[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [ARSCLIST] Dolby S/N Stretcher
Speaking of those dbx LPs, I just bought one over the weekend, a Concord Jazz live at Montreux
album. The dbx Disc decode option in my dbx II unit works great, plugged the phono preamp right into
the unit. It sounded better than some dbx II encoded tapes I've got -- less pumping and more natural
overall sound. LP surface is in great shape so I can't tell what ticks and pops would do to the
scheme.
If anyone has any of these dbx LPs they'd like to part with or want a freebie transfer, ping me
off-list. It's too bad this didn't catch on because it's a no-brainer use of the technology. I
suppose the biggest drawback would be that LP levels were never really standardized, so it would be
unlikely that everyone using the technology would agree on a standard level and dbx is sensitive to
level. But, if there could have been some sort of rigorous standard, combined with late 70's and
80's quieter vinyl and better cutting, this could have made for some very pleasant vinyl.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard L. Hess" <arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 8:49 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Dolby S/N Stretcher
Dolby has been a licensed format from the beginning and I don't ever recall it being used for LP
release.
It sounds as if the master tapes were Dolby encoded and perhaps one channel was NOT decoded
properly while the other was.
Dolby A and B were the extant flavours in 1970, if I recall correctly. If it were a master tape
error, it would be Dolby A while if it was a consumer attempt, it would be Dolby B as was used on
cassettes and on FM broadcasts.
There were dbx-II encoded LPs sold for a while, but that never gained much traction.
If you find out more, please let me know. Also, if you'd like me to try decoding one side and see
if it makes sense, we can exchange some files (details offline).
Cheers,
Richard
At 08:34 PM 2006-11-29, David Lewis wrote:
I had a strange experience transferring a OP Vox Candide LP to CD for a friend. The master tape of
this album was recorded in Japan ca. 1970; this was a US pressing. It appeared that one channel
was **significantly** louder that the other. I wanted to adjust for it, but decided it best in the
end not to monkey with the signal.
Vox LPs of this vintage boast something called a "Dolby S/N Stretcher." I'm assuming that the S/N
stands for "Signal to Noise." Does anyone here know something about this device, how Vox may have
used it, and where it was used in the chain?
It was weird. It could have originated with the Japanese source recording, or just be the result
of a bad mixdown or mastering job. But it would be useful to know is this effect relates in some
way globally to stereo Vox LPs.
Dave Lewis
Richard L. Hess email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aurora, Ontario, Canada (905) 713 6733 1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.