National Sound Corporation

National Sound Corporation

Profile:
Detroit, Michigan, USA

Legendary mastering studio where releases by many Detroit techno artists were mastered, cut and engineered.
In 1989 Steve Martel and Ron Murphy decided to open a store specializing in old phonograph records, situated at 17610 W. Warren in Detroit, Michigan called National Sound Corporation. Ron Murphy had been mastering records since the mid 1960's for recording artists such as Isaac Hayes and Forest Hairston.

When forming National Sound Corporation, Ron and Steve had the idea of also being able to cut Dub plates and records for use in their customer's jukeboxes, and so some record cutting equipment was also set up in one of the shops back rooms. Shortly after opening, they were visited by Derrick May and Juan Atkins who, while looking for records, noticed the cutting lathe and asked about having some acetates made. After cutting a couple of dubs for Derrick and Juan, Ron was told that there were a lot of Detroit producers that needed a local place to have dubs and masters cut. Ron decided to upgrade the equipment while Derrick and Juan spread the word about the new cutting service.

The first master to be cut was Plus 8 Records Ltd. label, followed a week later by Underground Resistance label. Since those first masters back in '89 there have been thousands that have followed, all inscribed with the initials NSC. Producers were encouraged by Ron to make their records unique, by including information and phrases written onto the records, and even going as far as to talking Kevin Saunderson into cutting one of his records in reverse, and cutting locked grooves for Jeff Mills' Discovers The Rings Of Saturn project.

The death of Steve Martel in 1994, and the subsequent problems that arose with the remaining estate, led Ron to purchase the equipment and relocate the recording service to a new location, the success of which had already led to the closure of the retail side of the business. The new name chosen was the Sound Enterprises, however Ron continued to put the old NSC logo on each master produced, in memory of Steve Martel without whom the business would have never been started.

Sadly, Ron Murphy passed away on Saturday, January 12th 2008.

Other releases mastered with NSC-X2 Groove Technology:
Underground Resistance Hidden In Plainsight EP
Metroplex Riding The Thin Line
KMS Velocity Funk / Banjo / The Move (Remixes)
Axis Apollo EP
430 West Groove Within The Groove
Direct Beat Private Dancer
Interdimensional Transmissions Destroy Your Powercenters
Sublabels

