Acoustic vs electric recordings

[gramophone1]

How were pre 1925 acoustic recordings using a hot dip wax method differ from later electric recording using cold press wax method and how to identify those discs? And what stylus to use ?

[Springmotor70]

Hi gramaphone1,

 

In many ways the productions of records evolved slowly from the early years through to the 1940s.  Original recordings were cut in wax and then solidified with electrolysis creating a master matrix.  From that, mother matrixes were made from which stampers could be created.    The huge difference is the way the recordings were made and cut.  Acoustic recordings were made not that much different than home recordings.  The artist sang or performed in front of a large horn where the sound vibrations were concentrated and moved the cutter stylus as the sounds were captured in wax.  For an entire band, many times musical instruments were modified or created just for recording so that their sound was concentrated in one direction.  Soloists would have to quietly and quickly move up to the horn for their solo and large instruments such as the piano had to be set up as not to obstruct the band but still have the sound board aimed in the best direction.   All of this was difficult, but an even larger obstacle was the lowest and highest octaves away from middle C could not be captured by the acoustic recording process.

 

Recording was completely revolutionized in 1925 as Western Electric introduced a new method of recording and then playback using electric microphones to capture the sound and cut the record with much greater fidelity, volume and scale.  Suddenly recordings could capture the whole performance on a greater and clearer scale.  A small child's voice was just as clear as a Mezzo-soprano performing Carmen and the percussion would not drown out the strings.  Performances could also be captured much farther away than just the other side of the wall in the recording studio.  The major recording and phonograph companies went into agreement not to divulge the information until the fall of 1925 when they could also premiere their new machines designed for play back of the new records.  As a result, both Victor and Columbia were recording electrically but not telling their customers.  

You asked if there was a way to tell the difference visually.   On Victor records, if you see a VE in an oval in the dead wax (or run off area) usually just above the label, that stands for Victor Electric.  It means that the recording was made electrically with a microphone in the new process.  You can find these on many acoustic batwing labels from 1925, which are referred to as "Electric Batwings"    The same is true for Columbia.  However, Columbia changed their "New Process" label from the flag label to Black and Gold label that would become the Viva-Tonal or living sound recording label.  The New Process refers to changes in their lamination process which helped reinforce discs but also make them play much quieter with less surface noise even as they appear to wear and age.  Many people think this first black label is all acoustic, but the key is in again dead wax.  Next to the matrix ID number you can find a W in a circle.  This is the Western Electric recording process notation.  So just like Victor, there are many early electric Columbia recordings where the label does not state as such.

 

I hope this helps.

I'd like to go on about my favorite, Brunswick, but this is enough for now.

D