Ken Christianson co-founder of Pro Musica, Chicago, an outstanding audio store opened in 1983 has dedicated His life towards the advancement of creative arts in many forms of music making. While promoting fine quality music systems for nearly three decades, He started his first recording enterprise, Handmade Recordings in 1976. Ken has recorded numerous contemporary and classical albums sold world wide on "The Naim Label". He has supported several music series including Concerts Under the Dome, Women of the New Jazz and Creative and Improvised Music at Unity Temple as well as teaching a masters class in Live Sound Recording at Columbia College in Chicago. Ken has worked closely and recorded with a vast array of incredible Artists, in both contemporary and classical music including: Charlie Haden, John Taylor, Chris Anderson, Billy Higgins, Paul McCandless Iona Brown & the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, the Allergi String Quartet, Håvard Gimse, Kai Eckhart, Bonnie Koloc, Laurence Hobgood, Kurt Elling, Jim Gailloreto, Paul Wertico, Brian Torff, John Moulder, Stew Cutler Ted Sirota, Fred Simon and Patrick Noland to name a few. Ken has developed his own unique recording style True Stereo Recordings through years of experience and practice using his combined knowledge to capture as much of the Artists message with as little intrusion as possible. With the formation of True Stereo Recordings Ken is attempting to help push the envelope for recording, producing and distributing great music with a consistent high quality sound.

What are True Stereo recordings?

True Stereo is the innovative use of proven stereo recording techniques.

True stereo recordings use two microphone elements, a left and a right channel to derive a stereo image. The advantage of this method has been clearly documented. Spatial continuity with accurate timbre is achieved above and beyond that of standard multi microphone techniques. These practices primarily derive stereo from panned mono sources having to use equalization, compression, and artificial reverberation, trying to emulate the qualities that True stereo recording does naturally.

True stereo recordings is about taking full advantage of these qualities and incorporating innovative ideas gained in the knowledge obtained through their practice and execution over years of research. Not all music productions are suitable, advisable or practical for use with these methods. Music must be performed live with no overdubbing although editing and multiple takes are available. A clear musical message and ability to perform under such circumstances require musicians who not only play in real time together but have something to say. When these requirements are met there is no better way to convey the artist’s true intent.

Ken Christianson
True Stereo Recordings