Digital does not need to burn in. If so streaming wouldn’t work.
But this is not streaming, but rather a download of a file…
whereas streaming is playing music via streaming…
Not burn in as we would think of it traditonally
I think Paul should look at each one of these issues and
listen on the music room 1 system to hear if something
could be amiss in the digital download version…
While there should not be a difference between the hard copy
and download version it seems something is definetly awry…
Thanks Paul
I am totally ignorant of the process and where differences arise from Hard Copy and Download so I wouldn’t be able to suggest what Paul should and shouldn’t do. That said I can’t say your theory is invalid either. Sad thing is this album is to me musically the most attractive of Octave’s releases.
I don’t know how these things work, but I wonder if anyone has the SACD yet and they can compare it to the download. I presume the SACD is a pressing of the DSD64 file.
I checked out the guy who did the mix on Discogs and Qobuz and he only had two production credits. If this was number 3, he might have to wait a while for number 4.
I agree, they make a good music, very listenable, but the trumpeter does not show his own voice on this album, that would make him distinctive. My wife and I like watching The Voice, waiting in hope for a singer who does not sound like every other singer. The last female vocalist album I bought was Laura Marling last week, she’s unbelievable, I heard her as warm-up for Mumford & Sons, she was so good Mumford & Sons were a bit boring after her so we listened to a few songs and left! One of my favourite modern jazz musicians is the French/Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, his sound is completely beguiling and I can listen to him for hours.
I bought the vinyl of the Otis guy who Octave remastered, the original vinyl was superb (and cheaper in the UK than the Octave SACD or download).
In the interest of quality control of the finished product
and of Octave Records a 2nd closer inspection should
of the various tracks and issues brought up in this thread
need scrutiny…and certainly for the ultimate satisfaction
of the audiophile…
Could it be that everyone’s system be somehow off
and not able to resolve the numerous and various issues
brought forth in this thread?
Somehow this would be rather doubtful…as everyone here
has top notch gear in their systems…
Paul will no doubt figure it out…and clue us in…
Downloaded it earlier today and experienced the same noise/hash that Steven mentioned. It’s really prominent in If I Had You (although it disappears for the last 20 seconds or so), A Foggy Day (after about 20 seconds) and in But Not For Me (after about 20 or 30 seconds). Kind of reminds of the sound from a tv when the signal is lost and you get snow on the screen. It ruins those 3 songs. Aside from those 3 songs, the rest of the album was stellar.
It would nice if those 3 songs could be fixed and a new download made available.
Listening to the sample it sounds like closely recorded brush/brushes on the snare, at a very high level in the mix.
This is you getting used to the mp3 compression and artifacts. This happens with any compressed audio codec. As you get more familiar with the material your brain does a better job of filling in the missing parts. I rarely listen to mp3 but when I do it is either 1) stuff I already know 2) not stuff I know and then I skip it or, if I like it, I go find the lossless version to get familiar with it then I go back to the mp3. It’s still rubbish sound quality but its no longer harsh and grating to my ears once I know the material.
Trying to listen to something new delivered in a compressed codec is bloody harsh and unlistenable to my ears. Once I know the piece though then my brain compensates and its no longer nails on chalkboard. This is also true of voice CODECs for telephone calls (part of my day job). Tweak some compression and people will tell you they can’t understand the call. Give them a few days to get used to the new settings and you get rave reviews (if you’ve tweaked the right thing).
As far as the recording… now you’all making me go downstairs and download it so I can participate in this thread about the recording’s sound quality.
EDIT: Listening now. 
I ordered SACD yesterday. The PayPal said payment is sent but should I receive a confirmation? Will I be informed when it is shipping out?
WOW what a fun album. I usually don’t listen to Jazz but keep kicking stuff out like this and I’ll need to stop saying that. I used to wonder into a little once a week Jazz club in Philly. An “anyone can jam” kind of place of about 15 tables, deli sandwiches and pretzels for snacks. Beer, wine and, if you consider ice a mixer, mixed drinks. Most of the album reminds me of the sound in that venue. Percussion was always rocking and solos were on point. It was a lively and respectable sound where each artist left space for the others. Felt like you part of the magic just sitting there. Brought me back to my bar stool in anticipation of what I’d hear next. As the album progressed it got a little more intimate… as if the crowd left the venue… less excitement… more polished… more studio. I guess we all need to go home at some point.
As far as tracks 6 & 7. It sounds to me like I’m listening to the snare. No, not the drum or brushes… not the top side… but the actual snares themselves which… maybe that’s odd? I don’t know. When listening to brushes I’m used to hearing the brushes across the batter head but these tracks just sound like I’m under the drum up against the snares themselves. If someone hadn’t pointed it out… I’d never of paid it any mind but that’s what I’m hearing.
The DSD does sound better than the PCM… which is odd… I don’t have a DSD DAC but for some reason I prefer the DSD converted to PCM on-the-fly. Maybe that’s just a quick listen mind trick though.
Alrighty… I really enjoyed this one. Long live Octave and what they are doing.
It could be the snares, but I would not expect them to get excited with solely brushes on the head other than with the occasional brush strike. The drummers here could tell us.
In any event, it does not sound wrong to me.
I enjoy the tone produced by Mr. Mervine on a legit instrument, rather than a jazz axe. It is the player that matters.
Other trumpets aren’t “legit”?
The snare reaction all depends on how tightly the snares are adjusted against the head.
Thank you. Indeed, streaming is convenient but in the end it does not support musicians or recording studios. They are left to fend for themselves.
I put the word in quotes to reflect this is a term of art. A “legit” player or instrument is a classical musician/horn. A very common term.
Yes, of course, and you can turn them off entirely as well with the flip of a lever. But, specifically, are the snares typically energized while brushes are used on the head? I assume, and may easily be incorrect, that a drummer wants the brushes heard, not the snares.
I pulled the trigger on the SACD though I am honestly more interested to find out how long it will take for me to get it compared to my last two orders than the music itself.
Not knowing anything about drumming, I wasn’t sure if what was mentioned as a problem was indeed one, or a drumming technique. I heard what they were talking about, but it didn’t sound like distortion, just something I’m not familiar with. I bet if all recordings were done with the care as this one, I would have heard this “phenomenon” many times before. So thank you for answering the question in my head.
Inventive drummers can find dozens of snare adjustments that help them tailor the sound of their snare “drum.” When I was performing there were three songs one band did that I used brushes with. On one I did have the snare “engaged” rather loosely tensioned so that it did vibrate and sound as I “stirred the gravy” as my drum teacher called one way of playing brushes. And also the bassist when in proximity would actuate the snares on occasion when he “snapped” or played his contrabass violin with force on one of the beats. Made a nice sound, an extra texture to the presentation. Something along those lines may be in play here. I have just yesterday ordered my disc and haven’t heard the material yet.
This is what it sounds like but close miked.
