How to Play Acoustic 78 RPM records on a modern Turntable

[EmmetEarwax]

I never had any trouble or fuss with playing a 87rp acoustic record with a 87 needle. One record HAD been damaged by heat on one end and there was plenty of surface noise at that point (shshshs shshshsshsh shshshshshshs shshshshsh !!)

[Satlam]

There's a free program called Equalizer, available at clickrepair . net that can equalise recordings if they're at the correct speed. It can more or less cancel out the RIAA EQ and allow you to EQ it to any EQ standard, as long as you know the settings.

[trancehi]

I've got about 20 or 30 old 78's in the attic passed down through the generations and would love to hear them but can't. Thanks to this video, I may just succeed.

[NcicHit2]

You are right the RIAA curve is not for these old 78's.

[imfree707]

Great work! The old record was certainly listenable.

[Elmware]

Ever try just recording the record from 45RPM then using some sort of audio editor like Goldwave to speed it up?

[hyzercreek]

Anything is going to sound better than the acoustic record players of 1916. Steel needles that have to be replaced after each usage? Use a 78 RPM needle and EQ it any way you want. If there's nothing above 4000 k just shut that band off to get rid of the noise. Shut off 60 Hz and 100 Hz as well as it's nothing but noise down there, and boost the hell out of 200 Hz because there's bass there and little noise. NEVER PLAY A 40'S OR 50'S 78 ON A VICTROLA YOU'LL RUIN IT!!

[MichaelHansenFUN]

good one very good one

wow sweet stuff

good song

[mrspocksays]

will it damage your needle if it isn't a wide stylus? please help.

[Zefrenm]

@mrspocksays You won;t get the best sound and a crack or pit in the record can rip the tip right off a cantiliver.

[mrspocksays]

will it damage you needle if it isn't a wide stylus? please help.

[jwferman]

sorry, hit the wrong button. The software was Peak by BIAS Inc - it can advance the speed of a waveform with altering the pitch. When I was doing this I was also leaning on The Needle Doctor to get me 78 groove angle stylus, but they couldn't find any. So its get an old 78 turntable and make friends with a hog farmer who will yank a few boar bristles every now and then - then learn how to carve them.

[Zefrenm]

@jwferman as far for stylus angles, if you buy a repreable 78 RPm with at least a 3 mil diam. stylus you should not have any problems. watch this watch?v=dzyCZDUYn24 and i've modifies my headshell so it has the compliance of a windup gramophone but weighted at 3 grams. Plus Goody's still makes a boar hair brush i use with velveteen and lighter fiuld to clean my records now.

[jwferman]

My concern with playing a 78 rpm record on 78 rpm turntable today is the stylus. A modern stylus has a smaller angle than the 78 groove, so at 78 speed the stylus would ride up the side of the groove and you would get only about 1/2 signal. I once played a 78 back at 16 rpm and then used computer software to s

[Zefrenm]

@jwferman SLow speed mastering is fine for vinyl and 78s from the fifties. But for a worn 78, slow mastering will only increase the suface noise thoughout the entire specturm. I record at the normal speed but then i record the same record at 90rpm and sreach that out to the normal time. This will ushally lessen surface noise and improve bass responce.

[Garr1984]

Acoustic Victors were made at 80 RPM :)

[mjb784533]

@Garr1984 -- Actually you have it backwards. Victor acousticals are generally all below 78, certainly not above. It was Columbia and Edison which advertised they were 80, but while Edisons ususally are, Columbias are usually around 78. Victor even stated 76 as their speed around 1916 for 6 months and some machines from that time show 76 on the speed control. Looking thru the Caruso discography, ALL sessions are BELOW 78 except four, and the only one at 80 shows on the label "Play at 82"!

[vinylloung]

i cry on the inside when i hear this and i'm ready to cry right now

[EliRod003]

@Zefrenm

I don't get what your saying. Do I have to download a program?!! Just tell me how I can get my turntable to play at 78 rpms.

[Zefrenm]

If you have an ION turntable you can get it to play 78 by getting the belt to run on the outer edge of the motor pully.

[EliRod003]

@Zefrenm

Do you know anyway I can play 78's while using a turntable that only allows 33 and 45 rpms? It's a cheap turntable, so it doesn't hve Something to change the pitch.

