[ARSCLIST] SV: [ARSCLIST] PACKBURN 323A

[Jan Myren <jamy@xxxxxxx>]

HI Adrian!

Thanks for your answer!

Actually on my Packburn model, there is a knob called "DB Rolloff At 10 Khz"
with 6 positions; 0 (for accoustics), 5 (for most 78's), 8,5, 10, 14 and 16.
This is a newer model, and just needed an RIAA-equalized signal to be fed
into it.

The purpose is to use the Packburn as a straight analogue "real-time" sound
processor when playing 78 rpm discs on my main stereo set-up. For more
important sound restorations jobs, like transferring to CD's, I use the
latest version of Diamond Cut; DC7, I guess.

I also remember the OWL 1; guess it was designed by Tom Owen. It had a lot
of eq-features, but missed the clicks and pops part, as it only had a
surface noise filter. I know about the Owl Multifilter, but have never seen
one in action or learned about its features. Maybe that was efficient?? I
guess you know, since I may have heard that Tom worked for Hammerstein as
well. I bought my OWL 1 (that I later sold....) from a company called "Audio
78 Archival Supplies". Don't know if they exist any more.....
Have also checked out the KAB, but don't like the straight fixed
pre-adjuisted eq-curves. For that purpose a mix of the Owl 1 and a KAB would
be a dream.

BUT; Since I think the Packburn works well on clicks and pops; do you know
if the engineers from the "analogue remaster area" like Robert Parker, also
used a second noise reduction system to get rid of more of that surface
noise, or did they just use it "as is" and accepted a fair amount of surface
noise on their LP-compilations?

I would be glad to learn more about that!

Best regards
Jan Myren
NORWAY 







-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] På vegne av ADRIAN COSENTINI
Sendt: 21. mars 2009 20:13
Til: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emne: Re: [ARSCLIST] PACKBURN 323A

Hi Jan,

When I was the Chief Audio Engineer at The Rodgers & Hammerstein  
archives we had a number of Packburns, and we never used them,  
because they sounded like shit, to put it mildly. Now a days with all  
the digital noise reduction programs out there why aren't you using  
that? Also why on earth are you using a RIAA curve on 78's?! You're  
missing most of the sound. A KAB pre-amp would be much better, even  
though I'm not crazy about the pre-set curves. The OWL 1 is way  
better to dial in the curves. Good luck finding one of those. Anyway  
toss the Packburn and the RIAA curve.

Adrian

On Mar 21, 2009, at 11:32 AM, Jan Myren wrote:

> About Packburn 323 Audio Noise Suppressor
>
>
>
> HI; I have learned that you for many years (and probably still) use  
> the
> Packburn for playback and recording from old 78 rpm discs.
>
> Since I am a collector of old 78's and have a big collection of  
> records from
> all ages. I have also spent some recourses on good equipment and I  
> think
> this Packburn would be the correct analogue device to my set-up.
>
> I have a Thorens TD 521 turnable. The arm is a SME 3012R and the  
> cartridge
> is a Stanton 500MKII and some different stylis, all special made for
> playback of old 78's! I use a normal NAD RIIA preamp.
>
> My experience so far is that it works very well on clicks and pops  
> using the
> switcher and the blanker. But the continous noise filter bugs me a  
> bit,
> since I think it doesn't reduce that much surface noise. I don't  
> use the
> variable adjust very often, since the so called "masked-noise" and the
> pumping effect bring offer "strange noises" to the sound. Therefore  
> I mostly
> use the FIXED adjust, and usually set it fixed at 9 o'clock posititon.
>
>
>
> I have read that some re-issue engineers, like Robert Parker used the
> Packburn 323A frequently when restoring old 78's for LP and CD- 
> releases.
>
> MY main question is if the Packburn was used as a "stand alone"  
> unit or it
> was also supplied with other noise reduction units in order to  
> filter out
> more of the surface noise. If so, what did they (or you) actually  
> do and
> what could eventually be a good supplement for that purpose?
>
> I would really appreciate if any of you would please give me some  
> hints and
> suggestions, since I think the Packburn will work very well if used  
> the
> right way!
>
> Really hope to hear from you again!!
>
>
>
> Best regards
>
> Jan Myren¨
>
> NORWAY
>
>