Messages

31

Creek Bank / Re: Creek Bank channel orientation question

« on: April 23, 2010, 07:12:00 PM »

Mep/Joel,
I would ask that you please read my post a bit more carefully.  Please allow me to recap.

To MEP,
Unless the owners of the TP were the original recording/mastering engineers with the ownership rights to the master tape which they have maintained in their personal possessions for all these years; how do you think they get access to these master tapes?

They approach the owner of the master tapes and make a deal for the recording rights there to.
What if the owner of the master tapes is incorrect?  Is that the TP's fault?
What if the data on the box says it is a master tape, and it turns out not to be so, or visa versa.  Is that the TP's fault?
The point is that the TP or any other would be reissuer of any given title is at the mercy of the folks who own the master tape in the first place.
It seems to me that there is a lot room for error in this reissue business.

To question the TP because their reissue is in conflict with two other previous reissues is logical.
To acknowledge (so that even I would get the message) that the search for the answer to the question is ongoing would be the preferable play.
I suspect that these matters can be quite complicated and may take a lot of research when and if a question of source authenticity arises.  But in the end since TP was not there at the time TP will always have to rely upon the information, cataloging, knowledge and honesty of the master tape owners.
I cannot and will not fault the TP for that or any resulting mistakes that result from the misinformation of others.
That is the chance I took when I signed up.
Does the TP really need to issue a disclaimer for what seems to me to be the obvious vagaries of the master tape procurement process?  Perhaps so.
I do expect the TP to do their due diligence.  Each TP owner strikes me as sincere, knowledgeable, well positioned in the recording business and honest.  That is good enough for me.
I am not sure this advances the topic.
However even with the best of intentions and with the assurance that you have the master tape, there are obviously room for doubt with any release.
In conclusion, it seems to me that the tone of the discord is that majority rules and that by using that criteria the TP issue is more suspect to be in error than other two reissues. I am not ready to throw in with that logic quite yet.
And as for my chair, it may have indeed swiveled a few too many times, but my head is still screwed on tight and I suggest temperance and caution
in this discussion.
A little humor and perspective wouldn't hurt either.
To Joel,
I am so sure because in the end the TP is not the owner of the master tape.  Unless there is independent corroborating sources of information from persons with first hand knowledge the TP will always have to rely upon the resources and knowledge of the owner of the master tape.
Therefor logically the answer must come from the master tape owner.
That is unless you are inferring that there was an error in the dubbing of the master tape by the TP.
I do not have the knowledge or expertise to tilt at that windmill.
 

32

Creek Bank / Re: Creek Bank channel orientation question

« on: April 22, 2010, 07:41:23 PM »

There seems to be a parallel universe going on for this release please refer to TP Tapes General topic thread.
Can these threads be combined under the specific release topic?

I cannot speak to the differences of where the piano is/should be based upon the various LP/CD/TP issues.

All I know is that unless we are dealing with contemporary releases, we are at the mercy of archival facilities which may or may not be all that accurate.
This is the reality of the reissue business.
 
MEP the TP is not representing that these are the master tapes.  They are representing that it has been represented to them that these are the master tapes by the owners of the master tapes.

What I do not believe I have read is regardless of which channel the piano appears in does the TP release sound more "real" than the LP/CD release?
My listening chair is an Ekorness platform recliner which rotates 360 degrees.
I can listen to the music frontwards, or backwards which functionally reverses the channels.

Why don't we all take a breath, remember that the TP is about the enjoyment of music and not life and death matters and wait for an answer which ultimately must come from the owners of the master tape, not the owners of the TP.





 

33

Tape Project Albums - general / Re: Any update with the issue to TP-009 yet?

« on: April 20, 2010, 08:38:59 PM »

JoelJoel,
I believe that I have weighed in previously with a sympathetic voice to some of your concerns.
However it has been my experience when dealing in interpersonal matters that you rarely get the desired result when you 'throw down the gauntlet' even when done so gently as you did.
Perhaps the point in question is were the previous TP responses the definitive answer or not?
I suspect that these questions can be quite complicated, and must rely upon the time and availability of others to unravel.  I would counsel some compassion for the efforts of the TP to do their best imitation of Sherlock Holmes.

It seems that thus far the Series Two titles may have had a few too many snafus to the liking of a few subscribers.
However, if the source for the TP release is the original stereo master, then it may be logical to question the other formats as to their source/remastering decisions/mistakes.
The TP has high credibility in disclosing unanticipated complications in the remastering/licensing 'game'.
I for one am willing to offer the benefit of the doubt when we are told that the source is the original stereo master regardless of where the piano is in other releases.
Please consider that the TP is relying upon the representations/information of others as to what they are getting; from people who should know.
The TP should be able to rely upon the completeness and accuracy of that information until proven otherwise.

