Letters

Question 1. I have a Dual automatic changer which I use as the record player for my system. How do I align the phono cartridge so as to get the best possible pickup from the record with the least amount of groove wear?

Answer 1. The manufacturer is the most authoritative source for your answer. However, if you have a vintage record changer, the manufacturer may not be in existence. Tremaine's "Audio Cyclopedia" (1969) recommends that cartridge alignment be done on a changer with six records stacked on the turntable. Alignment is properly done with the stylus overhang already set. Next be certain that the cartridge is parallel with the record surface when viewed from the front and side of the tone arm. Double check this using a small flat mirror, compensating for mirror thickness by removing one or two records. More is involved here and is covered in our publication "The Audiophile's Technical Guide To 78 RPM, Transcription, And Microgroove Recordings".

Question 2. When I play 78s on either my high or low tech system, all I get is whatever is on the record plus lots and lots of noise. How can I improve my results?

Answer 2. There is much good sound recorded on 78s. If the 78s you use are in fairly good condition, more effort on your part will pay off. First, be sure you're using the right stylus to play 78s. It's usually around 2.7 mils in size. Second, concentrate on the balance of bass, midrange, and highs that you get when playing the record with tone controls set flat and loudness off. Once this is accomplished, then deal with the noise. If your 78s were produced after 1953, most of these can be played using the standard RIAA phono equalization. If earlier than 1953, you'll have non-standard or proprietary phono equalization to deal with. So, a special equalizer is needed that provides dial selectable bass turnover and treble rolloff. These affect the balance of bass, midrange, and highs. A good beginning setup is to use the Owl 1 which provides selectable turnover and rolloff as well as adjustable bass and treble noise filters. For advanced configurations, the Esoteric Sound Re-Equalizer works well in conjunction with the Packburn 323A audio noise suppressor. These devices alone will make a significant improvement in playing back 78s, but there is much more involved and discussed in our two books: "Playback Equalizer Settings For 78 RPM Recordings" and "The Audiophile's Technical Guide To 78 RPM, Transcription, And Microgroove Recordings".

Question 3. I've seen ads for software that can take away clicks and pops from 78s and vinyl. Have you tried any of these?

Answer 3. There are a number of software packages available that either specialize in noise removal or have as a module the capability to take away noises from recordings such as 78s, 45s, and LPs. I tried demo versions of two packages downloaded from the Internet: DART (Digital Audio Restoration Technology) and Sound Forge. Each demo was very limited as to what it could do, so my test results can't be interpreted as comprehensive. Both packages required recording a sample from the original. I used a 45 from the early 1950s, a 78 from 1928, and a worn transcription from the 1940s which was quite a challenge. Each package had different denoising processes. For me, DART was easier to use and produced better results overall. It worked best on the 45, did reasonably well on the 78, and was fair on the worn transcription. Sound Forge, on the other hand, did better on the noisy transcription. My preliminary conclusion is that for optimum results one still needs to use good analog playback technique with attention to audio restoration detail. What is still needed is a digital device that the user can plug into their tape loop to denoise recordings on a real time basis. Then, it should just be a matter of adjusting various control knobs to get desired results.