Click Here for Sound Samples! Audiophile Demonstration & Test Disc! A treat to listen to, a great way to test and show off your system!
This audiophile demonstration album contains 16 tracks which were recorded combining 50 year old valve microphones with a high resolution digital recorder, capturing a variety of acoustic tracks which should take you and your Hi-Fi system on an interesting journey! Included is an 18 page booklet, each page devoted to a track, detailing how the recording was made!
This Audiophile Demonstration CD contains selections from composers and musicians that include Bach, Copland, Mozart, Ellington, and more!
About the Music:
1. Chamber Orchestra: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Mandolins
In the early 1950's Decca engineers were experimenting with stereo recording techniques. Using 3 omni directional Neumann M50 microphones, their system became know as the "Decca Tree". The same "Decca Tree" has been used here to capture Vivaldi's wonderful composition. This approach also re-creates the warmth of the monastery were it was recorded in Venice.
2. Choir and Organ: Schubert's Ave Maria
Chelmsford Cathedral in England has a wonderful organ, which in this recording is combined with their own choir. Just two M50 omni directional mics were used. Known as a "spaced pair" they are really successful at capturing the atmosphere of the church. The choir were placed in front of the organ and recorded at night to reduce traffic noise.
3. Cello Interior: Bach's Cello Suite No. 1
In an English church, 3 M50's were set up to record cellist Justin Pearson performing Bach's Prelude. Between the mic, a Jecklin Disc was placed. This increased the separation of the spaced pair. The acoustics of the church are wonderful!
4. Cello Exterior: Bach's Cello Suite No. 1
The same microphones, performer, cello and the same piece of music... but this time recorded outside in the graveyard! How important are acoustics? What would it sound like to be able to remove the church from the last recording? Compare the tracks to hear for yourself the results of this interesting experiment!
5. Harp: Watching The Wheat
Invented by Alan Blumlein in the 1930's this recording of a harp uses his "crossed pair" of figure 8 microphones. They are placed one on top of the other and stereo positioning can be accurately captured. The microphones are just as sensitive to the rear as to the front therefore a really good all round acoustic space should be used.
6. Organ: Widor's Toccata and Fugue
Here is Widor's war horse, performed in a large church in central London. Recorded during the day so you will hear some traffic noise! The organs air pump was also quite noisy however, the musical presentation of this great piece shines through! Two omni directional M50s with a lambs wool disc were placed in front of the pipes.
7. Brass Band: Copland's Hoe Down
A group of amateur brass musicians have come together to form East London Brass. They have won several prizes and here they have been recorded using the "Decca Tree" along with 2 spot mics on the percussion to capture their performance of this great piece. This simple recording technique also captures the excitement of this live performance.
8. Soprano: Mozart's Agnus Dei
The young award winning soprano Daisy Brown is recorded here in a large church performing this wonderful piece. The church organ provides a wonderful accompaniment to this piece.
9. Piano Concert Hall: Ginastera's Dazas Argentinas
There are many ways to record a piano. Here, a "spaced pair" of Neumann U47s have been used to capture the concert hall and another U47 as a single "spot mic" on the piano. These valve mics are over 50 years old in design. However, they seem to successfully capture the young Turkish student Suzan Senol's youthful and vibrant performance.
10. Piano Recording Studio: Davidson's Improvisation
Unlike the purity of the concert hall with its natural acoustic space, the piano here in the recording studio was captured with 6 microphones. Two on the keys, two on the strings and two set back within the studio. Echo was then added electronically. This makes an interesting comparison to Piano Concert Hall: Ginastera's Dazas Argentinas.
11. Brass Ensemble: Mouret's Rondeau
Mouret's Rondeau is performed here by 5 musicians which were spread uniformly across the stage. From left to right are a trumpet, french horn, bass trombone, trombone and cornet. In a recording studio each musician would probably have had their own microphone. Here the ensemble were captured in a real acoustic space using the "Decca Tree".
