Penultimate Vintage Audio Medium

[Jim Shaw]

FOR ALL YOU DETERMINED ANALOG AUDIO FANS

I am framing this in a shadow box today. I thought you folks might find it interesting. It's an Al Jolson recording from 1925 or so. Notice the sleeve touting "Electrical Recording." Before 1925, 78 rpm records were recorded with the talent and musicians in front of a large horn -- piped directly to the cutting stylus. After c. 1925, electrical recording with a (probably) carbon microphone was introduced.

This old Al Jolson record still plays well on a turntable at 78 rpm with a proper Shure mono cartridge and 3 mil stylus. And considerable stylus force!

 

[Chaconne]

Looks like a cool project. Let us see the final product.
...And just a note, with apologies, from a truly insufferable English major:
Penultimate definition

 

[Rednaxela]

What an amazing find.

Loved reading the description on the sleeve/cover. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Jim Shaw]

Looks like a cool project. Let us see the final product.
...And just a note, with apologies, from a truly insufferable English major:
Penultimate definition

I meant next to the oldest type of recording, the oldest being totally acoustic. But you are right; it was a misuse.
Which may make you sufferable.

 

[Jim Shaw]

The plan is to hang this on the wall behind an old Victrola, a family heirloom. My first musical experiences were via that old, classic crank-up player, handed down from my maternal grandfather.

The Victrola and a few shellac records are still playable -- if you don't mind cranking up the spring-wound motor.

Analog audiophiles would wallow in the tone.

 

[mhardy6647]

The acoustic phonographs can sound surprisingly good.

 

[gene_stl]

See Nimbus records CDs of old classical singers recorded Ambisonically with their eighteen foot acoustic horn , usually using plant thorns as a stylus. Usually two or three per side.

Prima Voce - Nimbus Records - All Labels

‘Wyastone Leys’ is the name of the UK property owned by the founders of Nimbus since 1975

www.wyastone.co.uk

 

[mhardy6647]

See Nimbus records CDs of old classical singers recorded Ambisonically with their eighteen foot acoustic horn , usually using plant thorns as a stylus. Usually two or three per side.

Prima Voce - Nimbus Records - All Labels

‘Wyastone Leys’ is the name of the UK property owned by the founders of Nimbus since 1975

www.wyastone.co.uk

I am digging the concept of dredging out CD pits with a cactus thorn.
I think you may be on to something there.

One Step CDs.
Their time has come.
Maybe they also need an acoustic DAC -- I learned that the "DAC" in a raspberry pi operates in a very brute force mode, so it is probably achievable.

 

[mhardy6647]

Looks like a cool project. Let us see the final product.
...And just a note, with apologies, from a truly insufferable English major:
Penultimate definition

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt, that it really was penultimate.
The ultimate may be the modality suggested by @gene_stl

 

[Jim Shaw]

Here's the framed result, complete with some unwanted reflections on the glass.

 

[Digby]

I was quite staggered at the sound quality you can get from later 78s, some of them are very clear compared to the earlier acoustic 78s. This is a good example of such and marvellous violin playing too, the likes of which is not seen today:

 

[Chaconne]

I meant next to the oldest type of recording, the oldest being totally acoustic.

Oh, man, I didn't catch that! Perhaps I was too quick to spout off. I think the definition I linked to was quite literal, but I think many folks take penultimate to mean something like "next to the ultimate." BTW, the results look great!

 

[mhardy6647]

but I think many folks take penultimate to mean something like "next to the ultimate."

Well -- it does, but in a vectorial sense.

Like a penumbra.

 

[Rednaxela]

I like the use of penultimate in the title. Took it as a little word play.

 

[restorer-john]

complete with some unwanted reflections on the glass.

Some rockwool will tame those reflections.

 

[mhardy6647]

I have to confess, I am now trying to figure out a way to work antepenultimate into the conversation.
Maybe direct-to-cassette albums?

 

[Jim Shaw]

So far, all I've seen here to date is anti-penultimate.

 

[Rednaxela]

Not me! I’m pro-penultimate!

 

[mhardy6647]

Auntie Penultimate?

What's this thread about?
Is this Ancestry dot com...