Audiophile Masters, Volume III features 10 all-new high-performance tracks, ranging from Monica Marie Labonte’s beautiful Loving You with Eric Wiggs on the dobro and Bradley Morse on the bass, to drummer Michelle Pietrafitta’s powerful Moonbeam, and the finger-snapping jazz of the Seth Lewis Quintet. These extraordinary tracks were captured in pure DSD 64 using Octave Records’ Sonoma DSD recording system at Animal Lane Studios in Lyons, Colorado by recording engineer Steven Vidaic and assisted by Giselle Collazo. Mastered by David Glasser, this is a limited edition Audiophile Masters that will be a must-have addition to anyone’s library. Reference quality tracks. Each and every one a sonic treasure.

This reference-quality album begins with Monica Marie Labonte’s “Loving You,” recorded from an intimate perspective that lets every nuance of her vocals and acoustic guitar, and the Dobro and acoustic bass, to be heard with superb realism. Other selected tracks include the avant-garde-meets classic-jazz “Baba Yaga’s Hut” by the Tom Amend trio, and the Seth Lewis Quintet’s lush “Arborvitae,” featuring captivating solos by electric guitarist Dave Devine and Octave Records solo artist Gabriel Mervine on trumpet.

“Airs chantés, no. 4 – Air vif,” a duet written by Francis Poulenc, showcases vocalist Ekaterina Kotcherguina and pianist Jessica Nilles in a performance with stunning dynamics and depth. Andy Thorn’s “Fox Trail” is a bluegrass banjo and acoustic guitar workout with the instruments captured in lively detail. “Last Chance” is performed by the irresistibly-named duo More Than Physics entirely on handpans, a steel-drum-like instrument struck with the hands, with a surprisingly versatile range of sounds, all captured with extraordinary fidelity.

The recording was brilliantly captured by Octave Records’ engineer Steven Vidaic with assistance from Giselle Collazo at Animal Lane Studios in Lyons, Colorado. All tracks were captured directly from the analog microphone preamps (Grace, Manley, Forssell) into the Meitner Analog to Digital Converters then into the Sonoma DSD Recorder. Monitoring and rough mixing was performed on a Trident analog board.

Once tracking was completed the DSD files were transferred to Steven Vidaic’s Locust Room where they were converted back to analog via synchronized 8 channel Meitner and Mytek Digital to Analog Converters, to then be mixed on a Euphonix C2000 analog console and analog outboard processors. The final two-channel analog master is then converted back to DSD through the Meitner Analog to Digital Converter before mastering.

Monica Marie LaBonte (Track 1)
Deborah Schmit-Lobis (Track 2)
Tom Amend Trio (Track 3)
Michelle Pietrafitta (Track 4)
Andy Thorn (Track 5)
Dechen Hawk (Track 6)
Duo Azure (Track 7)
Seth Lewis Quintet (Track 8)
More Than Physics (Track 9)
Mike Robinson (Track 10)

The post Audiophile Masters Volume III [Pure DSD] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

Audiophile Analog Collection Volume 3 follows the popular Audiophile Analog Collection Vols. 1 & 2. It  comes another extraordinary selection of tracks from the analog archives. Beautifully remastered by 2xHD, Volume 3 features artists such as Jaco Pastorius, Ben Webster, Brian Torff, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frédéric Alarie, Didier Dumontier, Marie Saintonge, Robert Len and more!

This is a special compilation of analog audiophile recordings at their best, with an emphasis on execution and great sound. It is a must for the audiophile enthusiast.

The 2xHD Fusion Mastering System: In the constant evolution of its proprietary mastering process, 2xHD has progressed to a new phase called 2xHD FUSION, integrating the finest analog, with state-of-the-art digital technology.

The mastering chain consists of a selection of high-end vacuum tube equipment. For the recordings on this album, the original ¼” 15 ips NagraMaster curve, NAB or CCIR master tapes were played on a Nagra-T tape recorder, modified with high-end tube playback electronics, wired with OCC silver cable from the playback head direct to a Nick Doshi tube head preamplifier. The Nagra T, with its four direct drive motors, two pinch rollers and a tape tension head, has one of the best transports ever made. A custom-built carbon fiber head block and a head damping electronic system permit 2xHD FUSION to obtain a better resolution and 3D imaging.

The resulting signal is then transferred into high resolution formats by recording it in DXD using a custom 2xHD Technologies A to D converter. All analog and digital cables that are used are-state-of-the-art Siltech. The 2xHD FUSION mastering system is powered by a super capacitor power supply, using a new technology that lowers the digital noise found in the lowest level of the spectrum. A vacuum tube NAGRA HD DAC X is used as a reference digital playback converter to A and B with the original analog master tape, permitting the fusion of the warmth of analog with the refinement of digital.

Jaco Pastorius
Ben Webster
Brian Torff
Bucky Pizzarelli
Frédéric Alarie
Didier Dumontier
Marie Saintonge
Robert Len
John Geary
Josée Aidans
June In The Fields
Rachel Laurin

The post Audiophile Analog Collection Vol. 3 appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

The album is exclusively available in Stereo DSD 512, DSD 256 and DSD 128 from NativeDSD.

As long as music has existed it has been known to have spiritual and even healing powers. The group Space Master Silence was started as a musical search party, traveling headfirst into the uncharted land of music, emotion and spirit.

The music on this album introduces a relative new instrument, the PANArt hang, an instrument with unique sonic qualities: “Being a percussionist and a drummer I always approached rhythm in a very melodious way. When I encountered the Hang in 2000 in Bern, Switzerland, I suddenly had a percussive instrument with nine different notes, together creating a scale. Every Hang is unique and has its own scale and sound quality.The Hang embodies all three important elements of music.” –

Joshua Samson – PANArt hang & Percussion
Andre Heuvelman – Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Frans de Rond – Interactive Recording & Electronics

The post Where We Met appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

This is a Pure DSD release – recorded in Stereo DSD 256 by Producer Róbert Zoltán Hunka and Recording Engineers Gabor Halasz and Dexter using the Hapi Analog to Digital Converter from Merging Technologies.

The other DSD bit rates (DSD 512, DSD 128, DSD 64) were created in the DSD Domain by NativeDSD Mastering Engineer Tom Caulfield at the NativeDSD Mastering Labs using the Signalyst HQ Player 4 Pro mastering software with no DXD processing.

Kerub Musicians & Instruments

Béla Ágoston
Apito, Whistling Arrow, Pan whistle, Flute, Fujara, Clarinet, Saxophones, Zithers, Akai Ewi, Steel drum, Hulu, Vocal

Zoltán Mizsei
Vocal, Piano, Animoog and Nord Stage 3 synthesizers, Clavichord, TC Helicon Perform VE, Strymon Timeline

László Farkas Keönch
Jew’s harp, Drums, Shaker, Gong, Handpan, Bells, Kanjira, Udu, Talking drum, Frame drum, Objects, Ceramic Whistle, Vocal

The post Custos – Triology, Vol. 1 [Pure DSD] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

Help! highlights Len’s musical influences from the worlds of Jazz, Classical, Orchestral, and New Age music.  These genres are fused in a profoundly deep melodic voyage. Close your eyes and let yourself be transported and enveloped by love and tenderness.

All Instruments on Help! are Played by Robert Len
Acoustic, Classical and Electric Guitars, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Native American Drum, Triangle, Moseno, Dudek, Handpan, Floor Tom with Brushes, Shekera, Low Whistle, Tar, Chajchas, Wind, Darbouka, Shaker

The post Help! appeared first on NativeDSD Music.