Press release | PS Audio’s Octave Records has recently released its latest reference-quality music-sampler recordings, Audiophile Masters, Volume VII and Audiophile Masters, Volume VIII. The samplers include all-new selections from favorite Octave artists like Thom LaFond, Gabriel Mervine and Bonnie and Taylor Sims, as well as from new artist Alan Adair. The music spans a wide range of styles from Americana, jazz, pop, classical, and much more.
Audiophile Masters, Volume VII leans towards folk-flavored acoustic stringed instruments, solo piano, and jazz, while Volume VIII has more classical, Latin, and world music influences. Both albums capture the performers and instruments with exceptional presence, spaciousness, dynamic impact and detail, thanks to Octave Records’ latest advances in Pure DSD 256 technology using the Merging Technologies Pyramix recording system.
Volume VII leads off with a strong selection of acoustic-based songs: the upbeat Synesthesia and Make It Rain by Banshee Tree, with an involving interplay between acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandolin and vocals, followed by Portsmouth and The Knowing, two cuts featuring Dylan McCarthy’s mandolin, Eric Wiggs’ acoustic guitar and Bradley Morse on upright bass. Bonnie and Taylor Sims’ take on the traditional Lorena is up-close and intimate, while Deborah Schmit-Lobis’s solo piano pieces, Devotion and Northern Lights, convey all the richness and texture of the instrument and her playing. Other highlights include the up-tempo jazz and unmistakable Hammond organ sound of Tom Amend’s Os-car, and trumpeter Gabriel Mervine’s heartfelt rendition of Love is Here to Stay.
Audiophile Masters, Volume VIII adds spice with the virtuosity and flamenco and world music influences of Miguel Espinoza Fusion on Bubble, Nagie Yate, and La Tormenta. The sonic and musical purity and presence of solo instruments are represented by Alicia Jo Straka’s sprightly accordion playing on Musette Souer, Jessica Nilles Kressin’s piano performances of Vladimir Rebikov’s The Bear and Béla Bartók’s Out of Doors, Suite, I, and Krzysztof Penderecki’s Tanz, played by Kimberly Sparr on viola. Other classical selections include George Crumb’s Three Early Songs, No. 1 – Night by Duo Azure, the Magee String Quartet on Felix Mendelsson’s Four Pieces for String Quartet, Op. 81, MWV R 35 – III. Capriccio, and Alan Adair’s impassioned rendition of Guiseppe Verdi’s Il Lacerato Spirito.
The Audiophile Masters discs were recorded and produced by Steven Vidaic, and mixed and produced by Paul McGowan, with assistance from Giselle Collazo - Volume VII and (Jessica Carson - Volume VIII. Gus Skinas mastered both recordings. The recordings were made at Animal Lane Studios in Lyons, Colorado, and Octave Studios in Boulder.
The discs are made using Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the discs are playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. The discs also have a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/24-bit PCM. SRP 19 – 39 USD, depending on format.
About PS Audio
Founded in 1973, PS Audio has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in manufacturing innovative, high-value, leading-edge audio products. Located in Boulder, Colorado at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, PS Audio’s staff of talented designers, engineers, production and support people build each product to deliver extraordinary performance and musical satisfaction. The company’s wide range of award-winning products include the all-in-one Sprout100 integrated amplifier, audio components, power regenerators and power conditioners.
For further info:
to the Octave Records website
to the PS Audio website
