DAVID ELIAS – THE ONCE & FUTURE TIMES (Boulder, 2000).

Full Track Previews on my web site are ALL LOSSLESS FLAC, not streaming as MP3, AAC, but full CD and Hi-Res resolution quality.

These tracks were originally recorded by Gus Skinas (superaudiocenter.com) to the very earliest DSD in 2000 on a Sony prototype embedded DSD workstaion. Mastered by David Elias in Hawai'i in 2025 for its Very First Release in December, 2025. Also on Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, Qobuz...

One of the true bleeding edges to recording live studio Hi-Res Audio. Solo Acoustic recorded to 3 condenser mics in a Decca Tree arrangement directly to the 2-track DSD recorder/archive machine using the earliest ADC DSD Converters hand built by Ed Meitner (EMM Labs).

All Songs Music, Lyrics and Performance by David Elias ©℗2025 All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Recorded to DSD by Gus Skinas, Boulder, Colorado, 2000 Mastered by David Elias, Volcano, Hawai'i, 2025

These recordings were made in Boulder Colorado in 2000. Gus Skinas used one of the early 2-track prototypes of what would become the legendary multitrack Sonoma DSD Workstation used by Sony to record Hybrid 5.1 Multichannel SACDs shortly after.

Gus invited me to Boulder to try a 3-mic setup directly to the 2 tracks -- no mixer was used, just very good mics with very good preamps into the ADC DSD Converters that were being hand built by Ed Meitner, and then straight into the DSD recorder. The prototype was just "a small box" with a small screen and keyboard, designed for permanently archiving Sony Vault tape masters to an analog-like (PDM) hi-res digital format they invented with Philips called DSD (Direct Stream Digital).

We recorded using just that gear and my guitars and voice and some harmonica. I was playing songs that were mostly new at the time and would appear on several albums to come, including my first and only 2 SACDs on disc ("The Window", "Crossing") and a 2001 live stage album I recorded as a trio in an otherwise empty well acoustic-ed playhouse in Half Moon Bay, CA off Hwy 1, just below San Francisco.

"Half An Hour Away" was a 2001 CD I self-produced and performed by the David Elias & The Great Unknown trio: Myself, Gary McArthur (flute/tenor sax), and Lisa Kelly (mandolin). I wanted to try recording a stage performance with some mics in the empty playhouse theater audience space. So I put mics in the front 4th row or so, and in the very back near the wall in the balcony. I used these mic tracks in the mix for natural delay and natural reverb. Spot mics were used on my voice and guitar, flute/sax, and mandolin. No digital effects, no edits. Nothing except our trio on the stage, and the nice sounding room to fill with ambient acoustics. I also had spot mics on guitar, voice, flute/sax and mandolin.

This is the approach I then took recording "The Window" SACD in 2002 as well as "Crossing" in 2005 as pure DSD recordings made with and mixed/mastered on the Sonoma DSD Workstation.

These songs are personal honest bare naked recordings. As much so as anything I could do then or now. I have had a name for my approach to stark, barebones, honestly accurate recordings: Audio Vérité.

This was recorded 25 years ago. I guess I had to wait until my ears grew up to hear it just right. No mixer, effects, compression or anything else was used to influence the sound. Just straight Audio Vérité.

• DE, December 16, 2025 credits released December 21, 2025

All songs, words, and music by David Elias ©℗2025, All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Published by David Elias Music https://davidelias,com

Recorded to DSD by Gus Skinas, Boulder Colorado, 2000 Mastered by David Elias, Volcano, Hawai'i, 2025