The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The human mind is pretty difficult to eliminate from the equation. Even the same performance, heard by 2 segregated people will likely be reported differently.

In order to get similar results, psychology needs to be applied. I think the Edison company were masters at creating an environment conducive to achieve their goals.

"Psychoacoustics" in its infancy.

Best,
Fran

I knew an old gal when I was a kid that had been to one of those "tone test comparisons" and Louise never felt like she was fooled by the performance. She just said that it was amazing how well the singers voice was reproduced by the machine. She was a musician and did some recording work with the Duncan Sisters and a few others that I don't remember anymore. Louise also said that she didn't think any other company in those days did such a thing and she was impressed by that as well. They sold a lot of stuff from theater stages in those days between acts and films, so I guess phonographs would not be unusual. Except Edison had the artist's promote the machine like they did.

I think there's one other factor in the mix, not mentioned in the article. Edison preferred the "dead studio" method of recording, which means that little to none of the recording studio's characteristics, such as echo or other distortion, made it onto the disc.

When the recorded sound was projected from the phonograph, situated on a stage, most of the resonance the audience would hear came from the concert hall, itself, and not the record. The same was true for the singer/artist on stage. This, I think, would have made the recording sound more like the live performer to the audience.

(Hope this makes sense.)

OF

OrthoFan wrote:I think there's one other factor in the mix, not mentioned in the article. Edison preferred the "dead studio" method of recording, which means that little to none of the recording studio's characteristics, such as echo or other distortion, made it onto the disc.

When the recorded sound was projected from the phonograph, situated on a stage, most of the resonance the audience would hear came from the concert hall, itself, and not the record. The same was true for the singer/artist on stage. This, I think, would have made the recording sound more like the live performer to the audience.

(Hope this makes sense.)

OF

I think you make a valid point.

Best,
Fran

The article doesn't mention that the tone test recordings were specially processed with extra layers of condensite. The surface noise would be extremely low. From time to time we hear that they used a special reproducer which probably had a heavier floating weight and consequently produced a bit more volume. I still haven't heard of anyone actually discovering one of these , so the jury is still out on this front, but it would make sense. And finally, I'll tell my "tone test" story one more time..so you"ll have to forgive me. I live downtown in Toronto in a Victorian semi-detached house. The houses are extremely close together with a walkway which is only four feet wide between me and the semi to the north. I have my trusty old C200 in the dining room which has a window opening on the alleyway. I like Albert Spalding and play him a lot. Some time ago, the woman who lived on the top floor next door was...and still is...a professional classical singer and teacher. One summer morning she and I were chatting and she said..." Do you have a violinist visiting you? I heard someone playing yesterday who was awfully good...." I thought at first she was being facetious, but no, she was entirely serious. Again the space between the houses provided that bit of resonance and the New Edison did the rest. This sounds like a article from The Edison Phonograph Monthly, but it shows that a professional musician still can be fooled...or should I say captivated. And I will say immodestly, I have fiddled with that reproducer so that it plays as well as any I have ever heard.

Jim.

I've heard it said that the sound of a Victor will follow you around the house, but the sound of an Edison will follow you around the block!