Location Recording
(Classical music benefits enormously from location recording). Digital recording/capture and the acoustic of the location are two important factors that contribute to quality in the recording of classical music.
Digital recordings, in addition to having a wide dynamic range are also low in both distortion and
self-noise. With digital post-production processing engineers are allowed the freedom of creative
editing and the transfer of material without loss or degradation. Although these qualities
undoubtedly have a bearing on the sound of a recording, the most important factors - leaving aside
performance - are the choice of acoustic, and the selection and placement of microphones within it.
Recording on location brings with it this choice of acoustic and has distinct advantages over what the multi-purpose studio is able to offer. Venues are chosen for the quality of their acoustic and suitability for the particular type and size of ensemble and the music being recorded. Rooms of multi-purpose studios are too often of insufficient volume, offer too short a reverberation time and create sound reflections that are too immediate. These impoverish the sound from the outset, at the microphone - the very place where it ought to be pristine - resulting in hollow and enclosed sounding recordings. The addition of artificial reverberation and post production manipulation does not compensate for what should be there from the start. If the sound is not right at the microphone then there is little satisfaction in sending it through expensive equipment to listeners' ears. Additionally, location recording has the practical and economic advantage of bringing the recording studio to the performers; a consideration not to be overlooked.
For these reasons we at Octave specialise in location recording. We like to think of ourselves as having recording studios throughout the country with optimal acoustics available for each type of recording.
"Location, location, location" is certainly a maxim we appreciate and to which we subscribe.
Live Events
Recordings of live performances have a distinct quality of their own that is not often replicated
during a recording session. The perfection that extensive editing can offer is missing but is
replaced with the concentrated intensity and raw energy that playing live to an audience can generate.
The sound and response of the audience itself brings to the listener an irreplaceable sense of place and
the presence of a moment in time. If a performance is to be given in successive concerts, then more
opportunities exist for editing.
Many music lovers now recognise the value of this sense of the event, and are filling their CD collections with a mixture of both studio and live recordings.
Live recording, where timing and preparation are of the essence, whether before, during or after an event, are a regular part of Octave's work. We will listen to your requirements and can advise on the best approach in achieving your goals. Our experience and organisation enable us to complete the task with minimum fuss and maximum success.