12. Guitar: Bach's Lute Suite No. 3
Turkish guitar student Sinan Kursun performs Bach's Lute Suite in the ASSMM Concert Hall in Izmir Turkey. Two U47s were placed at the front of the stage to capture the ambience and another placed in front of the guitar. As the mics were recorded separately, it gave the opportunity of balancing the instrument within the acoustic space.
13. Orchestra: Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite Pas De Deux
The "Decca Tree" was used as well as 2 mics added to the left and right at the front known as "out-riggers". A spot mic was also added for the woodwinds.
14. Jazz: Ellington's Caravan
Piano, bass, trumpet and drums provide the core of jazz bands all over the world. Recorded in a small club in Izmir Turkey, Duke Ellington's timeless piece provides all the musicians with an opportunity to perform their individual solos.
15. Percussion: Kartari's Improvisation
Take a variety of cymbals, bells and gongs and hand them from a frame made of boat oars. Now add Turkish percussionist Emre Kartari to the ingredients and play! From the quietist bell to the loudest gong, this piece should really push the abilities of your system. Watch your replay level... although it starts quietly, it really gets loud!
16. Chamber Orchestra: Sarasate's Tarantella
the "Decca Tree" has been used to record Sarasate's ravishing Tarantella. To reduce reflections form the windows in this venetian monastery, 6 mattresses have been added. Mush to the amusement of the musicians! The "Decca Tree" is wonderful at capturing the should of the music and just as importantly, the acoustic space.
"I have combined 50 year old valve microphones with a high resolution digital recorder, capturing a variety of acoustic tracks which should take you and your Hi-Fi system on an interesting journey!" - Mike Valentine, producer/engineer
"The audiophile world involves a staggering amount of minutia. Everything leads, however, to an emotional payoff, as you're constantly reminded while rubbing shoulders with people devoted to good sound. So while, if you study the literature on, say, speaker placement or multichannel audio, you might expect everyone who cares about such matters to walk around with a pencil protector in his shirt pocket, instead you're much more likely to encounter someone whose passion for audio can hardly be contained and who has a lively sense of humor. Those points were underscored when I began correspoding with Mike Valentine, the owner of the UK audiophile label Chasing the Dragon...He isn't afraid to say something controversial (certainly his statement, "The sound quality here...is better than sex!" could spark a heated debate), and because he's filmed underwater sequences for over 90 films, including five James Bond movies, you quicky understand that he knows how to pursue lofty professional goals and have fun." - Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound Read more!
Features:
• Audiophile Demonstration CD
• 18 page booklet, detailing each track!
• Mastering by Blue Pro Mastering
• Nagra VI Digital recorder, Flea M50/U4 Microphones, Vovox Cables, Sennheiser HD600 Monitoring
• Import
Musicians:
Interpreti Veneziani Chamber Orchestra (1, 16)
Justin Pearson, cello (3-4)
East London Brass (7)
Daisy Brown, soprano (8)
Suzan Senol, piano (9)
Sinan Jursun, guitar (12)
Emre Kartari, percussion (15)
| Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) | |
 | 1. Concerto for 2 Mandolins |
| Franz Schubert (1797-1828) | |
| | 2. Ave Maria |
| Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) | |
| | 3. Cello Suite No. 1 (Interior) |
| | 4. Cello Suite No. 1 (Exterior) |
| | 5. Watching the Wheat |
| Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) | |
| | 6. Toccata and Fugue |
| Aaron Copland (1900-1990) | |
| | 7. Hoe Down |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) | |
| | 8. Agnus Dei |
| Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) | |
| | 9. Dazas Argentinas |
| Bruce Davidson | |
| | 10. Improvisation |
| Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682-1738) | |
| | 11. Rondeau |
| Johann Sebastian Bach | |
| | 12. Lute Suite No. III |
| Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) | |
| | 13. Nutcracker Suite - Pas De Deux |
| Duke Ellington (1899-1974) | |
| | 14. Caravan |
| Emre Kartari | |
| | 15. Improvisation |
| Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908) | |
| | 16. Tarantella |
