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My old tech Jeremy used to say "Iron is the sound of analog..." AA Sent from my iPhone > On Nov 17, 2014, at 10:47 PM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Hi Paul: > > You could be onto something with transformers. Consider all the transformers in the signal path on a Mercury recording (and there were more with RCA and Decca because they used mixing console with input and output transformers during recording): > > 1. transformers on the microphones' electronics, outputting nominally 150ohms impedence > > 2. transformers in and out on the Pultec MB1 preamps/distribution amps > > 3. transformers matching the line level from the Pultec to the grid of the second stage on the Ampex 350-type electronics (this was common, most pros feeding those things line level bypassed the mic preamp and the attenuate-boost network used for stock line-level balanced inputs) > > On cutting the records: > > 1. transformer ouputs on the 3-track Ampex tape recorders > > 2. transformer inputs and outputs on the Westrex 3-2 mixing board, also transformer split of the center channel and transformer combine of the center with the left and right channels. > > 3. transformer inputs and outputs on the cutting amplifiers, and likely transformers internally on the cutting lathe's RIAA emphasis circuitry > > For Decca, the number of transformers would have been about the same. > > For RCA, they dubbed their 3-tracks to a 2-track cutting master, so add in a generation of tape and also transformers in the dubbing circuit. Same with Columbia. > > Lots of iron in those old records. > > -- Tom Fine > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Stamler" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Monday, November 17, 2014 10:24 PM > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Recording technology > >