Shirley Horn Softly Master Quality Reel To Reel Tape

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The reflective mood of this album captures the late night intimacy of the recording sessions. Shirley Horn's performances here, surrounded by devoted friends, protected from the time-is-money anxiety and clinical ambiance of commercial recording studios, is more introspective and emotionally intense than anything she has recorded to date.

The lady is really amazingly on target with her approach to every tune she had chosen to perform in this album. Seldom will a recording session yield only indispensable tracks. This Shirley Horn studio visit did.

Mixed directly on two-track analog tracks, the absolute best sounding format.

Audio tapes from 2xHD guarantees that ultimate quality is preserved from the original master in contrast to vinyl albums, CDs or other formats. The transfer is made to the best magnetic tape on the market today, Recording the master, SM468. This tape has the best Print-through protection and longest storage life.

Based in Montreal and created by audiophile sound engineer René Laflamme and producer André Perry, all 2xHD Tapes are from the original analog master and transfer in analog domain using a Nagra-T tape recorder, modified with high-end tube playback electronics, wired from the playback head. In the high end audio world, René has carved out a reputation for definition of excellence and uses his knowledge and unfailing instinct to match various audio components to create the best all-encompassing sound experience.

For the recording on this tape, the original 1/4" 15 ips NAB or CCIR master tapes were played on a Nagra-T tape recorder, modified wtih high-end tube playback electronics, wired with OCC silver cable from the playback head direct to a Nick Doshi tube head preamplifier. The Nagra T, with its four direct drive motors, two pinch rollers and a tape tension head, is one of the best transports ever made. A custom-built carbon fiber head block and a head damping electronic system permit 2xHD FUSION to obtain more transparency and better 3D imaging. This copy was recorded on a Nagra IV-S 1/4" at 15 ips.

**It is standard practice in all recording studios to keep the tape "tail out". This reduces "pre-echo" and it means that the tape should be placed on the right hand side of the recorder, re-wound and then played.