Most of you are probably not familiar with AIX Records. Mark Waldrep, who is the founder, president and CEO of the company has been in love with music from a very early age. He tells a story of how he wouldn't leave the kindergarten classroom one day until the Burl Ives record that was playing was over. That resonated with the proof of my own early childhood music obsession I talked about in another of my blogs.
Waldrep has been recording music for 30 years. Always searching for the best sound possible. He creates controversy amongst audiophiles when he downplays the sound experience of vinyl in favor of purely digital sound. High definition digital sound to be sure.
For those of us who lamented the failure of SACD and DVD-A high definition audio formats, AIX is our bastion of hope. He is now recording and making available music on Blu-ray disc.
AIX's roster of artists is not full of familiar names, though he is hinting at slowly persuading more popular artists to try his approach to music recording. The releases offered from his company are varied but have one thing in common. They sound amazing in the high definition, multi-channel environment.
Yes,Waldrep is a true believer in multi-channel audio as well. He also disagrees with many who believe that in multi-channel recording the musicians should be placed in front of the listener to create a concert like setting. His philosophy is that instead of you, the listener, going to see the performers at a venue and on a stage he wants to create a feeling that the musicians have come to your home...to your living room... and have set up around you.
Waldrep also owns iTrax, a digital music download store. Yes, these files all have to meet his criteria for superior high bit rates. He's well aware of the ultimate demise of physical media, even insisting that the best music playback system is a computer.
If you are a fan of multi-channel audio or even just quality two channel recording then do yourself a favor and buy a few of these titles and give a listen.
If you have any questions or if I may be of service, call me at 216.431.7300 or 440.724.0558.
John Hannibal
