my source wrote to me with this info:

"SM" transfered his master reels direct to the maxell high grade Xl-11  
cassette tapes that i have in my hands...( another words i have in my 
hands the actual cassettes that sm recorded his reels to....) i then 
transfered them "raw" ( no dolbly or any of that crap...) to cd using 
my trusty $900 sony ES deck to my studio quality HHB stand alone burner.
( no computer editing just raw..they sound better untampered with...)