Technology That Changed Recording History (Part 1)

Ever wondered how old recordings got their famous sound? Learn from sound expert Nicholas Bergh of Endpoint Audio Labs.
LINKS
American Epic (Documentary): geni.us/518M2
Endpoint Audio: geni.us/YSSz5N
I met Nicholas Bergh at Endpoint Audio Labs through a Facebook group, called Hey Audio Student. The group is open to anyone who loves audio - there are professionals, students, amateurs, and teachers. Join the group here: / heyaudiostudent
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00:00 Intro
00:32 The Devices That Made Recording History
2:39 The First Condenser Microphone
3:42 Historical Recording Techniques
5:32 The Recording Process
7:26 What Is the Signal Flow of This Setup?
9:12 Why Does Nick Bergh Collect Vintage Audio Gear?
10:14 Why Do Old Recordings Sound “Old”?
12:10 The Importance of This Gear
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[@RobinPalmerTV]

The fact you can replicate the sound of something on a wax disc by playing it loudly down a horn will always be like witchcraft and I am so glad someone discovered it!

[@Schmuddel]

I'm an audio archivist and historian specializing in radio between 1920 and 1950 and this video is like candy to me. The best thing about audio history, from a scholarly perspective, is that it's not just monographs and peer-reviewed papers, it's tangible historical artifacts. Endpoint Audio is like Wonderland.

[@VersatyleMusicGroup]

So I'm dying to know what converters do you use 😃

[@Kabadachiaudiolab]

I wish this was about 30mins or an hour of detail on each gadget shown. But still great to see these historic gadgets that birthed our current recording mediums.

[@dalemettee1147]

As a recording and sound supporter and follower, I love to hear about the history of sound capture and recordings. As a young person, I started getting into this endeavor in high school, actually in middle school. loved listening to 45 r.p.m. records and wondered how it was all done. Built my first HI-Fi system for my dad when in high school.He liked classical music. Now in my 80's, I volunteer at the local senior center as the sound guy for their drama and singing group.

[@davidroyer5049]

It sounds like you were building that first hi-fi system before I was even born. . . Good for you that you are STILL actively doing sound.

[@dalemettee1147]

@@davidroyer5049 David, Still in the middle of things. Today, the local senior center is having its summer play and and along show. I'm doing the sound for them. I have gotten a few Tee shirts printed with audio engineer quotes printed on them. They so true and funny. This year, I'll be 82 Y/O. Still have my hearing (God bless).

[@davidroyer5049]

Thank you for the reply. My most memorable experience was recording a concert band; someone backstage mistakenly cut power to every light in the orchestra pit. I'll let you imagine what happened

[@davidroyer5049]

Excellent work! I have listened to several of the American Epic Sessions recordings and they are pretty astonishing; the recording of Merl Haggard and Willie Nelson particularly.

[@davidroyer5049]

Thank you for the "like"! A couple of months ago I had a colleague over for coffee and he was talking about going to a museum in Burbank. . . I left him speechless with the recording of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. While I am thinking of it, I wonder how that Western Electric microphone and preamp would sound being fed to a modern digital recorder. . . I think I know the answer, though.

[@toonman361]

As a collector of Edison cylinders and 78rpm records, I find that people who describe the sound as "awful" don't appreciate the technology used to record it. I appreciate the low frequency response and scratchy sound as authentic.

[@ZOB4]

I like this a lot - really insightful and genuine, and important history to remember and understand.

[@picksalot1]

Thanks for making this important History Series. Really fascinating!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DMSProduktions]

GREAT stuff! Back in those days, (130-140 years ago) the really DID pull recordings OUT of their collective arses!

[@JerridFoiles]

I love how you illustrate the transformation from mechanical to electric. Now think about where we are today. A lot of audiophiles love to talk about how analog is better than digital, but the technology really is at an empowering point. Back then you got one take on wax and you had to hope for the best. These days we can literally play back and punch in. And that equipment leasing/borrowing is part of the reason why Hollywood record labels were in control. They had the resources back then that we have easy access to today. I think that's what I love about the landscape now. It's so accessible for independent artists that when I hear people like Gene Simmons talk about how the music industry is dead, I find that to be severely out of touch.

[@AudioUniversity]

That’s an interesting perspective! You’re right - more people get to participate in music creation with modern technology, even if the big successes aren’t quite as big.

[@JerridFoiles]

@@AudioUniversity I don’t think the big successes are less successful. If you write and record a hit, your success can still flourish, it’s just that your success is purely your own. Not shared by label executives or producers.

[@DMSProduktions]

I think Gene meant in the TRADITIONAL sense it pretty much IS!

[@DashRiprock513]

In the words of rush.... All this machinery making modern music can still be open hearted.. It's really just a question of your honesty.

[@aaax9410]

This is truly wonderful thanks kyle and Nic 👍

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@loknanmosessamuel3753]

While preparing materials for my music production students/class few years back, this was one of the things i had to research on

[@AudioUniversity]

That’s awesome. What are some things you learned?

[@loknanmosessamuel3753]

@@AudioUniversity my research maybe referred to as somewhat subjective; the recording process itself was complex (the simplicity in the process was my drive) One notable one though was Edison's vinyl recording system. How straight forward it was. And the method of storage

[@foketesz]

This is fascinating. The correlation between technology and musical styles is not trivial, and this video explains this beautifully btw. A really commendable restoration endeavor. Applause.

[@jakemurphy9536]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you!

[@JR-zv7ws]

Fascinating stuff! Thanks for sharing

[@ian_b]

Have watched this and the next video you've made. They are excellent.