Label

Releases

Status Catalog Number  Image Artist Title ( Format) Label Catalog Number  Country Year Actions
- Poetic Justice (5) - Ills In Society Poetic Justice (5) Ills In Society(12", W/Lbl) Not On Label - Canada 1991 Sell This Version
001 John Selway / BPMF - Zoids Vol. 1 / Ascendance John Selway / BPMF John Selway / BPMF - Zoids Vol. 1 / Ascendance(12", W/Lbl) Serotonin 001 US 1995 Sell This Version
001 CD LE DeepChord - Vantage Isle [Extended Edition] DeepChord Vantage Isle [Extended Edition](CDr, Ltd, Promo) echospace [detroit] 001 CD LE US 2007 Sell This Version
001 mg Freaky Flow And P.J.* - On The Down Low / Mist Freaky Flow And P.J.* Freaky Flow And P.J.* - On The Down Low / Mist(12", Single) Placebo Recordings 001 mg Canada 1997 Sell This Version
#2 Ambassador 9 Ninety / The Makeshift Conquest - Ambassador 9 Ninety / The Makeshift Conquest Ambassador 9 Ninety / The Makeshift Conquest Ambassador 9 Ninety / The Makeshift Conquest - Ambassador 9 Ninety / The Makeshift Conquest #2 US 1997 Sell This Version
2INZ 00140 Naomi Daniel - Stars Naomi Daniel Stars 2INZ 00140 US 1993 Sell This Version
003 Unknown Artist Untitled(12", Promo, W/Lbl) Mix Records 003 US Unknown Sell This Version
3CH-1 Rick Wilhite, Kenny Dixon Jr. & Theo Parrish Present Three Chairs* - Three Chairs Rick Wilhite, Kenny Dixon Jr. & Theo Parrish Present Three Chairs* Rick Wilhite, Kenny Dixon Jr. & Theo Parrish Present Three Chairs* - Three Chairs(2x12") Three Chairs 3CH-1 US 1997 Sell This Version
3INZ00160 Naomi Daniel - Feel The Fire Naomi Daniel Feel The Fire(12", W/Lbl) I Ner Zon Sounds 3INZ00160 US 1993 Sell This Version
3INZ00161 Naomi Daniel - Feel The Fire Naomi Daniel Feel The Fire(12", W/Lbl) I Ner Zon Sounds 3INZ00161 US 1993 Sell This Version
3 inz 312160 Naomi Daniel - Feel The Fire Naomi Daniel Feel The Fire(2x12") I Ner Zon Sounds 3 inz 312160 US 1993 Sell This Version
003 mg Choclair - What It Takes - The Official Remixes Choclair What It Takes - The Official Remixes(12") Placebo Recordings 003 mg Canada 1997 Sell This Version
004 Spencer Kincy - The 4th Day Spencer Kincy The 4th Day 004 US 1995 Sell This Version
4BC Chris Nazuka & Derrick Carter* - Can You Feel The Love? Chris Nazuka & Derrick Carter* Can You Feel The Love? 4BC US 1995 Sell This Version
4W-100 Octave One - Octivation - The EP Octave One Octivation - The EP (EP) 4W-100 US 1990 Sell This Version
4W-100B Octave One - Octivation - The EP Octave One Octivation - The EP (EP) 4W-100B US 1991 Sell This Version
4W-110 Metro D - What Is A Dancer? Metro D What Is A Dancer?(12") 430 West 4W-110 US 1991 Sell This Version
4W-120 Random Noise Generation - Falling In Dub Random Noise Generation Falling In Dub 4W-120 US 1991 Sell This Version
4W-125 Eddie Flashin Fowlkes* - Inequality Eddie Flashin Fowlkes* Inequality 4W-125 US 1991 Sell This Version
4W-130 Random Noise Generation - Random Beats & Tracks Vol. I Random Noise Generation Random Beats & Tracks Vol. I 4W-130 US 1993 Sell This Version
4W-140 Vice - Survival Instinct Vice Survival Instinct(12") 430 West 4W-140 US 1991 Sell This Version
4W-145 Terrence Parker - TP1 Terrence Parker TP1 4W-145 US 1992 Sell This Version
4W-150 Random Noise Generation - Falling In Dub (The Remixes) Random Noise Generation Falling In Dub (The Remixes) 4W-150 US 1992 Sell This Version
4W-155 Terrence Parker And The D.J.B. - Call My Name (The Remixes) Terrence Parker And The D.J.B. Terrence Parker And The D.J.B. - Call My Name (The Remixes) 4W-155 US 1992 Sell This Version
4W-160 Metro D - In The City Metro D In The City(12") 430 West 4W-160 US 1992 Sell This Version
4W-165 Never On Sunday - Day By Day Never On Sunday Day By Day 4W-165 US 1992 Sell This Version
4W-175 Sight Beyond Sight - Good Stuff Sight Beyond Sight Good Stuff 4W-175 US 1992 Sell This Version
4W - 180 Mind Readers Featuring Malik Hart - Living My Life Underground Mind Readers Featuring Malik Hart Mind Readers Featuring Malik Hart - Living My Life Underground 4W - 180 US 1993 Sell This Version
4W - 185 Family Of Few - Sunrise Family Of Few Sunrise 4W - 185 US 1993 Sell This Version
4W-270 Various - Detroit Techno City II Various Detroit Techno City II 4W-270 US 1996 Sell This Version
4w-315 Gerald Mitchell - Groove Within The Groove Gerald Mitchell Groove Within The Groove(12") 430 West 4w-315 US 1999 Sell This Version
4w-320 WildPlanet* - Genetic  Remixes WildPlanet* Genetic Remixes 4w-320 US 1999 Sell This Version
4w-330 Random Noise Generation - 'The Existence Of' Echelon Random Noise Generation 'The Existence Of' Echelon(12") 430 West 4w-330 US 1999 Sell This Version
