[78-L] Frequency Response/Range for 78's

[Milan P Milovanovic]

It is interesting that on some professionally recorded 16" lacquer discs 
frequency range is extended up to 15 kHz or even more, and these are from 
1946.

I own one of these gems. Mine is filled with tunes (two takes of the same 
tune, in fact) for Chesterfield show recorded in that year in Hollywood.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Pomeroy" <audiofixer at verizon.net>
To: <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 5:17 PM
Subject: Re: [78-L] Frequency Response/Range for 78's


> Hi,
>
> As Mike says, Nick Bergh is doing valuable research on this subject. Nick
> has first-hand knowledge of the equipment used from the very beginning
> of electrical recording.
>
> The July 1953 issue of Audio Engineering magazine reprints two figures
> showing (1) the frequency response of the original Western Electric wax
> recorder and the modifications to it by WE and RCA (in 1938), and (2)
> the recording characteristics of Victor records from 1925 to the present:
>
> The curves are not "written in stone" because most record companies did
> some experimenting, especially with bass filters.  But in general they 
> show
> the high frequency capability of the original cutter was about 4 kHz and
> it went out to 6 kHz after improvements to the rubber line cutter, and out
> to about 8 kHz with the 1938 improvements, and out to about 10 kHz
> by 1947.  By 1952, the New Orthophonic system extended the response
> to beyond 12 kHz.
>
> I the early years, Victor and Columbia were using the same WE cutters,
> and their records reflect this.  Other companies used a variety of other
> equipment, and may sound different (often worse).
>
> Some collectors of 78s have claimed to hear "overtones" far higher in
> frequency than the cutter known to have been used could possibly have
> cut (even at a very low level), ignoring the elementary laws of physics.
>
> Doug Pomeroy
> Audio Restoration & Mastering Services
> Transfers of metal parts, lacquers,
> shellac and vinyl discs & tapes.
> 193 Baltic St
> Brooklyn, NY 11201-6173
> (718) 855-2650
> audiofixer at verizon.net
>
> ============================================================
>> Message: 14
>> Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:16:06 -0700
>> From: "Michael Biel" <mbiel at mbiel.com>
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Frequency Response/Range for 78's
>> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
>> Message-ID:
>> <20120727111606.b192746a6fddb703927f95bcf5fd261f.8981c1d7a0.wbe at email06.secureserver.net>
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> From: James <sartana at cox.net>
>>> Yes, I understand the value of using ones 'ears'. That
>>> makes perfect sense and in the end, that is the final
>>> judgement that matters. I was just hoping that somewhere,
>>> someone would have noted what sort of recording setup was
>>> available in different eras and what the frequency response
>>> was deemed possible by that equipment. It was just a thought.....
>>
>> Nick Bergh did a presentation at ARSC about his research on Western
>> Electric equipment which includes info on frequency response and curves.
>> He and his colleagues have a lot of the actual equipment and are
>> starting to decode some of the technical notations in the Victor ledgers
>> and the changes and improvements that were being made over the years.
>> He also knows a lot about all other recording equipment available in the
>> 30s and 40s.
>>
>> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 78-L mailing list
> 78-L at klickitat.78online.com
> http://klickitat.78online.com/mailman/listinfo/78-l