Out all the threads on this page we have one worth looking into on the subject matter.

I own (Sheffield) Pressue Cooker and Dave Grusin Discovered Again (why he plays synthesizers on this disc is beyond me), Randy Sharp on Nautilus, and 2 classical discs from Unbrella by the Toronto Chamber Orchestra. The TCO discs are excellent.

I think it helps if the instruments are acousic, no compression and little, if any, limiting, and performers who are up to the task of a continuous of 4-5 tracks straight through with no mistakes.

None of these discs to me have anymore immediacy than the latest Shelby Lynn disc recorded by Al Schmitt on tape. I hear to same quality on my HD tracks download of Raising Sand.

I think great enginering can make magic happen in any format. the goal has to be wanting to capture "real" as opposed to just capturing "a performance".

Jim

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... an AMAZING engineer who knows how to ride faders, arrange mics, etc

Ride faders?!

Uh, no. I don't want anyone riding faders when I listen to live music and I don't want them riding faders when they record music. There are more than enough monkeys who know how to ride faders, thank you very much!

Maybe you should listen to some of the the Sheffield and Reference Recordings, ncdrawl. Start with the Harry James, it's one of the very best repesentations of big band swing music you're going to find.

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uh...id guess you dont listen to live music much

Then you would have guessed wrong.

What's the problem, ncdrawl?

I said I don't want it to happen. I didn't say I foolishly think it doesn't happen and all too often IMO. But monkeys need a job too, I suppose.

Listen to the Sheffield/Reference discs and hear what you've been missing. Or go back to the old standby's, the classic Mercury and RCA Living Presence/Living Stereo recordings, and hear the effects of simple yet excellent microphone placement and no gain riding, no overdubs and just letting music happen as it does in real life.

Quote:

Quote:
... an AMAZING engineer who knows how to ride faders, arrange mics, etc

Ride faders?!

Uh, no. I don't want anyone riding faders when I listen to live music and I don't want them riding faders when they record music. There are more than enough monkeys who know how to ride faders, thank you very much!

Maybe you should listen to some of the the Sheffield and Reference Recordings, ncdrawl. Start with the Harry James, it's one of the very best repesentations of big band swing music you're going to find.

I agree! Add to those Mapleshade, Yarlung.
Also, can you please be specific regarding Harry James.
Are there certain ones that were recorded well? Where can I get them? Amazon has several, but I have no clue which are excellent recordings. Thanks!

James made two recordings for Sheffield during the days of direct to disc LP's. Either would possess superior sound quality to his more commerical recordings.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=19026.0

http://www.vinyl-renaissance.com/servlet/the-19426/Harry-James-King-James/Detail

If you'd like a non-classical Living Stereo disc worth owning, try this one, http://www.classicrecords.com/item.cfm?item=LSO+6006-200G-2+LPS

Elvis had his own LS disc, Elvis is Back, which has recently been reissued and is available wihout much web searching. This is not a true representation of the LS style of recording, however, and exists as an example of the slow decline of the LS signature into a more marketable product. It is, however, still Elvis at his peak.

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=16957

An audiophile or just someone interested in recording with purity and simplicity not being familiar with these recrdings is, IMO, like an Professor of Literature never having read Hemmingway.

"An audiophile or just someone interested in recording with purity and simplicity not being familiar with these recrdings is, IMO, like an Professor of Literature never having read Hemmingway."

I will take that as an insult, thanks!

"opus 3, waterlily, tone pearls, blue coast, pope music, stockfisch...."
All of those have Harry James?