[78-L] Vertical and Lateral

[Douglas Pomeroy]

 Message: 2
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2019 16:07:51 +0000
From: "Douglas M. Elliot" <dme3 at cornell.edu.invalid>
Subject: Re: [78-L] Vertical and Lateral
To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Message-ID: <5DAF2908.6060907 at cornell.edu>
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True for just about all lateral electrical recording systems, not just 
Victor's, which was of course Western Electric...if you record with 
constant velocity, the groove amplitude gets greater with decreasing 
frequency and the result is bass that can't be tracked effectively as 
well as shorter playing time.  Despite the lack of established 
standards, most companies made the same decision to record with constant 
amplitude below 200 or 250Hz, resulting in a roll-off of about 6dB per 
octave below the turnover point.  It was the birth of the "curve", which 
over time included treble pre-emphasis & various turnover points & 
shelves, etc.

Having said that, there was "sweetening" added to that basic curve 
almost from the start.  The Western Electric equipment contained a 
rather complex bass filter with multiple settings that could be adjusted 
for each recording.  Though I don't have any documentary evidence,  my 
ears tell me that Victor (and possibly others) developed a unique "house 
sound" that probably involved electronics as well as miking and studio 
acoustics.  Anyone have any info on this? After listening to thousands 
of Victors, particularly, it's something I've always wondered about.
And how about physical adjustments to the cutter head, which 
Nicholas Bergh (an expert on the Western Electric system), could 
tell us something about.

Doug Pomeroy
193 Baltic St., Brooklyn, NY 11201-6173
718 855-2650audiofixer at verizon.net