◎Recounted by Huang Yu-chang ◎English translation:Tan You-yi ◎Photos by Yang Shih-jie, Pao Chung-hui "When I was young, I trained to be an athlete. At that time, I knew nothing about music. I simply listened to music to relax," says South Audio founder Huang Yu-chang. "In October 1987, when the National Performing Arts Center first opened in Taipei, I attended a classical performance by the Cleveland Orchestra, led by Music Director Christoph von Dohnanyi; it was life changing. I was amazed at their modern interpretation of classical music and inspired me to get familiar with a broad range of music, particularly classical," he muses, remembering his younger years. "While I was studying for my graduate program in Taichung, one of my professors helped me get my first stereo. When my roommate saw it, he wanted to get one too. This was how I became acquainted with the owner of the stereo shop and who would later become my boss. I began working in the stereo shop after I graduated. Soon afterwards, on January 6, 1996, I opened South Audio in Kaohsiung. That was twenty years ago." About 10 years ago, Huang Yu-chang began managing the Kaohsiung International HI-END Audio Show. The event is hosted annually, by Kaohsiung Electric Equipment Association and is held at the Ambassador Hotel. Domestic and foreign audio equipment are displayed and locals can learn about the diversity of good music that comes from all over the world. Visitors can meet with recording engineers, view demonstrations about how to make vinyl records, chat with Jazz commentators and watch live bands. Two years ago, it became the first audio show to produce vinyl records. That first year, 1,500 records were made and sold within a month. The next year, 1,400 records were sold in a week. This year, local and foreign musicians will come to make vinyl records. All the recording, printing and packaging will be done in Taiwan, with1,700 records being sold at the event. Japanese company, ULVAC Technologies will also be launching its advanced, world patented, Nano coated vinyl records at the audio show. This is the first time state-of-the-art vinyl technology will be on display. Nano coating reduces scratching and molding and has high static electricity resistance. These records are slightly more high-end, costing more than 1,000 NTD. Taiwanese renowned pianist, Yen Hua-rong, has also been invited to be part of the recording initiative. She will produce an album that features Tchaikovsky's The Seasons which she previously performed at the National Performing Arts Center and Kaohsiung Music Hall. This new album will be called, "Nanometer in the Seasons". Besides Eslite Music, record lovers in Kaohsiung have many options to buy vinyl records. A branch from Taipei's Siao Song Record Store, has recently opened on Singjhong 1st Road. They have a wide collection of music genres on vinyl records. There is also Shang's Music Record Store on Sintian Road. It has been in business for more than 30 years, with its owner being a great fan of classical music. Original Sound Store is a good place to pick-up bargain, used records. Records can be played in order to check that it is in good condition. Rebel Audio is located on Jianggong Road. This store provides a wide range of acoustic music, imported vinyl records and CDs. Finally, the newly opened MLD shopping center on Jhonghua Road also has a large vinyl record store. Besides being a great place to buy vinyl records, there is a large variety of musical experiences that can be enjoyed in Kaohsiung. Kaohsiung's Symphony Orchestra is based at the Dadong Arts Center in Fongshan. A variety of performances are often held there. Kaohsiung's Cultural Center is located in the downtown area. Finally, Wei Wu Yin Center for the Arts is still under construction. When it opens, it will have the greatest seating capacity in Kaohsiung and has scheduled a variety of musical performances. 港都黑膠羅曼史 ◎文／許哲寧 ◎攝影／楊士傑、鮑忠暉 我自己是運動員出生的，但總覺得打球太過暴力，希望能藉由聽音樂來緩衝平衡一下，大學時期，跟同學們混在一起，古典樂一定聽得不多，但對我來說最重要開始認真聽音樂的起源，是民國76年10 月台北「國家音樂廳」開幕時，我去聽了由音樂總監杜南依領軍的美國「克利夫蘭管弦樂團」，在那之前雖然聽過台灣的樂團演出，大概能感受現場跟錄音帶或是CD是有些距離的，不過聽完那晚的音樂會之後，我整個嚇了一跳，沒想到一個現代樂團可以演奏地如此接近完美！除了邀請知名的樂團來演出炒熱氣氛，同時也測試了這個新場館的聲學效果是否合格。之後越聽越多的古典樂，總是得有音響設備嘛！一天到晚戴耳機很痛苦，在台中唸書的時候便請老師幫忙買了一套音響，後來室友看了之後也想買，便因緣際會認識了音響店的老闆，研究所念完便到了他那裡上班，後來就決定自己出來開業，不能跟自己的老闆在台中打對台，選擇在當時有市立交響樂團和誠品音樂的高雄（當時台南兩者都還沒有）駐點，民國85年1月6日「南方音響」開幕，現在已經邁入第20年。 在北部有已經辦了三十幾屆的「台北音響大展」，而我則是大約在十年前開始接手由高雄市電器商業同業公會舉辦的「高雄國際HI-END音響大展」，以「聲音的文化」訂立為標題，希望能夠讓更多人聽到更好的音樂，每一年的音響展都向愛河邊的高雄國賓飯店承租場地，邀請國內外音響品牌匯聚一堂，四個樓層、79個展房，讓參展的民眾一次逛完各種廠牌。舉辦九場講座，無論是請錄音師展示黑膠唱片的錄音製作、爵士音樂評論家聊鋼琴三重奏逸作、還是談盧葦《小湊戀歌》的背後故事…軟體或硬體、爵士古典到流行，一覽無遺，並且還會安排一場現場音樂演奏會，為期一個週末的活動在今年4月14日即將再度登場。除此之外，在前兩年我們開始了一個新的計畫，這也促成了我們成為近年來全世界第一個發行黑膠唱片的音響展，第一年錄製1,500張一個月賣完、第二年發1,400張七天賣完，今年將要出1,700張，會在活動現場販售，邀請國外的音樂家在台灣錄音，除了壓片在德國之外，其他的印刷、包裝都在台灣完成，今年則是和日本的廠商「優貝克」合作，將要推出一款不易刮傷、不會發霉、沒有靜電的黑膠唱片，把黑膠迷的痛一次克服了！儘管錄一張就要一千多塊成本很高，不過我們透過奈米鍍膜技術製作的黑膠已經拿到世界專利，也是一件非常好玩的事情，之前都是國外的音樂家，今年則是想說既然外國人可以成功，我們也要請台灣人上場，便找了鋼琴家顏華容，收錄她在台北國家音樂廳演奏廳及高雄市音樂館的音樂會實況，曲目為柴可夫斯基名曲《四季》、專輯的名字叫做《奈米創四季》。 在高雄要去墮落的地方非常多，除了平常一般民眾會去逛的四間誠品之外，興中一路上的「小宋唱片行」本來在台北，2012年在高雄開了分店，可以買到流行、搖滾、古典、日本演歌、爵士…等黑膠唱片；新田路上的「尚音唱片」是由古典樂迷的老闆已經開設30多年的店鋪；九如路的「原音館」賣的大多是二手黑膠唱片，同意客人可以先檢查唱片狀況再買；建工路上「響音音響」販售各式各樣的器材設備也進黑膠唱片和CD；雖然在台北有「三創生活」可以逛唱片館，不過高雄新開幕的「MLD台鋁」則是更大的黑膠館。買唱片敗家之外，在高雄聽樂團演出可以去高雄市交響樂團的駐地「大東文化藝術中心」、近一些則是「高雄市文化中心」的至德堂和至善廳，接下來則是坐等期待由中央負責的「衛武營藝術文化中心」，屆時開幕將成為高雄最多、2000席座位的演出場地。