[WGH]

THTST looks intriguing, just wondering if I should pay the $18 and if it is as good as Mickey Hart's Planet Drum and At the Edge. I found out about this album by being on the Enjoy the Music's mailing list.

"Please allow me to let you in on some very exciting news that is not directly associated with Enjoy the Music.com. After nearly two decades of being away from the recording studio I (Steven R. Rochlin) have released a new album! This solo venture is of drums and percussion and was recorded digitally in very high resolution with no overdubs and using only a pair of microphones. This recording was done using 100% battery power and all the usual audiophile standards. You can learn more about this on the website.

 "The new album titled THTST is now available for download in high definition 24-bit/96kHz FLAC, 16/48 AIFF or 320kbs mp3 format from HDtracks. After many years of hiatus this is my first venture back into the studio as it were and I hope you enjoy the music. Once you hear the album I welcome your feedback as there may be a follow-up that better focuses on certain periods or genre of percussion and drums."

http://www.thtst.com/

Wayne

 

[enjoythemusic]

WGH,

  i'll PM you the e-mail address high-end shop owner and member of the Aussie high-end club so you can talk with him directly. Do not know him, never met him, never corresponded with him before, etc yet he bought the album and says:

Today I had downloaded the 24-bit files from HD Tracks.... the dynamics and impact are sublime, put together with accurate tonality, timbre and extension. Well done for doing a hard task properly. I have sent your website and HDtracks link to the Queensland Audio Club (Australia). Keep up the good work.

Campbell Hicks
Principal, The Audiophile Workshop

Alas, print mags being on that time delay, it may be two months before the 'big print guys' have their reviews published. The album release was delayed by a month and that kinda hurts, yet the results were well worth it imho. Of course i am a bit biased, though seriously this was a very big effort and i knew if the sound quality was bad the audiophiles would kill me and if the drumming was bad my drum message board buddies would kill me.

So yeah, she HAD TO be good or else...

Please someone DL the album and post here as i truly do want to know your thoughts and PLEASE e-mail them to me as well because i am building a web page for reviews/comments on the site. If there is enough interest in certain genres on the album i could expand on that not that the whole room acoustics and mic placement work has been accomplished. Please believe me, this was an immense efforts and during pre-production stages those who gave input were truly impresses with my efforts on many levels. The final release is a culmination of input by audiophiles AND drummers. So far everyone seems might impressed and again, look forward to someone here getting the album and she really is a system test disc AND MOST IMPORTANT musically inspiring.

.

[satfrat]

Offering track samples on the website would have been nice. 

[WGH]

Clicking on the HDtracks "click here to buy this album" takes you to a page where you can choose between either the hi-rez or standard Redbook formats. Choose a format and the next page lets you listen to short snippets of each song.

Wayne

[satfrat]

Clicking on the HDtracks "click here to buy this album" takes you to a page where you can choose between either the hi-rez or standard Redbook formats. Choose a format and the next page lets you listen to short snippets of each song.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne, that's a good thing to know. I'll give them a listen later on tonite.
 
Cheers,
Robin

[enjoythemusic]

Thanks for the help and my apologies for chiming in late as am in China touring some manufacturing facilities for Enjoy the Music.com. HDtracks now has THTST on sale, so the price is lower

After you have listened to the album PLEASE let me know your thoughts on it here or via e-mail. On THTST website i added a reviews page and none other than Malcolm Omar Hawksford (Audio Engineering Society (AES) Award Winner) and scholar/teacher and reviewer loves the album. You can read his comments on the site (link below).

www.THTST.com

Again, many thanks and my apologies or the late reply, have been very busy.

[enjoythemusic]

Robin (or anyone here),

  Did you DL any of the tracks? Comments???? as i really want to hear from you guys as a few reviewers have already sent me e-mails with very positive results. Many thanks.

[satfrat]

Sorry Steve but I went to HDTracks and tried to sample your album as Wayne suggested but I heard nothing. I tried sampling other albums from that site and nothing was working for me on my Windows XP. I don't buy anything I don't hear first so I can't comment on either your album or HDTracks in general.
 
Cheers,
Robin

[enjoythemusic]

satfrat, i FULLY understand as i'd hate to buy without at least getting some idea of what the song/album was all about. You might want to call HDtracks (or see their FAQ or e-mail them) and see what the problem might be.

You may want to double check that you have the latest version of JAVA
www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

If you do download the latest JAVA remember to reboot your machine as XP loves reboots.

