RR back in the vinyl business

[ack]

Finally... Two initial releases...

 

[MylesBAstor]

Finally... Two initial releases...

Hmmmm....thought I had posted their PR blurb announcing the release a couple of weeks ago but can't seem to find it.

Mine are on the way and should have them by end of the week. One is 33 and the other is 45 rpm and as far as I can tell they are sourced from the analog tapes.

 

[microstrip]

Hmmmm....thought I had posted their PR blurb announcing the release a couple of weeks ago but can't seem to find it.

Mine are on the way and should have them by end of the week. One is 33 and the other is 45 rpm and as far as I can tell they are sourced from the analog tapes.

It seems so. From their press release:
"Disc mastering is done at half-speed (see note on p.2) 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 our master tapes!"

Since Paul Stubblebine is one of the partners of the Tapeproject IMHO we can be sure he would not accept anything other then the master tapes.

 

[MylesBAstor]

It seems so. From their press release:
"Disc mastering is done at half-speed (see note on p.2) 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 our master tapes!"

Since Paul Stubblebine is one of the partners of the Tapeproject IMHO we can be sure he would not accept anything other then the master tapes.

Paul if I remember correctly, has also mastered RR's CDs too (Paul does a lot of digital work ). But the last sentence also seems to confirm that they will be analog sourced.

RR ran parallel analog and digital setups for a period of time but abandoned tape several years ago. Don't remember the year but anything before that will have an analog master. It will be interesting to hear if they're were any improvements in the sound of their LPs. I wasn't the biggest fan of their "sound" and then the tapes bore me out--esp. in the case of the Arnold Overtures!

Guess I'm just paranoid and need to know the source of the record (according to someone on AA, they asked Marcia and she confirmed that they were indeed analog issues).

 

[Mike Lavigne]

i recieved my copy of RR's 45rpm Dick Hyman 'From the Age of Swing' yesterday. i posted the below comments on the audioasylem vinyl board last night.

*******

i always enjoyed the CD of this recording. it seemed to have this livelyness and great tight playing; as well as being sonically really good. it has been a 'go-to' disc for over 15 years for me. this was recorded during the time when RR had both a analog tape and digital recording chain from the same mic feed, and i assume that this pressing is mastered from the tapes; although it does not specify that on the Lp anywhere.

this 45rpm pressing from Quality Record Pressing is another winner. super quiet surfaces and a great mastering job by Paul Stubblebine. huge soundstage, very vivid yet natural sound, and very dynamic.

on my NVS/Talea 2/A90/darTZeel it really boggies.

highly recommended. i know some view Reference Recordings as an audiophile label and somehow lacking musically (i don't feel that way myself). this particular recording is not anything like that. if you like great energetic big band music finely recorded you will love this one.

i also got the RR Oue 'Firebird' (a 33 from QRS) but have not yet listened. i'll be very surprised if i don't like that one too.

********

note; i did listen to side 1 of the Firebird last night and it's very nice. quiet surfaces and great clarity and dynamics.

 

[microstrip]

i recieved my copy of RR's 45rpm Dick Hyman 'From the Age of Swing' yesterday.

Did you get it directly from RR or through a retailer?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Did you get it directly from RR or through a retailer?

from Acoustic Sounds.

 

[ack]

I just ordered my copies; will report back when I get a chance to listen to them (the new Spectral preamp has not arrived yet)