Date:         Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:15:40 -0400
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         David Lennick <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Advice needed on how to restore an old acoustic recording
Comments: To: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
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I've mentioned it before but it bears repeating..Pathe type vertical cut discs 
(with the wider groove) play BEAUTIFULLY with a 2.0 mil truncated elliptical 
stylus. Unless the disc is badly damaged, I've found it will track with no 
problem with this stylus.

Edison, Brunswick verticals, Rishell etc. may do well with this stylus also, 
but I've found a 2.5 mil elliptical (Shure SS78E and good luck finding one of 
those) to be perfect.

.7 mil styli work best on 33RPM verticals (Muzak, World Program Service).

dl

Michael Biel wrote:
> If you are bringing the signal from the cartridge to your computer in 
> stereo, combine the signals in your computer program with the phase 
> reversed in ONE of the two channels. There should be some way to toggle 
> that choice.   If you are combining them to mono before the computer, 
> follow Dan Nelson's advice.  There is another factor when playing 
> vertical discs -- is the groove a needle-type or a sapphire-ball type.  
> The books I just looked at do not mention which.  If it is a 
> sapphire-ball type, you might need a wider stylus such as the 4 mil 
> truncated or even wider.  Anybody else have one of these.  Supposedly 
> they are all of Henry Burr hymn on one side and a Hymn Talk on the other.
> Mike Biel   [log in to unmask]
> 
> Dan Nelson wrote:
>> First question!!! Are you playing the disc  as if was a lateral 
>> recording ?  You need to   modify  the cartridge connections to play 
>> vertical recordings.
>> If you have not  modified the connections then you must do that before 
>> you think about stylus.
>> I have played vertical recordings withe .7 mil lp stylus, 2.5 mil 
>> tuncated and 4 mil truncated depending which gave the best reproduction.
>> To modify your cartridge connections (put the two coils in series) use 
>> the left  ground as ground. Use right + lead as the output lead.  
>> connect  the L+ and the R- together/in series. This will give you a 
>> mono vertical output to your computer.
>> Hope this helps
>> dnward
>>
>> --- On Fri, 9/26/08, Eric Hollis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>  
>>> From: Eric Hollis <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Subject: [ARSCLIST] Advice needed on how to restore an old acoustic 
>>> recording
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 1:57 PM
>>> Hi.  I'm an amateur at sound restoration. I don't do
>>> it as a profession, just as a hobby that I really enjoy.
>>>
>>> I purchased a Rek-O-Kut CVS-16 turntable that will play up
>>> to 16" discs, a Stanton 500 cartrige and two styli (2.75TC, 3.0E). I
>>> transfer everything thru a flat phono preamp, and do all the 
>>> restoration and EQ
>>> in my software, DC7Live.
>>>  
>>> I'm trying to restore a recording from 1916. It's
>>> on the Angelophone label.  It is a vertical recording, seven inch, 
>>> speech
>>> only.  I have several copies of the recording, but I think they've
>>> all been damaged to one extent or another.  I've tried playing them 
>>> with a
>>> 2.75 TC diamond and a 3.0 E.  The surface noise is quite pronounced.  I
>>> attached an mp3 of a very short segment of the recording to let you 
>>> see what
>>> I'm up against.
>>>  
>>> I don't have a microscope, and I don't want to
>>> continue buying styli until I get the right one.   
>>> My question: Would anyone on the list be willing to look at
>>> and make a recommendation on the proper stylus to play these
>>> recordings? I'm in New York, and I'd be willing to send the recording to
>>> someone for evaluation and recommendation on what type stylus I 
>>> should use.  I
>>> know it's a long shot, but I'd really like to do a good job restoring
>>> these recordings.  If anyone has any suggestions for a humble newbie, 
>>> I'm
>>> listening.
>>>
>>> Thanks for considering.
>>>  
>>> Sincerely, Eric Hollis
>>>     
>>
>>
>>      
>>
>>   
> 
>