[satfrat]

satfrat, i FULLY understand as i'd hate to buy without at least getting some idea of what the song/album was all about. You might want to call HDtracks (or see their FAQ or e-mail them) and see what the problem might be.

You may want to double check that you have the latest version of JAVA
www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

If you do download the latest JAVA remember to reboot your machine as XP loves reboots.

Yep I use the latest Java V6/update 17 and this seems to be the only website that I'm having an issue with samples as I do a lot of sampling all over the internet. Heck I even signed up to HDTracks, just to see if that would make a difference.
 
I have emailed HDTracks to see if this is a reocurring problem for them. I'm a big fan of world fusion and would really like an opportunity to at least sample your work Steve. 
 
Cheers,
Robin

[mgalusha]

The HD Tracks preview uses flash and is sent from an Amazon web service. If Javascript is disabled or you have a selective script blocker enabled it won't work, regardless of OS. Make sure scripts are allowed from amazonaws.com.

[HAL]

I have downloaded the THTST files from HDTracks.  Here is a mini-review.

The recordings have varied styles and instrumentation.  Lots of interesting percussion sounds.

The recording quality is very good and all percussion sounds come through well defined on my Netbook->HiFace USB-S/PDIF interface -> PT P-3A with MW Level II mods and CI Audio VAC-3.  Will be integrating this setup in the main music system later this weekend.

The early tracks have smaller sets of instruments and easy to hear each piece across the soundstage. The last two tracks are all out drum solo's with interesting beat patterns.  I like these two the most.  Will definetly be a good set of test tracks for trials on different setups.

[enjoythemusic]

HAL,

  A most humble thanks, yes the drum and percussion tracks vary in style and content. My goal was to show various styles while also being a 'test' of a variety of system parameters. It was not easy, believe me(!). The first few tracks are 'small ensembles' as it were, with some strong and also some VERY delicate (microdynamics) 'tests' as it were. They also test the uppermost frequency extremes of a system. Soundstage ability and depth is also fun

The middle tracks vary, with some really testing a systems bass ability not just in quality and quantity but also in the ability to define the different lowermost toms and gong bass drum. i find THIS is where MANY systems can not seem to resolve the difference between things, or the woofers/amplifier simply 'run out' of ability/gymnastics as it were.

Yes, the last two tracks are for those who want to hear that all-out no-holds-barred drum solo efforts. Big, 'bad', super he-man stuff to be found there!

Just wait until you hear it on you main rig and also through OTHER systems and at shows. While at th RMAF i was amazed how DIFFERENT some systems portrayed the music. She really is a fun album filled with something for everyone (i hope) and yes as a critical test to see just how much one's system can resolve in dynamics while retaining detail plus micro dynamics and harmonic structure rendering. Soundstaging is such that in a normal 8 foot wide speaker separation the drum solo really should sound like a drumset is IN your listening room

(PHEW!)

Of course in the end what really matters is that we all...

[HAL]

Follow-up on THTST.

Have it mastered to a DVD-A to make it a bit more portable for listening.

The recoding has great sound staging and clean dynamcs.   The percussion decay is very nice on all the tracks.  The sense of the recording space is nice, but not sure if this is just the room or how it was generated. 

The last drum test record I heard was the Sheffield Track and Drum record and this recording has more instruments that what I remember of the classic.

I can see this being very useful for system setup to help get the sound stage setting for speakers dialed in.  The dynamics will give a system a work out with the later tracks.  The dynamic range is large so be careful on first playback. 

Having fun with it!

[enjoythemusic]

Hal, a huge thanks for your honest assessment.

The recoding has great sound staging and clean dynamics.   The percussion decay is very nice on all the tracks.  The sense of the recording space is nice, but not sure if this is just the room or how it was generated.

It is the room, which has been carefully tuned for this recording plus only a pair of mics that took my EIGHT hours to find the chosen positioning. 

The last drum test record I heard was the Sheffield Track and Drum record and this recording has more instruments that what I remember of the classic.

Yes, the classic Sheffield had far fewer instruments. You can see a list of the instruments on THTST on the website www.THTST.com

I can see this being very useful for system setup to help get the sound stage setting for speakers dialed in.  The dynamics will give a system a work out with the later tracks.  The dynamic range is large so be careful on first playback.

A most humble thanks and fully agree, please everyone be very careful with your volume knob the first listen.

Having fun with it!

Or as i always say...