We had the first dolby A units in our studio in chicago. After several months of use none of us liked them and stopped using them. Most studios instead went to 30ips recording
Alan
Alan
Dolby-free early stereo recordings sound best.
This is an old controversy, but still significant with today’s digital re-issues.
Dolby was invented to remove dreaded tape hiss from hi-fi reproduction. The problem, despite claims to the contrary, is that it also removed the high frequency partials that produce the “magical” illusion of real space.
The magic is especially evident in digital transfers of tapes from the pre-Dolby period of the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s. There is an openness and airy quality to these recordings that are unmatched in tapes from the later, Dolbyized, period.
This is an observation that not many others have ever commented on, to my surprise.
I listen mainly to classical, but I would be interested if others had noticed this phenomenon in classical or other genres like jazz, rock or pop etc.
Dolby was invented to remove dreaded tape hiss from hi-fi reproduction. The problem, despite claims to the contrary, is that it also removed the high frequency partials that produce the “magical” illusion of real space.
The magic is especially evident in digital transfers of tapes from the pre-Dolby period of the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s. There is an openness and airy quality to these recordings that are unmatched in tapes from the later, Dolbyized, period.
This is an observation that not many others have ever commented on, to my surprise.
I listen mainly to classical, but I would be interested if others had noticed this phenomenon in classical or other genres like jazz, rock or pop etc.
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