This is Jerome Sabbagh‘s new album “Heart”, following on from “Vintage” (reviewed here), released in 2023.
For this new album, Jerome remains faithful to pure analog recording and reproduction, as we had already seen with “Vintage”.
But, for this new album, Jerome wants to capture the quinquecence of the live sound, so no recording on an analog multitrack like the STUDER A80O. Instead, he recorded live in the studio on a stereo tape containing the mix of his various microphones and recorded on 1/2 inch tape on a custom Ampex 351 tube at 30 ips (76 cm/s).
Recorded by James Farber at Power Station (New York).
It features Jerome Sabbagh on saxophone, Joe Martin on bass and Al Foster on drums.
This album is available on vinyl and magnetic tape ( available on www.analogtonefactory.com), offering pure analog recording media. It is also available on CD and as a high-resolution download (available on Bandcamp), as well as for streaming.
Jerome Sabbagh , Joe Martin and Al Foster are all in the same room, an important point to have the live rendering (no individual recording) of course, and it was James Farber, the engineer, who chose the layout, taking into account the room’s acoustics, which he knows very well (Studio C, at Power Station in New York, which does indeed have exceptional acoustics).
The aim was to achieve a life-like rendering, and to achieve this, the mix was made live, which eliminates one step and allows for even greater fidelity (but is also high-risk, insofar as nothing can be redone).
With only analog equipment, the reverb on the sax is a real EMT, not a digital reverb.
For the recording, exceptional microphones were used.
The Telefunken 251 (a Multi-Pattern Tube Condenser Microphone released in 1959) in which Jérome played is around 70 years old, and is his favorite of all the mics he’s used to date.
The AKG C24 (Stereo Large Diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone) on double bass (of which we only used half, the C24 being a stereo mic) wasn’t bad either, as Jerome said…
For the drums, several mics were used, including a Schoeps overhead and a Sony C37A (a tube condenser microphone released in 1955) (Center overhead).
Jerome explains that a room stereo mic (AEA R88 ribbon micphone) was used a little, but not that much (we inverted the channels, precisely to match the image).
I’d like to thank François Saint-Gérant of Ana Mighty Sound for the opportunity to test his master copy tape on his Analog Audio Design TP-1000 magnetophone.
For this review, you will find 3 versions tested: Pure analog vinyl record, digital download, Master Tape Copy.
Below you will find the description of the different editions, as well as the measurements of each edition in the following chapters.
The synthesis of the review and the samples are available here
The album is composed of 8 tracks:
- Prelude to a Kiss
- ESP
- Heart
- Gone with the Wind
- Right the First Time
- When Lights Are Low
- Lead the Way
- Body and Soul
Summary, scoring and Samples
Ed 1: Vinyl – 2024
Presentation
This is the vinyle record realised in full analog AAA 180g. The vinyl is Mastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed at Gotta Groove. Master lacquer cut by Bernie Grundman directly from the analog tape, using an all-tube system.
| Label | Analog Tone Factory |
| Reference | 198168143629 |
| State | Vinyl LP 33.33 rpm |
| Type | Vinyl LP |
| Master | Analog Tape 1/2″ / 30 IPS |
| Mastering/Pressing | Mastered by Bernie Grundman, Master lacquer cut by Bernie Grundman, pressed at Gotta Groove |
| Original recording | Analog Tape 1/2″ / 30 IPS |
| State | US |
| Year original | 2024 |
| Year production | 2024 |
Waveform and Spectrum: DR16
The waveform of the vinyl record shows a high dynamic range confirmed with DR16.
The spectrogram shows that the signal rises above 20 kHz (yellow arrow) with signal above this frequency (white arrow) containing musical information and distortion due to the vinyl record’s operating principle. The black arrow shows a parasitic frequency peak around 40 kHz.
Synthesis and listening
The vinyl record provides a pure AAA analog version of this album.
We find the natural, more “analog” sound (a little warmer) of the vinyl record compared with the digital version available. We find the sound space and natural rendering intended by Jerome Sabbagh.
The engraving is very good, with very little surface noise.
It’s second only to tape in terms of rendering and naturalness, but not everyone has a tape player.
Rating:
- Dynamic: ●●●●● (5)
- Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
- Surface noise: ●●●●o (4.5)
- Restitution: ●●●●o (4.5)
Sample : “Lead the Way” 24 bits 192 kHz:
Ed 2: Digital Download – 2024
Presentation
Ths is the Digital files downloaded with the code included in the vinyl record.
| Label | Analog Tone Factory |
| Reference | Download available with vinyl and tape |
| State | Digital 24 bits 192 kHz |
| Type | PCM digital download |
| Master | Analog Tape 1/2″ / 30 IPS |
| Mastering/Pressing | Direct conversion Analog/Digital |
| Original recording | Analog Tape 1/2″ / 30 IPS |
| State | US |
| Year original | 2024 |
| Year production | 2024 |
Waveform and Spectrum: DR15
The waveform of the Digital Download shows a high dynamic range confirmed with DR15.
The spectrogram shows that the signal rises above 20 kHz (yellow arrow) with some signal above 30 kHz (white arrow) . The black arrow shows a parasitic frequency peak around 40 kHz.
Synthesis and listening
The high-resolution 24-bit 192 kHz digital version recaptures all the nuance and subtlety of the tape recording.
We find the same natural sound space and all the details present on the tape, as well as all the dynamics.
This is certainly the version closest to the master tape, but without the softer sound of vinyl.
