jazzbo

Here's what McMaster posted here on this board: "I am frankly shocked and amazed at the statements being made on "McMaster Masters". It is hard to take on all of the issues that seem to be causing some of the authors to dislike the mastering work I have done. Let me start by saying that the early digital transfers of master tapes dubbed to 1610 and later 1630 format was the beginning of putting the Blue Note catalog into the digital format. It was not a matter of putting my sonic signature on the old masters but rather to do only a few sonic adjustments and present the original sound of the old masters as they were intended. The process and the digital equipment have changed very much since those early days of the first digital transfers. Today however, I still work with the same approach, keeping to the original sound of the master as it was intended.Let's set a few things straight, I do not hard pan the stereo spread on the original masters. I reduce it about 40%. I do not use digital noise reduction as a rule.Only in extreme cases and never without the permission of Michael Cuscuna. All masters are loaded into the Sonic Solutions after they are EQ'd and blended.There is no digital EQ or limiting ever done to them.I record them in 24 bit resolution and SBM2 for the output dither. The Sonic Solutions is merely a digital workstation from which we can assemble and edit the music program while staying in 24 bit. In addition, Sonic Solutions is not at all like Dolby noise reduction, and it does not color the audio program with processing and shaping techniques. We use the best converters available to assure pure audio signal conversion from analog to digital.For the LP purists on the Mosaic and Blue Note releases we take the masters and go straight to lacquer, never entering the digital domain.I would like to say that when you compare masters it is only fair to use songs that have been done at the same time and period of technology. To compare some of my old digital transfers with the new RVG releases is like comparing apples and oranges.We can't please everyone, but I hope that you will believe me when I tell you we want to deliver the best possible Blue Note CD.As Blue Note customers and fans you deserve the best possible product. Not every tape is perfect, not every CD without its flaws. However, we never take the attitude "oh, it's good enough". I for one appreciate your comments and hope to continue to deliver the best quality music possible. Remember too that this is a team effort, and the producer must approve all of the mastering. Many times when there is a major flaw and we cannot find a correct version then Michael Cuscuna will put a producers note on the jacket and try to keep the customers informed of the problems on the master. This by no way a cop out statement, it is merely to reflect the whole of the workings of all of these wonderful recordings. The implications of some of the authors are that I just carelessly master theoriginal songs and then the label just puts out the product. Not caring at all about the customer or the sound of the music.That couldn't be farther from the truth. Blue Note is and always has been a very intelligent and customer based label, they care about the consumer and they care about the music. "Regards,Ron McMaster" Up to 40% reduction of the sound stage and "a few sonic adjustments" and he mentions EQ specifically. . . this could represent quite a bit of manipulation . . . . "The original sound of the master as it was intended." I think RVG is in a better position to know that.

Kevin, no I don't have a rolled off system but it is flexible and I have padded it down, as I do have hearing that has not been damaged and I listen in very nearfield, but on every system I have except my crappy computer system at work.. ..the McMasters are thin and edgy sounding. Hans, in a post of Kevin's posted on another thread McMaster himself said that he narrowed the stereo spread on the early Blue Note cds by about 40% I think and also admitted to some EQ. There's no way that they are pure straight tape transfers!

Thanks for emailing and then posting that Kevin. I don't know. . . may be system sensitive but even the 45 Sessions cds don't sound that great to me. His recent work just has a thinness and a treble tilt that creates an overall sound I find it hard to relax in to. Anyway, to each their own I guess.

I miss the Austin Tower!

"Somebody in Boots" scares me! (Just thought I'd throw that out; read that book when I first moved to Texas.) Still reading Woolrich and marveling at his craft.

The Blue Note cd set sounds fine. I had both, and prefer ultimately the piano sound on the Mosaic cd set. (The remastering is by different engineers). I also preferred the Mosaic booklet, though the Blue Note booklet is nice, with some cool livingroom photos!

Well, if you ever change your mind I'd be glad to mail you my copy to read.

I'd recommend reading the book Chuck, and I bet that you'll have a similar reaction to Jim. I can see where the Hawk/Maggie focus is problematic. But I enjoyed that aspect and I learned a lot. I also enjoyed the fact that this book was actually well-written and organized. I'll probably read it again this year.

Go figure. I enjoyed the book. Read it twice (so far).

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...reddie+Gambrell

Pianist, worked with Chico Hamilton, there's a whole thread on him here somewhere!

I LOVE THIS MATERIAL! I remember how hard it was for the cash for the Debut box to leave my hand and go into a cash register, but man, that is one treasure trove, and these Cafe Bohemia tracks are among the crown jewels.

The Columbia big band version of "I Mean You" I like almost as much as any Blue Note version.

I'm sticking with my fuzzy first post.

Happy birthday Ophelia/Allison, and many happy returns!

I've managed to get almost the entire Gotham series for about 3 dollars each over the last few years.

It's been out on a Japanese cd, that's it, no domestic release.

Get all the Minton's material you can! High Note has most of this out on cd now. Recommended! The Dizzy/Charlie/Thelonious stuff (parts of it) are also out on a sweet-sounding OJC cd. The other material. . . well scattered here and there. I'm kicking myself for recommending the "Bebop Spoken Here" box on Proper. I'm not really a Proper fan, and I don't have this myself, but it does have a lot of material that will be appropriate for the reading of that excellent book, collected all nice and cheaply.

I'm with Hans, I've kept some Mosaics because the sound is better than releases afterwards. (Nichols and Green are cases in point. I've also sold Mosaics when I needed the dough, "safe" or not.

I've been rereading a lot of mystery stuff in clinic waiting rooms. . . . Started rereading some Cornell Woolrich and forgot just how compelling his prose is! Right now, "I Married a Dead Man."

Youtube appears to be down! I love this group, as you know. So so fine!

I watch The News Hour, PBS when I can. Satisfying.

That was my thought as well, Addey because of the shape of the tape and the remixing maybe. Let us know. I honestly may not buy any of these that are McMastered.

Gitte and the Band is in print. . . see dustygroove.com

Don't you have an idea of a favorite guitarist from your listening so far? I'd follow that. I'd recommend checking out some Kenny Burrell, Bobby Broom, Grant Green, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Jim Hall. . . . There are many possibilities! Maybe listen to some brief online clips?