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Discussion: Duke Ellington: Masterpieces by Ellington

Posts: 13
Page: 1 2 next

Post by Claude January 13, 2015 (1 of 13)
I just listened to the 2004 CD. For a 1950 recording, the sound quality is breathtakingly realistic.

It makes me wonder what mediocre equipment other engineers had at that time, because all Blue Note or Prestige albums made in the early to mid 50's sound much worse, with limited dynamics and frequency extension.

Given the fantastic recording quality and the fact that the tape appears in optimum shape on the 2004 transfer, the SACD has great potential.

From the Acoustic Sounds website, it looks like the SACD does not have the three short bonus tracks - coming from a later 1951 session - which were included on the 2004 CD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterpieces_by_Ellington

Post by analogue January 13, 2015 (2 of 13)
Howdy.
Count me in and I myself listened to the same cd last night. Awesome sound. It was transferred using Dsd recording and down converted to pcm using 24 bit coding. Just a stellar cd.

Ryan Smith is creating the new sacd transfer.
Lets hope it sounds even better.

Cheers,
Analogue

Post by SteelyTom January 13, 2015 (3 of 13)
Actually, I believe the bonus tracks are included.

Post by Claude January 13, 2015 (4 of 13)
You are right. The first time I checked, I think they used the tracklist from the LP reissue.

Post by SteelyTom January 13, 2015 (5 of 13)
Claude said:

You are right. The first time I checked, I think they used the tracklist from the LP reissue.

It's oddly confusing on the website…. And good to have the bonuses. This is certainly an eagerly-anticipated reissue.

Post by rammiepie January 13, 2015 (6 of 13)
OT: High Definition Tape Transfers (HDTT) in New Jersey recently released one of their direct transfers from a 15ips Columbia Open Reel of " Duke Ellington's Indigos," recorded in New York City in 1957. Absolutely stellar sonics and repertoire. Purchased it as a DVD~R 96/24. Also available as DSD 64/128 downloads as well as FLAC 96/24. The RBCD has been OOP for years.

Also available from HDTT: The Count Meets the Duke: a 1961 recording culled from a Columbia 7 1/2ips OR tape. Again, stellar sonics (96/24 DVD~R). Also available as DSD 64/128 downloads.

And while we're on the subject, HDTT also just released the exquisite Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook: 72 minutes culled from a Verve 7 1/2 ips OR Tape. SPECTACULAR! (96/24 DVD~R)

Will most definitely buy the AP SACD of Duke Ellington: Masterpieces.

Post by Claude January 15, 2015 (7 of 13)
rammiepie said:

OT: High Definition Tape Transfers (HDTT) in New Jersey recently released one of their direct transfers from a 15ips Columbia Open Reel of " Duke Ellington's Indigos," recorded in New York City in 1957. Absolutely stellar sonics and repertoire.

I have been underwhelmed by the HDTT releases. Many of them sound worse that the official CD releases made from the master tapes.

I don't think it's such a great idea to use consumer tapes for hi-rez releases, because they are hardly as good sounding as master tapes. It's more like digitizing LPs. OK if the master tape has gone, but otherwise useless.

Post by rammiepie January 15, 2015 (8 of 13)
Claude said:

I have been underwhelmed by the HDTT releases. Many of them sound worse that the official CD releases made from the master tapes.

I don't think it's such a great idea to use consumer tapes for hi-rez releases, because they are hardly as good sounding as master tapes. It's more like digitizing LPs. OK if the master tape has gone, but otherwise useless.

Claude, some of them are underwhelming but the majority of them sound pretty convincing on MY equipment.

My expectations were rather low but since a lot of their titles are in the public domain and have been either unavailable or OOP for years, nice to have some of those old chestnuts around.

If, for instance, AP were to tackle the Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks from the 50's and 60's, there were be NO contest. Especially from the original master tapes.

So, where are they? I was expecting at least one of them to show up as an SHM~SACD by now.

Post by Claude January 16, 2015 (9 of 13)
No SACD, but there are 8 Ella Songbook albums available in hi-rez PCM on HDtracks.

Post by rammiepie January 16, 2015 (10 of 13)
Claude said:

No SACD, but there are 8 Ella Songbook albums available in hi-rez PCM on HDtracks.

Can you comment on the SQ of the HD downloads, Claude?

My RBCDs of the Songbooks aren't too shabby but I "lust" for SHM~SACDs....... in which each Songbook could fit comfortably on a single SHM~SACD (the doubles, especially).

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