But where is the official site in English?
There's no such a site at the moment but I could provide translation in English on this page if I were asked.
Who run this site? And what for?
I aka efil2159 run this site and I'm doing this for fun.
What is SHM?
SHM is the abbreviation of Super High Material. Now, I'm no expert on technologies so please have a look at this site regarding SHM. Don't worry, it's written in English. SHM-CD Super High Material CD
Is the SHM used for SHM-SACDs same as for SHM-CDs?
Yes.
Why should I bother with this "SHM" thing?
No, you don't have to bother with SHM at all if you don't want to. The forte of the SHM-SACD are:
1. superiority in resolution relative to CD
2. DSD data is uncompressed
3. adoption of single layer disc dedicated to SACD
4. adoption of new DSD transfer from analogue master tapes
5. some titles are released on SACD for the first time ever
&
6. mastering is basically flat transfer from US/UK/Japan original analogue master tapes
So if you know what "flat transfer" from "original analogue master tapes" really means and care about it, then it's quite likely that you find one or more titles from the SHM-SACD series essential to your music life.
Which titles are sourced from the original master tapes?
So far (*asterisk indicates "first time on SACD"):
+ Rock
Asia - Asia (US master)*
Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink (UK master)*
Humble Pie - Smokin' (UK master)
John Mayall & the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (UK master)*
The Who - Who's Next (UK master)* (DSD transferred from analogue master tapes by Jon Astley at Close To The Edge Mastering, Twickenham Middx London)
+Jazz
Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby (US master)
What about others?
They are using basically either (a)new DSD transfers from Japan original master tapes or (b)DSD masters used for SACDs released in the past.
(a) New DSD transfer from Japan original master tapes
+ Rock
The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Blind Faith - Blind Faith*
Cream - Wheels of Fire*
Dire Straits - Dire Straits*
Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard
Kiss - Destroyer*
The Moody Blues - Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll*
Steely Dan - Aja*
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Velvet Underground - VU and Nico*
Wishbone Ash - Argus*
10cc - The Original Soundtrack*
+ Jazz
Art Pepper - Art Pepper meets The Rhythm Section
Miles Davis - Relaxin'
Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus
(b) From already available DSD masters
+ Rock
Derek and the Dominos - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (2004 Polydor)
Marvin Gaye - What's Goin' On (2008 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab)
Police - Synchronicity (2003 A&M)
Police - Outlandos D'amour (2003 A&M)
The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed (2002 Abkco)
The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet (2002 Abkco)
+ Jazz
Bill Evans - Portrait in Jazz (2003 Concord)
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Ella & Louis (2002 Verve)
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (2002 Verve)
John Coltrane and Jonny Hartman (2004 Verve)
Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown (2003 Verve)
Stan Getz and Joan Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto (2002 Verve)
Wes Montgomery - Incredible Jazz Guitar (2003 Concord)
+ Classical
Claudio Arrau - Liszt - Sonata in B minor (2004 Decca)
Daniel Barenboim - Saint-Saens - Symphony No.3 (2004 Emil Berliner Studios)
Esa-Pekka Salonen - Stravinsky - Le Sacre du Printemps (2006 Emil Berliner Studios)
Herbert von Karajan - Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem (2004 Emil Berliner Studios)
Herbert von Karajan - Richard Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra (2004 Decca)
Hilary Hahn - Bach - Concertos (2003 Emil Berliner Studios)
Karl Bohm - Mozart - Requiem (2004 Emil Berliner Studios)
Karl Richter - Bach - Overtures No.1 & No.2 (2004 Emil Berliner Studios)
Ozawa Seiji - Beethoven - Symphony No.9 (2003 Decca)
Sir Colin Davis - Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique (2004 Decca)
Sir Georg Solti - Bartok - Concerto for Orchestra (2004 Decca)
What are "Japan original master tapes"?
Basically they are dub masters so they are one generation down from the original master tapes prepared in US or UK or wherever original recordings were made. The dubs were made when albums were released for the first time back in those days and shipped to Japan and since then they have been in the vaults of UMJ or other music companies in Japan, to which the artists belonged at the time.
Is the SHM-SACD of John Mayall & the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton in mono or stereo?
According to UMJ's customer service, it's in mono. It's scheduled to be released on 27 Oct. 2010.
Another question (I) or someone should have asked is about the green label of the SHM-SACD disc and why they are making them that way?
The green label is called "On-Shou" in Japanese which is manufactured by ex-SONY Music Manufacturing Inc. now Sony DADC Japan Inc.
According to the official site (page 1, page 2) of "On-Shou"by Sony, the format was originally developed for DVD-R of better quality.
The Sony site claims that the entire soundstage from bass to midrange to top-end are improved with the green label and the sustain of reverb, the sonic balance within dynamic range and the separation also get better.
The site does not offer the logic behind the green label effect, but I think many people have heard of this old story: the color of green absorbs redundant red laser which causes scattered reflections in a playback system for digital discs.
*I will add more information regarding the SHM-SACD when I have time.
To contact efil2159, please go to Steve Hoffman Music Forums first. By registering yourself for a forum member at the site, you'll be able to send me messages.
