5 Tracks in DSD 512, Volume 2

Just A Year Ago

In April 2019, NativeDSD introduced a unique sampler of 5 tracks from some of the best sounding albums in our catalog during the High End Munich audio show. It included tracks from artists including The Feenbrothers, classical guitarist Ricardo Gallen, violinist Rachael Podger, the Yuko Mabuchi Trio and Les Chat Noirs, a fine Django Jazz/Swing/Vocal group. The participating music labels included Sound Liaison, Eudora, Channel Classics, Yarlung, and Forward Music Italy. To make the sampler really special, NativeDSD Mastering Engineer Tom Caulfield used the Signalyst HQ Player Pro 4 software to remodulate each of these tracks into Stereo DSD 512.  This was done with the special “EC” modulators developed by Jussi Laako for this professional mastering and conversion product.

Why DSD 512?

The sonic advantage to these Stereo DSD 512 tracks, as with all higher DSD bit rate releases, is the playback Digital to Analog Converter’s use of gentler, more phase linear reconstruction filters and algorithms in the Digital to Analog Conversion (DAC) process and playback of the music. Recordings, regardless of their origin, sound better on DACs which use Sigma-Delta modulators (the vast majority of current consumer DACs) as their conversion element.  They're less aggressive, more spacious, and less "digital" sounding.

A Big Reception

What came next was immediate. Rave reviews from AXPONA led to strong sales of the original 5 Tracks in DSD 512 sampler. Listeners immediately asked NativeDSD for the opportunity to buy the full albums with each of these 5 tracks. These 5 albums also sold quite well in Stereo DSD 512. Next, our listeners asked for more albums in Stereo DSD 512. NativeDSD began searching our catalog for some candidates for DSD 512 release. Next, NativeDSD held discussions with additional music labels to see if they would be interested in releasing some of their albums in DSD 512. They were. As we release Volume 2 in April 2020, NativeDSD offers over 160 albums in Stereo DSD 512. And the requests continue for more DSD 512 releases. Not only from listeners, but from the artists and the music labels as well.

It’s Time for Volume 2

Stepping back for a moment, the NativeDSD team thought, it’s probably time to release a second edition of 5 Tracks in DSD 512. We now have a fine catalog of music in DSD 512 to select from and we’re always anxious to highlight more of the fine musicians, music labels and sonic standouts in our NativeDSD catalog with over 1,700 DSD releases. We’re delighted to present to you 5 Tracks in DSD 512, Volume 2. This time with a new line up of artists including vocalist Eden Atwood from Groove Note, guitarist and singer David Elias from Sketti Sandwich Productions, the unique pairing of Wu Wei with Holland Baroque from Pentatone, pianist Monaldo Braconi with the Ferentino Wind Orchestra conducted by Alessandro Celardi on VDM Records in Italy, and Ikumi Ogasawara from Vivid Productions Ltd.  Fans of fine music in DSD 512 are going to love these 5 new tracks – and will want to consider purchasing the full albums of each of these artists in DSD 512. Music Selection & Liner Notes by Brian Moura With Special Thanks to Tom Caulfield at the NativeDSD Mastering Lab and Jussi Laako at Signalyst (Read more about DSD 512 in this blog post) Eden Atwood - Vocals David Elias - Vocals Wu Wei - Sheng Holland Baroque Monaldo Braconi - Piano Ferentino Wind Orchestra conducted by Alessandro Celardi Ikumi Ogasawara - Piano