[@sarahaprincesa]

Wow 🤩

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching!

[@lol-st7561]

you are a wonderful interviewer, the history of audio recordings has always fascinated me. Radio and what led up to it particularly interests me. the 1920s, for its place between the wild west and the nuclear age, has become one of my favorite periods in American history.

[@korkenknopfus]

Very interesting and very educational, thank you!

[@MaraldBes]

awesome & interesting.. looking forward to the rest

[@nicholassimmons6291]

Bro every video u make ur making history good 👍!

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching!

[@Crunch104]

Brilliant!

[@papaschlumpf1390]

This is high qulity educational stuff man. Thank you very much.

[@OdoSendaidokai]

Great episode!! Thank you very much 🌻

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@robfriedrich2822]

6:16 sometimes they recorded parallel on two machines, so they could check one of them and repeat the process without wasting more than some blank discs.

[@robfriedrich2822]

When they changed to microphone, they recorded with more than one. German Grammophon called the process Polyfar, meaning the use of multiple microphones to get the room acoustics, other companies did the same without mentioning. Also soloists and vocalists had own microphones and they used a mixing console. Except few examples, fade out wasn't used in regular music, but in promotional samples, when you got 1 minute for free.

[@LiveAndKickingMusic]

Very cool, thanks

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you liked it!

[@nicmcv6925]

Superb video

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you liked it!

[@dharnamobrien7498]

Amazing 👏

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks 😄

[@goodun2974]

The American Epic documentary mentioned here was excellent and included capsule histories of Hawaiian music, Cajun music, and other early music of Americana. The story about the rediscovery of John Hurt is particularly poignant.

[@cameronwilson8561]

A lot of cool stuff in there. Is that a 70mm camera in the background?

[@jasonwheat74]

First Band I Played With, Using "CRACK THE SKY"s Old " Peavey 16 Channel board with Road Case. Worked Great!

[@WilsonJonesMusic]

Hello. I was hoping that chap would mention the first ever compressors. They were a trolley! The soloist would be in the backline at the same distance as the rest of the musicians but standing on a wheeled platform. They couldn't play louder so when the time came, they were physically pushed closer to the horn for a boost in volume, then wheeled back. Also I completely agree with the chap who posted the b roll comment. It seems that almost every American factory tour or museum tour features guys standing in front of what we actually want to see. That's a common mistake (see How Its Made TV series for examples of the better way). Show close up footage of the gear and just use voice over please ❤️

[@markmarkofkane8167]

I have some acoustically recorded records, and those with "electrically recorded" on them.

[@Csnumber1]

C’mon!!!! You’re in a freaking museum… where’s the B’Roll fellas?????? Where are the really tight shots of that Cutter?? Fantastic information here… just goes to show how close to present day vinyl pressing is to back then and why vinyl playback today is such a waste.

[@1906Farnsworth]

So wax is write-only memory. Amazing what they got done in those days.

[@NewDerseyBeats]

🔥🔥🔥

[@XRaym]

Always nice to see how we came up tonthe gear we have today, well done! Offtopoc, but do you have tricks to reduce vocal sibiliance at the recording stage ? I saw very unsual things involving pencils and rubberband, I would rather have the opinion of a real pro 😉a video or short about it would be very appreciated. Cheers !

[@ralphups7782]

i was just watching and thinking that , the telephone companies around at that time must of had a hand in the development of those early microphones and the sound produced.?

[@goodun2974]

Western Electric, the manufacturing arm of the Bell Telephone system, manufactured many of the microphones used in 1920's to 40's radio broadcasts, as well as amplifiers and giant horn speakers for use in movie theaters when early "talkie" films came out. Bell Labs designed the equipment and Western Electric built it. A lot of that old audio equipment is still much in demand and commands a pretty penny today.

[@thinkIndependent2024]

Good work? These things have been in my head for decades. In the end it will bring an appreciation of the Craft. Mid 80s I loved the Studio the money wasn't available so I moved on.

[@analoguecity3454]

Reel tapes sound much better than pro tool! Good analogue recreates the original performance, one thing digital can't do no matter how high the resolution ( well, except maybe DSD 256)!

[@cfalzerano1]

Question: Do I understand correctly that the original wax disk could be played back albeit only one time?

[@AudioUniversity]

My understanding is that the master wax would be significantly degraded when played back. I'm not exactly sure how the master wax was used to create more resilient copies though...

[@cfalzerano1]

@@AudioUniversity Thanks for the reply. I find it amazing that the wax disk could be played back even once. I found this which explains the wax to shellac disk process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKuvZmafeq2ZlZI

[@cfalzerano1]

@@AudioUniversity Thanks for the reply. I find it amazing the wax disk could be played back even once. I found this that explains the wax to shellac disk process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKuvZmafeq2ZlZI

[@cfalzerano1]

@@AudioUniversity Thanks for the reply. I find it amazing that a wax disk could be played back even once. I found this that explains the wax to shellac process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKuvZmafeq2ZlZI though they do not mention playing back a wax disk. Hope this helps.

[@theprogrammerrolandmc3039]

Can you imagine how a gypsy Django Reinhardt felt when he heard a recording of his guitar playing and only having use of 3 fingers after his caravan caught fire and ruined his hand.

[@paulwalker6297]

Adverts etc.etc. are a REAL intrusion to this video ☹

[@morejelloplease]

Weird question, you have a sister that name starts with an M that also has a KZbin channel?

[@aledum1815]

Cheers.