[78-L] stereo/mono and noise reduction

[bradc944 at comcast.net]

I have a VERY dumb question about this... I have been doing transfers for a while now and have always done the initial disc recording in mono mode... I tried doing the stereo then a+b into mono in the computer, and found the difference to be negligible at best... how I get mono is by actually combining L+R signals by patch cord between the 78 turntable and the phono preamp (external RS one).

Now,I know that some are getting good results by selectively reading a single groove motion (lateral or vertical) and 'switching sides' as needed... maybe I'm doing something Incorrectly? I just don't seem to get any improvement over the mono method...

Also, as far as tuners that can drop to mono on FM, if you hit your local Goodwill/Sally-Ann/OxFam on a regular basis, you can still find FM tuners that will drop to mono upon selection (stereo-defeat). I have a few in the house besides my Marantz 2265 that is the main studio system that have stereo-defeat, and while not the all-tube-only-tube holy grail, still sound pretty damn good.

Brad 

----- Original Message -----
From: Rodger Holtin <rjh334578 at yahoo.com>
To: 78-List <78-l at 78online.com>
Sent: Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:49:32 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: [78-L] stereo/mono and noise reduction

Recently made a CD of some antiques for one of the kids at the university radio station and burned the wrong file for one of the tracks.  He noticed it was a lot noisier than the others.  True.  I usually record digitally in stereo then apply a+b= mono somewhere in the process of noise reduction and/or EQ tweaking before I call it done.  Anyway, we ripped that track to a computer, applied the a+b with his audio editor and voila! - quiet!  That is a lot more noticeable with headphones than monitor speakers, but still sometimes quite dramatic no matter how you're listening.
 
I picked up on that a+b trick back in the 1960's when I read some article about phase distortion in relation to 78s.  That's been decades ago.  For awhile I had a tuner that would mono a stereo FM broadcast and that would help even those noisy signals.  (I sure miss it.)  Can somebody give us a good description of how and why that works for 78s and/or FM?

Rodger

For Best Results use Victor Needles.

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