20 January 2012
In light of recent claims in a hi-fi magazine that this recording is falsely billed as 96kHz and is simply upscaled from 48kHz, Naim Label and Acoustic Alchemy would like to clarify the validity of the Hi Definition music filesavailable for sale on the Naim Label download store.
Recent allegations that the whole album is upscaled from 24bit 48kHz to 96kHz are false. Naim thinks it is a great shame that respected parties within the media have chosen sensationalism over fact.
10 of the 13 tracks on this album were mixed in native 24bit 96kHz at Hansa House Studios in Germany by Klaus Genuit. Unfortunately, a further three tracks (namely Marrakesh, One For Shorty & The Ebor Soundsystem) were added to the record, having been mixed by Richard Bull at Higher Ground Studios in the UK. Aspects of the original recording were made in 24bit 48kHz, hence these tracks were mixed in 24bit 48kHz.
The optimum final mastered recording, ideally, has to adopt a standard bit depth and sample rate across all tracks. Rather than downsample to the lowest common denomination and lose the benefits of Hi Def (96kHz content), Acoustic Alchemy took the decision to meticulously upscale the three new tracks (48kHz content).
Naim Label has never knowingly falsely billed Hi Definition downloads. In fact, the sleeve notes for this recording as listed under the Notes section of this album on our website explain that the three tracks recorded at 48kHz have been upscaled to 96kHz. Loving this Acoustic Alchemy album we do, Naim Label are proud to say its customers can hear it here in the highest quality it will ever be heard, irrespective of the 48kHz / 96kHz sample rates, this album is available in the optimum sonic quality available.
Naim Label fully support the hunt to expose digital retailers who upscale music to impressive degrees while introducing artifacts that are of detriment to thesonic enjoyment of the album, however Naim would like to stress this has not, at any point been the case with its music. We offer a wealth of native 24bit 44.1kHz and 48kHz albums, which would not be listed as such if Naim had intentions of falsifying higher sample rates to greater commercial ends.
Naim Label would like to apologise to anyone who feels they have been mis-sold a96kHz album, we of course offer an immediate refund if you feel this way. We are incredibly happy with Roseland and hope our customers enjoy listening to it as much as we do.