What’s Next?
AUDIBILITIES
By Emmet Robinson King Street Recording Company
Professional Audio Services for Any Purpose You Can Think Of – Video and Photo Too!
Since 1967
Volume 75, Summer, 2020 610-647-4341
Blog: www.emmetrobinson.com/wp
What’s Next?
In capturing and reproducing sound, the first recording devices were strictly mechanical, probably beginning with Edison’s invention of the phonograph in 1877. A metal cylinder, wrapped with tinfoil, was the recording medium; volume and sound quality were extremely limited.
In the late 1880s, development of the wax cylinder proved a significant improvement. Although originally intended for business use, entertainment quickly became the major – and more profitable – interest.
The introduction of electrical recording systems and 78-rpm disk records in the middle 1920s proved a major leap forward in the accurate capture and reproduction of music. From cylinder to disk, so far, so good.
In 1945, Allied soldiers captured a German Magnetephon tape recorder, and a new era in sound recording began as American companies copied, modified and improved on the German system. There was also a short-lived excursion into recording on lengths of thin metal wire.
Although tape recording began as a single-track “monaural” system, guitarist Les Paul persuaded the Ampex Corporation to develop a two-track system. Two tracks became three, then four, eight and, eventually 32 tracks on two-inch wide tape. Opening this Pandora’s box of multitrack recording made new, highly creative recording techniques possible.
Disk records, originally manufactured on wax or shellac, were now made on durable polyvinyl chloride plastic. Far more durable, the sound quality was also superior to earlier media.
The early 78-rpm records were followed by the longer playing 33-rpm version. The 1950s brought us the 45 rpm disc – limited in content, but smaller, more portable, and allowing customers to purchase the specific songs of their choice.
Commercially made open-reel tapes were introduced to the public in the 1960s, followed by the 8-track cartridge, Sony’s short-lived Elcassette, the compact cassette, the microcassette for dictation and, finally, the digital era introduced the compact disk.
Digital audio introduced a host of new recording formats. both in audio and video. Original sound recordings produced here at the studio result in AIFF files, the same format used on commercially made CDs. The smaller mp3 file has become the standard for listening on portable devices such as the Ipod and Iphone. This format also travels well over the Internet, with millions of tunes downloaded every year in digital form where there is no physical product at all.
Recently the vinyl disc record has been making a comeback with producers feverishly searching for the mastering and manufacturing equipment they’d previously discarded. Companies are scrambling to produce sophisticated turntables to play the records on.
With so many changes in media over more than 140 years, I can hardly wait to see what happens next. A return to the 8-track cartridge?
And, really, how many times will I have to buy the White Album?
Copyright © 2020 Emmet Robinson
IN THE STUDIO
VOICES
Take Two
About twenty years ago I received a call from a Chester County author wanting help with his new novel. In my capacity as author/editor, I was happy to lend a hand. Working in hard copy, one chapter at a time, I found it to be a fascinating story combining psychology and philosophy with a touch of the occult. After minor adjustments regarding tenses and word choices, the novel was beautifully published in hard cover and began developing readership.
Now, twenty years later, we’ve become a far more mobile society with less time available for reading. With that in mind, the author has returned with a modified version of the original text to record the audio version of the book.
At the microphone, he did quite well in adding animation and emotion to make the story real.
After editing, the audiobook will be made available as both a download and a CD set. For details on this exciting tale, call 610-647-4341.
The Road Less Traveled
I recently had a call from a man with an amazing life story. Rather than following a typical traditional path to career choice, he chose to take the proverbial path less traveled and found work that truly attracted him and held his interest. In contrast with today’s chair-bound computer-based careers, his work was intensely physical and resulted in a number of life-threatening injuries. Undaunted, he persevered and went on to create a successful business that eventually allowed him to retire in style.
As he feels that his story is worth telling, we’ve begun recording it in the studio. The recording will then be transposed to the printed page and published as a book. The book will preserve his life story when he’s no longer available to tell it. Sitting with him in the studio and hearing him describe his hair-raising escapades as they happened has been quite an adventure for me!
* * *
What’s your story? Chances are that your life has been more interesting than you realize. Once the current pandemic is under control and real life resumes, you can capture and preserve your life story here in a recorded video interview. Well, okay, maybe not right now – but in the future.
Call 610-647-4341 for details.
FROM THE ATTIC
Setting a New Record!
In restoring vintage audiotapes and converting them to disk, the typical order might include as many as a half-dozen individual tapes. On rare occasion, some orders go way beyond that. Until recently, the largest number of individual tapes included in a single order was 64. They were provided by a client from a local university. That record stood for several years – until now.
The new record holder has provided – so far – 143 tapes, both in open-reel and cassette formats. And we’re not finished yet! I have every confidence that this new record will stand the test of time.
Unless, of course, you’d like to offer a challenge!
As a point of interest, the tapes I described arrived from far beyond the continental U.S. With delivery of the originals and return of the completed disks, the recordings have traveled more than two million miles safely and efficiently by the same Postal Service that we all complain about!
If you have an old recording that needs preservation, chances are that same Postal Service will get it here!
