Re: [ARSCLIST] Can 78s sound better than LPs?

[Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

78 finally submerged in the early 60's. Its last hand-hold ledge was kiddie records. There were 
still jazz single mixes for 78 being made as late as the mid-50's. On a lot of Verve sessions, for 
example, Norman Granz would just have the musicians cut a 3-minute version in a separate take. I 
think some other guys would just splice-edit down to 3 minutes, similar to what came to be common 
practice for rock in the mid and late 60's (ie keep the full "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" for the LP but 
edit out a few verses to fit a 4-minute 45RPM single).

I'd be wary of a claim that a "modern" 78 could best a 45 LP-groove record. The reason would be 
mechanical noise and vibrations from the fast motor speed. I think you'd need a lot of mechanical 
damping, even on that $10K record player. 45RPM seems like the best of all worlds, but I still think 
a properly made CD sends all grooved disks to the dustbin of history.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Milan P. Milovanovic" <mijel@xxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Can 78s sound better than LPs?


> Speaking of this subject (while remembering those 45rpm 1980s 12" maxi singles, and having heard 
> some good 78s reocrded properly and in good condition),
> I can only wonder how 78rpm record can sound by using mix of modern and past
> technologies: f.e direct cut for lacquers with wide groove and pressing in
> finest (but thick) vinyl, properly centered and carefully made... Probably
> with magnificent dynamic, resistant to microscopically large scratches or
> dust, and capable of something that 33.3rpm micro record was never capable
> of...
>
> Unfortunately, it was 33.3rpm standard invented as needfulness for
> synchronizing playing early sound movie pictures. And God knows, what
> tomorrow brings.
>
> "Forgotten" audio format, and that 78rpm phonograph record to modern
> technology surely is, can have its renaissance...
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Milan
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bob Olhsson" <olh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 5:00 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Can 78s sound better than LPs?
>
>
> > Marcos Sueiro Bal wrote:
> > > My question is: is the 78 "system" inherently an inferior product?
> >
> > It is inherently a superior product however this allowed greater liberties
> > to be taken in manufacturing quality.
> >
> > For the life of me I don't understand the rationalizations people make for
> > using less than the best available audio technology. Degradation is always
> > a downhill spiral with additional degradation never being obscured by the
> > original level of degradation.
> >
> > In the case of analog disks, every single play degrades the source. There
> > is no legitimate excuse for ever using less than the very best audio
> > technology available.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN
> > Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control
> > Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined!
> > 615.385.8051    http://www.hyperback.com