Intro

I am going to introduce you to my world.
My public life, as columnist, image designer, producer, performer, recording artist, and now as guest music lecturer is well known.
I love to sing, photograph and design. I had a flourishing art business for over twenty years.
No matter how busy I am, I make time for my family, friends and fans. Here we go!

Search

發燒錄音與音樂載體之我見

繼續有流行音樂媒體的訪問主持問我何謂發燒錄音,我最簡潔易明的答案是,由零開始每一部分都超級發燒地認真和考究的高清錄音。我們發燒友都知道,外國多年來在發燒界一直有audiophile 這個專門的唱片類別,但外國人不會特別標榜是audiophile或是被標籤為翻唱碟。懇請讀者來信賜教筆者,不知是否文化差異,香港及鄰近亞洲地區都偏向以highlight audiophile作為宣傳及市場定位的考量;但近期卻連外國也開始會標明是audiophile的唱片,可見audiophile是音樂工業的重要一環。至於翻唱又是另一個很具爭議性的話題,暫不在此討論。
近這二十年來,突然大量湧現一批質素參差新錄製的發燒唱片,價格由幾十元至幾百元港幣不等,但請留意,價值與價錢並不一定是成正比的!有些靚聲錄音選用較少名氣的音樂家,和編曲取向採用配器較少的,這樣成本相對較低,銷售價格可以較為便宜,但質素不一定差。相反,為迎合發燒市場而故意標榜用了最貴的錄音配套設備丶最貴的音樂人丶最出名的製作人等等,成本可能要貴好幾倍,銷售價格也肯定不會相宜,但最終靚聲或好聽與否,是各方因素的結合及個人取向。
我相信,業內大家出發點都是有心做好音樂的,尤其是現在全球經濟不景氣,音樂工業又受到互聯網的衝擊,天時地利人和的因素影響下,我們需要時間去調適及學習,科技的迅速發展,如手提電腦丶手提電話丶高速數據傳輸技術丶無線耳機丶高效能手提音響播放器等普及化,人們隨身聽的用品太多,選擇也太方便了,隨時都可看到聽到世界各地千變萬化的音樂作品,我們鑒賞的能力亦相對進步及提升了許多,這樣自然會對唱片及音樂的質素有更多的認知及要求,發燒音樂及唱片的需求自然增加,也有普及化的趨勢。
但話分兩頭,一邊用家沿用開壓縮的音檔,他們大多是較年輕的一羣,生長於互聯網的世代,習慣在網上隨意聽大量歌曲,有原創小品,也有二次創作的翻唱歌曲,或是還沒有出版唱片的宣傳單曲,種類之繁多,大大減少了同一首歌翻聽第二次的機會。另一邊多是經歷過黑膠唱片丶卡式帶及CD的年代,較為喜愛實體唱片與其包裝之質感,也有些是因為喜歡懷舊。他們比較偏愛聽舊歌,因為舊的錄音技術比較少剪接及少調音的功能,樂手與歌手大多是偏向練熟樂曲後才一take過錄音的,不能出錯,否則可能需要重頭再錄一遍。所以揀選的音樂人是非常嚴謹的,歌曲整體也比較有真實感。反之,現今可以有更多不同的選擇,例如可以選擇音色特別的但唱功一般的新人歌手,以後期音效技術同樣也可製作出很多優秀的樂曲。此外,我也有一些二十出頭丶家境較為富裕的學生,他們會懂得去選擇購買高音質的新曲音檔,所以年齡也不一定是主要的影響因素。
除了經濟轉型等社會因素外,不同時代有不同的娛樂及消費模式,科技日新月異的變遷,現今可以不用下載音樂檔案而直接streaming 聽音樂,又是另一種前所未有的方便;那邊廂又可以逐首買入高音質的檔案來隨身聽,也是另一種可以享受音樂甚至另類發燒的方法。多種嶄新的音樂消費模式及享受任君選擇,到底高音質檔案能否在不久的將來取代實體唱片?先留待大家想一想,下期再繼續討論。

About Astor

Astor is able to express herself with logical literacy but full of artistic feelings. She acts to record her valuable, interesting and unforgettable experiences during her travel and plans to share with others her instant feelings, thoughtful insights and findings via poems, free verses, prose, narration, reference, etc.

Music, Movie, Musicals and Me

Music and theatre have had a close relationship. Theatre can associate with movie or musical theatre (musicals) and I love both of them. I sing theme songs in some Asian movies, such as“When I Dream” (theme from “Dragon Squad”). It easily recalls people not only from scenes of the movie, but also from memory. I love theme music from movies as well as songs from Musicals, especially Broadway. I remember I have fallen in love with Broadway since I was 12. Musical films characteristically contain elements reminiscent of theatre; performers often sing and dance as if there is a live audience watching. Some musical films were adapted for the stage after their great success, such as “The Wizard of Oz” and“Fame”, while successful musicals also definitely received movie adaptations, i.e. stage-to-film adaptations, such as“Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Evita”. We can share our moments after all these years by passing through “Over the Rainbow”, “Out Here On My Own”, “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”, “You Must Love Me” ……

“Moon River” (theme from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) has to be selected in my new album "Theatre" although it has been covered by hundreds of artists all over the world. I sing it each time, it seems like a live performance accompanied by the pianist just in front of the audience.

“The Way We Were” (theme from “The Way We Were”) must be selected because it was the song of one of my favorite singers that influences me most, Barbra Streisand, and I won the singing contest with it!

“For All We Know” (theme from “Lovers and OtherStrangers”) was selected, of course, in tribute to my forever idol, the Carpenters.

WORDS from Astor :

I hope all of you would like the presentation of my albums.
Everlasting love dedicated to SUPERSTAR...
My dearest family,
Mom and Dad,
Uncle,
Tony,
Jan.
All the one I love,
Teachers and tutors, who have enlightened me,
All singers and writers of the original songs, especially Karen and Richard Carpenter.
All musicians,
All my fans and friends.
Thanks GOD.

Astor Fong

Sign up now for the Astor Fong Fan Club.

Please email to info@addmusicintl.com for details.

Contact

Name

Email *

Message *