studio Recorder in Action

[edisonphonoworks]

http://youtu.be/o2k7XWK9B3E Dubbing from a youtube video of an Electric Diamond Disc using Edison studio recorder with new coned shaped recording diaphragm.

[Phototone]

I think another reason for the advance ball, was to ensure the "cut" wasn't so deep that when the cylinder was plated and a mold was made, the cast copies wouldn't stick inside because the "grooves" were too deep for the shrinkage to allow removal.

Something else I vaguely remember in regards recording masters for plating and mold making. Wasn't the original polished somewhat to remove the very high points of the modulated track? Maybe this was only a technique used on lateral disc master plated parts?

[edisonphonoworks]

It probably was only for lateral cut records. Cylinders and Diamond disc are noted for being very clear on the highs. The idea with laterals is that the steel needle would wear the highs away and make more noise. I know some modern lateral recordings made with acoustic heads have been clearer than originals. I do note though that Pathé' when they could left the highs on there records, which were recorded from 14" long 5" cylinder masters.

[Phototone]

Shaun, you seem to have original data on the formula as evolved for Wax for making brown wax blanks. Was there any documented data on recording techniques in the Edison studios over the years?

[edisonphonoworks]

I have not found it thus far, but I am sure there is. I am sure Paul Israel, Ph.D. Is on the look out for such items and when found will be published in the volumes. There should be file cabinets somewhere there that has all the drawings for these items. Much experiments I have done are based on patents,and some information from court cases. As you all know, the meat and potato recording information is very difficult to find. Henry Ford wanted to install a recording studio at the museum and Edison said no, as the recording instruments were secret and only The Old Man, Walter Miller, George Werner and Fred C Burt were allowed to use this equipment, and if these attachments were examined by others, it would ruin his whole process and he would have to quit recording. Here is something interesting I found http://audiomasterclass.com/the-secret- ... 7nGe_ldUuc . Not only could the recorder pick up vibrations from the machine, and through the cabinet, sometimes the sounds reach the recorder at different angles, and can wiggle the stylus in different directions, even though the studio recorder has a tether in the back to hook the stylus to the recorder body, in an effort to only create hill and dale motion, it still can travel in a circle, if the feed lags, or the blank is cut at too steep an angle. If the stylus is set too deep there is certainly cross talk, of course there would be less with the 97 feed of the masters. In a few recent tests, I could hear that the recorder recorded the motor noise on the cylinder.

[edisonphonoworks]

http://youtu.be/jtAJNo-YhSE Imitation of Billy Murray, A Fields and Walter Van Brunt. Experimenting with the studio recorder. It actually sounds much louder, clearer, in person The articulation is much clearer too, regular s's are actually clearer on it in person, than on the vid. I think I am going to leave it right here for now, sounds as good as anything I have heard on the original records.

[edisonphonoworks]

Wizards of Wonder fair at the Bureau County Matson Library in Princeton IL. Have been showing how the recording phonograph works, and playing some fun cylinders.

[Phototone]

I'm having a hard time figuring out the mounting of the studio recorder, in your last pictures. Does it pivot? Is there a tight coupling between recorder and horn? Is that a weight on the back that assists in providing the weight for the recorder on the blank?

[edisonphonoworks]

It is articulated to go up and down, and has a lift lever. The recorder is an original Edison studio recorder, but the carriage I built.

[Phototone]

I know there are photos of a diamond disc lathe, but I guess there are no photos extant of a studio cylinder lathe (recorder deck), showing how the Edison company mounted its studio recorders?