The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Over the years, I have come to notice a noise phenomenon that occurs at the beginning of some Victor acoustic recordings. It is somewhat difficult to describe, but is akin to a metallic "puff" or a muted clunk just before the selection begins. I have heard this only on some, but certainly not all, Victor acoustics. It seems confined to the earlier discs, i.e., pre-1920s. Does anyone know what this is? Was it some sort of signal from the recording engineer to begin the music/performance? I find it hard to believe that, as when Rosa Ponselle described an acoustic recording session, she stated the engineer simply gave a signal at which point the conductor would raise the baton to begin recording. Anyone else noticed this or am I just hearing things?

You are not mistaken- it is not unusual to hear a conductor's signal on records.

and on this you can hear the whistle from a nearby factory[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0GQ8EnkDpY[/youtube]

estott wrote:You are not mistaken- it is not unusual to hear a conductor's signal on records.

and on this you can hear the whistle from a nearby factory[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0GQ8EnkDpY[/youtube]

Thank you for that. I love Galli-Curci, and that particular recording I had not heard. It is a lovely song, and aside from the intrusive whistle, is a beautiful recording.

Charlie

estott wrote:You are not mistaken- it is not unusual to hear a conductor's signal on records.

and on this you can hear the whistle from a nearby factory[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0GQ8EnkDpY[/youtube]

Are you referring to the sustained "a" at approx. 1:45-1:50, and again at 2:45-end?

On the earlier records there is sometimes a rapping sound, or a couple of raps. I've assumed that was the conductor signalling the start.

Rosa Ponselle didn't start recording for Victor until 1923, late in the acoustic era, so maybe they had changed the practice. Rosario Bourdon conducted her Victor acoustics.

Wolfe wrote:On the earlier records there is sometimes a rapping sound, or a couple of raps. I've assumed that was the conductor signalling the start.

Rosa Ponselle didn't start recording for Victor until 1923, late in the acoustic era, so maybe they had changed the practice. Rosario Bourdon conducted her Victor acoustics.

Wolfe, I believe that is precisely what I am hearing - a light rapping noise. As well, I failed to mention that Mlle Ponselle was discussing her acoustic recording experiences for Columbia: https://78records.wordpress.com/2018/05 ... ecordings/

Yes, I don't recall hearing it on a Columbia record, if I have.

I believe I hear it at about the thirty eight second mark. I wish I could recall what records they were but I have two in my collection where there are these strange sounds. One has a clunking sound at the begininning andf the other occurs further in right before the vocal. I always just assumed it was someone messing with the recording horn. However, a conductor tap or recording engineer signal sound much more probable than my assumption.

Zkeener323 wrote:I believe I hear it at about the thirty eight second mark. I wish I could recall what records they were but I have two in my collection where there are these strange sounds. One has a clunking sound at the begininning andf the other occurs further in right before the vocal. I always just assumed it was someone messing with the recording horn. However, a conductor tap or recording engineer signal sound much more probable than my assumption.

Not exactly somebody messing with the horn, but a bump into the horn. This has several, like at 1:16:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXKr-wcFplg[/youtube]

The same bumps are on any transfer or copy of this 78 that I've heard, I have a few copies of this.

Henry wrote:

estott wrote:You are not mistaken- it is not unusual to hear a conductor's signal on records.

and on this you can hear the whistle from a nearby factory

Are you referring to the sustained "a" at approx. 1:45-1:50, and again at 2:45-end?

No, I mean it- the Campbells Soup plant was near the studio, start at .33 and you can hear the factory whistle- she pauses a second & it is audible over the strings. It can be heard on other records too & the Sooy Brothers write of it in their memoirs.

Similarly the Vitaphone movie studios were located in a Brooklyn basement & sometimes picked up the subway noises