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Bigshot

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Posts posted by Bigshot

  2. Classical music bargains

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted

    I find it hard to imagine you stand a chance tearing through a 587 CD box.

    That's where the music server comes in! One of the interesting things that digital technology makes simple is accessing music and setting up organized listening. By simply typing "diabelli" into iTunes, I'm presented with a half dozen differentr recordings... Schnabel, Gillels, Brendel... I can easily find out where the spark is and get a clear idea of the difference between styles. In the LP era that was almost impossible, because the routine of cleaning the record and dropping the needle on the right groove was just too laborious. CDs made it a little easier, but neither format compares to digital files in a music server.

    A 587 CD box doesn't need to be played straight through from beginning to end. It can become a resource in your library that can get called upon in dozens of different ways over the years.

  3. Classical music bargains

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Bigshot

    I had several Membran CDs. As a public-domain label they have no access to original sources like mastertapes and what was used before those and they use whatever they can lay their hands on. To my ears the sound on their CDs was pumped-up, harsh and heavily no-noised, to the detriment of the music. To each their own.

    Check out the Meister Konzerte box. It's packed with tons of wonderful historical recordings with perfectly judged restoration. I've heard that the Furtwangler box has great sound too. Membran has some excellent titles, particularly the ones from the past year or so.

    Master tapes and metal parts aren't always the best source. A transfer off of a good original shellac or vinyl pressing in pristine condition can sound better than one off a deteriorated master tape or worn metal part. It all depends on the condition of the elements and the ear of the transfer engineer. As someone mentioned earlier, the third party releases of some of the EMI catalog sounds better than EMI's own. This isn't uncommon.

    Brilliant Classics, major label mega box sets, PD labels out of Germany... They all have great recordings for as low as a dollar an hour. Quality of sound and the quality of performances have gone up tremendously in the past two years. What used to be true about classical box sets isn't necessarily true any more. As a format, the CD may be on its way out, replaced by streaming services and direct downloads. If you prefer physical media and want a wide selection to choose fom, now is the time to act. You may not have much to choose from in five or six years.

  4. Classical music bargains

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Bigshot

    I can't help that feeling that those who gorge themselves on these banquet boxes are missing out on a wonderful experience - the slow unfolding of a composer's music over many, many years.

    When you take the amount of truly wonderful music in the world and divide it by the number of years in a lifetime, you'll find that you're WAY behind schedule! Too much is never enough when it comes to music.

    Digital audio technology has completely changed my relationship with music in a good way. I have a Mac Mini packed with a year and a half's worth of great music. The server plays on shuffle play 24/7 through airports all over my house. I am always surrounded by music. It even plays quietly in my bedroom at night. I wake up with violin concertos running through my head that I must have listened to when I was asleep. This doesn't mean that I don't take just as much time for focused listening as I used to. The opposite is actually true. I have a list of music that came up on random play that I am interested to go back and carefully listen to.

    Having more music than I can ever absorb fully is a liberating and satisfying experience. I'm learning about music faster than I ever did before, and I'm appreciating it more because my horizons are much wider. It's impossible to get too focused on minutia or obsessed with one composer. It's like swimming in the ocean instead of sitting in a bathtub.

  5. Classical music bargains

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Bigshot

    To my ears what I would call "modern" mastering makes recordings painful to listen to, with added digital compression/limiting/reduced dynamics (up to the point that there are no dynamics at all

    I recently got the Bernstein symphonies box. I had a bunch of these recordings on LP back in the day, but they didn't sound anything like the vibrant, dynamic and present recording quality on the remastered CDs. Likewise with the Rubinstein box. The first couple of dozen CDs in the set covering the 78 era sounds better than it ever has before... much better than the 78s themselves... I have many of them.

    In the past ten years, digital technology has gone a long way to correcting the noise in old recordings. It still takes a remastering engineer with a good ear and knowledge about how to properly apply the tools, but it can truly work wonders. In general, even the recent public domain box sets (like Furtwangler and Russian Piano legends on Membran) sound excellent. What used to be true isn't as true any more.

    Really good old recordings, like the Mercury Living Presence, Decca Sound and RCA Living Stereo boxes sound phenominal. Better than many recent recordings.

    I suspect EMI did a great deal of remastering in the early days of digital restoration and now they're stuck with sub par CD masters. They're the exception, not the rule.

  6. Classical music bargains

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted

    hate the board obsession with old recordings and arguments about (tiny amounts of) compensation for (mainly) long-dead artists

    How much money does a long dead artist need? Do they need pocket change for cigarettes in heaven?

    As for me, I really love historical performances. There's a lot more personality in them. Some might call that over the top, but I like a performer to put his own thoughts into the mix. There isn't enough of that today. Also, the quality of remastering has improved exponentially in the past few years. Schnabel is far from representative.

  10. Classical music bargains

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Bigshot

    BARGAIN ALERT! The whole Rise of the Masters series is on sale for $1.99 a pop. The world's best music with the world's worst covers at the world's best price. Some name performers in there. Definitely worth the risk.

