Groove Time
Jeff Garretson - Wed 05:30 PM 10/17/2012
Marc Sheforgen of Blue Heaven Studios explains the 'direct to disc' recording process.
A time machine, outfitted with a needle, will capture sounds from the past this weekend as Blues Masters at the Crossroads returns to Salina.
Marc Sheforgen with Blue Heaven Studios stopped into the KSAL Morning News Wednesday with a look at a blues festival that has stayed organic over the past 15 years, "We want a performance on stage that has the warts and all," he said.
Every seat in the converted church sanctuary gives audience members a chance to feel the music, but a relic recording machine will give fans a chance to hear it again someday at 33⅓ RPMs.
"Direct to disc recordings is the way we maximize fidelity," Sheforgen explained from inside the sound booth at Blue Heaven.
"The wider the groove, the better the sound reproduction."
The 'Neumann VMS-70 Cutting Lathe' is the throw-back recording tool that actually takes the live perfomance on stage and cuts the musical track directly onto the platter.
"The discs are electroplated, or nickel plated," Sheforgen explained. "The live mix comes through the sound console and the needle cuts the music onto the plate. Each master disc holds about 20 minutes of audio."
Sheforgen adds that they won't record the entire two-day Blues Fest with the 'lathe,' but will work with some of the artists during their time in Salina.
"It's a unique sound that doesn't have a huge customer base waiting for a record. We do it because it's cool."
A handful of tickets remain for Blues Masters at the Crossroads, Friday, October 19th and Saturday, October 20th.
Learn more online at www.blueheavenstudios.com.
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