Blue Coast Records’ first release features exceptional acoustic recordings performed live in the studio without the use of headphones, overdubs or digital effects. Label founder, and five time Grammy nominated producer/engineer, Cookie Marenco, assembled a cast of world-class performers, engineers and technicians familiar with her passion for audio excellence and appreciation of skilled musicianship. Her work in A&R at Windham Hill and live recording for Liquid Audio is known throughout the music community.

At a time when the world is overwhelmed with computer music of less than CD quality, Marenco joined with French engineer, Jean Claude Reynaud, to raise the standards of excellence in audio recording for the next generation of audiophiles. Mature listeners will welcome this true sound while new fans may experience acoustic music in its most lifelike form for the first time. While some audiophile labels deliver only great sound, Marenco captures quality performances while at the same time surpassing the artist’s own expectations.

The recording sessions for these experiments in sound led to a patent pending recording technique called Extended Sound Environment (E.S.E.). Originally conceptualized for the surround environment, E.S.E. makes use of room and direct microphone placement to optimize full tonal response from the instruments and character of the room while allowing the musicians to position themselves to hear without headphones. Attention to eliminating phase, blending the room and direct mics, creating balanced dynamics, monitoring while recording in surround all under Marenco’s production guidance brought stunning results that truly places the listener in an audio hologram of the music. Even untrained ears will find noticeable improvement in the stereo mixes.

The best of technologies new and old were used in the E.S.E. process. Sony provided their latest recording technology, Direct Stream Digital (dsd) - one bit recording at 2.4 million samples per second. To further optimize the signal path, speakers and silver cable manufactured by Jean Marie Reynaud for the French Aerospace Industry linked the mics to the preamps to the console and to the speakers. Millennia preamps and B&K mics captured the sound for the room and instruments. Of the 27 Didric mics existing in the world, two were used for vocals giving the artist freedom to move during recording while providing amazing detail. Marenco chose 2” analog tape with Dolby SR as the multi-track format after comparisons with digital were made. Analog tape still cannot be surpassed for sonic response.

Adam Lundeen, Back Office Music, Alice Marenco, Amery Calvelli, publicity, Ann Blonston, Airshow Mastering, Anne Vrolyk, Vrolyk and Company, Bill McNally, Burnside Distributor, Bo Carper, New Monsoon, Cookie Marenco, OTR Studios, David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Dick Mithune, The Site, Dominick Maita, Airshow Mastering, Garett Brennan, Three Pin, Gary Chen, Cybersmith, Gay Timmons, Gerry Kearby, SPL Development, Gregory J. Swendsen, Gus Skinnas, Sony of America, Holly Shin, Jean Claude Reynaud, Jean Marie Reynaud, speakers, John La Grou, Millennia Media, John Stiernberg Consultants, Justin Young, Karyn DiCastri, Kim Baker, Leslie Ann Jones, Skywalker Sound, Lisa Lepine Promotions, Lori Hehr publicity, Marc Haggard, Marin Community Foundation, Mark Boddeker, Mike Newman, Mitchell Design, Ned Hearn, Patty Page, Piers Lawrence, Rick Clark, Scott Thompson, Sebastien and Simone Raoux, Stephen Jarvis Rentals, Susan Carskadon, Tony Rodrigues, Trinity Stanavage, Will Marenco.