Discs that have a "D" with a star on each side molded into the center hub were made by Digital Audio Disc Corp., Sony's plant in Terre Haute, IN. Originally, discs from DACD said "Made In USA-Digital Audio Disc Corp." in the hub, then they started stamping just a "D" in it, and later eliminated it altogether.
A note about Katy Lied. It's been said that identifying a Hoffman versus Nichols version of Aja is easy -- simply look at the pressing plant where the disc was made. If it's the CBS/Sony plant, then it's the Hoffman; if it's the JVC plant, it's the Nichols. Well, all Japanese pressings of Katy Lied were made at the JVC plant. What I've been told is that only the copies of the Katy Lied with the matrix code "MCAD 37043 S1E:1" are the Hoffman. Note that this code has no hyphens and just spaces between groups of characters. There are discs that end with "S1E:3" or something similar and also have no hyphens, but only the S1E:1 disc is supposed to be the Hoffman. I have the S1E:1 disc and two other Japanese pressings with hyphens in the matrix codes, and in comparing the discs on my two systems, I preferred the S1E:1 disc. It sounded warmer and fuller to my ears. The two discs with hyphens in the matrix codes sounded identical. I had my wife do a double-blind test between one of these discs and the S1E:1 disc, and she picked the S1E:1 as the better-sounding one. Note that as with Aja, vinylrec and I found the various pressings of Katy Lied to be the same on EAC. So, is there really a difference between the pressings of Katy Lied? All I know is that I am keeping all my discs just to be safe.
Dave, Hey! Glad to see you scored Steve's Aja! Sounds tee-riffic, doesn't it? My jaw almost hit the floor when I first heard it. Congratulations! Evan
Thanks Evan! Now if I can just find my right eyeball I'll be back to normal and I still am missing a pair of socks.
For a pressing of only 5,000 of the "Steve H" AJA some 20 years ago this forum appears to own a healthy percentage of them. Then again, it's a rare breed that would actively seek out this needle in a haystack. I've got the Manufactured in Japan "Nichols" version but I hope to strike "gold" one of these days. Jim "Bone" W
Well, I don't want to be the rain on the parade (especially for my fellow NightGort!!), but Dave, I have this "Aja" disc also [exactly the same packaging, matrix/manufacturing coding, etc.], and I'm afraid I have some bad news... Without going into details, it's been positively verified to me that it's **not** Steve's mastering. It's a good flat transfer, but not the boss' work. So the hunt goes on for all of us... -Kevin
Kevin, Does Steve's AJA have only "DIDX 55" in the inner ring, and nothing else? On further investigation, this is what mine has.... Thanks, Evan
Evan: Unfortuantely, I couldn't tell you right now... I'm gonna have to see if I can dig out another MCA disc of that vintage [I know I've got one somewhere], and see how it compares, with regard to manufacturing details. Sorry I can't be more help at the moment. -Kevin
Kevin, Thanks, because what I thought was the Hoffman does not concur with the information printed on this thread. I will also have to go home and I will report on what mine says. Dave, if what Kevin says is true....sorry! Evan
Surely you can't be serious!?!? This is so much better than the USA Nichols master it isn't even funny. Details man, I need details! I thought for sure because of the smooth-sided jewel case, lack of bar-code etc. The midrange is like night and day and it sure sounds like Steve's signature to me. Isn't there some sort of issue with tape drag?
Dave: Unfortunately, I am serious... and I paid a lot more for mine than you did...!! And I do agree with you, it's **nice-sounding** disc, but my source is, as they say, unimpeachable on this one. Drop me a PM, if you like, and we'll chat... -Kev
I have never heard of a copy of Aja that has "DIDX 55" in the inner ring and nothing else. Furthermore, that is not in keeping with the style used by the CBS/Sony plant. CBS/Sony would put the DIDX number in the inner ring of MCA discs along with another group of characters. For example, the matrix code on my Aja disc is "DIDX-55 21A1". If your disc has "DIDX 55" and nothing else, then you have something unusual. Please check the disc again and get back to us!