Taken to the extreme, this issue begs the question of the credibility and integrity of the principals of the TP.  I for one am no where near that point, and I hope that goes for you as well.
 

 

34

Suggestion Box / Levee Town

« on: April 17, 2010, 07:12:36 AM »

Sonny Landreth owns the masters to this reissued expanded master stroke by this slide guitar king.  Think Greg Allman was great?
He was, but Sonny is the current living legend of the genre.
Even if you don't care to consider this title seriously for TP release, do yourself a favor and listen to any Sonny selection on any of his albums for a unique treat.
One of my favorite tunes is "Congo Square" on "South of I-10" release.
If Sonny ever plays in a town/city near you I highly reccommend the effort to see him.  You will, not believe your eyes or ears.

35

Suggestion Box / Marley's Ghost

« on: April 16, 2010, 10:41:43 AM »

The album is "Spooked"
Go to www.musicangle.com and click on recent arrivals and scroll down until you see the R. Crumb artwork.
At the very bottom of the review you will see other than the musical content and production values why this would be an excellent candidate for the TP.
Heh, no guts no glory.
Try something different.
Get the Led out!

36

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: One Rare Miles Davis Tape?

« on: April 08, 2010, 05:48:44 PM »

Of course as this tape is obviously old, it would suffer from the same tape speed irregularities that were discovered when the master tape was remastered for LP CD and SACD a few years ago.  Maybe you don't want this tape after all!

37

Suggestion Box / Tower of Power

« on: March 30, 2010, 06:52:55 PM »

I just had the pleasure of hearing this band live for the first time.
Wow.
I would suggest any analog title this band cut, especially live.

38

General Discussion / Re: Audiophile Floor Covering?

« on: March 08, 2010, 06:16:51 PM »

Docb,
Would that be loop or cut pile grounded copper Mr. Smarty pants?
You are kidding right? 
No I am not quite that foolish; OK dumb.

It pays to pity the fool when he is a charter subscriber!
Be nice to the living impaired; that would be me.
Good answer though, and I did ask for it....
Toyota?
Mike L is the Service VP for a Honda dealership right, I don't want to hurt his feelings.

CV

39

Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane / Re: shipment begins

« on: March 08, 2010, 06:08:56 PM »

I am disappointed on this issue on this tape to a lesser extent than I was on the LR title release.

On the one hand I share a degree of the sentiment expressed by Jay concerning the lag between the announcement of the title and the announcement of some problems with the master.  This however seems unavoidable given the way in which titles are licensed; when you finally put your hands on the master itself and listen to it, and the apparent practice of no refunds if the master isn't quite what you were told you would be getting.
That has got to be an exasperating aspect of the TP business side of things which my temperament would not be able to abide.
So to Jay I would simply say that this seems to be an inherent characteristic of the 'music licensing biz'.
Sort of makes you wonder how many other remastered master recordings are out there which are quite a bit less than advertised and you will never know it.
(To the extent possible within the licensing transaction process, I would urge the TP owners to try to include a 'kick out' clause which would allow them to bail on a title which was not as advertised and get a full refund.)
 
I agree with some of the other posters that to the TP's credit they do adhere to full disclosure of the wonderment and the warts, the latter of which I am sure is the last thing they enjoy announcing.  It is I am sure a disheartening prospect to write that email.  But they do deliver the message in a straightforward manner and there is certainly something to be said for that.
 
But Steve, as disappointing as this news may be to some, delivers a sensible perspective; it is the music afterall.  I know that Jay has emphasized that his issue is not about the music, but of the announcement timing.
 
Master Tape obviously does not always equate to perfect tape;  that and the relative cost of a TP release to say a CD, or LP release regardless of the degree of audiophile treatment may be driving this concern for some as well.  I do not wish to put words in Jay's mouth.   I have lived with clicks, pops, dropouts, compression and worse of various sorts all these years, what's a little 10 second flaw on an otherwise masterpiece recording compared to years of the former?  Heck if you want to talk flaws don't get me started on what I see every morning in the mirror; now you're talking flaws!
But having said that, I hear you Jay.
As Steve Winwood said in a different context, 'Ya got ta roll with it baby'   

40

General Discussion / Re: Audiophile Floor Covering?