    Mozart

    http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005VZR2I2/

    Grieg

    http://www.amazon.com/Grieg-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005VZOZJ6/

    Beethoven

    http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005W26W12/

    Chopin

    http://www.amazon.com/Chopin-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005W28SQO/

    Schubert

    http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005W23THC/

    Bach

    http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005WW94ZS/

    Debussy

    http://www.amazon.com/Debussy-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005VZN1HI/

    Tchaikovsky

    http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005W29340/

    Schumann

    http://www.amazon.com/Schumann-Masters-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces/dp/B006ABZY7C/

    Vivaldi

    http://www.amazon.com/Vivaldi-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005W3GI88/

    Handel

    http://www.amazon.com/Handel-Supreme-Classical-Masterpieces-Masters/dp/B005VZMNYA/

    Mendelssohn

    http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Mendelssohn-Masterpieces-Amazon-Exclusive/dp/B003O3RJ40/

  12. Digital Music Server

    in Audio Talk

    Posted

    One other note... You can use your iphone or ipad or ipod touch to control your itunes library from anywhere in the house. You can turn speakers on and off, adjust volume and search up songs without touching your computer.

  14. Classical music bargains

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Bigshot

    Looks like these "cheapos" are coming directly from the manufacturer. Probably over-produced them and are liquidating the box themselves.

    I think the theory is to sell it cheap at first and get good Amazon reviews. Then raise the price.

  17. CD player skipping - any suggestions.

    in Audio Talk

    Posted

    My most expensive CD player ($900) was the worst with skipping, and it sounded exactly the same as a $45 Coby DVD player. I've given up on expensive players. They just aren't worth it. I'm currently using a $130 Sony bluray player for everything with no skips and great sound. If it breaks, I'll throw it out and get a new one.

  19. 1920s Dance Bands

    in Jazz Radio & Podcasts

    Posted · Edited by Bigshot

    I've posted a few of my classical 78 restorations here in the past. Today, I uploaded a batch of early dance band records. These are my own transfers and restorations, done from original 78rpm shellac disks. This first batch is all acoustic, meaning that these records were recorded without microphones. The bands performed into a big wooden horn that transmitted the sound vibrations directly into the cutting head of the record cutter. No electricity involved!

    If you like these, let me know. I'd be happy to post more. Enjoy!

    Sheiks & Vamps: 1920s Dance Bands Vol. 1

    Yes! We Have No Bananas (1923) Billy Jones with Bennie Krueger's Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps01.mp3

    Ilo (1921) The Newport Society Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps02.mp3

    Tricks (1922) Emil Coleman & His Montmartre Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps03.mp3

    Little Boy Blue (1923) Phil Baker's Novelty Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps04.mp3

    Stumbling (1922) Yerkes' S.S. Floatilla Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps05.mp3

    Foolin' Around (1923) Isham Jones Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps06.mp3

    Yoo-Hoo (1921) The Newport Society Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps07.mp3

    Come Along (I'm Through With Worryin') (1922) Emil Coleman & His Montmartre Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps08.mp3

    Lovable Eyes (1922) Leo F. Reisman Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps09.mp3

    Cutie (1922) Yerkes S.S. Floatilla Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps10.mp3

    The Sheik Of Arabay (1921) The California Ramblers

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps11.mp3

    Nobody's Sweetheart (1924) Isham Jones Orchestra

    http://vintageip.com/xfers/sheiksandvamps12.mp3

  22. A hi-fi 78

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Bigshot

    I added an interesting novelty to my site today. Here is my transfer and restoration of one of the earliest full frequency range recordings. This is hifi, but it was released on 78rpm shellac a few years before the introduction of the LP. It shows you just how good 78s can sound...

    Vincent D'Indy: Overture to "Fervaal"

    Charles Munch / L'Orchestre de la Societe du Conservatoire de Paris (Recorded 1947)

    http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/dindyfervaal1947.mp3

    Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No 5 in D Minor "Reformation"

    Charles Munch / L'Orchestre de la Societe du Conservatoire de Paris (Recorded 1948)

    http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/mendelssohnreformation1948.mp3

    Enjoy!

  23. Digital Music Server

    in Audio Talk

    Posted · Edited by Bigshot

    I have ten Drobos with 68 TB total storage. I love them. They're a bit slow, but I've had a drive crash and popped a new one in and it rebuilt it perfectly. I just wish I could daisy chain more than four Drobos.

  24. Shostakovich symphony cycles

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Variation in historical recordings

    I suspect that has more to do with technology; it was harder to hear other versions 50+ years ago therefore orchestras were more likely to interpret with greater variation.

    Actually, it was because conductors were primarily known for live performance, not recordings. In a live performance, they could take chances that wouldn't be engraved in record grooves for all time. This encouraged conductors to develop a personal style. Later, these styles made their mark on records, but that wasn't what created them.

  25. Shostakovich symphony cycles

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted

    Historical recordings definitely have unique and varied conducting styles compared to modern recordings. Today it seems everyone is searching for the one true interpretation and anyone who steps in a different direction is criticized for not conducting a proper performance. It was the opposite in the past.

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