Once again...here's the "Katy" EAC data... Using EAC I've analyzed two Katy Lied discs: MCAD-37043-U2E1 (made in Japan by JVC) MCAD 37043 S1EI (Hoffman verson/made in Japan by JVC) Both versions timed out the same and all of the EAC data was identical. I'm not sure what to think???? Here's the data: Steely Dan / Katy Lied (MCAD-37043-U2E1) EAC extraction logfile from 24. April 2003, 8:07 for CD Used drive : TDK CDRW5200B Adapter: 1 ID: 0 Read mode : Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache Combined read/write offset correction : 0 Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No Used output format : Internal WAV Routines 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo Other options : Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No Installed external ASPI interface Track 1 Filename Black Friday.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC AAEDE64F Copy OK Track 2 Filename Bad Sneakers.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC 7242CA15 Copy OK Track 3 Filename Rose Darling.wav Peak level 94.1 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC 8E083081 Copy OK Track 4 Filename Daddy Don't Live (in that New York City Anymore).wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 99.9 % Test CRC C6BBB8A7 Copy OK Track 5 Filename Doctor Wu.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC 8636206F Copy OK Track 6 Filename Everyone's Gone to the Movies.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC E61C450A Copy OK Track 7 Filename Your Gold Teeth II.wav Peak level 79.2 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC EA692D71 Copy OK Track 8 Filename Chain Lightning.wav Peak level 92.3 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC F2EE479A Copy OK Track 9 Filename Any World (that I'm welcome to).wav Peak level 89.2 % Track quality 99.9 % Test CRC 92DF470A Copy OK Track 10 Filename Throw Back the Little Ones.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 99.8 % Test CRC 637E764D Copy OK No errors occured Steely Dan / Katy Lied (MCAD 37043 S1EI) EAC extraction logfile from 24. April 2003, 8:13 for CD Used drive : TDK CDRW5200B Adapter: 1 ID: 0 Read mode : Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache Combined read/write offset correction : 0 Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No Used output format : Internal WAV Routines 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo Other options : Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No Installed external ASPI interface Track 1 Filename Black Friday.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC E9FBC597 Copy OK Track 2 Filename Bad Sneakers.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC DDC216B3 Copy OK Track 3 Filename Rose Darling.wav Peak level 94.1 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC 8E083081 Copy OK Track 4 Filename Daddy Don't Live (in that New York City Anymore).wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 99.9 % Test CRC C6BBB8A7 Copy OK Track 5 Filename Doctor Wu.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC 8636206F Copy OK Track 6 Filename Everyone's Gone to the Movies.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC 573CC0E2 Copy OK Track 7 Filename Your Gold Teeth II.wav Peak level 79.2 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC CCB68CE7 Copy OK Track 8 Filename Chain Lightning.wav Peak level 92.3 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC F2EE479A Copy OK Track 9 Filename Any World (that I'm welcome to).wav Peak level 89.2 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC B1866878 Copy OK Track 10 Filename Throw Back the Little Ones.wav Peak level 100.0 % Track quality 100.0 % Test CRC 3F19D90F Copy OK No errors occured
Heresy. Mine is the CSR repeating in the inner ring, made in Japan version. Frankly, if this isn't Steve's, I'd be surprised, but in the end I don't think I'd really care because it sounds so amazing. Are you saying there is no AJA that is Steve's or otherwise, how do you identify Steve's?
I agree... and I was also surprised. But as Cecil Adams is fond of saying, "We don't vote on the facts", so I just had to accept it and move on. To be honest, the differences between the two versions would be subtle, and from an **audio** standpoint, a direct comparison would be the best way to know which was which. If you mange to track down one of the "CSR" discs, I think you've got a real winner anyway, even though it's not Steve's version. Of course, that won't keep me from trying to hunt one down... -Kevin
Just read through this thread with pen in hand to grab the vital details to snag a" Steely Hoffman " disc on ebay myself. There must be someone that has the elusive bar code/label description to snare this audio delight.
That's the crux of the problem. We know that Steve mastered Aja and Katy Lied for CD, but did MCA use his masters? Perhaps all Japanese pressings of Aja and Katy Lied were made from the Nichols masters.
If Steve's master was used, then someone must have it! A forum member here who bought Aja and Katy Lied the days they came out on CD in 1984 and '85, respectively, has the "DIDX-55 21A1" version of Aja and the "MCAD 37043 S1E:1" version of Katy Lied.
I have these discs, but again, vinylrec and I both found these pressings to be identical to other Japanese pressings of Aja and Katy Lied with the EAC program.
alexpop: Well, I have to respectfully stand by my source on this one regarding "Aja", and say "No". But having said that, I don't have an alternative to offer as being the correct one, at this point. Hope that changes in the future!! -Kevin
Hi Kevin, What would be the vital clues for these discs then? Surely if you are familiar with Steve"s work hearing all the diff/versions would surely suffice. Scanning various versions could also perhaps come up trumps. Ye olde favorite, serial numbers,bar code etc...would certainly be the answer. I am stumped on this one ! regards, Alex
