On 8 Ensembles in 1 Bit, the debut release from Just Listen, Producers and Recording Engineers Jared Sacks (Channel Classics) and Daan van Aalst (Navis Classics) have pooled their extensive expertise in music production and recording in DSD audio. Their goal is to put together the best system for recording and reproducing music at the highest quality with recordings in the DSD 256 (quad rate DSD) format.

The album features performances in Swing Jazz, Vocals, World Music and Classical Music from artists including the Breno Viricimo Group, De Gebroeders, Harteveld and Fretz, Kobra Ensemble, New Amsterdam Voices, Odd Pearls, The Pipays, Thomas Baggerman and Eva Scholten and Vercammen & Roinishvilli.

An Introduction From The Producers

‘Recording in DSD’ is not a term that musicians are usually familiar with. In fact, none of the musicians we asked to participate in 8 Ensembles in 1 Bit had the slightest idea what it was at first! Surprisingly, without exception, all immediately said yes and were very keen to learn about it.

Especially on the recording days, March 4th and 5th, 2015, they soon learned what it’s like to record acoustically in DSD. “Hey, you, cellist, a little closer to the mics please” and “Could the saxophone player take two steps back and one to the right?”. With the microphones spread around above their heads and the prospect of no post recording mixing at all, the sound balancing had to be made right there and then at the recording session.

Once the musicians and engineers were happy with the balance, the recording began. Not only audio, but also visual! Jonas Sacks filmed each take of each ensemble, dancing fluidly around the musicians. This way, when the best take was chosen, we would always have a ‘1 take’ video to go with the ‘1 take’ DSD audio!

Seeing the expression on the faces of the musicians when they listened to themselves in DSD for the first time in the studio proved that Native DSD had organized something quite special. Most of them immediately shouted out in excitement: “We are playing right here in this room for ourselves to listen to!” A few others closed their eyes, made no sound, and sat totally still apart from the occasional jaw drop.

Well, that brings us to the point of why we did this. We are spreading the message of what the incredible DSD recording technique can deliver. At the same time, we are enriching the libraries of music fans with the music of some of the most promising Dutch musicians who would otherwise not have been recorded in DSD.

We intend to flabbergast the musicians as well as our Native DSD customers by facilitating a one-off chance to record – and listen to them – in DSD. And who knows, perhaps the next step will be to record a complete album with the most popular ensemble? Or can we go to other places and do the same? One thing is for sure: Native DSD will keep exploring the ‘beyond’ part of our “DSD and Beyond” mission!

Music in DSD 256, DSD 128 and DSD 64

The music on 8 Ensembles in 1 Bit is being provided in both Stereo and Multichannel sound in the recorded resolution DSD 256 (quad rate DSD). For listeners with DSD 256 systems you will enjoy hearing the music exactly as it was recorded.

We know that many listeners do not own DSD 256 converters and players today. Tom Caulfield, the Mastering Engineer at Native DSD used specially developed software from Jussi Laako (the maker of the Signalyst HQ Player software player) for the conversion from DSD 256 to DSD 128 and DSD 64.

Adding Metadata and Uploading the Files for You

Once the three sets of Stereo and Multichannel DSD files were completed, the tracks were then converted from the DFF to the DSF file format. This enables Native DSD to add metadata to the recorded tracks. Finally, the DSF tracks, cover art and album booklet in Acrobat PDF format are uploaded to our server where they can be purchased and downloaded for your musical enjoyment.

We hope this brief overview provides some insight into how we recorded the music on the new 8 Ensembles in 1 Bit album. There is more information in the booklet. We think you will really love what we heard in the recording studio – and you are about to hear at home.

Breno Viricimo Group
De Gebroeders, Harteveld and Fretz
Kobra Ensemble
New Amsterdam Voices
Odd Pearls
The Pipays
Thomas Baggerman and Eva Scholten
Vercammen and Roinishvilli