Audio Clips

This section contains clips from past projects or items created especially for this site.

Do check back as new examples will be added from time to time.

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Restoration

or

Productions

Restoration

Spoken word 78 RPM Disc

This is an early electrically recorded disc from the 1920's - The farewell speech by Dame Nellie Melba and transferred from an original 78 rpm disc. Electrical recording was still in it's infancy when this was recorded and as there was some distance between the stage and the microphone the quality was not great. Restoration has made this far clearer - although far from perfect.

Music 78 RPM Disc

From the mid 1930's Richard Tauber Taken directly from original shellac disc.

33 rpm Vinyl Disc

Taken from a fairly rough original 10 inch LP from 1952. This takes the music back to something approaching the original master although some imperfections remain as I did not wish to harm the original recording.

Reel to Reel Tape

This is a comparison between a tape transfer made by EMI in the 1970's and a modern transfer made by me in 2004. Both used the same 7 & 1/2 ips reel to reel tape recorded in 1959.

Used with the permission of the Estates of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann

The Rare Monro - Cassette

A clip from the EMI release. The first clip is from the raw cassette tape with no restoration.

The second clip is the same section as released on CD

Used with permission from the Matt Monro Estate

Matt Monro - Manila Concert 1966

A clip from the Night Owl release "Yesterday". The clip is from the raw cassette tape with no restoration or mastering and includes a number of large cracking noises caused by faulty equipment.

The second clip is the same section as released on CD with as much of the cracking removed as possible. Whilst at first it may appear that the dynmic range of the recording has been affected by the restoration none of the original high freqencies are missing, only the hiss.

Matt Monro - Manila Concert 1983

A second clip from the Night Owl release "Yesterday". The clip is from the raw cassette tape with no restoration or mastering.

The second clip is the same section as released on CD.

Demonstration of Bad Restoration Techniques.

There are engineers out there who tend to somewhat "over cook" their restorations. in other words they don't know when to stop. Here is an example of just how bad it can get - this is not an exaggeration I have bought CD's that are this bad!

First the original source. A 78 rpm shellac disc in fairly ropey condition.

Now an example where too much restoration has been applied

Lastly, how it should be done - a balance has been struck between losing the quality of the original sound and removing as many imperfections as possible. A little hiss does not hurt anyone!

Matt Monro - Acetate transfer

Prior to me working with the Monro estate, Michele asked EMI to recomend a company to transfer here acetates. The company (who I won't name) are well known in the industry and should hae done a good job. One of the discs Michele really wanted to be transfered was the very earliest of her father to survive.

This was the transfer they made

Having heard this I assumed the acetate was recorded at a very low level and i wouldn't be able to do any more. However on a trip to see Michele I decided to re-transfer the disc - imagine my surprise when I heard this

I was able to restore it to a far more acceptable sound for release here

It just goes to show - just because they are well known doesn't mean they will do the best job!

Copyright Note: Most of the material featured here is now out of copyright under present UK law. Where this is not the case, permission has been obtained from the copyright holders.

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