[Zefrenm]

@EliRod003 down Audacity 3.1 it has everything you need to start like speed converstions to 78 rpm and it's freeware

[bixanorak]

Thanks for the fine video, Zefrenm! I'm interested in making sure '78s' are played at the right speed, and already checked a nearby Victor, 18225, the first Original Dixieland Jazz Band Victor. I am quite happy that it plays true at 78 rpm and that the pitch in use was A=440 Hz. On that basis, I checked your disc, and it plays squarely in G at 78 rpm - so your disc was almost certainly cut at 78 rpm. (We can never be *absolutely* sure, of course!) I'm off now to enjoy more of your videos!

[beautman1]

@bixanorak You're assuming they intended a 440 A. That was not standard, and in fact varied from country to country.

[reelinrocking]

Acetates are ONLY supposed to be cleaned with WATER and it should be distilled water at that. That's what we did in the record manufaturing process. Also, WD-40 should NEVER be applied to any record. It is a dust-magnet besides accumulating on the stylus or needle and it may soak in(not evaporate) to the record, soften it, and cause the record to be damaged when played.

[beautman1]

@reelinrocking Do you mean acetates or shellac? Some acetates have paper cores which could absorb water and distort of rot.

[reelinrocking]

@beautman1 The recording surface of an acetate is made of lacquer and most 78's, shellac. True acetates have metal cores. Cheapo home recording discs had a paper core. Neither alcohol nor any petroleum distilates should be used. Only soap and water should be used. Don't drench the record in any liquid.

[brightonmusic]

Excellent informative video!! I have very old 78 records with no RIAA. I also have an equalizer in my stereo system. To undo the RIAA applied by the receiver, do I raise the bass and lower the treble or vice-versa? Thank you.

[spannerworks1]

I use a Gramophone or 50's BSR decks no problem - but thansk for the tip. WD 40 is good but only very littleon the cloth.

Richard :))

[PepulzGuys]

It's too bad some of the newer turntables don't have 78 rpm

[dandeb5559]

@PepulzGuys Many of the new turntables DO have 78 rpm. Most of the retro turntables play78's and turntables from AudioTechnica, Stanton, Numark, Vestax and other brands have 78rpm speeds. You can get several turntables from KAB that have variable speeds, including Techniques. You can buy brand new 78rpm cartridges and styluses from Shure. You can buy ION USB turntables that play or electronically convert 78's for around $100. Where've you been?

[Bassmaster970]

@PepulzGuys i just bought a turntable with 78rpm.

[pax41]

I find it best not to add any EQ to the acoustic records since they were recorded without any. I use a little gain to help boost the sound after I finish cleaning up the clicks etc. I have actually managed to get good results without the use of any type of amp. I use software to remove the RIAA curve and then to apply the correct one if called for. I think there are many takes on what works best, thanks for sharing.

[beautman1]

@pax41

[beautman1]

@pax41 While there was no eq in the formal sense of RIAA or NAB -- it wasn't even an option -- there was a sort of "natural" eq resulting from the accoustic recording process. One of the reasons Victorola dominated the market was that they put a lot of attention to how they tuned their horns. Some of the most enjoyable transfers of acoustic 78s I've done were made with a stereo mic pair positioned a few feet in front of a horn.

[pax41]

@beautman1 I don't record on my victrola but use a modern turntable to record. Any piece of modern stereo equipment will add the RIAA curve. You have to use a flat amp or software to remove this or the recording will have too much bass and the highs greatly diminished. I am aware that RIAA come along in the 50's. If recording from period equipment you would not need to do this.

[DeLorean4]

Very useful video. Thank you very much for uploading. I'm a n00b to 78 collecting and I don't want to damage the few I've managed to find so far. Real gems, as you said.

[BrooklynMouseReturns]

That must be the same issue with my 1975 GE Wildcat that plays 78 RPM records with an LP needle, but it doesn't support wide groove, but you might hear some background hisses in the audio.

[hyzercreek]

@BrooklynMouseReturns If you use an LP needle on a 78 the needle goes right to the bottom of the groove and bounces around on the bottom where there is no music. You absolutely must use a wide needle made for 78's

[CrisVangel]

Very good video! I know you are right, a record not pressed with the RIAA curve should not be played back with that curve.. (obviously..). I never thought about it that much, partially because I am used to equalizing everything, when I can. And speed can be objective, remember DJ's (like me) use pitch controls all the time. Some songs I like a lot better played a little slower! Very kool, smart man you must be!

[edmundusrex]

Thanks for this and for the excellent quality of all the music you share with us.

[DavidN23Skidoo]

Beautiful!