Rating:
- Dynamic: ●●●●● (5)
- Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
- Restitution: ●●●●o (4.5)
Sample : “Lead the Way” 24 bits 192 kHz:
Ed 3: Tape – 2024
Presentation
This is a true Master Tape copy from the master tape at 30 IPS 1/2 inch (76 cm/s) avalaible in 15 IPS (38 cm/s) 1/4 inch on two 10.5 inches metal reels, each tape corresponding to a side of the LP.
| Label | Analog Tone Factory |
| Reference | Jerome Sabbagh: Heart R2R |
| State | Tape 15 IPS 1/4 inch (2 reel) |
| Type | Tape |
| Master | Analog Tape 1/2″ / 30 IPS |
| Mastering/Pressing | Direct copy of the master tape |
| Original recording | Analog Tape 1/2″ / 30 IPS |
| State | US |
| Year original | 2024 |
| Year production | 2024 |
Waveform and Spectrum: DR14
The waveform of the taped shows a high dynamic range confirmed with DR14.
The spectrogram shows that the signal rises above 20 kHz (yellow arrow) with some signal above this frequency and some noise (white arrow) due to tape playback.
Synthesis and listening
Listening to the tape on the Analog Audio Design TP-1000 player in the Ana Mighty Sound listening room allowed us to take full advantage of the dynamics, finesse and naturalness of Jerome Sabbagh’s album. A true sonic image is created, with a natural presence of each instrument. The attacks of each instrument are realistic. The ambience of the recording room and the spirit of the band’s live recordings are revealed. The accentuation of the lower end of the spectrum during tape playback adds presence to the double basses, making this the most beautiful listening experience on this album.
Rating:
- Dynamic: ●●●●o (4.5)
- Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
- Surface noise: ●●●●● (5)
- Restitution: ●●●●● (5)
Sample : ” Lead the Way” 24 bits 192 kHz:
Live is Live, as we might say of this album. Everything is done to offer the closest possible listening experience to live recording, with a choice of direct takes, no remixing and all in pure analog using exceptional equipment. With his new album “Heart”, Jerome Sabbagh has left nothing to chance and offers us an exceptional AAA analog vinyl and tape edition.
Dynamic Range measurements and spectra are shown below.
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Measurements
Dynamic Range comparaisons
Dynamic represents the ability to reproduce a wide range of sounds from the softest to the loudest. The target is to compare the dynamics of the music and not of the media (CD, digital files or vinyl).
For our 3 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :
| Vinyl – 2024 | Digital Download – 2024 | Tape – 2024 | |
| Global | DR16 | DR15 | DR14 |
| Min | DR15 | DR15 | DR14 |
| Max | DR16 | DR16 | DR15 |
| Prelude to a Kiss | DR15 | DR15 | DR14 |
| ESP | DR15 | DR16 | DR14 |
| Heart | DR16 | DR16 | DR14 |
| Gone with the Wind | DR15 | DR15 | DR14 |
| Right the First Time | DR16 | DR16 | DR15 |
| When Lights Are Low | DR16 | DR15 | DR15 |
| Lead the Way | DR16 | DR16 | DR15 |
| Body and Soul | DR16 | DR15 | DR14 |
As a reminder, the scale goes from 0 to more 20, but the dynamics are considered good from 12, quite good between 10 and 11, and deteriorate below 10.
Spectrum comparisons
The graph below compares the spectrum of the Vinyl – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Digital Download – 2024 (blue curve).The two spectra overlap up to 14 kHz, with little differences (yellow zone) in level up to 20 kHz. The red arrows show peaks of spurious frequencies present on the vinyl record and on the digital version.
The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tape – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Digital Download – 2024 (blue curve).The two spectra are very close, but with a difference of up to 5 dB below 400 Hz for the tape (green zone). Above 20 kHz, there are peaks of spurious frequencies present on both the tape and digital versions.
The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tape – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Vinyl – 2024 (blue curve).The two spectra are very close, but with a difference of up to 5 dB below 400 Hz (green zone). A more advanced qualibration specifically with the tape signals would have attenuated the bass, but still keeping an increase of 1 to 2 dB).The treble level (yellow zone) is also a little higher on the band. Above 20 kHz, there are parasitic frequency peaks (yellow arrow) present on the tape and to a lesser extent on the vinyl record.
Detail of the ratings :
- Dynamic :
- Significant dynamic compression, DR less than 7
- Compression of the present dynamics, DR between 7 and 9.
- Correct piece DR >=10
- No dynamic compression (DR >12), dynamic rendering
- No dynamic compression, high DR and very dynamic sound rendering
- Spectrum :
- Spectrum cut and less than 15 khz
- Spectrum cut at 15 khz
- Spectrum not conforming to the original and cut (not HD) or original but limited bandwidth (but less than 20 kHz)
- Spectrum conforming to the original (but not HD)
- Spectrum conforming to the original with HD resolution (higher than 24kHz)
- Surface noise (only for vinyl):
- Continuous audible noise
- Audible surface noise except on passages with a high level of noise
- Reduced surface noise, barely audible on low level crossings
- Low surface noise, very good quality
- Very low surface noise, no defects, almost inaudible on the quiet passages (exceptional disc)
- Spatialization :
- Between 0 and 5 for 5.1 or 7.1 channels configuration
- Between 0 and 10 for Atmos configuration (7.1.4)
- For more information on spatialization, you can read the article describing this parameter here.
- Restitution :
- Low quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
- Average quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
- Quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Good record.
- High quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Very high level disc.
- Maximum quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Exceptional disc.
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