Alpha Classics record label - recording level ?

[johnb]

This might be just my personal reaction but whenever I play an Alpha Classics recording (usually streamed from Qobuz) I have to dramatically turn the volume way, way down. That makes me wonder whether their recording engineers employ some of the dynamic range reduction techniques used in pop music - though in a very much milder form, of course. My impression of their recordings is that they tend to be somewhat hard-edged - which would tally (but I might well be mistaken). I now tend to Alpha Classical discs, which is a pity as they record some very fine musicians.

I wonder whether anyone else has any thoughts about the Alpha recordings. (Perhaps it is all in my imagination.)

(This matter sprang to mind when I was investigating the Bach Solo Violin Sonatas & Partitas recorded by Amandine Beyer. The Chaconne from that recording was played on a recent Record Review and I would very much like to hear more of her Bach. Sadly the discs aren't currently available on Qobuz so I was looking at Amazon and my heart rather sank when I saw the record label.)

[jayne lee wilson]

Is it this one?

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/bach-sonatas-and-partitas-for-solo-violin-pisendel-sonata-amandine-beyer/3760009292512

A big fan of this label, I guess the level is sometimes rather high, but I simply switch preamp attenuation in if it bothers me, and haven't usually found dynamic range to be too compromised.

The La Tempête Azahar and Monteverdi Vespro albums sound pretty good here, as does the Resound series of Beethoven Symphonies and Concertos (OWA/Haselbock etc). These latter are presented very spaciously and atmospherically, with a wide dynamic range and a vivid acoustic presence, in some of the smaller venues Beethoven knew, in a way I really appreciate. Beautifully engineered. Have you tried those?

My most recent purchase was of the Haydn 6-8 in the Haydn 2032 series. As with several of the 2032s, the orchestra is set close and climaxes probably could seem a bit fierce in some replay contexts, level is fairly high but the dynamic range good on both CD and the stream. I guess the setting could be more distanced and with even more hushed pps, but that's where attenuation can help, should I feel inclined...

[Richard Barrett]

This might be just my personal reaction but whenever I play an Alpha Classics recording (usually streamed from Qobuz) I have to dramatically turn the volume way, way down. That makes me wonder whether their recording engineers employ some of the dynamic range reduction techniques used in pop music - though in a very much milder form, of course.

I have numerous recordings on this label and I don't find level or harshness a problem at all. I certainly don't think the engineers for this label are using pop-music-style audio compression. I think it is rather the case that "baroque" instruments (and for that matter voices) are generally somewhat quieter than their "modern" equivalents, as will be obvious to anyone who's heard a baroque ensemble playing in a modern concert hall, and so levels might be taken somewhat higher so as to make full use of whatever bit depth is being used. I often think that domestic hifi equipment should have a control for "perceived average level" (first scanning the average level of the media to be played back) in addition to a gain control.

[Bryn]

I have numerous recordings on this label and I don't find level or harshness a problem at all. I certainly don't think the engineers for this label are using pop-music-style audio compression. I think it is rather the case that "baroque" instruments (and for that matter voices) are generally somewhat quieter than their "modern" equivalents, as will be obvious to anyone who's heard a baroque ensemble playing in a modern concert hall, and so levels might be taken somewhat higher so as to make full use of whatever bit depth is being used. I often think that domestic hifi equipment should have a control for "perceived average level" (first scanning the average level of the media to be played back) in addition to a gain control.

IIRC, the original specification for DAB included the provision for dynamic range adjustment for different listening conditions. However, I don't think this was ever exploited by either radio manufacturers or, indeed, broadcasters. Re the general level used for CDs, I recall that at least one of John Tilbury's Feldman recordings bore a 'warning' that the music was intended to be quiet and was presented that way, i.e. not exploiting the full dynamic range available for the quantisation employed. I have always considered that to have been a mistake. Far better, in my view, that it be recorded so that the maximum peak approached saturation (0dB) and the 'warning' be to reduce the playback level, though I suppose jlw's point re preamp attenuation might mitigate against that.

[jayne lee wilson]

In fact, the very first DAB Tuner offered for domestic use, the Arcam Alpha 10, did offer a range of dynamic compression on levels from 1-5. Unsurprisingly, 5 was pretty much the same as FM at its most steam-hammered . (Unfortunately without any tonal refinements).

I was fond of this design, which did its best up against a limit of 192kbps mpeg2. The range of technical facilities was remarkable, with viterbi error rates and instant switching between transmitters, with full read-out of location (Winter Hill, Moel-y-parc etc), signal-strength and error-rate from each, etc...

Imagine if it had been able to offer 256kbps on R3, and upgradeable to DAB+...! The whole history of Radio 3 and hifi listening would be different....
Still, we now have the AAC 320 feed, for which relief.....

[Goon525]

I'd rate Alpha as pretty much the best classical label around at the moment - as do Gramophone, who made it their label of the year. I have no problem with their recording levels, but then I do have a volume control available. I certainly don't find their stuff lacking in dynamic range, as I might if they were employing compression.

[johnb]

Is it this one?

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/bach-sonatas-and-partitas-for-solo-violin-pisendel-sonata-amandine-beyer/3760009292512

A big fan of this label, I guess the level is sometimes rather high, but I simply switch preamp attenuation in if it bothers me, and haven't usually found dynamic range to be too compromised.
.....

It is a more recent recording (not at all sure about the cover image - very odd): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B093RZJK...v_ov_lig_dp_it


As the recording doesn't seem to be available on Qobuz or Spotify I've ordered it from Amazon. I don't usually buy CDs or downloads with so little to go on, but my interest was piqued.

After reading what other folk have written, I'll explore Alpha Classics recordings further over the next few days - perhaps I'll gain enlightenment.

[Bryn]

It is a more recent recording (not at all sure about the cover image - very odd): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B093RZJK...v_ov_lig_dp_it


As the recording doesn't seem to be available on Qobuz or Spotify I've ordered it from Amazon. I don't usually buy CDs or downloads with so little to go on, but my interest was piqued.

After reading what other folk have written, I'll explore Alpha Classics recordings further over the next few days - perhaps I'll gain enlightenment.

More recent? The publication date is given as 2011. Are you sure it is not just a repackaging, at bargain price, of the recording which is, indeed, to be found on QOBUZ?

The highest resolution for this recording on QOBUZ, by the way, is 44.1kHz/24-bit.

https://www.qobuz.com/ie-en/album/bach-sonatas-and-partitas-for-solo-violin-pisendel-sonata-amandine-beyer/3760009292512

[jayne lee wilson]

It is a more recent recording (not at all sure about the cover image - very odd): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B093RZJK...v_ov_lig_dp_it


As the recording doesn't seem to be available on Qobuz or Spotify I've ordered it from Amazon. I don't usually buy CDs or downloads with so little to go on, but my interest was piqued.

After reading what other folk have written, I'll explore Alpha Classics recordings further over the next few days - perhaps I'll gain enlightenment.

As that Amazon image makes clear, this is a reissue of the same ZigZag Territoires recording I linked to on Qobuz. 2011, with the exact same tracklisting on each disc....

OUTHERE MUSIC distibrutes Alpha, which now subsumes ZZT under its aegis...

Original CD here....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JS-Bach-violin-Amandine-Beyer/dp/B005H3HXQE/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=amandine+beyer+bach&qid=1627949050&s=music&sr=1-1

[MickyD]

I collected most of their earlier 'white cover' CDs of folk and traditional music (including those by L'Arpeggiata ) and find them superbly recorded, but cannot speak for later offerings. Too many other discs to buy, sadly and not enough time!