Jazz Recording Technology

Question 1

Beginning/early stages of recording and accessibility of Jazz

Answer 1

• before 1920 - had to be seen live (not accessible for lower classes)
• gramophones
• originated in New Orleans

Question 2

The Recording Horn

Answer 2

• hierarchical style of recording
• more important/ quieter instruments at front
• very poor quality (no subtle sounds)
• etched onto wax disc, imprinted in shellac
• first recording = original Dixieland jazz band

Question 3

Shellac Discs

Answer 3

• brittle, rough, bumpy - gramophone needle would catch
• scratched easily
• used for ammo in ww2 - production of discs decreased
• 3 mins max
• one take - mistakes left in
• crackly + jumpy

Question 4

Early microphones

Answer 4

-1925 = RCA ribbon invented and used
- better quality
- quality improved over next decades
- multiple microphones used
- but shellac discs still limited quality

Question 5

Multitracking + balance

Answer 5

• recording several instruments at a time - combined at a later stage
• initially 2-4 parts - grew to 30+ by 1940s
• each member of big band could be adjusted individually
• volumes + sounds could be adjusted + balanced

Question 6

Tape Recording

Answer 6

• late 1940s
• recordings didn’t have to be done in one take
• slicing was created - tedious + required sound engineer
• replaced wax discs

Question 7

Vinyl LP

Answer 7

• late 1940s
• longest playing - 20mins each side
• birth of concept album

Question 8

Stereo

Answer 8

• late 1950s
• left+right balance
• surround sound
• better quality

Question 9

Recording context

Answer 9

• swing era (1930s) hooked teens
• picked up 1934
• jukeboxes (late 1930s) revived industry (13mil+ sold in a year)
• record completion = affordable records
• amusement tax increased prices of venues by 20% - tickets increased

Question 10

Musician strike

Answer 10

• August 1942 - AFM musicians strike over royalty payments - no recording new material
• musicians perform on radio + concerts
• 1944 - ban lifted - thirst for swing + big band declined due to lack of material
• recording ban killed swing
• bebop too complex + unrecorded so wasn’t a commercial success

Question 11

Radio broadcasting

Answer 11

• until Great Depression (1930s) radio vs record companies
• records ‘pointless’ - radio ‘free’
• musicians volunteered to perform live on radio - publicity
• radio took over during strike