4w-335 Octave One Presents Kaotic Spacial Rhythms - Kaotic Spacial Rhythms Two - Dissident Octave One Presents Kaotic Spacial Rhythms Octave One Presents Kaotic Spacial Rhythms - Kaotic Spacial Rhythms Two - Dissident 4w-335 US 1999 Sell This Version
4w-340 Octave One - Black Water Octave One Black Water(12") 430 West 4w-340 US 2000 Sell This Version
4w-340 Octave One - Black Water Octave One Black Water(File, MP3) 430 West 4w-340 US 2014
4w-345 Octave One Presents Kaotic Spacial Rhythms - Kaotic Spacial Rhythms Three - Barrage Octave One Presents Kaotic Spacial Rhythms Octave One Presents Kaotic Spacial Rhythms - Kaotic Spacial Rhythms Three - Barrage 4w-345 US 2000 Sell This Version
4W-MS10 Octave One - I Believe Octave One I Believe 4W-MS10 US 1995 Sell This Version
5BC C++ - Vision C++ Vision 5BC US 1995 Sell This Version
6BC Oniero* - Experimental Oniero* Experimental 6BC US 1995 Sell This Version
07 DJ Godfather & DJ Starski DJ Godfather & DJ Starski - D.E.T. Only 007(12", W/Lbl) D.E.T. Only 07 US 2005 Sell This Version
+8 - PR01 F.U.S.E. / Texas Audio - F.U. / Assassin F.U.S.E. / Texas Audio F.U.S.E. / Texas Audio - F.U. / Assassin(12", Bla) Probe Records +8 - PR01 Canada 1991 Sell This Version
+8 - PRO01 F.U.S.E. / Texas Audio - F.U. / Assassin F.U.S.E. / Texas Audio F.U.S.E. / Texas Audio - F.U. / Assassin(12") Probe Records, Plus 8 Records +8 - PRO01 Canada 1991 Sell This Version
+8 PRO-1 Groove Sector (3), F.U.S.E., Texas Audio - No Restrictions / F.U. / Assassin Groove Sector (3), F.U.S.E., Texas Audio Groove Sector (3), F.U.S.E., Texas Audio - No Restrictions / F.U. / Assassin(12") Hi-Bias Records, Plus 8 Records, Probe Records +8 PRO-1 Canada 1991 Sell This Version
10X402 Inner City - Follow Your Heart / United / Rain Inner City Follow Your Heart / United / Rain(Acetate, 12") Virgin 10X402 US 1992 Sell This Version
12BOMB001 Sun Children - Soul Searching Sun Children Soul Searching(12") Bomb Records 12BOMB001 Canada 1994 Sell This Version
12BOMB002 Chito (El Mescalero) - War Cries / Ehéctal Chito (El Mescalero) War Cries / Ehéctal(12") Bomb Records 12BOMB002 US 1994 Sell This Version
12BOMB003 The Magi - Excursions E.P. The Magi Excursions E.P.(12", EP) Bomb Records 12BOMB003 US 1994 Sell This Version
12BOMB008 J.L. Magoya - Todd's Revenge / Inundacion J.L. Magoya Todd's Revenge / Inundacion(12") Bomb Records 12BOMB008 US 1996 Sell This Version
12BOMB011 Kenneth Graham - Germs Kenneth Graham Germs(12") Bomb Records 12BOMB011 US 1997 Sell This Version
12DEF001 Jetstream - Seriously Jetstream Seriously(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF001 Canada 1992 Sell This Version
12DEF002 Dance Fever - A Woman In Love Dance Fever A Woman In Love(12", Ltd, Red) Definitive Recordings 12DEF002 Canada 1992 Sell This Version
12DEF003 Robot Man* - Never Robot Man* Never 12DEF003 Canada 1992 Sell This Version
12DEF004 Robot Man* - Do Da Doo (Remixes) Robot Man* Do Da Doo (Remixes)(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF004 Canada 1993 Sell This Version
12DEF005 Las Americas - Worship (Que Divina!) Las Americas Worship (Que Divina!)(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF005 Canada 1993 Sell This Version
12DEF006 Blunted Dummies - House For All Blunted Dummies House For All 12DEF006 Canada 1993 Sell This Version
12DEF008 Chuck Phulasol* - Feel All Right Chuck Phulasol* Feel All Right(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF008 Canada 1993 Sell This Version
12DEF010 The Chris Simmonds Project* - Work it The Chris Simmonds Project* Work it(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF010 Canada 1993 Sell This Version
12DEF013 Robot Man* - Do Da Doo - Remixes Robot Man* Do Da Doo (Plastikman's 'Acid House' Remix) 12DEF013 Canada 1994 Sell This Version
12DEF015 Wax Fruit - Whispers Wax Fruit Whispers(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF015 Canada 1994 Sell This Version
12DEF016 Omegaman - 72 Nova Omegaman 72 Nova(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF016 Canada 1994 Sell This Version
12DEF018 Barada - Glue Barada Glue(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF018 Canada 1994 Sell This Version
12DEF019 Ian Pooley - Roller Skate Disco Ian Pooley Roller Skate Disco 12DEF019 Canada 1994 Sell This Version
12DEF031 Barada vs. Omegaman - Barbie's Theme Barada vs. Omegaman Barada vs. Omegaman - Barbie's Theme(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF031 Canada 1995 Sell This Version
12DEF033 Nick Holder - Fruit Loops Nick Holder Fruit Loops(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF033 Canada 1995 Sell This Version
12DEF034 Various - Acid House For All Various Acid House For All (Comp) 12DEF034 Canada 1995 Sell This Version
12DEF036 Various - Acid House For All.3 Various Acid House For All.3(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF036 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
