[DevillEars]

There are two labels that I know of that are releasing newly recorded/mastered vinyl albums using a process that sees the microphones feeding a mixing desk and the mixing desk output being used to drive the master cutting lathe directly.  In other words, NO TAPE is used in the process.

Obviously, this approach demands high standards of performance from the artists as any mistakes are there for posterity as they can't be edited out afterwards.

The two labels I've come across, both German, are:

1) Stockfisch Records
2) Jeton Records

Of the two, Jeton usually does a better job of producing albums that are listenable from a music perspective, but Stockfisch do have a couple that are more musical than "audiophile" in performance:



Some of the interesting Jeton examples:







These are absolutely mind-blowingly good albums!

[awe-d-o-file]

Slightly off topic but similar. Some of the Crystal Clear Direct to Disc recordings from the 70's were made on CD. BUT unlike all the others (Sheffield,JVC etc.) these were made from the master lacquer not a tape! Dead quiet noise floors and superior fidelity. On the Charlie Byrd there are extra tracks from the session on the disc. These are from tape and sound very inferior to the original tracks from the lacquer. These were re-released on the Laserlight label. They are getting harder to find now. I have the Byrd and Cal Tjader's "Hurrican".  I have usually paid 5-10 @ used CD stores, but they are catching on now. There is a copy of the Byrd CD on eBay for $45 minimum bid.

                                                              ET