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Living Stereo SACD's are a comin

While at work today (My office is located at a mastering studio) a big box arrived. I watched as the studio manager unpacked it. It contained a treasure the likes of which I have never seen. Dozens of ORIGINAL master tapes from the original LIVING STEREO recordings. I held in my hands THE Master tapes from the Living Stereo Reiner/Chicago Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra and Ravel Daphnis. These weren’t the safeties, they are THE Masters. As you can probably tell I am in awe.

BMG (I think it’s BMG) has decided to release SACD versions of these recordings. It will be new DSD mastering (not redoing the existing PCM masters). How they are done will depend on the master tapes. I am pretty sure that they will not be 5.1

I have nothing to do with this project. I just happen to be there. You can bet your ass I will sit in on some of the sessions and get to listen to the master tapes. Damn sometimes it’s good to be me.

I just thought that some of the classical music lovers would like to know that SACD’s of these great classic recordings are in the works.
hispeedbusa

Showing 5 responses by eldartford

eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I heard that multichannel would be the format, but only the three front channels would be active. I have some multichannel discs which use only four channels (no center front) because that is the way the masters were done for quad tape in the 70's. Since all SACD have a stereo mix for those who like that, I see no reason to avoid multichannel.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I ordered several. It will be interesting to compare the 3-channel mix, which we never had before, with the stereo.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Rcprince...I agree with you that 16-bit 44.1 KHz is barely adequite for audio, and that's what's wrong with CDs. However, it is my impression that professional digital recording and mixdown consoles have been 24 bits from the time they were introduced. There are plenty of reasons to criticize audio mastering practices, but, with few exceptions, I don't think you can blame the hardware.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Rcprince...Is PCM a "bad word"?. Mixing consoles have, for many years, been 24-bit PCM at a high sample rate. The Sony DSD system is designed for compatability with these existing mixing consoles, which will be around for a few years. Nothing wrong with them, or PCM, provided that the resolution and sample rate is acceptable.

I think you have been brainwashed by Sony!
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
My selection of these discs arived today, and I just listened to the Chopin performance by Rubinstein. I have most of these recordings in vinyl. The SACD is to my mind a big improvement over the vinyl: I appreciate the center channel, particularly where a solo instrument is involved.

According to the notes the SACD is a direct DSD copy of the original three channel analog master tape...essentially a "raw" recording without processing of any kind. This may appeal to purists, but I would have preferred it if the rumble of the AC system in the recording hall had been removed. My rumble filter is only available when the signal is an LP.

This recording (of a superb performance) is almost fifty years old! Considering this the audio quality is wonderful.
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