A unique opportunity to listen to the differences between vinyl cut at 33⅓ RPM, 45 RPM, and half-speed mastering, using Mendelssohn's wonderful music. The orchestra also plays 'Two Guitars' by Ivan Vasiliev, which allows you to compare valve and transistor microphones and stereo vs binaural mic techniques. Chasing The Dragon have even cut a track sourced from their ½" Studer A820 running at 30IPS, so you may contrast the sound of analogue vs digital! Sides 1 to 3 were recorded at 24 bit / 192 kHz using a spaced pair of AKG C12 Omni mics.
Here, Chasing The Dragon have chosen Mendelssohn’s wonderful octet performed by The Locrian Ensemble for their latest recording. The musicians are all soloists in their own right, however, they are led by the ubiquitous violinist, Jack Liebeck.
The recording has also given Mike Valentine and team the opportunity to compare a variety of microphone techniques, which they do in the second half of the album. You can compare valve vs transistor mics and the sound of 1/2” tape running at 30 IPS vs digital at 24 /192.
"We hope you have as much fun in listening to the album, as we had in making it for you."
- Audiophile Demonstration Album
- 2LP Box Set
- Live recording
- Performances by The Locrian Ensemble
- Mastered at Air Studios in London
- Produced/Engineered by Mike Valentine
A1: Allegro - 33⅓ RPM
B1: Andante - Half-Speed Mastering
B2: Scherzo - Half-Speed Mastering
C1: Presto - 45 RPM
C2: Two Guitars - 45 RPM
D1: Valve Mics - 45 RPM
D2: Transistor Mics - 45 RPM
D3: Tape - 45 RPM
D4: Valve Blumlein Pair - 45 RPM
D5: Binaural Head - 45 RPM
Janine Elliot takes a listen to Mendelssohn Octet, Op.20 on the Chasing the Dragon label and reel-to-reel tape."Mendelssohn said of the Octet in Eb Op.20 that musicians must strictly adhere to playing with plenty of louds and softs “more strongly emphasized than is usual”, and the musicians do take this to heart as does Chasing the Dragon, ensuring an excellent noise floor and plenty of ff’s that I had to watch my VU meters on a number of occasions. Only once did I hear a very slight overload on one of my machines but that machine wasn’t able to take the extra headroom afforded by the ATR tape. This is a very energetic performance that sounded extremely lifelike and engaging on tape. Recorded at 15ips CCIR on a lovely red metal reel, this is one recording I will have in my collection." |
First Movement - Allegro
The Octet opens with one of the most exhilarating themes of all time, soaring sequentially through nearly three octaves before gently floating back to earth.
Second Movement - Andante
After such a sustained stint of activity in the first movement, Mendelssohn presents us with a lovely Andante animated with harmonic departures from the main theme.
Third Movement - Scherzo
The Scherzo movement is by far the most well-known and is often heard in an orchestral version, which Mendelssohn prepared in 1829.
Fourth Movement-Presto
The listener is propelled into this piece with some bowing played at a dizzying speed on the cellos, joined by the violas, followed by the violins, creating a wonderfully exciting final movement.
Most of the tracks on the album were recorded on to our digital Nagra VI at 24 / 192. On record 2 side B we have used as a source our 1/2" Studer A20 at 30 ps Can you hear a difference?
33⅓ RPM Record 1 Side A
A speed of 33⅓ was chosen as the standard speed for LPs, allowing strobe disks to be made for illumination with 50 Hz and 60 Hz light sources. This led to the development in 1948 of the LP.
33⅓ RPM Half Speed Mastering Record 1 Side B
By cutting the master lacquer at half speed, the high-end frequencies are converted into mid-range frequencies, which are easier to cut. Does this lead to a better sound quality?
45 RPM Record 2 Sides A & B
With more vinyl to cut onto, there may be an improvement in sound quality. Compare these tracks to the others. Do they sound better?
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Inside Track: Recording On Location"Apart from getting the performance right, the main challenge when making live recordings is to capture and reproduce all the ambience of the environment without letting it detract from the performance. Failing to do this would result in something that might just as well have been done in a studio. Capturing this along with the instruments requires not only considerable skill but also the best in audiophile equipment for the recording chain – including microphones, cables, amplifiers, power supplies, and the recorder itself. This combination of skill and quality equipment should result in a listening experience that's much closer to a live performance and can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home." |
"Chasing The Dragon has become known as one of the world's leading audiophile record labels. We specialize in producing 'Direct Cut' recordings. This is where we pass the stereo signal from the Neve desk at Air Studios, up 2 floors to the record lathe in the mastering suite above. Once we begin to cut the lacquer there is no going back! We can not stop and edit if there are any mistakes. This means we have to choose our musicians who can not only get through each side non-stop but also who can give a fantastic performance.
- Mike Valentine, Chasing The Dragon
Chasing The Dragon have become known as one of the leading producers of audiophile recordings. The UK label owned by Mike Valentine offers Direct Cut LPs. Audiophile LPs, CDs, and Master Tapes which will demonstrate the potential of your Hi-Fi system.
Chasing The Dragon's releases are so detailed, if you take the time to familiarise yourself with the subtleties of these reference-level recordings, the next time you make any changes, big or small, to your Hi-Fi system, the differences will be notable.
| Model Number | VALLP015 |
|---|---|
| RRP | 245.00 |
| Specs |
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Our records are handled with the utmost care by our team of music-lovers and are shipped in premium protective packaging.