I think it is more the result of the methods that Telarc uses. Decca typically uses a lot of mikes so the instruments are heard more clearly, but depending on the mix may not be more realistic. I think what you are hearing at live performances has nothing to do with the issues created by mic'ing/mixing techniques - I think it has to do more with the dynamics of the sound which cannot be reproduced on recordings. By the way, were there mic's in any of those concert halls - many now supplement the live sound with amplification? Harry Pearson of TAS made a statement about Telarc some years ago, based on what had been his similar (to your's) view of Telarc - that was, as the performance of DAC's and CDP's got better, he had found the sound much better than he previously believed. Its instructive to listen to some of Telarc's early LP's - they didn't sound dull and lifeless at all, quite the contrary. By the way, I would not consider Decca to be a good company to look to for sound quality, although some of their stuff is excellent, they did have a couple of great engineers. For good recordings, minimally miked in a good acoustic, listen to recordings by Delos, Dorian, Hyperion, to name a few - the performances are usually excellent as well.
Telarc recordings
Hi folks, does anyone know why Telarc classical recordings often sound opaque? By opaque I mean that the recordings don't sound transparent (a sort of see through quality like most DECCA recordings). Because of this sound character the music often sounds dull and lifeless. That's a pity because there are plenty good performances on this Label. What is the most likely explanation for this sound character? Is it because of the mics Telarc uses or recording equipment? Or is this actually how music sounds in reality? I visited Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Davies Hall (San Francisco), the concerthall in Cologne, but they all sound quite transparent and not dull.
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- 9 posts total
- 9 posts total