Post by Ernani71 March 19, 2011 (1 of 31)
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Here's a question I'd love to see answered: Why don't most modern recordings sound as good as these Living Stereo recordings that were made over half a century ago? What has been lost? I'm simply amazed by the sonics on this and several other Living Stereo SACDs.
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Ernani71 said:
Here's a question I'd love to see answered: Why don't most modern recordings sound as good as these Living Stereo recordings that were made over half a century ago? What has been lost? I'm simply amazed by the sonics on this and several other Living Stereo SACDs.
A jolly good question.
And no, your ears are not deceiving you. On high quality system, this observation just slaps one in the face.
IMHO, a simple answer (ho-ho) - simplicity.
These Liivng Steros are minimalist recordings with two mikes, simple mixers, all-valve electronics and an analog recorder.
In recordings, less is more. The best piece of electronics is no electronics.
So instead of what's been lost, the more salient issue is what's been added in many modern recordings. The answer? A load of junk...
More mikes, more electronics, more mixers, more post-processing, equalisation, reverb, gain-riding, tweaky or just unnecessary DSP, PCM recording with inadequate bitrates and just plain tinkering etc all make for worse sound. And most of these, IMO, are band-aids for fundamentally deficient recording practice.
Evidence from the modern era - the most mikes, mixng and post-processing was and is done by the companies with the worst SQ - DG, Exton, LSO Live, Membran.
Conversely, companies who maintain a minimalist approach - such as Proprius and Opus 3 - can consistently produce results with the see-through transparency and natural quality as evidenced in many (but not all) of the old doggies.
QED.
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Jonalogic said:
A jolly good question.
And no, your ears are not deceiving you. On high quality system, this observation just slaps one in the face.
IMHO, a simple answer (ho-ho) - simplicity.
These Liivng Steros are minimalist recordings with two mikes, simple mixers, all-valve electronics and an analog recorder.
In recordings, less is more. The best piece of electronics is no electronics.
So instead of what's been lost, the more salient issue is what's been added in many modern recordings. The answer? A load of junk...
More mikes, more electronics, more mixers, more post-processing, equalisation, reverb, gain-riding, PCM recording with inadequate bitrates and just plain tinkering etc all make for worse sound.
Evidence from the modern era - the most mikes, mixng and post-processing was and is done by the companies with the worst SQ - DG, Exton, LSO Live, Membran.
Conversely, companies who maintain a minimalist approach - such as Proprius and Opus 3 - can consistently produce results with the see-through transparency and natural quality as evidenced in many (but not all) of the old doggies.
QED.
I completely agree OPUS 3 discs from an old friend Jan-Eric are excellent, Ortofon used their recordings on one of their Test LP Discs. ( Proprius also excellent)natural sound, no listening fatigue. Blumlein recording technique first & still best.
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Disbeliever said:
I completely agree OPUS 3 discs from an old friend Jan-Eric are excellent, Ortofon used their recordings on one of their Test LP Discs. ( Proprius also excellent)natural sound, no listening fatigue. Blumlein recording technique first & still best.
Blumlein rules! Is Jan-Eric still recording, BTW?
LOVE his recordings.
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Jonalogic said:
Blumlein rules! Is Jan-Eric still recording, BTW?
LOVE his recordings.
Absolutely ,will be in touch with Jan-Eric later today to get his latest organ recording. However last time he told me he was not doing any more mch. due to lack of demand and extra cost involved apart from the last Organ disc, I will try to persuade him othewise.
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Disbeliever said:
Absolutely ,will be in touch with Jan-Eric later today to get his latest organ recording. However last time he told me he was not doing any more mch. due to lack of demand and extra cost involved apart from the last Organ disc, I will try to persuade him othewise.
Great, and you can tell him from me that his Wager/Organ Treasures disc for Op3 is simply the most stunning and realistic organ recording I have ever heard.
I reviewed it as such on this forum - but nobody noticed... sigh.
Keep the faith! And good luck with the persuasion!
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Post by Ernani71 March 20, 2011 (7 of 31)
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Jonalogic said:
Conversely, companies who maintain a minimalist approach - such as Proprius and Opus 3 - can consistently produce results with the see-through transparency and natural quality as evidenced in many (but not all) of the old doggies.
QED.
Thanks for the heads-up. I'd never heard of either label. A little disappointed that neither of them has much by way of classical, but three Eric Bibb discs, Autumn Shuffle, and Albeniz Ponce Tarrega are in my Amazaon shopping cart as I write this. Do you recommend any of them? I read your review of the organ disc and put it on my "to buy" list.
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Ernani71 said:
Thanks for the heads-up. I'd never heard of either label. A little disappointed that neither of them has much by way of classical, but three Eric Bibb discs, Autumn Shuffle, and Albeniz Ponce Tarrega are in my Amazaon shopping cart as I write this. Do you recommend any of them? I read your review of the organ disc and put it on my "to buy" list.
You're most welcome.
Sorry, don't know these ones. And Eric Bibb is not totally to my taste, I'm afraid
But for starters I can suggest the Op 3 Test discs, jazz sampler, Lars Erstrand, Tomas Ornberg and Knud Jorgensen (as well as the Wager organ)
Proprius - Cantate Domino, Jazz at the Pawnshop, Antiphone Blues and Gulyas /Bach (part 2 appearing shortly)
Have fun!
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Post by big sur March 20, 2011 (9 of 31)
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Seems KISS is almost always best in the recording of sound. Many favorite discs were recorded in spaces conducive to natural acoustics through minimal miking techniques. MA on SA was recorded using minimal miking techniques in a recording space advantageous to natural acoustics. I own many of the Living Stereo recordings to include the one in thread title.
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big sur said:
I concur wholeheartedly that KISS is almost always best in the recording of sound. Many of my favorite discs were recorded in a space conducive to good acoustics through minimal miking techniques. MA on SA is one of those recordings that adheres to recording principles many of us on SA-CD.net cherish. I own many of the Living Stereo recordings to include the one in thread title.
Indeed, KISS rules. But, pray, what is MA on SA? My brain has gone blank (OK, again..)
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