Why we combine the highest resolution with the best sources
What is Hi-Res Audio?
Hi-Res Audio means: higher resolution than CD. CD quality is 44.1 kHz / 16 Bit. Mother Earth Radio streams in 192 kHz / 24 Bit FLAC.
What that means:
- More sampling points (192,000 per second instead of 44,100) = more precise reproduction
- More bit depth (24 Bit instead of 16 Bit) = greater dynamic range
- Lossless (FLAC instead of MP3) = no compression, no artifacts
The result: More detail in the highs, better spaciousness, more natural transients (the “attack” of instruments).
Comparison: Radio Formats
| Format | Bitrate | Sample Rate | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Internet Radio | 128-320 kbps MP3 | 44.1 kHz | Lossy |
| CD Quality | 1,411 kbps | 44.1 kHz / 16 Bit | Lossless |
| Mother Earth Radio | 9,216 kbps | 192 kHz / 24 Bit FLAC | Hi-Res, lossless |
Why Vinyl as a Source?
Vinyl is not “better than digital” per se. But for recordings from the 1930s to the 1980s, it is often the best available source.
Why? Original vinyl pressings were pressed directly from the studio master – before the CD era, before digital remasters, before the Loudness War. The original mastering, as it was intended.
Our Vinyl Digitization Workflow
Step 1: Obtain Original Pressings
We specifically look for first pressings and early editions. Why? Later re-pressings often come from worn matrices or have been re-mastered for “modern ears”.
Example: A 1975 ECM jazz record. The original pressing has more spaciousness and dynamics than any later remaster.
Step 2: Ultrasonic Cleaning (Degritter Mark II)
Decades-old dirt sits deep in the grooves. Normal brushes remove dust from the surface, but not the grime that has been stuck for 40 years.
Therefore: Degritter Mark II ultrasonic cleaning.
How it works:
- 40 kHz ultrasonic waves create micro-bubbles in the water
- These bubbles implode in the grooves and loosen dirt – without mechanical contact
- Vacuum drying prevents water spots
- Result: Records as clean as the day they were pressed
Cost: ~€3,000. Is it worth it? Absolutely. The difference between a brush-cleaned record and an ultrasonically cleaned one is immediately audible – less crackle, more detail.
Step 3: Digitization (192 kHz / 24 Bit)
The cleaned record is scanned with high-quality cartridges. The analog signal goes directly into professional audio interfaces.
No vintage fetish: We don’t want a “warm tube coloration”. We want the signal as it is. Therefore: a clean, linear signal path.
Step 4: No digital “de-cracklers”
There are plugins that remove crackle and pops from vinyl digitizations. We don’t use them.
Why? These tools not only remove interference – they also destroy the stereo image and strip the music of its subtleties. That’s a poor compromise.
Instead: Perfect cleaning before digitization. Then occasional crackle is not a problem – it’s part of the analog authenticity.
Step 5: 429 Hz Tuning
Every track – whether from vinyl or Hi-Res file – is individually tuned to 429 Hz. This is a physically sound tuning between Baroque (415 Hz) and modern standard (440 Hz).
The effect: Music sounds minimally deeper, more relaxed, more natural.
→ More about 429 Hz
For new releases: Vinyl or Hi-Res Files
Even with current music, the best available source wins.
If an album is released as a high-quality vinyl pressing – like many ECM releases or audiophile editions – we buy the record and digitize it. If the label offers Hi-Res files directly (24 Bit FLAC, 96 or 192 kHz), we use those.
Sometimes both: A new Fat Freddy’s Drop comes as vinyl AND as a Hi-Res file.
Examples from our catalog:
- Fat Freddy’s Drop (2026) – Vinyl Digitization
- Apparat (2025) – 96 kHz / 24 Bit
- ECM Records New Releases – often as studio masters
What you need to listen to Hi-Res
You do NOT need a €5,000 system. All you need is:
- The Mother Earth Radio App (web player is limited to 96 kHz)
- Wired headphones (Bluetooth compresses the signal)
- Optional: USB DAC for maximum quality
Your smartphone or computer already has a built-in DAC that can handle 192 kHz. With wired headphones (from ~€50), you’ll hear the difference immediately.
No AI Music
All tracks in our catalog were recorded by real musicians. This is not a political stance – it is the logical consequence of our sources.
Vinyl from 1975 cannot be AI-generated. Nor can Hi-Res files from labels like ECM, which value artisanal excellence.
In an era where streaming playlists are increasingly filled with algorithmically generated tracks, Mother Earth Radio is an archive of human-made music.
Try it out
Web Player (free, 96 kHz): For testing, immediately available.
Premium Apps (192 kHz, €16.99–€24.99): The full Hi-Res Experience with metadata and perfect audio integration.
One-time payment. No subscription. Forever.
Conclusion
Hi-Res Audio is not a marketing gimmick. It is measurable, audible, and makes a difference – if the source is right.
Vinyl for classics. Hi-Res files for new. 192 kHz FLAC for everything. No compromises.
This is Mother Earth Radio.
