Date:Sun, 27 Aug 2006 11:46:55 -0500
Reply-To:Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:MD at Upsala <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:Re: Can 78s sound better than LPs?
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I must say this thread has contained some fascinating information. Thanks
to all.
Mark Durenberger
----- Original Message -----
>> > I think it was a greater feat of great engineering to squeeze
>> > fantastic sound out of ANY grooved medium, particularly 78's, than to
>> > put out a clearly-audible recording using modern means. Alas, the
>> > skill set has slipped so badly that many modern recordings are
>> > horrible. Think of a band, producer and engineer working with the
>> > requirement of live takes, a set time limit imposed by the disk
>> > medium, very primative recording equipment (maybe 3 or 4 ribbon mics,
>> > a mixer with no EQ and limited patching) and the known fact that the
>> > result will lose 2 or 3 generations of quality by the time it gets
>> > into the consumer's hand. That's the 78 era. Now think of all the
>> > luxury of non-linear time, overdubs, computer-screen editing and tools
>> > like pitch correction and it's very depressing how bad the end product
>> > is in most cases today. And I'm not even talking about the basic lack
>> > of musical talent.
>>
>> Why would a 78 lose three or four generations of quality? The production
>> disc is a directly moulded copy of the original, without going through a
>> tape generation.
>
> Not necessarily true after 1940, when Columbia began issuing all 78s as
> dubs from
> 16-inch lacquer discs. Decca and Capitol followed suit in 1943, and Victor
> began
> issuing absolute garbage from 3rd generation dubs in late 1944.
>
>> All that is wrong is the noise in the physical shellac material. (Plus
>> any damage
>> from playing - but that applies to LPs too.)
>
> The processing was known to be faulty during WW2 when certain materials
> became
> unavailable. Classic example, Toscanini's recordings with the Philadelphia
> Orchestra
> in 1942, which he wouldn't approve because the test pressings were rotten.
>
> dl
>
>>
>>
>> I remember there were some audiophile "direct cut" LPs in the 70s, too.
>>
>> Regards
>> --
>> Don Cox
>> [log in to unmask]
>
>