« on: March 08, 2010, 04:39:32 PM »

Thanks to all.
The dealer is very well known and will remain nameless.
Ever see the old Hush Puppy commercial with the folks walking on sidewalks made of foam rubber to visually demonstrate how comfortable it was to wear the HP shoes?
That was sort of the way my carpet and pad felt.  I was concerned that the sound was too damped.  The rug was a synthetic fiber which was sheared I believe is the term and even light walking would send a cascade of tiny carpet filament fibers on everything.  It looked as though I hadn't dusted in months, even though I cleaned every week.
This was what I posed to the dealer and that was his answer wool/heavy breathing no kidding.

As a consequence, I was looking for a pad which was functional and not too 'plush'.  The product is a non foam equivalent of the old style of carpet pad.
Likewise ditch the plush carpet.  It was problematic for the bass port of my Eidolons and the spikes for my stands never did get through it.
The current rug salesman suggested continuous filament nylon loop as the best non shedding choice with relatively tight loops.

Since every hi fi showroom I have ever visited has commercial grade who knows what it is on the floor it is a bit tough to tell, and I do not recall a listening room article or room acoustics article really delving into the aspect of floor coverings.

Any thoughts on which carpet material has the least static electricity properties?

I know this is not the typical topic on the forum, so I appreciate you indulging my stupidity.  Steve knows a bit of the time and money I have spent on what has become a whole house gut job while we continue to live here; Ugh!
I would hate to have done all this and get the wrong carpet.

Thanks for any more thoughts.
CV



 

41

General Discussion / Audiophile Floor Covering?

« on: March 07, 2010, 08:50:18 PM »

Is there such a thing?
One noted high end audio dealer opined that I should purchase only a carpet made of wool fiber that I could blow through and feel my breath.
Do they make carpet that cheap?
I have never smoked to speak of, and I have not yet found a carpet sample that I could accomplish that feat with!
The floor is poured concrete.
Any thoughts, or should I keep huffing and puffing?
Thanks,
CV

42

Tape Project Albums - general / Re: TP Samplers

« on: February 23, 2010, 07:58:27 PM »

Another of my great ideas goes nowhere.
Oh well.

43

Tape Project Albums - general / TP Samplers

« on: February 22, 2010, 09:25:42 PM »

This may not be an issue for full subscription members, but is there an interest for a sampler of Series 1 and 2 tapes?
I have no idea how this affects the licensing agreements if at all.
However, there seems to be enough of these floating around for shows and such; unless the same tape is making the rounds.
Heh, what's wrong with a TP greatest hits tape?
Heck,it might help overall sales as well.
I would buy one, but I am an idiot.

44

General Discussion / Re: RTR Survey

« on: February 22, 2010, 07:49:37 PM »

Holy Reels Batman,
Who would have guessed that many responses on a 'throw away' question.  I am glad they didn't ask about our favorite childhood stuffed animal.
I know this comment does not advance the cause of RTR, but read the responses; Freud would have a field day!

45

Tape Project Albums - general / Look Ma, Top of the world!

« on: February 11, 2010, 07:23:35 PM »

No, this is not a suggestion for tunes from Jimmy Cagney movies.
For many of the TTP subscribers and I suspect for the TTP owners as well, one of the highest honors a musical work can achieve in consumer circles is to become a TTP title.  Oops, I forgot the Grammys!
Unfortunately partly driven by acquisition costs, as well as the apparent need for familiarity most of the title suggestions (including my own) are for relatively household names in music as well as well known works.
It figures.
Unfortunately this deprives us of the opportunity to hear music of merit (content and production values) because the artist/work is below the radar.
Gosh I dislike that cliche.
I was recently reading John Mark's column in Stereophile and I found myself thinking that he was just the kind of person I was thinking of.
John produced recordings under the name of JMR.  The material was mainly classical, small ensemble, drop dead gorgeous in sound and execution.
Unless I am mistaken, his production was all analog recorded on tape.
John has mentioned with a nod to excellence TTP in his column from time to time.
One of his titles is being given the audio reissue treatment on CD and is available from Sterophile's shameless commerce division(with a nod to Click and Clack of 'Car Talk' on NPR radio).
That is what got me to thinking, why not on TTP? 

His entire catalog would be worthy and especially well disposed for TTP treatment except for the missing 'ooh aah' factor which seems to be a necessary component for commercial/subscription success.

With perhaps the exception of the Staple Singers title, most of the  TTP chestnuts chosen for release have been pretty 'safe'.

If the subscribers would permit, perhaps the owners could cast a wider net for worthy material especially for those titles which combine musicality with an audiophile sensitivity to production values in the analog realm.

That's my two cents.