100 Years Anniversary: Earliest Victor and Columbia Western Electric Recordings

[MrRom92]

A pleasant surprise, the “mono 16 bit FLAC” download option is actually 24 bit FLAC. No regrets about not going with the CD now. It would have been an easier decision had it been accurately advertised.

Can you actually tell the difference when listening? There have been numerous audio tests carried out on groups of people to see if it is possible to detect with the human ear the difference being 24 bit and 16 bit. The results are predictably inconclusive but there doesn't appear to be any clear evidence that humans can tell the difference.

I would strongly argue that the difference is audible, especially if you employ any sort of DSP. Regardless of whether or not it is perceptible to you, if you’re going to archive something, it’s better to archive it in its original format rather than a downsampled derivative. Of course you’re still free to purchase the lower quality version if you really wanted, or even create lower quality copies yourself. You can always downgrade but you can never put back data that isn’t there.

[OrthoFan]

Very interesting posting! Was Western Electric the only system available at the time? As the electrical recordings spread throughout the industry not long after the pioneering issues of Victor and Columbia, I presume that other systems were also developed and utilized by the competitors.

Yes, Brunswick and several other labels used the "Light Ray" process described here --

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunswick_Records
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallophotophone

Especially good article -- https://mainspringpress.org/2023/08/15/ ... nterviews/

As noted, it was a very cumbersome process--from a technology standpoint--and was prone to distortion and was abandoned by Brunswick after a few years. I've listened to a few early Brunswick Light Ray recordings, and compared to what Victor & Columbia were doing at the time, the records have sort of a "gravely" tone with a booming bass and shrill treble.

OrthoFan

[epigramophone]

Very interesting posting! Was Western Electric the only system available at the time? As the electrical recordings spread throughout the industry not long after the pioneering issues of Victor and Columbia, I presume that other systems were also developed and utilized by the competitors.

In 1926 Paul Voight (1901-1981) developed the first British electrical recording system whilst working for Edison Bell.
Following Edison Bell's demise in 1933, he established his own company "Voight Patents" and developed his famous corner horn loudspeakers for domestic and cinema use.

[CarlosV]

Especially good article -- https://mainspringpress.org/2023/08/15/ ... nterviews/

OrthoFan

Thanks for the references, that article is indeed very good. I had read about the light ray method, but I don't think I have any record made with it, most of my electric Brunswicks date from the 30s. The Brunswick executive Haenschen indeed thrashes the method, with no good thing to say about it. He mentioned that after a while Brunswick gave up and made a deal with Western Electric.

[CarlosV]

In 1926 Paul Voight (1901-1981) developed the first British electrical recording system whilst working for Edison Bell.
Following Edison Bell's demise in 1933, he established his own company "Voight Patents" and developed his famous corner horn loudspeakers for domestic and cinema use.

Roger, do you know if Voight's method was actually applied on commercial records?

[epigramophone]

In 1926 Paul Voight (1901-1981) developed the first British electrical recording system whilst working for Edison Bell.
Following Edison Bell's demise in 1933, he established his own company "Voight Patents" and developed his famous corner horn loudspeakers for domestic and cinema use.

Roger, do you know if Voight's method was actually applied on commercial records?

It certainly was. The system devised by Voight enabled Edison Bell to introduce electrical recording independently of Western Electric.
In the same year (1926) Edison Bell Penkala was established, and from 1927 to 1929 Voight led several recording expeditions into Eastern Europe. These were the first electrical recording expeditions carried out in the region by any major record company.

The subject has been covered in great detail in recent editions of the CLPGS magazine "For the Record".

It has even been suggested that the main reason why Decca purchased Edison Bell in 1933 was to acquire Voight's technology.

[CarlosV]

The subject has been covered in great detail in recent editions of the CLPGS magazine "For the Record".

It has even been suggested that the main reason why Decca purchased Edison Bell in 1933 was to acquire Voight's technology.

Thanks Roger, I will check the article.