Analog Corner

Analog Corner #99

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 29, 2018  |  First Published: Oct 1, 2003

The innards of the ASR Basis Exclusive phono preamplifier, reviewed in this column.

Press kits arrive at my house almost daily, trumpeting one thing or another, including upcoming hi-fi shows around the world. Recently, none has provided quite the jolt to my system as one sent by Steve Rowell of Audio Classics in Vestal, New York. It's for the New York High Fidelity Music Show, September 29–October 3. Don't worry, you haven't missed it. Well, you have—by 38 years. Rowell sent me a genuine classic: a press kit for a hi-fi show held in 1965.

News

Mercury "Living Presence" Reissue Series Cut From 3-track Analog Masters From Analogue Productions

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 26, 2018

Tom Fine, re-mastering producer of the first two soon-to-be-released Analogue Productions Mercury "Living Presence" titles talks with AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer about the all-analog mastering process, with lacquers cut by Ryan K. Smith from the original 3 track master tapes.

News

"The Beatles" Unboxing The 4 LP and Deluxe Slipcase Digital Box Sets

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 24, 2018

Here's a video in which AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer "unboxes" the 4 LP and and Deluxe 6 CD+Blu-ray boxes containing Giles Martin's The Beatles remixes, the Esher Demos and in the case of the Deluxe set, a great deal more!

Album Reviews

"The Beatles" Re-mixed by Giles Martin: Any Good?

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 23, 2018

The Beatles
The Beatles
 
Apple/UMe 4 LP box, 2LPs, 3CDs, 6CDs+Blu-Ray box
Produced by: George Martin (Original producer), Giles Martin (Re-mix producer)
Engineered by: Ken Scott and Geoff Emerick (EMI), Barry Sheffield (Trident)
Mixed by: Giles Martin (Mix engineer Sam Okell)
Mastered by: Miles Showell 1/2 speed mastered at Abbey Road
 
MUSIC
SOUND
If you want to quickly know if you’re going to like Giles Martin’s The Beatles remixes start with “Long, Long, Long”. If you don’t like that one, you’re probably not going to like the rest, but for me, that remix in particular is far superior to the one on the two original “Top Loader” U.K. pressings I have: more transparent and more spacious, with a holographic George front, center and three-dimensional as he’s not presented on the original.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Beatles
Artist: 
The Beatles
Album: 
The Beatles
Cred Label: 
Apple/UMe 4 LP box, 2LPs, 3CDs, 6CDs+Blu-Ray box
Cred Prod: 
George Martin (Original producer), Giles Martin (Re-mix producer)
Cred Eng: 
Ken Scott and Geoff Emerick (EMI), Barry Sheffield (Trident)
Cred Mix: 
Giles Martin (Mix engineer Sam Okell)
Cred Mast: 
Miles Showell 1/2 speed mastered at Abbey Road
Michael Fremer
If you want to quickly know if you’re going to like Giles Martin’s The Beatles remixes start with “Long, Long, Long”. If you don’t like that one, you’re probably not going to like the rest, but for me, that remix in particular is far superior to the one on the two original “Top Loader” U.K. pressings I have: more transparent and more spacious, with a holographic George front, center and three-dimensional as he’s not presented on the original.

Record Handling and Storage Tips

Music Box Designs AMP BOX Stores Records In Fender Guitar Amp Style

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 23, 2018

Analog Corner

Analog Corner #98

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 22, 2018  |  First Published: Sep 1, 2003

Every edition of Primedia's annual Home Entertainment show (formerly known as Stereophile's Hi-Fi Show) takes on a life of its own, even if the venue, the participants, and the products are mostly familiar. It has to do with a confluence of factors—the paying customers, the weather, current events, whatever seems to be the hot industry trend, and just "the ether."

Home Entertainment 2003, held this past June at San Francisco's venerable Westin–St. Francis Hotel, was no exception. The contours of this show's personality were drawn in greater relief for those of us who had attended the previous show at this venue, back in 1997.

Analog Gear News

VPI Debuts New $15,000 HW-40 Direct Drive Turntable

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 21, 2018

October 21st, 2018, Matawan, N.J.—VPI Industries today debuted a brand new $15,000 HW-40 Direct Drive Turntable at an event held at its Matawan, N.J. "VPI House" headquarters to help celebrate the company's 40th anniversary.

Album Reviews

Intervention's New Gene Clark "White Light" Reissue Is Like "No Other"

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 20, 2018

White Light
Gene Clark
 
Intervention/A&M IR 028 180g LP
Produced by: Jesse Davis
Engineered by: Joe Zagarino
Mixed by: Jesse Davis, Sunset Sound, Studio #1
Mastered by: Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
 
MUSIC
SOUND
If you do a "Gene Clark" search on this website you'll find plenty to read and to listen to—including an AnalogPlanet Radio show dedicated to the late musician and former member of The Byrds. Please also read here the many record, book and documentary reviews covering Gene Clark's life and recorded output. The cult of Clark will live on.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
AAA Vinyl
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Gene Clark
Album: 
White Light
Cred Label: 
Intervention/A&M IR 028 180g LP
Cred Prod: 
Jesse Davis
Cred Eng: 
Joe Zagarino
Cred Mix: 
Jesse Davis, Sunset Sound, Studio #1
Cred Mast: 
Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
Michael Fremer
If you do a "Gene Clark" search on this website you'll find plenty to read and to listen to—including an AnalogPlanet Radio show dedicated to the late musician and former member of The Byrds. Please also read here the many record, book and documentary reviews covering Gene Clark's life and recorded output.

Album Reviews

Gwenifer Raymond's "You Never Were Much of a Dancer" Is Finger-Picking Good!

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 18, 2018

You Never Were Much of a Dancer
Gwenifer Raymond
 
Tompkins Square TSQ 5531 LP
Produced by: N/A
Engineered by: David Hawkes
Mixed by: David Hawkes
Mastered by: N/A
 
MUSIC
SOUND
In an era where virtuosity is seemingly shunned, here comes 32 year old Welsh-born finger picking Gwenifer Raymond who, listening to this album, you’d swear must have been born on the Appalachian trail somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Gwenifer Raymond
Album: 
You Never Were Much of a Dancer
Cred Label: 
Tompkins Square TSQ 5531 LP
Cred Prod: 
N/A
Cred Eng: 
David Hawkes
Cred Mix: 
David Hawkes
Cred Mast: 
N/A
Michael Fremer
In an era where virtuosity is seemingly shunned, here comes 32 year old Welsh-born finger picking, multi-instrumentalist Gwenifer Raymond who, listening to this album, you’d swear must have been born on the Appalachian trail somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line.

Making Vinyl 2018

"Vinyl Mastering & Cutting Intricacies" Panel at Making Vinyl 2018

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 16, 2018

On Monday afternoon at Making Vinyl 2018 AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer moderated a vinyl mastering panel featuring some well-known lacquer cutting engineers: Scott Hull—Masterdisk, Clint Holley—Well Made Music, and Jeff Powell—Take Out Vinyl (MIA Mandy Parnell—Black Lagoon Studios, who was forced to remain in the UK so she could finish up a Bjork project). Welcome to 1979's Lori Hines "sat in".

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