For this Hybrid-SACD the internationally acclaimed ensemble The Spirit of Gambo recorded Dutch music for viola da gamba from the 17th century: Accompanied by violin and harpsichord they perform compositions from the viola da gamba virtuosos Johan Schenk, Christiaen Herwich and Philippus Hacquart.
The special sound of the gambas, the pieces sparkling with musical versatility and the musicians of The Spirit of Gambo performing with incredible virtuosity form the fascination of this SACD - likewise relaxing and exciting for the listener.
For this recording, a specialized room was chosen with defined room acoustics and an extreme isolation: The large concert hall of the GALAXY studios in Mol, Belgium. The complete studio complex is suspended upon gigantic steel springs that absorb low frequencies down to 3 Hz. Extraneous noise outside the building is dampened by more than 100 dB.
State of the art technology was installed for recording in this hall and so had the ideal ambience for the 3 types of recording configurations to be presented on a 3 layer Hybrid SACD for optimal comparison.
A Meitner emmLABs 24-bit, 8ch A/D converter was responsible for the conversion to PCM for the CD layer of the SACD.
The DSD conversion for the stereo program was meticulously handled by the excellent AX24 1-bit converter from Digital Audio Denmark. The AX24 converted both signals from the main microphones to a true DSD signal. Listeners who have a SACD player will thoroughly enjoy the purest, technically non-manipulated, 2 channel versions of these recordings.
The 3rd layer of the SACD contains a 5.0 surround mix using all the microphones to reproduce the acoustical ambience in the concert hall of the GALAXY studios.
What is a DIRECT-CUT-SUPER-AUDIO-CD?
On the Super Audio CD (SACD) the sound is recorded in DSD (Direct Stream Digital) format. The sampling frequency (2.8224 MHz) is 64 times that of a traditional CD. Furthermore, DSD uses 1-bit quantization. With the aid of this technology an even broader frequency range (up to 100 kHz) and even greater dynamics (120 dB) can be achieved over the entire useful audio range.
Until now it was practically impossible to maintain the DSD format throughout the entire edit/mix/mastering sequence during production. This was because no system is yet available which permitted the necessary processing in the 1-bit format after a DSD recording. This meant that the unavoidable editing procedures such as gain leveling, mixing, cross-fades or even additional EQing or dynamics processing could be achieved only by downconverting to PCM format (i.e. the Pulse Code Modulation format of the traditional CD).
Stockfisch used a SADiE DSD8 system for the recording, processing and mastering of this DIRECT-CUT-SUPER-AUDIO-CD: a brand-new system that allows simultaneous recording of 8 channels. The analogue signal from the microphone is converted at the input to DSD and is also maintained in DSD-Wide format with 2,8224 MHz throughout the processing stages already mentioned. The end result is then obtained in the SADiE DSD8 – the "cutting master" (AIT tape) – which is then transferred directly to an SACD glass master in the pressing plant.
This DIRECT-CUT-SUPER-AUDIO-CD will enable you to hear a 5.1 DSD surround mix (if available) as well as a DSD stereo mix on the SACD layer, and the 16-bit PCM stereo program on the hybrid layer which guarantees downward compatibility. So this gives you the first ever opportunity of comparing a real(!) DSD recording with the conventional CD format.
Features:
• Super Audio CD
• SACD Multi-Channel SACD Layer
• SACD Stereo SACD Layer
• This Hybrid SACD contains a 'Red Book' Stereo CD Layer which is playable on most conventional CD Players!
• Direct Cut SACD
Musicians:
The Spirit of GAMBO:
Freek Borstlap, viola da gamba
Ivanka Neeleman, viola da gamba
Haru Kitamika, harpsichord
Judith Freise, violin
Total Time: 63:01
The special sound of the gambas, the pieces sparkling with musical versatility and the musicians of The Spirit of Gambo performing with incredible virtuosity form the fascination of this SACD - likewise relaxing and exciting for the listener.
For this recording, a specialized room was chosen with defined room acoustics and an extreme isolation: The large concert hall of the GALAXY studios in Mol, Belgium. The complete studio complex is suspended upon gigantic steel springs that absorb low frequencies down to 3 Hz. Extraneous noise outside the building is dampened by more than 100 dB.
State of the art technology was installed for recording in this hall and so had the ideal ambience for the 3 types of recording configurations to be presented on a 3 layer Hybrid SACD for optimal comparison.
A Meitner emmLABs 24-bit, 8ch A/D converter was responsible for the conversion to PCM for the CD layer of the SACD.
The DSD conversion for the stereo program was meticulously handled by the excellent AX24 1-bit converter from Digital Audio Denmark. The AX24 converted both signals from the main microphones to a true DSD signal. Listeners who have a SACD player will thoroughly enjoy the purest, technically non-manipulated, 2 channel versions of these recordings.
The 3rd layer of the SACD contains a 5.0 surround mix using all the microphones to reproduce the acoustical ambience in the concert hall of the GALAXY studios.
What is a DIRECT-CUT-SUPER-AUDIO-CD?
On the Super Audio CD (SACD) the sound is recorded in DSD (Direct Stream Digital) format. The sampling frequency (2.8224 MHz) is 64 times that of a traditional CD. Furthermore, DSD uses 1-bit quantization. With the aid of this technology an even broader frequency range (up to 100 kHz) and even greater dynamics (120 dB) can be achieved over the entire useful audio range.
Until now it was practically impossible to maintain the DSD format throughout the entire edit/mix/mastering sequence during production. This was because no system is yet available which permitted the necessary processing in the 1-bit format after a DSD recording. This meant that the unavoidable editing procedures such as gain leveling, mixing, cross-fades or even additional EQing or dynamics processing could be achieved only by downconverting to PCM format (i.e. the Pulse Code Modulation format of the traditional CD).
Stockfisch used a SADiE DSD8 system for the recording, processing and mastering of this DIRECT-CUT-SUPER-AUDIO-CD: a brand-new system that allows simultaneous recording of 8 channels. The analogue signal from the microphone is converted at the input to DSD and is also maintained in DSD-Wide format with 2,8224 MHz throughout the processing stages already mentioned. The end result is then obtained in the SADiE DSD8 – the "cutting master" (AIT tape) – which is then transferred directly to an SACD glass master in the pressing plant.
This DIRECT-CUT-SUPER-AUDIO-CD will enable you to hear a 5.1 DSD surround mix (if available) as well as a DSD stereo mix on the SACD layer, and the 16-bit PCM stereo program on the hybrid layer which guarantees downward compatibility. So this gives you the first ever opportunity of comparing a real(!) DSD recording with the conventional CD format.
Features:
• Super Audio CD
• SACD Multi-Channel SACD Layer
• SACD Stereo SACD Layer
• This Hybrid SACD contains a 'Red Book' Stereo CD Layer which is playable on most conventional CD Players!
• Direct Cut SACD
Musicians:
The Spirit of GAMBO:
Freek Borstlap, viola da gamba
Ivanka Neeleman, viola da gamba
Haru Kitamika, harpsichord
Judith Freise, violin
 | Johan Schenk 1.-7 Suite G major (Scherzi Musicali) |
| | Christiaen Herwich 8. Eerste Stuck "voor de fiool de Gamba" |
| | Schenk 9.-13. Sonata VI (Le Nymphe di Rheno) |
| | Herwich 14. Tweede Stuck "voor de fiool de Gamba" |
| | Schenk 15.-20. Sonata III (LÂ’Echo du Danube) |
| | Herwich 21. Derde Stuck "voor de fiool de Gamba" |
| | Philippus Hacquart 22.-25.Suite in D major |
Total Time: 63:01
