SACD 2 channel vs Hybrid SACD

Irishdog: Here's the press release on the Mercs:

iClassics_Steve (572 posts) 08-19-03, 01:26 PM (EST)
"Mercury Living Presence Announcement"
LAUNCH OF MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE RECORDINGS
ON SUPER AUDIO CD

The Decca Music Group, which owns the celebrated Mercury Living Presence classical catalogue, is pleased to announce the launch of Mercury Living Presence recordings on the new audiophile format, Super Audio CD. Mercury Living Presence continues to enjoy a special reputation as one of the most enterprising and prestigious labels in the history of classical recording, with many of its classic 60s and 70s recordings never leaving the catalogue.

The first releases are slated to be released late fall/winter 2003, and will include such notable recordings as Antal Dorati’s complete Firebird ballet, Rachmaninov’s 2nd and 3rd piano concertos with Byron Janis, the complete Bach solo cello suites from Janos Starker, Respighi’s popular Ancient Airs & Dances with the Philharmonia Hungarica and a disc of Suppé overtures from Paul Paray and the Detroit Symphony.

The Decca Music Group is also delighted to announce the full support for these new SACD releases from the legendary founder and producer of Mercury Living Presence, Wilma Cozart Fine. The discs will feature new DSD (Direct Stream Digital) analogue-to-digital transfers from the original analogue master tapes. Most excitingly, these new SACD discs will also include a 3-channel transfer of the original 3-track recordings, as well as a new DSD stereo mix. This will be the first opportunity for Mercury Living Presence enthusiasts to hear their favourite recordings in the original 3-track format.

All Mercury Living Presence SACD issues will be ‘hybrid’ discs – that is, the discs will incorporate the CD recording along with the new SACD mixes, making the discs fully compatible with all existing CD players.

Future releases of Mercury Living Presence SACDs are expected to include the famous 1812 Overture recording from the Minneapolis Symphony and Dorati, American repertoire from Frederick Fennell, and such celebrated one-offs as the Balalaika program from the Osipov Russian Folk Orchestra.

The distinctive logo and livery of Mercury Living Presence will be retained for these releases.

I'm curious how they will sound, as many of the Mercs are a little hot in the highs, but if they're anything near as well done as the Classic vinyl reissues (or for that matter the CDs from the series) they should be terrific. And if you have multi-channel capabilities, the three channel mix might be very interesting!

Yep, I understand Rcprince. Lots to worry about with this new format. I guess I might not be so worried if Sony wasn't leading the way. They know how to make products but their marketing is a little out there sometimes.

Dave

Rprince: Great!! I am salivating over the opportunity to sample some of these great Mercury Living Presence releases. I was lucky to have listened to several of the original master tapes (3 channel) with Frederick Fennell back in 1960. This was one of the unforgetable audio experiences of my life, and I can hardly wait to relive these musical memories! Thanks so much for bringing me such exciting news!!

Irishdog: The first four are due out November 11--see the following link:

http://consumers.umusic.com/sacd/future.html

Listening to the master tapes with Frederick Fennell?? You're even older than I!! That must have been an experience, all right--were you a student at Rochester at the time?

Rprince: No, I was not at Eastman at the time, although I have known a number of musicians/teachers who were. I was teaching English at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, Pa., and was helping out with that year's district band festival. I got the job (What a job!!!) of being Fennell's host for the weekend. He mentioned that the had the masters of two forthcoming releases ("Diverse Winds", and "West Point") with him, and was looking for a place where he could review them and grant approval for pressing and release. I happened to know a recording engineer in Lancaster who had all the good stuff (Ampex 300, Goodmans corner horns, Scott monoblocks etc.). We listened with Dr. Fennell, and I was blown away by the sound! From that day on, I KNEW what was meant by "just like master tape"!