On 10/7/2012 12:18 PM, Tom Fine wrote:

 >
'm not doubting the disk-dubbing happened, I just have
> trouble believing no one at Columbia knew about tape or had access to
> tape machines before the dawn of the LP. And if they knew and had
> access, why would they do a complex disk-to-disk dubbing method?

Just speculating here: They wanted to do crossfades from one side to the 
next. To do that on tape, you need at least two decks for the A/B rolls, 
plus a third deck to record on.* The machines were still pretty rare and 
expensive in 1948. And it would have meant going down two generations on 
tape in the dubbing process, at a time when tape's signal-to-noise and 
distortion specs were still pretty mediocre.

* Yes, they could do the A/B rolls on tape, then crossfade while 
recording onto a 33rpm disc cutter. That's not quite as complex as doing 
the crossfades from discs, but nearly so, and it still loses a generation.

Again, just speculating. It'd be intereesting if someone involved in 
those recordings was still available to interview.

Peace,
Paul