[78-L] V Discs, Matrix Number, Identify source, and EQ?

[J. E. Knox]

Greetings from FixitLand!

Dave Rose wrote:

> I recently acquired a sizeable collection of V Discs.

Congratulations!

> I'm hoping that someone with experience can provide a little  
> guidance.  I'm assuming EQ of 500/12 (RCA Victor) and 300/16  
> (Columbia) would be about right for playback?

I'd recommend bass turnover of 400 Hz and NO treble cut. You'll be  
surprised at how those things will "open up," especially the Columbia  
stuff. Nearly everything is dubbed. If you can do a spectrum analysis  
in software, you can see the *exact* characteristic. (Can you play  
AAC files? I can send you an example off-list.)

> Is there any way to discern origin (RCA Victor versus Columbia or  
> other labels) by looking at the Matrix numbers in the deadwax?   
> There's about 170 discs in total, so I'd really like to  
> predetermine EQ rather than listening to each disc and  
> experimenting with settings on my phono preamp.

That approach goes only so far, as EQ can vary somewhat even within a  
session. Victor matrices are easy, as Royal Pemberton pointed out.  
Most, if not all, V-Discs have a "VP" number; if it is followed by  
something resembling D5-TC-xxxx-x, that is a Victor matrix. A  
Columbia matrix will also be easily identified, in the form XP 3xxxx  
(at 6:00 in the wax, with the take digit at 12:00), just as on  
Columbia commercial issues, and the pressing will most likely be  
laminated shellac as well. There is another series of numbers which  
escapes me here at work; I don't know the source of those. Decca,  
Capitol and others' recordings were issued on V-Disc, but these will  
mostly be dubbed by Victor and bear Victor matrices.

Take care,


Joe
--
"A well treated cat is as demonstrative in affection as a dog, and  
has more self-respect, for it will not give fondness to one who  
abuses it."--Anonymous