The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I wanted to try recording some of my records played either on the VV IX or VV 4-40. I have been doing some reading about microphones and think the condenser/cardioid mic to be the best. It allows directional recording without the sensitivity to pops. I am not so concerned with pre-electric recorded records but I think this kind of mic will work for mono sounds of all sorts. Fortunately, each phonograph is in a room which can be isolated by closing a door. Does anyone have suggestions or experience in such things?

Thanks,
David Damico
LeRoy, NY

I recorded many songs from my Edison Amberola 30 using a microphone. I found that the best recording sound was just in front of the horn. In this way the song was much louder than any environmental sound.

Many years later I started to record from the record directly into the computer using a turntable and stereo cartridge. I found that more music was present "in the grooves" than what came out from the period reproducer and horn.

If you want to go down this stereo pickup path my Handbook describes how you can (Diamond Cut Productions web site).

Marc

If you want to record with microphones from an acoustic machine, consider something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Tascam-DR-05X-Ha ... 8658214514 (not necessarily that particular model; look around to see the best compromise of price to features and reported recording quality)

As to placement, it's going to be a matter of taste to some extent and also of your room's acoustics. I like to put the microphones back just enough to get a bit of room ambiance; I think that approach yields sound more natural, less "aggressively from a mechanical reproducer," than right up in the mouth of the horn. I'd recommend you set a record going with the recorder (or microphones) on a fixed stand right against the machine, then, guided by a tape measure, move them back by a regular amount at regular intervals, maybe announcing each as you go, to determine what's "right" for you.

In other words, start with the microphones 6" from the machine. After, say, 20 seconds, move them back 6", perhaps saying something like "1 foot." After another 20 seconds, move them back another 6" and say "18 inches." And so on, until they are several feet away from the machine. Then play back the recording and listen for which distance yields what you consider the most lifelike sound. (Obviously, you need the room to be completely quiet, and that includes turning off HVAC blowers and whatnot and not trying to record during rain storms. I find working fairly late at night is usually best.)

In any case, since you're not recording a speaking human being, pops will not be a concern at all. You can consider any other type of microphone.