"Harry Lavo" wrote in message
...
Thought you folks here might find the following tidbit interesting, as
included in the Sept 2003 issue of EQ magazine.

Norah Jones album "Come Away with Me" won Album of the Year
(non-classical)
as well as Best Engineered Album (non-classical). The album (available on
CD
and SACD, and perhaps on vinyl as well) is noted for its "she is here"
vocal
intimacy and transparency. The recording engineer (Jay Newland) said the
objective was to "take a beautiful voice and have it sound as natural as
possible". The recording chain of choice for the album: Neumann M-49
into a Manley tube mic pre and then into a Manley Vari-mu compressor (also
tube) with fast attack/release setting. This went to BASF 900 analog tape
at
15ips on a Studer 820 with Dolby SR noise reduction.

Commenting on his choice of the Manley tube gear, Newland said "the
(Manley)
tube pre was ...warm but a little less colored...." and "the Vari-mu can
also be very transparent, which is why I liked it for this application".

Interesting that 2003's "Best Engineered Album" should use "obsolete"
technology identical to that used on those great early- 70's pop albums in
order to have it "sound as natural as possible."

To my ears, tubes does some good to many recordings. I also blame the
recording studios for doing a lousy job in too many recordings, mixings and
whatever they do to "improve" the sound.

My theory is that the biggest problem with transparent audio reproduction
equipment, is the source material.

KE





--
Harry. Lavo
"it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" - Duke Ellington