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"First Impressions Always Last" so does our music
You may have heard of Golden String Repertory (GS) which is my first record label. First Impression Music (FIM) is my new label with an aspiration for even higher fidelity.
Golden String recordings have been internationally acclaimed for beautiful music and quality production.
Whether the music is beautiful is subjective. However, the quality of production can be measured objectively and scientifically. Among other specs and apart from choosing the best sounding master tape of beautiful music, I would like to highlight three major criteria by which FIM can legitimately claim as one of the finest products in the world, viz.:
(1) All FIM CDs are mastered by top engineers, such as Paul Stubblebine, either in 88.2kHz 24-bit HDCD( High Definition Digital Compatible) format, XRCD (Extended Resolution CD), Surround Sound or even the latest dts (Digital Theater Sound). All these formats are known to be the latest technology and the best available in the market.
(2) "One generation only" transfer in the mastering process is ensured. We, audiophiles, believe that the more generations of transfer will induce more distortion and loss of information to the music source. The following is a simplified illustration of the number of transfers leading to the production of the glass stamper. The glass stamper is used for replication of CDs:
Normal mastering process
Master Tape > Editing engineer
DAT (1) > Mastering engineer for sequencing and encoding of time log (production master tape)
CDR or DAT (2) > Replication plant
1630 u-matic tape or CDR (3)
glass stamper.
Three, often up to five generations of transfer, are made from the original master to the glass stamper.
FIM mastering process
Master tape > editing, sequencing and time-logging all within the same hard disc of the Sonic Solution computer program
Exabyte (1) ( true professional quality, many times higher in precision than DAT; the tape width is double that of DAT)
glass stamper.
Only one generation of transfer is made from the master tape to the glass stamper to ensure the least of loss of information. Quality of the music source is controlled up to the glass master.
(3) The next step is to control the quality of the replication of the CDs. One of the ways is to ensure that the Block Error Rate (BLER) is as low as possible. The BLER of GS CDs is averaged at 20 while the industrial norm is around 200, meaning technically, they are 10 times better. For FIM CDs, the BLER is even averaged at 10, meaning technically 20 times better! To assure customers, we provide copies of the certificate of authenticity on request for every CD sold! Perhaps this is the only label that offers this level of guarantee and service.
Hence, the whole production process is under meticulous quality control.
In a nutshell, the owner of a FIM CD is ensured that he is in possession of one that gives him more beautiful music and the highest quality available in the market.
Good Listening!
Winston Ma
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