Re: [ARSCLIST] RCA Living Stereo

[Jeff Kane <jeffkane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The SACDs sound very good but I still prefer the original vinyl. Mind you
it's MUCH easier (and cheaper) to get 9/10ths of the way there with the SACD
vs. seeking out an (early) original pressing that's in excellent shape.
Somehow, I 'get more' out of the vinyl. It could be pure romanticism and
bias on my part but my SACD playback chain is nothing if not superior to the
vinyl chain.

As for the aesthetics of the recording; I've given up on trying to achieve
'accuracy' with regards to the original performance. IMO it's a fallacy.
Recording sound is an art and each recording is a piece of artwork. The best
one can do is to attempt to reproduce the recording as accurately as
possible as what you are hearing is 'painted' through the eyes/ears of the
artist/engineer. As with (visual) artwork, different aesthetics appeal to
different people. For me, I am enchanted by the Living Stereo/Living
Presence 'technicolor' presentation much as I love Kodachrome's
oversaturated colors (RIP Kodachrome 25). It may not be accurate but in my
eyes/ears, it's certainly beautiful.

Jeff




-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Matt Bailey
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 7:51 AM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] RCA Living Stereo

As a former clarinetist, I like the "in the midst of the orchestra"
aesthetic. I also must admit to being inordinately obsessed with
non-standard placement of microphones in recording situations. So these
discs are perfect for me.

I suppose the great thing about orchestral music is that there are usually
several recordings of any given piece and one is bound to appeal to any
particular taste.

I've been listening to the CD-audio track and comparing them to the previous
reissues, but will probably be adding an SACD player to my home system next
month. Great, another remote.

Matt

Steven Smolian wrote:

> I take issue with the deification of these recordings.  To me they are
> extremely artifical, with no attempt to recreate the listener's
> concert hall experience.  The sound stage is set up from the conductor's
perspecive.
> There seems no blending of the forward-directed sound mixed with the
> slightly later one  thrust out by the proscenium.
>
> I find the frequencies of the massed strings artificially distributed.
> Back in the audience, one never hears the preponderence of the
> string's highest overtones to the extent they are emphasized on these
> records- the Mercs bother me more than the RCAs on this count.
>
> This music was written to be heard by an audience seated at a distance
> from the performers, not from the conductor's lap.
>
> Steven Smolian
>
> That may be the aesthetic you wish.  I hate it.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Don Cox" <doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 7:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] RCA Living Stereo
>
>
>
>>On 23/09/04, Matt Bailey wrote:
>>
>>>RCA (actually BMG) has just released the first ten recordings in
>>>their new line of hybrid SACD/CD reissues of the famous RCA Living
>>>Stereo classical recordings of the 1950s. I just got them today and
>>>they sound incredible. While not everyone is a fan of this type of
>>>music, the technical aspects of this project from its inception to
>>>today should fascinate most. Here is a little info on the current
>>>project and a brief interview with three of the people involved:
>>>
>>>http://www.livingstereo-sacd.com/news/index.jsp
>>>
>>>(and I am in no way affiliated with BMG)
>>
>>Are you listening to them in SACD format or in CD format?
>>
>>Did you compare any with the CD issues from a few years ago?
>>
>>These were always good recordings, as were the Mercuries of the same
>>vintage.
>>
>>Regards
>>--
>>Don Cox
>>doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>

--
Matt Bailey
Audiovisual Archivist

Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies University of
Georgia Libraries Athens, GA 30602-1641
(706)542-5788
http://www.libs.uga.edu/russell/