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Announcing Aliud Label Services

In January this year, Aliud Records launched Aliud Label Services, a new division dedicated to providing comprehensive support to independent artists, ensembles, and labels within the classical music industry.

This initiative leverages Aliud’s extensive experience in high-resolution audio production, immersive sound technologies, and digital distribution to assist others in achieving their artistic and commercial goals.

Aliud Label Services offers a range of specialized assistance:

1. Immersive Audio Mixing: Our engineers specialize in creating immersive audio mixes in formats like Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D. We can map stereo or 5.1 surround sound recordings into immersive 3D soundscapes or create masters from scratch.

2. High-Resolution Recording: We offer on-location recording services, capturing performances with exceptional clarity using state-of-the-art digital and analog technologies.

3. Digital Distribution: Our team manages digital distribution to major online stores and streaming platforms, optimizing metadata, artwork, lyrics, and other assets for consistent product listing.

4. Mastering: We provide mastering services for various formats, including stereo, surround sound, and immersive audio, ensuring optimal sound quality across different playback systems.

5. Video Production: We offer comprehensive video production services, from concept development to final delivery. Our experienced team can create high-quality music videos, live performance recordings, promotional videos, and behind-the-scenes content that captures the essence of your music and enhances your brand.

6. Physical Product Manufacturing: Aliud Label Services assists with the production of physical media, including CDs, SACDs, and vinyl records, managing the entire process from manufacturing to packaging.

7. Artwork and Design: Our design team creates album artwork, liner notes, and promotional materials that align with the artist’s vision and industry standards.

8. Marketing and Promotion: We offer marketing strategies tailored to classical music, including social media management, press releases, and targeted advertising campaigns.

9. Royalty Administration: Our services include tracking and distributing royalties from various sources, ensuring transparent and timely payments to rights holders.

This launch formalizes services that Aliud Records has informally provided to select partners over the years. With the increasing complexity of audio production and distribution in the digital age, we recognized a need for specialized support tailored to the unique challenges faced by classical musicians and independent labels.

Aliud Label Services is committed to providing transparent, reliable, and artist-centric solutions. We aim to empower our clients to focus on their creative work while we handle the technical and logistical aspects of production and distribution.

In the coming months, we will be rolling out additional services designed to further support our clients. We encourage interested parties to visit the Aliud Records website for more information and updates on our expanding range of services.

Aliud Records to Record International Clarinet Competition Ghent 2024

We are proud to announce our sponsorship of the upcoming International Clarinet Competition Ghent, one of the most celebrated events in the world of clarinet performance. This prestigious competition, held in the historic city of Ghent, Belgium, continues to attract some of the finest clarinetists from across the globe. As part of our partnership, Aliud Records will record the performances throughout the competition and release a special double CD featuring the winners.

The double CD will not only showcase the exceptional talent of this year’s winners but will also include a special recording of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, performed by the world-renowned clarinetist Sabine Meyer. This combination of emerging talent and established artistry underscores the competition’s dedication to excellence in clarinet performance and Aliud Records’ commitment to preserving these remarkable moments for classical music enthusiasts worldwide.

This is not Aliud Records’ first collaboration with the International Clarinet Competition Ghent. In 2022, we partnered with the competition to record its fifth edition, which featured breathtaking performances by finalists Angel Martin Mora, Arthur Stockel, and Szymon Parulski. Accompanied by the Flanders Symphony Orchestra and other accomplished musicians, their artistry was captured in a live recording now available as a double album. This release has been celebrated for its ability to convey the energy and emotion of the competition while showcasing works by composers such as Alain Crepin, Johan Duijck, and Dirk Brossé.

View The Video of the 2022 Edition of the Festival

Our involvement with the International Clarinet Competition Ghent is deeply connected to our longstanding relationship with Eddy Vanoosthuyse, the competition’s president of the jury. Eddy is an internationally acclaimed clarinetist with an impressive career that spans decades. He has performed with leading orchestras around the world and collaborated with renowned composers such as John Corigliano, Olivier Messiaen, and Dirk Brossé.

Eddy also has a rich history with Aliud Records. Over the years, we have worked closely together to produce numerous albums that highlight his extraordinary artistry. These recordings have become benchmarks in clarinet performance and have been aclaimed by both listeners and critics alike. His leadership at the International Clarinet Competition Ghent reflects his commitment to nurturing future generations of clarinetists while maintaining the highest artistic standards.

