2. analog
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is there a market?

Is their a large enough market within the audiophile community and music lovers alike to start a recording company that recorded primarily jazz and classical music the right way?  Is there a chance to capture the great orchestras of america in a totally analog process from start to finish just like they did back in the fifties?  I would think many orchestras would jump at the opportunity to be part of the effort to be recorded like the great orchestras were in the mid 20th century.  Is there still equipment in existence and engineering know how to make this happen?  There certainly is a renewed interest in vinyl and the sound it produces even if it is done digitally.  How about the real thing?
tzh21y
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 

Well excuse me. I was just trying to dissuade you from bankrupting yourself and anyone who joins you. You clearly have no idea what recording the best orchestras with the best 1950s technology and then pressing the albums using the best equipment from the 50s and maintaining the highest quality standards would cost.

From what I have read about the state of the jazz and classical music market, your chances of making a profit are pretty close to nil. Many new classical recordings sell in the hundreds or low thousands of copies. But please don’t let me stop you from living your dream. Gather as much money as you can and jump right in.

There are too many audiophile record labels for me to list, but here is a link to a list entitled, " A Short Survey Of Audiophile Record Labels" that contains many record labels already trying to provide audiophiles with the best sound possible:

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/a-short-survey-of-audiophile-record-labels-tas-197-1/

There are others.

folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
Arguably the closest to this sort of thing these days are folks like Yarlung who are recording and issuing on analog tape, selling at $200 per reel 
whart's avatar
whart
3,043 posts
 
folkfreak- Yarlung was one of the labels I was thinking of in my previous post-they also do vinyl releases- none appear to be full orchestras, but more small scale stuff, though some classical, e.g. Janaki String Trio. I had heard the tape courtesy of Myles Astor and bought the record because it was interesting. 
It's been a long while, but Lyrita did a great job some years ago with a 20th Century British classical catalog. The classical market has probably narrowed since then. But it was a nice change from some of the usual warhorses.  That catalog was far more than just the Malcolm Arnold record that HP touted. They were well made records (Decca or Nimbus pressed as I recall). 

folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
Actually the Sasha Cooke "If You Love for Beauty" is with a full orchestra, in this case the orchestra from the Colburn Conservatory which is one way of getting quality players at a reasonable price I presume
normansizemore
601 posts
 
I live in Chicago, and I do get the chance to tape a few jazz trios on occasion, but no one who has a record deal will allow that anymore.  I love your idea, and I'd be "all in" if one could make it work.  Stereophile has made some pretty good analog recordings over the years, as has record label ECM.  Sears sound recording in New York is another studio/label that does them right.  It is very frustrating to hear so much quality music being "compressed to death" in the recording process.  Most all of the classical music that I listen too are on Lp's pre 1966 for this very reason.  The dynamic range that these old jazz and classical records have is simply incredible. 

Great post, wonderful idea!
N.
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