Sheffield lab - LPs and CDs

[Paul C.]

Just thought I'd mention... I have a vinyl copy of Sheffield Lab's direct-to-disc recording of Dave Grusin's "Discovered Again". I do like that record, it's got some exquisite playing from Grusin on the piano, and fine support from the likes of Harvey Mason, Ron Carter, Lee Ritenour and Larry Bunker. The sound is very nice indeed.

A little while back I purchased the "expanded" CD version of the album, which used SL's own 20-bit mastering process, and also included a bunch of bonus tracks. The CD was transferred from backup tapes of the session that the direct cut LP came from. On careful comparison of the LP and CD, I am pleased to report that the reissue CD sounds almost identical to the LP - the music is all there. On my VPI turntable, the bass is perhaps a little fuller and more rounded than on the CD, but they are really pretty close. It's an example of what good mastering can achieve with the old redbook CD format. I recommend this one heartily.

[Andy]

Thanks for the info. Always willing to listen to something new.

[Dave]

Paul,

Can you please explain what a "Red book" cd means exactly?:confused:

[Paul C.]

Doesn't it just mean your basic CD specification, sampled at 44.1Khz or whatever? I think there is a specified range for length of data pit size, and probably a whole lot of other technical details that I neither know nor care about.

Anyway, I just meant an ordinary CD, as we know and love it.

[AudioGirl]

Originally posted by Dave
Paul,

Can you please explain what a "Red book" cd means exactly?:confused:

Thanks for asking that Dave!!

I didn't want to look like a dumb chick :D

[Steve Hoffman]

It's like the CD instruction book. The specs for correct CD sound, look, etc.

BTW, the SACD book is called the "Scarlet Book". And I can't understand too much of the thing either....:eek:

[Paul C.]

"Scarlet Book" eh? - it has a nice ring to it...

Anyone have any experience with or views on other CDs released by Sheffield Lab? I seem to remember some of their early CDs being regarded as top notch (eg. the James Newton Howard one) but I've never owned any of them. I presume that Doug Sax has been involved all along, and his work seems to be pretty well regarded these days, don't it?

[Ronflugelguy]

Yes, the lp and the cd sound very close to each other. I too, just recently got the cd. My favorite DD of all time and also a favorite jazz album. Grusin and Ritenour need to do another like this one! I think there is a gold cd of it also?

[Paul C.]

Yes, it would have to be my favourite direct cut disc too. Some of those other ones they did seemed too much like demonstration discs, even though they had great musicians on them. This one was a group with a real feeling for each other.

That gold disc you mention - was that the first version they put out on CD?

[Joel Cairo]

Did they get around to releasing Thelma Houston's "I Got the Music in Me" album to CD? That used to be one of my favorite demo pieces...

-Kevin

[Dave]

Thanks for the info guys.:D

AudioGirl,

There are no "dumb chick" questions on this forum anyways.

It sort of works like this: ask and you shall recieve, as I've done numerous times and actually found most here, if they know are more than happy to answer.

Thanks to Steve, Holy Zoo, Sckott, Luke, Grant and a host of other people I now have a really good understanding of various aspects of the audio field.

;) :D

[Paul Chang]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
It's like the CD instruction book. The specs for correct CD sound, look, etc.

BTW, the SACD book is called the "Scarlet Book". And I can't understand too much of the thing either....:eek:

The term "Red Book" was coined after the color of the cover of the Compact Disc Digital Audio specifications. Subsequent optical medium specifications have different cover colors, hence different nicknames. All those books are thick, boring and expensive.

CD-ROM - "Yellow Book"
Recordable CD - "Orange Book"
CD-I - "Green Book"
CD-Extra - "Blue Book"
VCD - "White Book"
...

More boring books: the DVD specs have 5 books and each has its own color. http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/bookcon.htm

[AudioGirl]

Wow... Thanks Steve and Paul for the extended answer!!

I'm glad I asked. I guess you're right Dave. :)

Thanks again! :D

[Patrick M]

Originally posted by Paul Chang
The term "Red Book" was coined after the color of the cover of the Compact Disc Digital Audio specifications. Subsequent optical medium specifications have different cover colors, hence different nicknames. All those books are thick, boring and expensive.

It's not just for CDs. Adobe's PostScript reference manual is commonly referred to as the 'red book' and makes for delightful reading.

[Ronald]

I have not had such great luck with the Sheffield D2D LPs. This is sad to hear this from a vinyl devotee such as yours truly. I have a number of these releases and the tics and pops seem to get louder with time.

The packaging of the D2Ds is excellent with the oversize protective cover. Many of the Sheffield D2Ds I have bought have noisy vinyl, loud tics and pops. The "live to two track" versions possess good sound and quiet vinyl. It could be the early vinyl formulations had problems and were corrected by the time the original plates of the D2Ds were long gone.

One of my favorites is Clair Marlo's "Let it Go". It is a live to two track recording as far as I can tell, but then again, the vinyl was minted after Sheffield D2D was long gone.

[Ronflugelguy]

Yes, the sheffield's vinyl is a little touchy in regards to ticks and pops, at one time, I owned three different pressings, one from JVC, a German pressing , and an American pressing. As I recall the German was the least noisy over time. Still I love that lp with all the ticks and pops !:p