That was an interesting review of the Nat "King Cole" recording. I'm curious about this three-channel recording technique. I would like to hear more explanation about it. Can you explain how exactly the center-channel speaker is used and if there are other recordings done this way.
Tom Lefebre
Many producers use three-track masters, since they provide more freedom in mixing. In the 1950s and on, three-track masters were produced but had to be mixed back down to stereo because there was no format available to present them to the public. Analog vinyl discs were stereo only. With SACD, DVD-Audio, and Blu-ray -- all systems capable of multichannel reproduction -- those masters can be presented as originally made.
The advantages of having a center channel is that it eliminates the ghost center of stereo recordings; now, the front soundstage can be more stable and solid. Different producers will use it in different ways, but often on recordings with a soloist -- classical or pop -- he/she is placed in the center channel, which leaves the left and right channel free to reproduce the supporting ensemble. A benefit of this is not only image stability but also greater clarity.
Classical-music producers have released quite a few three-channel recordings on SACD, most notably RCA (Living Stereo series) and Mercury (Living Presence series). There have been a few Vanguards as well. I hope the Cole recordings will be a huge success and encourage Analogue Productions and others to produce more three-channel material from various pop, jazz, and rock catalogs. In the meantime, they also have done a wonderfully mellow Miles Davis album in three-channel, Someday My Prince Will Come, and that will be reviewed in the October 1 update on our GoodSound! sister site.. It's sweet. . . . Rad Bennett
