What we call “True Stereo” is, we believe, one of the most faithful techniques that exists to capture music in a recorded format. The final sound results from recording with just a single pair of microphones set up in a space with good natural acoustics.

The end result offers the listener a ‘live’, acoustically realistic perspective on the music without processing or electronic manipulation of any kind. Because the sound is recorded direct to stereo, there is no opportunity for mixing or manipulating it after the recording has been made.

The positioning of the microphones is critical for this kind of recording: microphone placement represents the only opportunity that our engineer, Ken Christianson, has to adjust the levels. For example, more or less bass is achieved by positioning the bassist closer to or further from the microphones.

Ken’s techniques – developed over a period of many years – are illustrated in the booklet which accompanies the True Stereo Sampler. There are diagrams showing the placement of instruments and microphones, and details on the specific sound characteristics of the room that was used for the recording.

The Naim Label concept is, and always has been, to produce recordings which are of outstanding performances. As a record label, we do not try to influence the artists that we record musically. We believe that far better results can be achieved by allowing them total freedom to follow their own artistic instincts.