Recording Acoustic Recordings on Acoustic Machines

I'm very interested in 78s, particularly acoustically recorded (pre-electric) music. I actually had a CD label as a side business for a while doing transfers and restoration of rare 78s, and I could get spectacular results out of electricals, but the acoustics were a real struggle. When I would play a record on my Victrola VV-X, there would be a certain presence to the voices that gave it life and punch that got completely flattened out by modern transcription.

I recently bought a new acoustic phonograph, a Brunswick Cortez, and a Tascam digital recorder and I'm investigating miking techniques for trying to capture the sound of acoustic playback. This isn't my Brunswick, this is my VV-X, but it will give you an idea of what I am trying to do...

"Qual volutta trascrorre" from Verdi's I Lombardi
Enrico Caruso, Frances Alda and Marcel Journet (1912)
http://animationresources.org/test/VerdiILombardi.mp3

For comparison, here is the same record with pretty typical electrical transcription.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9UKZNQFVc0

Can you hear the difference I am talking about? There seems to be more natural dynamics and detail in the enunciation and separation of the voices in the acoustic phonograph. It's more than just a difference in equalization curves.

This weekend, I plan to do some recordings of my Brunswick. If anyone is interested, I'll post some of my experiments next week.

Just took delivery of a Brunswick Cortez. Here are a couple of quick recordings of it...

Raymond Scott: The Penguin http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/thepenguin.mp3

Raymond Scott: Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry Cannibals http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/dinnermusic.mp3

Ted Lewis "St Louis Blues" http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/stlouisblues.mp3

Ted Lewis "My Mama's In Town" http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/mamasintown.mp3

Many thanks for posting these.

The acoustic recordings played on your Victor VV-X sound great. And you're right about the sound quality. In fact, most acoustically/mechanically recorded discs DO sound better played on all-acoustic models, compared to electrical reproduction.

Also, your choice of the Brunswick Cortez is perfect, given your interest in acoustic recordings.

Most of the the Victor Orthophonic and--later--HMV models were optimized/matched to the sonic characteristics of the records recorded using the Western Electrics process--notably those pressed by Victor, HMV and Columbia starting in the spring of 1925. (Unlike Victor, Columbia did not acquire the production rights to the mechanical reproduction system designed by Western Electric.) As a result, the older acoustic records, when played on an Orthophonic Victrola, tend to sound more like they are being played on electrically amplified phonographs, and sound somewhat muffled.

Brunswick, was locked out of the deal to acquire the Western Electric recording process, and had to settle for General Electric's "Light-Ray" process. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunswick_Records ) Like Columbia, it also had to design it's own mechanically amplified phonograph to compete with the all-acoustic Victor Orthophonic models--in addition to its all electric--electrically amplified--Panatrope models.

Compared to a Victor Credenza, with it's six-foot folded/re-entrant horn, the non folded tone chamber of the Brunswick Cortez provides a brighter, less directional sound--based on what I've listened to. As a result, acoustically recorded records sound more brilliant. At the same time, it gives the early electrically recorded discs are real "concert hall" ambiance, with nearly the bass range of the larger Orthophonic models, and the largest of the Columbia Viva Tonal phonographs.

If you haven't already downloaded it, here's a page with a jump to RJ Wakeman's comprehensive history of Brunswick phonographs, Panatropes and records -- http://www.antiquephono.org/brunswick-p ... j-wakeman/ Just click on the image to view or download the PDF file. I'll caution you that it's big -- a little over 95 MB in size.

If you have a chance, please post a few photos of your "new" Cortez. The recordings you've made sound fantastic!

Joe

Some photos of the Cortez in its new home...

Man, that's pretty--reminds me of my GrandMa- Thanks !! ---she had one-a them there things in her house--never heard it play, however--
Ron Rich

Bigshot: Congratulations on getting a showroom quality example! It's drop-dead gorgeous.

Ron: Are you saying your grandma had this same exact model -- a Brunswick Cortez (exponential-horn type) Panatrope? If that's the case, she must have been one rich lady, since these sold for about $300.00--the equivalent of about $6,000.00 in today's money.

Joe

Hi Joe,
I am not sure--but that sure "looks like" the one she had--yes, she did "have money"--her 1st husband (not my Grandpa) was in some type of business, and apparently VERY successful ! They owned a lot of "property" in SF. Ron Rich

I'm just going to interject here..

Holy shit, that woodwork. That's freakin' impressive.

(I can't comment on anything else, as .. I don't know enough to comment on. )

It had lived in Phoenix for a few years, and the wood was very dry. It soaked up a quarter of a bottle of lemon oil, then I hand polished it with furniture polish. It's definitely a looker now... a listener too!