Como sabem a Reference Recordings voltou novamente a fazer edições em vinyl.
Trata-se de edições Audiófilas em vinyl de grande qualidade a todos os níveis e nem são dos mais caros.
Neste momento já existem dois LP's a 33rpm de música clássica e um duplo a 45rpm de jazz:
- STRAVINSKY SONG OF THE NIGHTINGALE 200g LP
- RACHMANINOFF SYMPHONIC DANCES 200g LP
- DICK HYMAN FROM THE AGE OF SWING 45rpm 200g 2LP
Estes albums são todos half speed mastered por Paul Stubblebine.
São prensados a 200 gramas na nova fábrica Quality Record Pressings do dono da Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions e que está a fazer prensagens de alta qualidade.
"Disc mastering is done at half-speed to insure maximum accuracy. The lathe system has custom electronics by Nelson Pass. The simple signal path contains no compression, equalization or unnecessary circuitry. RR Chief Engineer and Technical Director, "Prof." Keith Johnson consulted on the design of the system and helped with the rebuilding of the lathe and electronics, which is owned and operated by long-time mastering expert Paul Stubblebine. "Prof." Johnson has pronounced it equal to the challenge of the master tapes!
Once successful results were achieved in disc mastering, Reference Recordings faced the difficult task of choosing the best plating and pressing facility to manufacture the discs. Fortunately, the new Quality Record Pressings plant in Salina, Kansas was coming on line, and they felt that waiting for this plant to open was well worth it. A crack team of experts was assembled to design and run the plant, employing many unique techniques and features that clearly set QRP apart from other pressing plants. The 200-gram deluxe vinyl pressings from QRP are truly exceptional.
Multiple Configurations for Reference Mastercuts
Depending on program lengths, some releases are cut at 45 rpm, some at 33-1/3 rpm. Some are single discs, some double. All feature deluxe gate-fold jackets crafted by Stoughton Printing . An unusual feature of new RR masterings is called the "FDS finish": the end of each side will have a 30-second band of silent grooves before the "pull-away." No one today uses a record changer, and the silent grooves allow time to lift the arm before the always-somewhat-noisy tie-off. (Some 1950s vintage Capitol Full Dimensional Sound pressings sported this feature.) RR founder, J. Tamblyn (Tam) Henderson deserves special recognition for identifying the value of this unique production feature and reintroducing it with the new Mastercuts.
Note: Half-speed Mastering involves a capturing process in which the original recording master is played back at exactly half of the recorded speed. A sequenced cutting lathe is then timed at exactly half of the playback speed. This process allows twice as much time to carve a groove that accurately represents the sound on the master tape. Half-speed mastering allows for cleaner reproduction and also permits extended high frequency response, extending into the ultrasonic region."
Já ouvi o de Stravinsky que é muito bom e hoje abri o de Rachmaninoff que também é muito bom :
Este album já tinha sido editado em CD e foi nomeado para um Grammy em 2003 para o prémio de melhor engenharia num album de clássica.
Sergei Rachmaninoff foi um dos mais amados compositores do século vinte. A sua música romântica Russa é do melhor e quem tal como eu gosta dos seus concertos para piano vai adorar este disco orquestral cheio de dinâmica.
"Symphonic Dances" tem ganhado cada vez mais fama e "Vocalise" é uma das melhores melodias clássicas.
Este disco está a ter imenso sucesso e por alguns considerado como a melhor gravação orquestral que a Reference Recordings já fez.
O do Dick Hyman ainda não ouvi em vinyl mas o CD já tinha um som fabuloso, e a julgar pelos outros dois LP's de clássica esse de Jazz também só pode ser bom.
Abraços,
Jorge Ferreira
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