Approaching this year’s competition, we are excited about capturing performances that will undoubtedly inspire listeners for years to come. The upcoming double CD release will provide a unique opportunity to celebrate both emerging talent and timeless repertoire, further solidifying the International Clarinet Competition Ghent as a cornerstone event in classical music.

Stay tuned for updates on this exciting collaboration and mark your calendars for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of clarinet artistry! For more information about past recordings or our upcoming releases feel free to explore our catalogue here opn our website or on all the major platforms including Native DSD where you can purchases our releases in the highest resolutions and Immersive Formats.

More Information on the competition can be found at their website.

The Evolution of Immersive Sound with Wilfried Van Baelen

In an exclusive two-part interview series, Aliud Records founder Jos Boerland sits down with Wilfried Van Baelen, CEO of Galaxy Studios and inventor of the Auro 3D format, to discuss the evolution of immersive sound in the classical music industry. This conversation, which took place at the renowned Galaxy Studios in Belgium in late 2023, offers a unique insight into the world of 3D audio and its impact on music production and listening experiences.

Part 1: The Genesis of Immersive Sound

In the first segment of this enlightening discussion, Jos and Wilfried delve into the origins of Auro 3D and its significance in the world of audio technology.

Key Topics:

– The conception and development of Auro 3D in 2005
– Auro 3D’s official introduction at the AES Convention 2006
– The technical advantages of Auro 3D over other immersive formats
– Aliud Records’ early adoption of Auro 3D technology
– The importance of vertical sound layers in creating a truly immersive experience

Highlight Quote:
“Auro 3D isn’t just about surrounding the listener with sound; it’s about creating a natural, three-dimensional audio sphere that mirrors real-life listening experiences,” explains Wilfried Van Baelen.

Part 2: Aliud Records’ 15-Year Journey with Immersive Sound

The second part of the interview focuses on Aliud Records’ extensive experience with immersive sound formats and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of audio quality in classical music recordings.

Key Topics:

– Aliud Records’ portfolio of over 100 recordings in both Auro 3D and Dolby Atmos
– The challenges and rewards of producing classical music in immersive formats
– Comparisons between Auro 3D and Dolby Atmos in terms of sound quality and listener experience
– The future of immersive sound in the classical music industry
– Notable Aliud Records releases that showcase the power of 3D audio

Highlight Quote:
“Our goal at Aliud Records has always been to offer listeners the most authentic and engaging audio experience possible. Immersive sound formats like Auro 3D allow us to bring the concert hall into people’s homes,” says Jos Boerland.

About the Interviewees

Jos Boerland is the founder of Aliud Records established in 2005. With a background in music and recording technology, Jos has been at the forefront of adopting innovative audio formats to enhance the listening experience for classical music enthusiasts.

Wilfried Van Baelen is the CEO and founder of Galaxy Studios, as well as the inventor of the Auro 3D format. His work in audio technology has revolutionized the way we experience sound, particularly in the realm of immersive audio.

The Auro 3D Concept

Auro 3D is an immersive sound format that adds a height layer to the traditional surround sound setup. This creates a three-dimensional sound field that more closely resembles natural hearing. The format uses a unique speaker layout and channel configuration to achieve this effect.

Key features of Auro 3D include:

– A “Voice of God” channel for overhead sounds
– Compatibility with existing 5.1 surround sound systems
– Scalability for various listening environments, from home theaters to commercial cinemas

Aliud Records: Pioneering Immersive Sound in Classical Music

Aliud Records has been at the forefront of adopting immersive sound technologies in the classical music genre. Some notable aspects of their work include:

– Producing over 100 recordings in both Auro 3D and Dolby Atmos formats
– Consistently releasing new albums that showcase the capabilities of 3D audio
– Collaborating with renowned orchestras and musicians to create immersive classical music experiences

The Future of Immersive Sound in Classical Music

As the interview concludes, Jos and Wilfried share their thoughts on the future of immersive sound in the classical music industry. They discuss:

– The potential for new composition techniques that take advantage of 3D audio capabilities
– The role of streaming platforms in making immersive audio more accessible to listeners
– The ongoing development of home audio systems that can fully realize the potential of formats like Auro 3D

Conclusion

This two-part interview series offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of immersive sound and its impact on classical music recording and listening. As pioneers in this field, Jos Boerland and Wilfried Van Baelen provide valuable insights into the technical and artistic aspects of 3D audio, as well as its potential to revolutionize the way we experience music.

We hope you enjoy these enlightening video interviews, where you’ll have the opportunity to hear directly from these industry leaders about the past, present, and future of immersive sound in classical music.