Wax Cylinder Restoration
OUR MACHINES
WE USE THE ORIGINAL PROTOTYPE SYMPOSIUM RECORDS ELECTRIC PHONOGRAPH 1134 CUSTOM BUILT FOR TRANSFERS. WE ALSO USE OUR HISTORICAL EDISON MODEL A, EDISON GEM AND
PATHE SALON PHONOGRAPHS COMBINED WITH THE LIGHTWEIGHT CANAPHONIC
ARCHIVETTE FOR CYLINDERS THAT ARE LESS FRAGILE.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR DIGITISATION
1. Working with audio fies (quality)
Encoding and conversion of files are done using several software programs including Audacity and Reaper, and tag editors for metadata. The correct file format is important, working with the highest quality files we would recommend PCM uncompressed 192khz/24 bits. For audio archiving purposes the file quality that we
would recommend is PCM uncompressed WAV at 96Khz/24 bits. For general file storage we
recommend a WAV file that is 44.1Khz /16 bits or MP3 2 channels at 320kbps.
2. Cylinder Considerations
Wax Cylinders are considered fragile and improper handling can result in serious issus such as cracking. Please read the guide by CLPGS which details good practice in storing/handling cylinders and also their guide on cylinder cleaning.
METHOD OF TRANSFER
In reference to the transfer process we employ the 'Tactile Method,' this emphasises a delicate physical groove playback technique.
This differs from the non-contact 'Optical Method,' where the surface of the cylinder is mapped and scanned
using reflective light and processed using computer software, that method is most
useful for highly fragile and broken cylinders.
CYLINDER PROPERTIES
– Chemical Composition
– Rotation Speed
– Diameter
– Length
– Width
COMMON FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT A CYLINDER
Cracks, breakage of parts, scratches, mould, embedded dust in grooves, plaster deformation, bulging and shrinkage, wax degradations and general wear.
MOST FREQUENT AUDIO ISSUES
Noise, clicks, crackle, hiss, wow and flutter. We use Izotope RX for the restoration process
CYLINDER TYPES THAT WE CAN TRANSFER TO DIGITAL
– Edison Bell - wax cylinder transfers to digital
– Edison Brown wax cylinder transfer to digital
– The Blue Amberol, cylinder transfer to digital
– The brown concert cylinder transfer to digital
– The gold moulded, cylinder transfer to digital
– Pathe records wax cylinder transfer to digital
– Pathe, large Salon cylinder transfer to digital
– Dictaphone record cylinder transfer to digital
– International indestructible, transfer to digital
– Oxford record wax cylinder transfer to digital
– Columbia 20th c. cylinder transfers to digital
– Columbia, brown cylinder, transfers to digital
– Columbia's Indestructible, transfers to digital
– Clarion records - cylinder, transfers to digital
– Sterling records - cylinder transfers to digital
– Miller Morris - wax cylinder transfer to digital
HANDMADE RECORDINGS TO WAX CYLINDER
We are one of the few remaining services left that are still able to record wax cylinders in the original way and can cut 2 min 160rpm recordings using our electric or mechanical machines. Our cylinders are currently
supplied by the expert Paul Morris. Old recordings that are in the public domain (out of copyright)
can be re-recorded onto blank wax cylinder. We also specialise in recording cylinders for
artists and musicians and can make unique wax cylinder records for you or your band.
THE ENGINEER
Jonathan Emeruwa is the audio engineer, he has spent many years collecting, studying and recording cylinders having researched with the British Library and recorded for CLPGS, he is also a member of ARSC,
IASA and WSRS with a background in field recording, sound design and music composition.
_________________________________________________
