Tape Project Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: ironbut on August 18, 2008, 08:38:31 PM

Title: Another great tape story
Post by: ironbut on August 18, 2008, 08:38:31 PM
No,.. this isn't another one of ironbut's "gather round and let me tell you a tale." stories but something that Clark Johnsen posted on the ASRC list;
http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/exhibitionist/2008/06/the_bsos_baseme.html
Title: Re: Another great tape story
Post by: steveidosound on August 19, 2008, 11:11:12 AM
I attempted to post the following comment to the blog there because someone had asked if the recordings would have been in stereo or mono and in what tape format in roughly the 50s era:

Regarding the previous comment, FM stereo was not available till about 1963 and stereo tape recorders for consumer use were not common much before that.
So these were hopefully made by a 50s "HiFi" enthusiast with a good FM tuner and good mono tape recorder. Most for home use were 1/2 track mono with the tape being recorded both directions.
FM and still some AM stations took quality seriously in the 50s, and getting an excellent recording of a symphony off the air was considered a serious expression of dedication to ones hobby then.
So if everything was "right" regarding the broadcast quality and his reception and tape machine these could potentially be very Hi Fi even by today's standards. Pity they are not available.