Moonlight Acoustica - New AIX Title

[Dr. AIX]

The readers of this group might like to know that we received a new DVD-A release today...Moonlight Acoustica. For anyone that has our most recent sampler, A High-Resolution Audio Experience, you can check out a sample of this "acoustic electronica" 5.1 surround disc on the sampler. I should be able to put some audio on the web site this weekend.

I particularly proud of this effort because it's a concept that I dreamed up some many months ago and finally got the chance to execute. I brought 7 of my favorite musicians into the hall and told them to play music in the style of electronica to the harmonies of the Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven. It turned out great! In the recent few months, I've taken the HD video and filtered it so that there is a second video presentation that is more like animated "wallpaper" that keeps moving in time to the music...after all it is the video, just highly treated [it took me over 3 months to finish].

More coming soon...and thanks for the support.

 

[JonUrban]

Cool! I just ordered some discs including the samplers and will check this one out as well.

 

[filmosound]

would love to hear some audio samples of "Moonlight Acoustica". (i.e. noticed they're not on the website yet)

 

[ccm0114]

I was looking at the AIX catalog, and I agree that they need to put out MUCH more in the way of audio samples. I would probably buy a LOT more from them if I had some inkling about what each disc had on it. A paragraph of text, just won't do it. To paraphrase, one sound clip is worth a thousand words. Take this "Moonlight Acoustica" disc, which I haven't heard and probably will not buy. You have to admit that the concept is really out there, and therefore has the potential to be quite bad (or quite good). A couple of music samples here could go a long way.

Most of the AIX catalog has no samples to listen to. And some of the catalog items have only one or two samples. And then there were some where the link to samples didn't even work. The titles are much too expensive to take random chances on buying, particularly when you have lesser known artists.

Don't get me wrong, I think AIX is doing a great service, but with just a little bit more effort I think they could sell much more product.

 

[Chris Gerhard]

Audio samples of this music online won't help much in my opinion. Listening to it in DVD-A surround is the only way to tell much. Opinions of members here is the best we can hope for along with a return policy for music that isn't what we had hoped. This isn't mainstream music with catchy tunes. It requires several listens and then maybe it can be appreciated.

Chris

 

[Guy Robinson]

I have heard all the AIX discs multiple times in their entirety from both a DVD-V(DTS) and DVD-A perspective (except for a very few of the classical ones and "Moonlight Acoustica") and I can tell you that there are no "bad" AIX discs, just ones that may not be quite to your liking. Luckily my music sensibilities are quite open and cover everything pretty much (except for maybe RAP). "Moonlight Acoustica" sounds quite interesting from what is presented on the Third Sampler. I will of course be getting this one as I have to keep up with the catalogue now that I am so close to having heard and purchased it all. It's just a matter of when as I have spent so much on discs lately.

 

[filmosound]

More audio samples could encourage me to make more AIX purchases too. Some titles sound interesting but I'd need to hear a bit of the music to know for sure. I wouldn't be judging the sound quality, and I can keep it relative -- knowing what music sounds like on my computer speakers, and that these AIX records will sound even better on my home theater system in DVD-Audio format. As long as Mark keeps the mp3 bit rates at 192kbps or higher, that's fine for the computer.

 

[Guy Robinson]

More audio samples could encourage me to make more AIX purchases too. Some titles sound interesting but I'd need to hear a bit of the music to know for sure. I wouldn't be judging the sound quality, and I can keep it relative -- knowing what music sounds like on my computer speakers, and that these AIX records will sound even better on my home theater system in DVD-Audio format. As long as Mark keeps the mp3 bit rates at 192kbps or higher, that's fine for the computer.

I know what you mean. Initially it is a bit of a blind buy and samples may help some people decide on which discs are to their liking if they don't like all types of music. After you get to 10 discs or so you start to realize that you really can't go wrong with any of them if taken within the category of music they belong in. Also, a few more sales would help. I went gangbusters on the "2 free discs with every $100 spent" promotion. Now that the Canadian dollar is so high, it makes these discs even more reasonable.

Hey Mark.....have I promoted enough to get a free copy of "Moonlight Acoustica"..............just kidding...........sort of...........

