter running at 88.2k/24 bit PCM (bonus tracks were sourced from Ray's DAT tapes). The files were sent to Bob Ludwig's Gateway Mastering for final mastering, including HDCD encoding.

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Features
Last Minute Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions—But Hurry!
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 21, 2017  |  11 comments
Here are some gift-giving ideas for this holiday season that come late, but not too late! Among the suggestions are books, record cleaning accessories,records and vinyl boxed sets. The embedded video has more suggestions.

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Features
Let's Take a Break From Munich Coverage For This Tune From Sara Gazarek and Josh Nelson
Michael Fremer  |  May 31, 2017  |  11 comments
Let's take a (short) break from Munich High End 2017 coverage and instead play a track from this piano and vocal LP produced and engineered by legendary recording engineer Al Schmitt at Capitol Studios mastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed at RTI.

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Features
Lirpa Labs Noah’s Arc Turntable: An Analog Planet Exclusive!
Mike Mettler, Ken Micallef  |  Apr 01, 2024  |  11 comments

Every now and then, we come across a product that truly defies description — and today’s special featured piece of gear is the ever-loving, AI-living proof. Please welcome the triumphant return of the always estimable Dr. Loof Lirpa, who has given AP exclusive access to his brand-spanking-new Lirpa Labs Noah’s Arc turntable. Read on to see what the M&M team — Mettler and Micallef, that is — think of this one-of-a-kind AAA (as in, absolutely amazing analog) marvel. . .

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Can I Have My Money Back?Features
Listen to Edgard Varése's "Ionisation" From "Percussion Music" on Nonesuch Records
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 29, 2017  |  42 comments
After posting the story "Three Percussion Records You Should Own Bob Ludwig emailed that I should get Percussion Music (Nonesuch H-71291). I emailed back that I had it and that prompted the decision to produce an all-percussion show for tomorrow’s WFDU HD2 AnalogPlanet radio show.

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Features
Long-Awaited The Doors Vinyl Box From Rhino Arrives
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 30, 2010  |  1 comments
The long awaited faux lizard skin clad, seven 180g LP The Doors box set has finally arrived, two years late, at a higher than originally announced cost, and for now (May, 2008), in very short supply.
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Features
Los Angeles Area Record Stores "Mini-Tour" Part 1
Michael Fremer  |  May 27, 2015  |  6 comments
Leading up to the Newport Beach show this weekend, I took a day to travel around the L.A. area with Record Collector News publisher Jim Kaplan.

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Features
Los Angeles Area Record Stores "Mini-Tour" Part 2
Michael Fremer  |  May 28, 2015  |  5 comments
Here's Part 2 of the L.A. Area Record Stores "Mini Tour": Wombleton Records.

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Features
Los Angeles Area Record Stores "Mini-Tour" Part 3
Michael Fremer  |  May 28, 2015  |  4 comments
Here's a study in record store contrasts.

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Features
Los Angeles Area Record Stores "Mini-Tour" Part 4
Michael Fremer  |  May 29, 2015  |  3 comments
Our final stops in the mini tour.

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Features
Los Lobos Interview Part 2
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 30, 2004  |  0 comments

MF: Why are there so many guest drummers on your records?

LP: Because I'm a guitar player. I think what happened in the ’70s with all the disco kind of stuff — all the drummers became, like, machines? So that kind of drumming became a prerequisite....

MF: And how did you feel about that? Was that pushed on the band?

Unidentified voice: The White man again! [Laughter]

MF: That was pushed on the band....

Unidentified voice: The evil White Demon! [More laughter]

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Features
Los Lobos On Record (through 1997)
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 30, 2004  |  0 comments

Los Lobos On Record

This survey omits the group's first independent release (1978), and the La Bamba Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1987)

(Album covers can be found in the Photo Gallery, accessible below the picture of the site mascot, Mr. Eno).

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Features
Los Lobos: America's Band Part 1
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 30, 2004  |  0 comments

The Tracking Angle Interview: Los Lobos- America's Band

By Michael Fremer

The goodies were stacked on a big table in the corner of the stars' dressing room: an industrial size sack of M&M Peanuts, big bags of Herr's tortilla and potato chips, a jar of Pace brand Thick and Chunky Salsa, fresh fruit, a ten pack of Kellogg's cereals, a plate of muffins, a cheese, tomato and deli platter, jars of Hellman's mayonnaise and Grey Poupon mustard, and some local color- loaves of Stroehmann's Pennsylvania Dutch and white bread and a big red box of Ivins' "Famous Spiced Wafers."

"Did the Los Lobos guys really ask for Pace salsa in a jar? Or did the Electric Factory people figure the beaners would expect it? If Al Kooper plays there do they put out knishes and Cel-Ray tonic?," I'm thinking. I was hungry, but I wasn't going to help myself to the band's food. If I couldn't eat it, I'd memorize it, which I did. And I waited. And waited.

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Features
M&M Visit Woodblock Chocolate Manufactory, Portland, Oregon
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 22, 2019  |  2 comments
Last Spring when analogPlanet editor Michael Fremer visited analogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui at his Portland, Oregon home, the two visited record stores, interviewed Discogs founder Kevin Lewandowski, shot a not yet published video at Cascade Record Pressing and toured Woodblock Chocolate Manufactory, which as you will see resembles in some ways a record pressing plant.

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Features
Major From the Roof Down Electricity Upgrade Produced Incredible Sonic Benefits!
Michael Fremer  |  Oct 15, 2021  |  54 comments
The electrical service in my house has been problematic since I moved in 22 years ago. I’ve had ground hum issues, amplifiers that mysteriously buzz here but not elsewhere and general noise on the line problems too.

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