12DEF037 Math-U-Matix* - Higher Math-U-Matix* Higher 12DEF037 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
12DEF038 AR* - Volume 1 AR* Volume 1(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF038 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
12DEF039 Whateverman - Get On It Whateverman Get On It(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF039 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
12DEF040 Nick Holder - Fruit Loops 2 Nick Holder Fruit Loops 2(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF040 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
12DEF041 Troy Brown - Trax 4 Daze Volume 2 Troy Brown Trax 4 Daze Volume 2 12DEF041 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
12DEF043 Liquid Groovy - Supersonic Liquid Groovy Supersonic(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF043 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
12DEF047 Future Legends - Turn Me On Future Legends Turn Me On(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF047 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
12DEF050 Nick Morris & Jamie Lewis / Jamie Lewis & DJ N-Joy - The Diskoshuffle EP / The Funkmaster EP Nick Morris & Jamie Lewis / Jamie Lewis & DJ N-Joy Nick Morris & Jamie Lewis / Jamie Lewis & DJ N-Joy - The Diskoshuffle EP / The Funkmaster EP(12", EP) Definitive Recordings 12DEF050 Canada 1997 Sell This Version
12DEF052 Various - House For All Vol. 2 Various House For All Vol. 2(2x12", Comp) Definitive Recordings 12DEF052 Canada 1997 Sell This Version
12DEF054 Omegaman - Reachin Omegaman Reachin(12") Definitive Recordings 12DEF054 Canada 1997 Sell This Version
12PCON7 Legion Of Green Men - Time Tunnel Legion Of Green Men Time Tunnel(12", Ltd, Num) Post Contemporary 12PCON7 Canada 1992 Sell This Version
12PCON9 L.O.G.M.* - Midnight Genius EP L.O.G.M.* Midnight Genius EP(12", EP, Ltd, Num) Post Contemporary 12PCON9 Canada 1993 Sell This Version
101 Global (2) - No Boundaries EP Global (2) No Boundaries EP(12", EP) Excel Records 101 US 1992 Sell This Version
313-1 DeepChord - Vantage Isle Sessions DeepChord Vantage Isle Sessions(CD, Comp) echospace [detroit] 313-1 US 2008 Sell This Version
313-2 Model 500 - Starlight Model 500 Starlight(CD) echospace [detroit] 313-2 US 2008 Sell This Version
313-5 cv313 - Echospace [Detroit] Presents: cv313 Echospace [Detroit] Presents: "Altering Illusions" [Chapter One](2xCD, Comp) echospace [detroit] 313-5 US 2014 Sell This Version
611 FUNK 02 Nigel Richards - More Funky Shit Nigel Richards More Funky Shit(12") Sixeleven Records (611) 611 FUNK 02 US 1995 Sell This Version
611 LTD 02 Nigel Richards - Philadelphia Acid Experiments Two Nigel Richards Philadelphia Acid Experiments Two(10", Ltd, Promo) Sixeleven Records (611) 611 LTD 02 US 1995 Sell This Version
1006-1 Lodd Manafess - Rappin' 4 Change Lodd Manafess Rappin' 4 Change 1006-1 US 1994 Sell This Version
1-620 DJ Infinityone - I Am Infinityone DJ Infinityone I Am Infinityone(12", W/Lbl) Aphasic Press 1-620 US 1996 Sell This Version
6-002 Amplified Orchestra - Kobu Edits Amplified Orchestra Kobu Edits(12", Promo) 6 Records 6-002 US 2007 Sell This Version
9502 Aquarhythms - Bodyjazz Bodyfusion Aquarhythms Bodyjazz Bodyfusion(2x12", Ltd) Aquarhythms 9502 US 1995 Sell This Version
96:01 Concept 1 - 01:96 Concept 1 01:96(12", Ltd) Concept 1 96:01 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
96:05 Concept 1 - 05:96 Concept 1 05:96(12", Ltd) Concept 1 96:05 Canada 1996 Sell This Version
0-40640 The Reese Project - I Believe The Reese Project I Believe(12") Giant Records, Warner Bros. Records 0-40640 US 1992 Sell This Version
212-014-1 Steve Stoll - Untitled Steve Stoll Untitled(12") 212 Productions 212-014-1 US 2002 Sell This Version
9 24460-2 The Reese Project - Faith Hope & Clarity The Reese Project Faith Hope & Clarity(CD, Album) Giant Records, Network Records, KMS 9 24460-2 US 1992 Sell This Version
9 24460-4 The Reese Project - Faith Hope & Clarity The Reese Project Faith Hope & Clarity(Cass, Album, SR,) Giant Records, Giant Records 9 24460-4 US 1992 Sell This Version
A² 001 Keith Worthy - Emotional Content Keith Worthy Emotional Content(12") Aesthetic Audio A² 001 US 2007 Sell This Version
A² 002 Keith Worthy - Shelovesmenot Keith Worthy Shelovesmenot(12", W/Lbl) Aesthetic Audio A² 002 US 2007 Sell This Version
A10-002 M.K.* - Burning M.K.* Burning A10-002 US 1991 Sell This Version
A10-003 4th Measure Men - Just A Dream 4th Measure Men Just A Dream A10-003 US 1992 Sell This Version
ACC001 Various - The Silicon Ghetto EP Vol. 1 Various The Silicon Ghetto EP Vol. 1(12", EP) Accelerate ACC001 US 1992 Sell This Version

