The patented technology – developed by producer T Bone Burnett – aims to “mark the first breakthrough in analog sound reproduction in more than 70 years”
(Image credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Bob Dylan has re-recorded a series of his classic songs with T Bone Burnett, which will be released on a new ultra-high-definition recording medium developed and patented by the multi-Grammy-winning producer.
Representing “the first breakthrough in analog sound reproduction in more than 70 years”, the technology – dubbed Ionic Originals – yields the “pinnacle of recorded sound”, Burnett says.
“It is archival quality,” he says. “It is future-proof. It is one of one. Not only is an Ionic Original the equivalent of a painting, it is a painting.”
The technology, Burnett explains, consists of a lacquer painted onto an aluminum disc, with a spiral etched into it by music, much in the same way as vinyl. He continues: “This painting, however, has the additional quality of containing that music, which can be heard by putting a stylus into the spiral and spinning it.”
“When describing the quality that raises analog sound above digital sound, the word ‘warmth’ is often used,” Burnett adds. “Analog sound has more depth, more harmonic complexity, more resonance, better imaging. Analog has more feel, more character, more touch. Digital sound is frozen. Analog sound is alive.”
(Image credit: Jason Myers)
The discs, Burnett promises, “advance the art of recorded sound and mark the first breakthrough in analog sound reproduction in more than 70 years”, and “possess a depth, resonance and sonic fidelity that exceeds that of vinyl, CD, streaming or any other means of experience recorded music”.
It's unclear at this stage which songs Bob Dylan has re-recorded to coincide with the medium's launch, when they'll be released, or even what hardware will be required to play them, but Burnett has formed a new company, NeoFidelity, Inc., with the intention of recording a range of artists using the technology, so we'll likely find out more info soon.
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T Bone Burnett got his start as a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1975 and '76, and has gone on to enjoy a lengthy and illustrious production career, working with the likes of Elton John, BB King, Robert Plant and more.
Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.
