|
MGM Unveils New Mixing Technique at NARM; Called 'Saturation Sound'
MIAMI BEACH, FLA.—“Saturation
Sound,” MGM’s new “technological
improvement bridging the gap be’
tween mono equipment still in use and
the dominance of stereo recording”
was premiered at last week’s NARM
Convention.
Saturation Sound is designed to give
a superior mono sound when compared
to any straight stereo or so-called
“compatible” recording played on
mono equipment, and faithful stereo
reproduction when played on a stereo
phonograph.
A field test of Saturation Sound was
made with the Cowsills’ latest chart
single, “In Need Of A Friend.” Back
in February the single (bearing an
S.S. designation after the catalog number)
was serviced to all AM, FM, FM
Stereo stations and to consumers.The
test was a complete success. All future
singles on the MGM and associated
labels will be produced in Saturation
Sound. A full line of Saturation Sound
album product will be introduced with
the June release.
An Answer
“For many years now,” the MGM
president Mort Nasatir said, “the
record industry has been searching
for an answer to its double inventory,
double packaging and radio air play
problems. Steps were taken last summer
to promote stereo to the consumer
and the radio station. But we know now that, realistically, playing straight
stereo on mono machines has been less
than fully satisfactory. And ‘comppatible’
records up to now have sacrificed
far too much of the legitimate
stereo charactistics.
“We believe that Saturation Sound
is today’s answer to today’s problem.
Saturation Sound gives the consumer
with mono equipment true monophonic
sound, and when he converts to a
stereo player he will be able to play
that same recording on his new stereo
machine and get true stereo sound.
“However, use of the Haeco system
to produce Saturation Sound is going
to increase our production costs. As a
result, we have decided to raise the
suggested list price of our stereo
singles produce a few pennies to $1.00.
At MGM we believe that Saturation
Sound is a step in the right direction.
A step forward towards an all stereo
industry.”
The Technique
Saturation Sound is the MGM name
for a new technique of multi-track
mixing (technically referred to as
C.S.G.) devised by West Coast engineer
Howard S. Holzer. Holzer’s Haeco
Company has developed a computerized
piece of programming equipment
which actually controls the distribution
of left and right channel stereo
separation in such a way as to alleviate
center channel build up. Center
channel build up has been the most
persistent stumbling block to date in
producing one record that would faithfully
play on stereo and mono equipment.
In addition to the Cowsills’ “In Need
of a Friend,” a good many other disks
were introduced at the NARM meet
bearing the S.S. Saturation Sound
tag. Other artists included in the original
Saturation Sound singles release
are Erroll Garner, Jerry Lanning, on
MGM, Arthur Prysock on Verve, the
Appletree Theatre on Verve/Forecast
and various artists on the Kama Sutra
and Venture labels.
‘Sound Of Fame’
Also, at the NARM Convention last
week, MGM’s Verve label debuted a
new line of pop and jazz singles of the
golden oldie variety at the NARM
Convention here this week called the
“Verve Sounds of Fame” series of hit
singles.
The line was introduced by label
manager Jerry Schoenbaum who explained
that the new series contained
100 of the biggest Verve sellers of all
time. He also emphasized that all
phases of the new Verve catalog were
included, the big hit pop artists like
the Righteous Brothers as well as the
solid jazz entries such as Jimmy
Smith, Stan Getz and Wes Montgomery.
“Sounds of Fame” will be shipped to
distributors in a complete pre-pak setup
display browser box. The browser
has a pop-up top that becomes an indentifying
Verve Sounds of Fame sign
and it also contains divider cards
which identify each of the 100 selections.
Among the titles and artists represented
are “Ebb Tide,” “Soul and Inspiration,”
and “Lovin’ Feelin,’ ” by
the Righteous Brothers’, “Desafinado,”
and “Girl From Ipanema,” by Stan
Getz, Jimmy Smith’s “Walk on the
Wild Side” and Wes Montgomery’s
“Going Out of My Head.”
|
