The HMV 163 Files.

[Marco Gilardetti]

Dear fellows, after Andy (Orchorsol) told me how he gets his terrific gramophone videoclips (and also live gigs) I thought I might follow his path and try to share some recordings of my recently acquired HMV 163, in case anyone would like to listen to some carefully selected music.

I understand I have a lot to learn when it comes to recording gramophones and - as a matter of fact - I was disappointed by the first recording session. I thought it was a good idea to put the microphones right in the "focus" of the horn, but although that's definitely the most spectacular point for the human ear, the sound came out with too trebles in the recordings. So I later moved the microphones somewhat off-axis, and it seems to me that the recorded sound is more enjoyable, although still it's much different from what can be heard "live". I tried to put a carpet on the floor in order to limit the "ambient", but the effect of it - if any - was really minimal.

So, this might also be a meeting point where we may share our experience. Should anyone have tips on how to record gramophones (best distance, best point, best gear, etc.) or what has to be avoided, those comments will be very welcomed.

[Marco Gilardetti]

This is definitely not the record with which I had in mind to open the "HMV 163 files", but since it was mentioned in another thread I thought to upload it before the discussion got too old to be interesting. It's not a recording that enhances the qualities of the HMV 163, but it doesn't play too bad either. Unfortunately the record conditions, its length and also the loud passages it contains, they literally shave fibre needles, so in the end I had to play it with a steel soft tone needle.

Should anyone be interested, here's the original discussion about the recordings of Die Walkirie by Wagner.

[Inigo]

Marco, I usually record my gramophones using my cell phone camera, just sitting in front of the machine. My cell phone is a Huawei p8 lite, and also a Xiaomi MAG138. In any case, they're 200 euro cellphones, nothing sophisticated.

Other recordings I've done using a camera app, Open Camera, which allows the use of an external mic for recording. I use the small mic that comes with the cell phone earphones, standard Samsung brand, 10 euro earphones. Still I've not uploaded any video done with the external mic, but believe me, they sound the same, if not still better...

Check yourself the results on my yt channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfs5B ... 6r5kMUd9ew

My recommendation: give your phone a try. You'll get surprised how well they record.. !

[Marco Gilardetti]

As far as I know, in most cellphones the microphones are reversed and point towards the screen, not toward the lens.

[Inigo]

Dunno. Just watch the videos and listen to the results. Direct cellphone recordings. No more. Why don't you try it?

[Marco Gilardetti]

Of course I did, and as said it captures mostly the "ambient" and not the direct sound, creating a false sterophonic stage that doesn't exist in reality and moves left and right randomly as in your videos.