Archival Tape Editions - MasterCut Lacquer by Supersense, Vienna - Part.I

MasterCut Lacquer - Carlos Kleiber/VPO

        大約一年多前, 由奧地利友人的介紹, 才知道這家, 非常有特色, 坐落在音樂之都Vienna的Supersense.  甚至也與負責刻片的主人討論由我手上收藏的母拷來刻片的可能性.  因為當時Supersense有一項非常特別的服務與產品.  就是邀請音樂家到Supersense現場演奏, 並且錄下母帶, 再由母帶輸出到刻片機, 製作出第一手, 而且是限量發行的Lacquer.  後來因為COVID疫情的緣故, 我的想法暫時就擱置下來.

        上個月心血來潮, 連至Supersense網站, 赫然發現Supersense居然已經與Universal洽談母源, 發行這次介紹的Archival Tape Edition!  而且已經發行了四個項目.  兩個古典, 兩個Jazz.  而且兩個Jazz天碟(A Love Supreme & Getz/Gilberto)都已經完售!!  這四個項目分別是：

        Archival 001: Martha Argerich/Piano

        Archival 002: Carlos Kleiber/VPO

        Archival 003: John Coltrane/A Love Supreme

        Archival 004: Getz/Gilberto

        熟悉黑膠生產的人都知道.  發行黑膠首先是由刻片機刻下母盤(Lacquer), 然後使用lacquer去鍍金屬膜, 翻模出Master/Mother/Stamper(Son), 然後使用Stamper大量壓制出Vinyl(黑膠).  因此, 一般來說, 市面販售的黑膠(Vinyl)與Lacquer之間通常存在了四次的翻模.

        以音質損耗的角度來看, lacquer可說是最接近母源的"黑膠".  這也是當時Supersense推廣它的Mastercut Records的原因.  因為消費者可以得到最接近"現場"的效果.  甚至Supersense也推出他們設計的家用刻片機Phonocut.  鼓勵大家自己刻片.

Phonocut

Phonocut

        雖說我已經沒有接觸黑膠有相當長的時間.  還是忍不住下訂001/002來一探黑膠這個format可以極致到怎樣的程度.  003/004的完售, 可見Jazz狂熱者還是輕易K.O.古典狂熱者(?).

        那這樣由licensed master tapes 1:1刻片出來的lacquer, 可以好到什麼程度?  請待下回分解.

        有趣的是, 網路上也掀起討論關於Lacquer的耐用性問題.  知名的音響評論家Michael Fremer也因此寫了兩篇文章, 其中一篇提到lacquer的壽命, 有趣的是他認為即使超過兩百次的播放, lacquer仍然聽不出有decay的傾向.

        https://www.analogplanet.com/content/supersense-vienna-%C2%A0—-store-all-senses

        https://www.analogplanet.com/content/want-lacquer-love-supreme-cut-original-master-tape

 

I/O Interface Unit for Nagra SNST (II)

Nagra SNST attached with I/O Interface Unit

        Very quick shipping from Japan.  The bottle neck is I need to find some XLR/RCA adapters to connect Nagra VI to Interface unit but it is not a issue.  Done.

I/O Interface unit made by Japan

Nagra VI meets its "smaller and older" brother SNST

        The feasibility is good.  It can be easily switched between playback/record, input level and can be connected to your audio system through provided phone/RCA adapters.  I applied Nagra VI as input/recording source and use VI's monitor speaker to audit the playback by SNST.  Here is the demo video of SNST playback.

Inner view

 

I/O Interface Unit for Nagra SNST

Japan made I/O unit for Nagra SNST

        Just order one.  Very interesting and user friendly I/O unit for Nagra SNST and made in Japan.  Can't wait to test it.  *Mono I/O unit is also available for SN/SNS.

        Otherwise, you need to prepare some special cables and device to play/record with your SN series.  I hope it works good!