Recording quality

[Power_13]

This question has puzzled me for such a long time...


I've heard recordings from the 30s by early blues musicians such as Robert Johnson and, while it is still possible to hear the music, the quality is always poor. There is background noise, crackling from the original records the songs came from, and other interruptions.

However, Beethoven and Bach and other classical composers were around hundreds of years ago. When I hear any of their recordings, they're always near-perfect soundwise.

So what gives? Did they have MP3 players back in those days?

[Wisertime]

I think that the recordings of music written by Bach and Beethoven that you may be referring to were, although written by the greats, usually performed fairly recently by groups such as The Boston Symphony Orchestra, The London Philharmonic, etc.... I don't know how many actual recordings (if any) you may find of Beethoven, Bach, Greig. Beethoven died in 1827, long before the science was developed. The music is loved, although performed and recorded by others more recent.

[lure555]

The Classical composers were always on the cutting edge of technology. I believe they were the first to fully embrace digital record. By the time the 20s rolled around, there was an underground trend that was interested in exploring more primative recording methods.:tw59

[MIKEH]

I think we've just been Punk'd online.

[grito]

Bach had something like 8 ADAT machines going at once. That and the greatest collection of medieval mics I've ever seen.

[photoweborama]

You guys crack me up...

[lyles]

Originally posted by Power_13
This question has puzzled me for such a long time...


I've heard recordings from the 30s by early blues musicians such as Robert Johnson and, while it is still possible to hear the music, the quality is always poor. There is background noise, crackling from the original records the songs came from, and other interruptions.

However, Beethoven and Bach and other classical composers were around hundreds of years ago. When I hear any of their recordings, they're always near-perfect soundwise.

So what gives? Did they have MP3 players back in those days?

You'd also have to realize that if the large orchestra's were recorded they would have been in perfect sound halls with designed acoustics. Alan Lomax and W.C Handy were using direct to wax machines in a motel room or bathroom hanging a Mic from the ceiling. I'm sure there was a lot of background noise to contend with that couldn't be "flushed" out in any way. I'd also suspect that the wax had lots of opportunity to distort before vinyl pressing actually took place.

Interestingly, I was messing with recording that same way myself just the other day, hanging a mic from the lamp and playing, and I had to do a lot of filtering to get rid of background noise.

[cooltone]

Man says;
"Did you hear Beethoven's latest recording?"

Other man says;
"No"

Man says;
"Neither did he!!!...bwa ha haa ha haa"

[Wisertime]

Originally posted by MIKEH
I think we've just been Punk'd online.

Embrace the younguns, and handle them with kid gloves.

[Wisertime]

Originally posted by grito
Bach had something like 8 ADAT machines going at once. That and the greatest collection of medieval mics I've ever seen.

:lolspin :lol :LC :rofl :lol :lol