1966 transcription record says to use a transcription needle?

[brassplyer]

Bought what's labeled as a transcription record - 33 1/3, recorded in 1966. I see the label says "Use transcription needles with maximum pressure of 50 grams".

What is a transcription needle and can a standard cartridge like a Stanton be used?

[Adrian Tuddenham[_2_]]

Brassplyer > wrote:

> Bought what's labeled as a transcription record - 33 1/3, recorded in
> 1966. I see the label says "Use transcription needles with maximum
> pressure of 50 grams".
>
> What is a transcription needle and can a standard cartridge like a
> Stanton be used?

Usually a transcription needle trailed so as to give a degree of
vertical compliance (in a mono pickup) so that pinch distortion did not
cause groove damage. Any good quality modern stereo cartridge will have
the necessary compliance, so the Stanton should be suitable.

The groove shape of a transcription record might not be exactly the same
as modern microgroove records, but a microgroove stylus is usually
adequate. (There were also some coarse-groove 33 1/3 rpm transcription
discs, but these were recorded much earlier than 1966.)

There were several different standards for the recording characteristics
of transcription discs in use at different time and in different
countries, so you cannot guarantee that the RIAA curve will give correct
results. You won't do any harm by trying - and if it sounds right it
probably is right. If it is not RIAA, you will have to look for
specialised equalisers to get the correct result.

A nitrate surfaced transcription disc is only good for about 10 playings
before the quality begins to drop, so make sure you are running a
recording system right from the start. It is cheap enough nowadays to
leave a recorder running and the first test playthrough may be the best
one - or if you are unlucky and something goes wrong, the only one.

You will often get less noise from a nitrate surface if you play it with
a relatively heavy pickup, but you will also get fewer plays before
damage occurs. If the disc is damaged and the pickup jumps across the
grooves, don't lean on the pickup or fiddle with clever anti-skating
bias devices, just tilt the whole turntable unit.


--
~ Adrian Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >,
Brassplyer > wrote:
>Bought what's labeled as a transcription record - 33 1/3, recorded in 1966. I see the label says "Use transcription needles with maximum pressure of 50 grams".
>
>What is a transcription needle and can a standard cartridge like a Stanton be used?


Transcription needle is likely about 2.0 mil NAB standard. Much larger than
the 1mil microgroove needle of today, but smaller than the 2.7 mil 78 stylus.

You can likely play it well enough with a Stanton 681 and the 78 stylus, but
the distortion will be higher than with the correct stylus because it will
be riding higher in the groove. Do not play with a microgroove stylus.

If this is a lacquer (which you can tell from the aluminum base which shines
through on the edges), do be aware that these records degrade audibly with
every play so get the best you can the first time and do not attempt to put
lacquers through vacuum machines or use any cleaning solution containing
alcohol.

There are transcription pressings which are a lot less delicate though and
should just be treated like an LP with big grooves.

Esoteric Sound will sell you 2.0 mil styli for the 681 for around $100, I
think. But I'd do a pass with the standard 78 one first.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."