‘No computers were harmed in the making of our records’ is the tongue-in-cheek tagline of new indie record label Analog Tone Factory. In other words, all of the label’s recordings will be made exclusively to reel-to-reel tape. The resulting albums will then be available in multiple formats including R2R tape (quarter inch 15 ips IEC/CCIR), AAA 180g vinyl and in digital formats.
The label is being launched by New York City-based audiophile and jazz saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh and Pete Rende, a pianist and recording / mixing engineer. The label’s analogue kit includes a custom-restored half-inch valve/ tube Ampex 351 tape recorder (reportedly one of the only half inch Ampex 351 in existence capable of recording at 30 ips) and vintage Neve and Altec consoles. You can read more about the label, its founders and their plans at www.analogtonefactory.com/about and more about their kit at www.analogtonefactory.com/gear
At the time of writing (ie. right now) there are three titles listed on the label’s website, all jazz albums by Sabbagh, but the plan going forward is to record a variety of artists.
One of the three current titles is Sabbagh’s most recent album, ‘Vintage’ which also features Kenny Barron, Joe Martin and Johnathan Blake. It was recorded to tape by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio, mixed by Pete Rende and mastered and cut (all analogue) by Bernie Grundman. It got some cracking reviews in the New York City Jazz Review and Hot House, as well as in Michael Fremer’s Tracking Angle and Stereophile (where it was record of the month for February 2024). It was also described as “one of the best jazz albums of 2023” by The Absolute Sound in a recent round-up of audiophile jazz on vinyl, all of which sounds incredibly promising! If you want to check it out, ‘Vintage’ is widely available in all the usual streaming places.
Another of the three titles listed is Sabbagh’s forthcoming album ‘Heart’, with Joe Martin and Al Foster, due for release in late August. You can check out the teaser at https://youtu.be/TXOJpMzFokE. The album was recorded live to two-track tape by James Farber at Power Station, mastered by Bernie Grundman and executive produced by high-end hi-fi brands darTZeel and Stenheim. I’m told that The Absolute Sound will publish a review of the release on R2R tape in due course.
A review copy of ‘Vintage’ is on its way to me on tape, so I’ll let you know my thoughts when it arrives.
In the meantime, you can find out more and keep an eye on forthcoming developments at www.analogtonefactory.com and www.facebook.com/analogtonefactory. There’s also a YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@AnalogToneFactory
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 