PentaTone Releases First Eight Quad Recordings

Telarcís New Distribution Agreement With PentaTone Features Philips Multi-Channel Recordings From 1970s

4-Feb-03

PentaTone, the Netherlands-based recording company, announces the launch of its Remastered Quadro Recordings (RQR) series with the release of eight multi-channel recordings originally captured via the quadrophonic technology of the 1970s. With the advent of Super Audio CD (SACD) technology in recent years, and facilitated by a distribution agreement with Telarc (a leader in the development of SACD technology), the RQR series will enable consumers to listen to these beautiful recordings via a multi-channel reproduction system.The launch of the RQR series is the culmination of a story that began three decades ago. In the early 1970s, Philips Classics was already highly aware of the advantages offered by multi-channel music reproduction compared to the conventional stereo techniques of that time. The quadraphonic tapes (four-channel recordings) from that period are a classic example of a recording technique way ahead of its time. The advantages of a multi-channel recording and reproduction system are self-evident: the sound is much more natural, the resolution is better and the spatial impression is much more convincing than stereo.Per Philips Classicsí usual high standard, much attention was paid not only to the repertoire, but also to the technical side of the recordings. Over the course of several years, engineers explored various microphone set-ups to maximize the potential advantages of the quadraphonic system.Despite the amazing results on the recording side, vinyl records played on consumer-level playback systems failed to capture the major increase in recording quality. Because of this technological disconnect - coupled with too many competitive systems battling for the favor of the public at large - the promise of quadraphonic recording in the 1970s was never realized.Until now. With the advent of SACD technology, PentaToneís new RQR series puts an even newer technological edge on these recordings and makes good on the promise. During the re-mastering of these original multi-channel tapes (most had not been out of their boxes for the past thirty years), PentaTone technicians and engineers were continually amazed at the exceptionally high technical quality of the recordings.In an effort to maintain the high level of quality in the original recordings, PentaTone took the greatest possible care during the mastering process to convert the original tapes to the digital DSD (Direct Stream Digital) system used for SACD. For instance, the original testing and tuning tapes were used to precisely tune the analog reproduction machines. In addition, the analog machines were directly connected to the best DSD analog-to-digital converters, without the intervention of any mixing consoles and/or other special equipment that could potentially compromise the integrity of the original recordings.PentaTone also contacted the original engineers at Philips in order to thoroughly understand how the recordings came together in the first place. In an effort to maintain the quality of the original tapes as much as possible, no artificial echo has been added in the transfer to digital.Although the new SACD standard allows for five channels plus a subwoofer channel, these early recordings reissued in the RQR series are being released in their original four-channel version. Itís PentaToneís way of doing justice to the original intentions of both artists and recording technicians, and presenting their work in the best possible context with the help of 21st century technology.

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