Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 6, No. 1 (1931-10)

October 1931, Vol. VI, No. I 3 Program Transcriptions By 'OBSERVER'' A new era in phonography begun with the definite announcements of long-playing records N O EARNEST observer of the recent phases in the evolution of phonography has failed to recognize the greatest handicap under which recorded music labors—the limitations of the standard ten and twelve- inch, 78 r.p.m. discs. The phonographic booster might shout his lungs out in praise of the faithfulness and sensitivity of modern recording and the superb quality and range of the recorded repertory already available, but his enthusiasm could be extinguished instanter by the inevitable complaint of Everyman: “records are too much trouble!” It is all very well to say that the genuinely musical-minded will go to any amount of trouble for the best in music. They have, indeed; the present high stage of the record- ing art is almost entirely due to their co- operation. But the numbers of such staunch supporters is extremely limited. The average person, even among those interested in music, will not take pains. Other sincere and sensi- tive souls have turned down records for another—but related—reason, the disconcert- ing effect upon a large-scale musical work by being broken up into separate small units to fit the limitations of present discs. Lately it has increasingly become evident that either longer playing discs or some new medium of recording was actually demanded to save the phonograph from its present slough of des- pond. Needless to say engineers have been labor- ing with this problem for many years. With the advent of electrical recording it was pos- sible to increase the playing time of a twelve- inch disc slightly: the memorable Brunswick discs of the Marche Slave and Midsummer Night’s Dream scherzo and nocturne marked the highest point attained in the desired direction. Edison, one of the phonograph’s fathers, believed he had a forty-minute disc perfected. A few lamentable exhibitions quickly proved how far wrong he was, and in disgust he disowned his child entirely. Recording on a film has been quite successful in the sonal films, and practicable home in- struments employing film-records (or in Germany even recordings on paper or wire) have been made. But two obstacles have pre- vented—and will prevent for a long time— commercial development of this type of in- strument : excessive cost and the necessity of junking the present recorded repertory and beginning all over again. For the practical minded engineers of the manufacturing companies the problem narrowed itself down to these essentials: A long playing record must be produced if the phonograph is to contine to exist on a com- mercial scale. This new record must be a disc adaptable to use on present instruments. It must for a time at least augment rather than supersede the present type of disc. It must be less fragile than the present disc. It must be produced at low enough cost to enable it to be sold at retail at a price less than what the equivalent number of ordinary discs are sold. A better kind of semi-perman- ent needle must be developed to play the new disc. Now the playing time of a disc may be increased in three ways: increasing the size of the disc, increasing the number of sound tracks on the present size of disc, recording and playing the disc at a slower speed (en- abling the recording of more sound waves on a given length of needle track). The first method—used in the movies—was impracti- cable for it would render present types of instruments entirely obsolete. The number of sound tracks might be increased—provid- ing a new material was used which would prevent needle-track-jumping so likely to oc- cur if the number of tracks were increased in the present type of disc. Slowing down the recording speed is practicable within certain limits; certainly one-half the present speed has worked out satisfactorily in the movies. The course was plain, a satisfactory long playing disc would result from using a 33 1-3 recording (and reproducing) speed, and in addition getting more needle-grooves to the inch by using a new record material. Such a disc might get as many as four old record side to the side. It would require of course instruments capable of shifting easily and accurately between 78 and 33 1-3 r.p.m., but that is not impossible to achieve, and by pro- ducing a moderate priced gear shift appara- tus it would be possible to convert old in- struments to the use of the new records.