* * *
What a treat it was to receive a vintage, privately pressed disk record to work on! Many years ago, someone had the bright idea of recording a selection of original topical songs. The result was a pleasure listen to. The recording was made so long ago that everyone played unplugged without electronic pickups. The quality of the songwriting ranged from excellent to brilliant. The arrangements were varied and clever, and the voices rang clear, true and unaffected. As a special treat, some of the performers were people I knew and had worked with. After creating a digital file, I optimized the recording levels and inserted breaks for individual song access. The result was then transferred to a standard CD with song titles listed on the back of the case.
On the Workbench
Some of the tapes arriving here aren’t quite ready to play. Some reels are tangled, dirty or damaged. Some cassettes are missing their pressure pads, and videotapes can be broken. Each case is different and will require time “on the workbench.” Under the bright light, tape surfaces can be cleaned of debris and tangles can be sorted out. Defective audio-cassettes can be opened, the tape carefully removed and transferred to a new case. Broken VHS videos can also be made functional by removing the damaged portions and splicing the tape with specialized tools.
If you have a damaged recording please don’t try to fix it yourself. Send it here instead.
OLD FAVORITES
The most enjoyable part of tape and disk restoration is being able to listen to the stories of those who lived in an earlier time. Here are two favorites.
The Attorney
The 8-track cartridge was of an original interview recorded sometime during the ‘60s. The voice on the tape was that of the client’s grandfather, who’d been a feisty young attorney working in San Francisco at the time of the 1906 earthquake.
When the tremors began, he was in Oakland on business. All public transportation had been commandeered for emergency use only, and he needed to be in San Francisco. So, he made his way to the waterfront. Waiting until a boatload of emergency supplies had just left the dock, he made a flying leap to the rear deck and said to the surprised crew, “Now, either drown me or take me to San Francisco!”
His concern was centered on his wedding, planned for that weekend. The ring and all of his cash were in his office safe, right in the center of the disaster area!
Carefully making his way to his office location, he found that the ‘quake had collapsed all of the masonry from the building, leaving nothing but a skeleton of steel beams. High above his head, he could see the safe he needed to reach – welded to a beam on the 3rd floor!
Possessed of unusual determination, he somehow managed to climb up the beams to get what he needed, and the wedding proceeded as planned!
Hearing this story, told first-hand by the one who had lived it, was exciting beyond belief!
The Homesteader
There was a time in America
when tracts of land were free for the taking. The taking was the easy part; it was the keeping that provided the challenge.
The open-reel tape was of the client’s aunt, recalling what life had been like as a homesteader in the Dakotas during the late 1800s. What an incredibly tough and tenacious people they were! They faced drought in the summer, sub-zero blizzards in the winter, and every hardship you could think of in between.
Driving the Interstate in our air-conditioned cars, favorite music on the CD player, cellphone nearby, cooling drink in hand, we fail to appreciate the trials and tribulations our early ancestors faced every single day.
This priceless recording was living history at its best, telling the story the way it happened, by those who made it happen – and did it the hard way.
FAQ:
Q: Why are your websites so detailed and complex?
A: I feel it’s important for potential clients to understand what all of their options are. Explanations of the wide variety of services available here simply can’t be condensed to ten-second sound bites.
Q: Why do you have a second website at all?
A: www.emmetrobinson.com presents the additional services that most people wouldn’t expect to find at a recording studio.
Q: Why did you develop all of those other services?
A: It wasn’t my idea! Everything I do here is the result of a request by an interested caller.
ANNOUNCING! (Ta-Daaa!)
Fanfare #1
After forty-five years of writing and publishing, I still have a huge backlog of articles in need of wider distribution. To do that, I’ve begun making them available online.
Check ‘em out at https://emmetrobinson.com/reading-room/
Fanfare #2
When people ask, “Tell me a little about yourself,” what do you say?
In my response to that question, I’ve written a 420-page autobiography that includes my ten years as manager of the Main Point coffeehouse in Bryn Mawr. Due for publication in June, I’m pretty excited about it!
The door may be closed but…
The Mailbox is Open!
Remember the old audiotapes, videos or photos you always wanted to do something with but kept putting off?This is a good time to take action! Here at King Street Recording Company, the door may be closed but… the mailbox is open!
Regardless of the current lockdown, the Postal Service is still on duty. So far they’ve made safe delivery of materials from Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Hawaii.
Chances are they can handle your materials as well.
The variety of materials I receive keeps my work interesting:
• An open-reel tape of a High School commencement address from 1943
• A twenty-year-old video of a daughter’s dance recital
• An old color photo that had faded to gray
• A recorded interview with a man who had been in downtown San
Francisco when the earthquake hit in April, 1906.
• A World War II photo with a piece of the face missing
• A “Living Letter” recorded during a battle in wartime Korea
Restore and preserve your own history, and that of your family.
Why delay? Start today!
Send your materials by Certified Mail to :
King Street Recording Company
P.O. Box 402
Malvern, PA 19355-0402
Questions? Call me at 610-647-4341
Or email me at kingstreetrecord@aol.com
Thanks for reading!
Emmet Robinson
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