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So there we were in late January with an available recording slot to fill. I decided to go ahead with an idea that I have been fostering for a couple of years and that David Chesky encouraged me to go ahead and do (After all, I did get my Ph.D. as a composer from UCLA). So here's the concept...take a very well known classical work and re-cast it as a piece in the style of electronica. But that's not all. Have some of my favorite musicians realize the concept acoustically and in realtime...basically jam on the "changes" of the Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven for an hour and capture it on high-resolution audio and high-definition video. It turned out great! It's a hybrid piece with great solos, pulsing rhythms and incredible instrumental color.
In the middle of the production it occurred to me to turn the video of the musicians into a moving, evolving piece of motion graphics by processing or filtering [heavily] the HD video that we shot. Lots of computer graphics get created to accompany a piece of music but how many times is the video a direct derivative of the performance itself. I call this the "wallpaper" version of the piece. I'd love to hear from customers about this presentation...I spent another 6 weeks realizing it.
About the Recording Approach
This recording is NOT an attempt to "document" a live recording of a jazz quartet but instead an exploration of the creative process of making and recording music on videotape and using high-resolution digital audio recording equipment. AIX Records uses no EQ, dynamics processing or artificial reverberation...everything you hear is as the musicians played it. Both "audience" and "stage" 5.1 mixes and a PCM 96/24 bit stereo mix are included on the disc on the DVD-Video side. However, it is the DVD-Audio 96 kHz/24 bit tracks encoded with Meridian Lossless Packing [MLP] that elevates the listening experience well beyond a traditional CD or even a live event. You can chose to listen from the middle of ensemble and hear the sound of the instruments coming from all directions or place yourself in the "best seat in the house". The dynamic range and fidelity offered by the 96 kHz/24 Bit source recording makes this recording come to life.
About the Disc
This DVD disc has two sides with digital data on them. One side, the DVD-Video side, contains the complete performances with multiple camera angle video, alternate mixes ["stage" and "audience"], DTS and Dolby Digital audio tracks and a comprehensive array of informational screens about the project and the performers. There are photos from the sessions and complete technical information about the recording.
About the DVD-Audio/Video Format
The DVD-Video side also contains a variety of audio/video media including: complete session videos, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsals, comprehensive explanation of the DVD format [including DVD-Audio, DVD-Video and DVD-ROM], digital encoding methodologies [AC-3, DTS, PCM and MLP], instructions on how to setup your 5.1 channel surround system, test tones/channel IDs checks and demonstrations comparing stereo mixes to 5.1 mixes. Everything you want to know about DVD and 5.1 channel surround is on this disc.
One side contains CD audio, the other contains DVD content. |
