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Master TapeFirst Generation CopyNothing compares to the sound of an original master tape except the sound of the original performance -
Tone-Pearls RecordsNon-profit Atelier for Music-loversRe-creating the original listening experience of live performances -
Tone-PearlsThe Secret of Music and Tone
New Tone-Pearls Recording Releases
Piano Music in a Church
Master Tape, Hi-Res, CD, Cassette
Hungarian Songs in a Chateau
Master Tape, Vinyl, Hi-Res, Cassette
Piano Music in a Chateau
Master Tape, Hi-Res, Cassette
Sampler Volume I
Master Tape
What is a Reel to Reel Master Tape?
Analogue tape almost disappeared as the world went digital in the eighties. Fortunately, some fanatic guys want to save the best-sounding medium.
What is the difference between the best digital sound and Master Tape sound?
According to the testimonials of critical listeners, the difference in sound is dramatic. The Master Tape sound is more realistic and open; the soundstage is wider and deeper (and even higher), the instruments are well placed and defined, and the atmosphere is more present. However, the most crucial difference is in the listening experience: Master Tape recreates the original encounter with live music.
More About Us
Tone-Pearls Records is a non-profit atelier of music researchers and music lovers devoted to recreating the original listening experience of live concerts. We produce True Analogue Recordings on master tapes, vinyls and also in high-resolution digital formats nearly at cost price.
Tone-Pearls, as a practical application, derived from our scientific research of music, tone and hearing. We have developed the Tone-Pearls Recording Technique based on Tone-Pearls using analogue recording with a pair of microphones.
What Our Reviewers Say
Michael Fremer, Stereophile
...but the copy [TPRCD1] I have is as fine a piano recording as I've heard on CD
Reviewers
The records of Tone-Pearls Records have been reviewed in some fine magazines:
Recording Process
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Pre-recording Process
The right idea of music, performance and musicians -- The right place that suits to the music to be recorded -- The ideal arrangement of musical instruments (and musicians), microphones and recording staff --The placement of Tone-Pearls on different locations of the venue according to the principles of music and space.
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Recording to Tape
Music is captured by just a single pair of AKG C 414 Limited Edition microphones, directly connected to a Nagra IVS reel-to-reel tape recorder with Vovox cables. Music is recorded on RMG SM468 tapes at 15 ips speed.
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Finalizing Master Tape
Because the music is recorded direct to stereo, there is no need for mixing or manipulating it after the recording has been made. We do not want to manipulate the recordings in any way. We always use live recording and record entire pieces of music. We never create a track from separate recordings.
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Master Tape Copy
We make first generation copy of the original master tape. The same reel-to-reel studio recorder, on which the music was originally recorded, serves as source machine. The target Studer A807 tape recorder was directly connected to the source machine.
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Hi-Res Digital Copy
Our Hi-Res digital copy is an exact first generation digital copy of the master tape. In order to reduce the number of conversions and avoid any additional manipulation, we used two different digital conversions: One for CD audio and one for Hi-Res audio. CD audio and Hi-Res audio files were also converted to Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC), a file format for lossless audio data compression, in order to speed up the download.
