RMAF 2016

Mobile Fidelity Introduces "One Step" Abraxas

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 11, 2016

Mobile Fidelity introduced at RMAF 2016 its first "one step" record release: Santana's Abraxas.

For those unfamiliar, record manufacturing usually is a "two step" process whereby a lacquer is cut and then plated to produce a ridged metal part called a "father". The "father" is then plated again to produce what's called a grooved "mother" (one day the PC police will force a name change). The mother is then again plated to produce a stamper that actually presses records.

This process allows for many "mothers" to be produced from the "father" if need be. The alternative is to press directly from the "father", which of course eliminates a step and thus should produce better sound. The disadvantage of course is that when the "father" becomes tired after a stamper's worth of pressings (how many that is depends upon who you ask and how concerned they are about sound quality), you must cut another lacquer because re-using a plated lacquer is problematic, though they often can be used as a playable disc.

So here, Mobile Fidelity is doing the "one step" thing, pressing directly from the "father" and mastering at 45rpm.

This limited to 2500 copies edition ("UD1S") comes in a deluxe box set that contains special jackets, a unique insert and a Fine-Art print of the original Mati Klarwein painting.

I doubt Mobile Fidelity pressed all 2500 copies from a single "father". More likely than not, multiple lacquers were cut and plated to produce multiple "fathers". Otherwise someone would be paying $100 for pressing number 2500, produced from one exhausted "father" with no vinyl Cialis possible!

Look for a review as soon as this arrives.

Music Direct Buy It Now

COMMENTS
MonetsChemist's picture
Submitted by MonetsChemist on Tue, 2016-10-11 18:38

I love the music (how could I not), but the sound is at best OK.

mraudioguru's picture
Submitted by mraudioguru on Tue, 2016-10-11 19:42

...that they can only produce 400-700 copies per "father. They must have made 4 or 5 "fathers" to press 2500 copies.

Lazer's picture
Submitted by Lazer on Tue, 2016-10-11 20:37

I thinkI might have accidentally preordered 2 copies of this album, but I'm really excited to see the packaging and listen to the music.

gbougard's picture
Submitted by gbougard on Wed, 2016-10-12 01:16

I'ma huge sucker: I keep buying MOFI's reissues and INVARIABLY I am disappointed. They never hold a candle to the originals and those come at a fraction the cost of MOFI's reissues most of the time.

So I have a notion that I'm going to spend another 40 bucks or so + shipping to Paris (obsenely expensive) for something that will occupy valuable real estate in my already overpopulated record shelves...

WHY?

gbougard's picture
Submitted by gbougard on Wed, 2016-10-12 01:17

Its not 40, but 100 dollars...

quite frankly, I'd rather get a lathe cut vinyl copy. Now that would be something else.

vinyl listener's picture
Submitted by vinyl listener on Thu, 2016-10-13 17:43

... than the standard mofi abraxas ???

otaku2's picture
Submitted by otaku2 on Thu, 2016-10-13 13:00

I already have the MoFi pressing of Abraxas. Otherwise I would seriously consider this disk. Can't wait to see what is next.

Rudy's picture
Submitted by Rudy on Tue, 2016-10-18 08:43

I heard the test pressing at AXPONA. Can't say I was overly impressed--the music did nothing for me. I mean, c'mon, Abraxas...again?? (I like the first Santana album far better, both in terms of sonics and musically, to be honest; Abraxas is tired, stale and overplayed.) As for the sonics, well...yes, it was maybe a little more "immediate" sounding to me than other versions I've heard, but not to where I was all jumping out of my seat from excitement. Let's face it--this is an early 70s studio recording, not some audiophile masterpiece.

I'm not faulting the OneStep process here, but the choice in material. They could have used a far better recording to show off the differences between the process and a regular pressing, or the SACD. But hey, Abraxas sells, so I guess that determines what gets picked for the process.

Anyone want to take a wager when Kind Of Blue will be given the OneStep? As much as I like it, I'm done buying this one--it's becoming a reissue cliche as well.

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