Editing Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (section)

== Audio sourcing controversy ==
On July 14, 2022, Michael Esposito, a record store owner and YouTuber, released a video on his [[YouTube]] channel "The 'In' Groove" stating that "pretty reliable sources" informed him that, contrary to the company's official statements and marketing, MFSL had been using digital masters instead of analogue for years. John Wood, the label's executive president, saw Esposito's video and then invited him to California for a tour of their business. A second video was produced with Esposito interviewing MFSL staff, where they confirmed that they were using [[Direct Stream Digital]] files when creating their vinyl masters for duplication. The staff members stated that at least 60% of all titles used this process by the end of 2011, and that the process was also being used for the label's Ultradisc One-Step releases, which were previously marketed as coming directly from the original master tapes. The revelation generated controversy over not only Mobile Fidelity's integrity, given the company's marketing and the stigmatization of [[digital audio]] in audiophile circles, but also the extent of [[Comparison of analog and digital recording|analog audio's perceived merits over digital audio]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2022/08/05/mofi-records-analog-digital-scandal/ |title=How a Phoenix record store owner set the audiophile world on fire  |date=2022-08-05 |author1=Geoff Edgers |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref><ref name="Sinclair 2022">{{cite web |last1=Sinclair |first1=Paul |title=Saturday Deluxe / 6 August 2022 |url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/feature/saturday-deluxe-6-august-2022/ |website=SuperDeluxeEdition |access-date=9 August 2022 |ref=Sinclair 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809195424/https://superdeluxeedition.com/feature/saturday-deluxe-6-august-2022/ |archive-date=9 August 2022 |date=6 August 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The scandal became known as "[[List of "-gate" scandals and controversies|MoFi Gate]]" (combining an abbreviation of "Mobile Fidelity" with the "-gate" suffix derived from the [[Watergate scandal]]) in audiophile communities.<ref>{{cite web|title=A different take on the MoFi scandal|publisher=Darko.Audio|url=https://darko.audio/2022/08/podcast-40-a-different-take-on-the-mofi-scandal-future-fi-streaming-volatility/|accessdate=August 12, 2022}}</ref>

In August 2022, Adam Stiles, a longtime customer of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, filed a class action fraud lawsuit against the label over the revelations.<ref>{{cite web|title=MoFi Faces Fraud Lawsuit for Selling Vinyl Reissues as "Purely Analog" While Using Digital Masters|publisher=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/mofi-faces-fraud-lawsuit-for-selling-vinyl-reissues-as-purely-analog-while-using-digital-masters/|accessdate=August 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=MoFi Sued Over Claims Its All-Analog Albums Were Actually Made With Digital Mastering Tech|publisher=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mofi-sued-over-claims-its-analog-albums-were-made-with-digital-mastering-tech-1234580198/|accessdate=August 26, 2022}}</ref> The lawsuit resulted in MFSL paying $25 million in damages.<ref name="Corey 2023">{{cite web |last1=Irwin |first1=Corey |title=MoFi to Pay $25 Million Over Fraudulent 'All-Analog' Records |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/mofi-records-settlement/?trackback=fbshare_mobile&mibextid=Zxz2cZ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=16 May 2023 |ref=Corey 2023 |date=11 May 2023}}</ref>