Add Review

AskeladdenBlack

AskeladdenBlack

November 18, 2018
Ok so I am sure this will get a lot of people off side however this isnt meant to be a nasty review nor am I questioning the legacy of people like Ron. I have well over 100 records mastered at National Sound Corporation and whilst I love each and everyone of them I find they all have that National Sound Corporation sound which in my opinion is generally for lack of a better term scratchy almost sounding like the stylus has a build up of debris upon playback.
I have done a lot of A/Bing of the same track between a NSC master and a D&M master (here is my breakdown Måuriziö* - Ploy ) and when you sit them side by side NSC masters are generally toppy and in some cases quite harsh, now I know D&M masters are on the warm side most of the time however my view is that generally NSC masters more on the harsh sometimes brittle end of the mastering spectrum.
I am sure they is a few exceptions to this rough rule however after listening to a lot of their masters over the years I cant help but feel this way.
All that said maybe that is what helped set all these artists a part from everyone else, a unique sound that was all their own.
reverberation

reverberation

February 14, 2014
edited over 9 years ago
The history, the foundation, the spiritual encounter.

Ron Murphy rest in peace was a true genius. he is responsible for so many legends becoming legends , sometimes he is left out in the background, shadowed by the tracks given to him... by his own work,. it is even tragic when you think about it, a teacher casted away from the stage because of his pupils.

but let us all grand what this person has given to dance music as it is, and see how we truly miss him. sometimes when you listen to an Underground Resistance record like "Amazon" you can really hear the incredible skills this guy had on engineering and mastering on the composition, his spirit is there as much as Mike Banks.

It is so important to remember this humble personality never the less then any Jeff Mills ,Robert Hood, Ron Trent, Chez Damier or Carl Craig that he has worked with, and he worked with quite a few's.....