Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > January 2016 > 2016.01.14 > 03Prev  Next


Reproducing The Master's Touch
By Bryan Cather

Robbie wrote about a visitor pondering whether "original stylus
marked paper records could be reprocessed with modern techniques
to 'extract the fine grain' details."

I'd have to say the answer is, for the most part, "no".  The only
possible exception to this I can imagine is if any of the Ampico
recordings that utilized hammer velocity measurements still exist.
In this case what would be needed would be the velocity measurements
themselves, rather than the production masters that were created
from them, or the finished rolls.

Reproducing rolls were only part of an equation that included the
recording equipment, the editorial process, and the pianos the
finished product was played back on.  All of these had to (and, did)
work together to properly deliver the intended result, and fully took
into account both the capacities and limitations of the technology
being used.

To take one component of this equation, the finished recording, and
try to exact from it something "extra", would be failing to take into
account the other parts of the equation and result in something _less_
authentic, not more so.

Bryan Cather


(Message sent Thu 14 Jan 2016, 17:23:43 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Master's, Reproducing, Touch

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page