[ARSCLIST] New Universal Japan reissue LP's

[Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://store.acousticsounds.com/search_results.cfm?Adv=true&ProductNumber=aunj

does anyone have any factual (ie a press release from the company, something first-person from 
someone at Universal Japan) information on the source of these LPs? In other words, are these cut 
from the original analog master tapes -- and where and by whom and on what equipment? Or are they 
from digital masters -- and if so what type (ie early-digital PCM or more-recent DSD)? I did some 
googling and couldn't find anything but web-board rumor trash.

For what it's worth, back in the 80's, Polygram Japan (the same basic entity, back then) put out a 
series of very good jazz reissue LPs. They did good mastering, used quiet vinyl and sourced original 
master tapes from Polygram's vaults -- and the master tapes were still mostly in good shape back 
then. They also did great little touches like remaster mono material from a full-track tape machine 
instead of a 2-track as some reissuers have done (you can tell if the hiss is different 
channel-to-channel, a true mono mastering job should have the music and hiss coming from one place, 
the middle). A full-track tape sounds best when played back with a full-track head through a single 
electronics, unless of course the tape is severely damaged but even then if at all possible I prefer 
gauze-in-the-head-can to trying to kludge up something with skinny-track heads.

-- Tom Fine