 

[Dr. AIX]

After another long weekend of working on graphics for Lowen and Navarro and Ernest Ranglin, I thought I would stop buy QQ. I get the point about more audio samples...I've had to increase my capacity at my ISP and will definitely be able to populate the pages with more tunes. Is there anything in particular that you guys would like to have more to audition?

 

[ferret-e]

I've had to increase my capacity at my ISP and will definitely be able to populate the pages with more tunes. Is there anything in particular that you guys would like to have more to audition?

You can use online filestorages, such as http://upload.filefront.com/ to host sample files. (Quick start and traffic expences estimating.)

 

[ccm0114]

Hi Doc,

I would prefer to get samples on the non-classical items. In particular, those that have no samples at present. Also, you can make a quick check on the existing samples to make sure the links works. That would save you some effort.

Thanks for your consideration.

 

[Guy Robinson]

After another long weekend of working on graphics for Lowen and Navarro and Ernest Ranglin, I thought I would stop buy QQ. I get the point about more audio samples...I've had to increase my capacity at my ISP and will definitely be able to populate the pages with more tunes. Is there anything in particular that you guys would like to have more to audition?

Hi Mark,
If you follow what a site like Amazon is doing perhaps every song or every second song should have a 20-30 second sample. Even some video samples would be good to show what is available there as well. Since your samplers are essentially free maybe you would like to include all the songs on those in there entirety (at least as much as you have on the sampler).

 

[filmosound]

I prefer at least 1 minute samples.

For starters, you could put up samples from the releases that have came out since the last sampler disc (A High-Resolution Audio Experience).

And like someone else mentioned, fix the current sample links that aren't working, like "L.A. Blues" from the Grant Geissman Quintet. It looks unprofessional to have links that don't work.

 

[Dr. AIX]

Thanks gentlemen, I'm currently working on populating more of the catalog with online audio.

 

[filmosound]

The readers of this group might like to know that we received a new DVD-A release today...Moonlight Acoustica. For anyone that has our most recent sampler, A High-Resolution Audio Experience, you can check out a sample of this "acoustic electronica" 5.1 surround disc on the sampler. I should be able to put some audio on the web site this weekend.

I particularly proud of this effort because it's a concept that I dreamed up some many months ago and finally got the chance to execute. I brought 7 of my favorite musicians into the hall and told them to play music in the style of electronica to the harmonies of the Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven.

This is a great disc... just received it last week.

If Moonlight Sonata hadn't been mentioned, I never would have known.... with the exception of the piano part being played near the end of the jam. This is a good thing as I didn't want to hear Moonlight Sonata being played over and over for an hour.

I don't hear the "electronica" reference either! To me it just sounds like a great long jam with excellent musicians.... to be listened to late at night with the lights dimmed, while relaxing on the sweet spot of the couch.

Lots of electric guitar playing on this by Carl Verheyen.

The sample on the High-Resolution Audio Experience will give you the right idea, as well as the sample at www.itrax.com (I think it's the last few minutes of the disc.)

I also received the Calamari disc and it sounds great....both sonically (10/10) and musically. Sonically, it's better than the Latin Jazz Trio (9/10) or Retro Jazz Quintet (8/10) - the other AIX jazz discs I have.

 

[Felix E. Martinez]

I too find the "electronica" description a bit puzzling.

It is, however, a fantastic 53-minute electro-acoustic jam with Verheyen and Juber in top form. Lots of high points throughout, including a riveting percussion solo by Alberto Lopez. I'm also grateful that the one track is indexed into many parts so one can skip to a particular solo (instead of FF). The jam is very organic, with changes in tempo and mood, written/structured by Dr. AIX himself!

Video quality is also excellent - this is one area that has improved immensely since the first AIX DVD-Audio releases appeared about 6 years ago. Before it was just about documenting the session, visually, but since the switch to HD cameras, it's truly a pleasure to listen and watch. This and Brand New Opry are making my All Spin Zone and will be fully reviewed in HDTV Etc. Magazine very soon.

 

[Dr. AIX]

The "electronica" reference is to the insistence of a regular underlying pulse and that music of that genre shares many of the repetitive aspects of this work. I'm pleased that the music works for those who have heard it...there is another in the works on the Pachelbel Canon! Cheers.

Mark