Jazz Record Restorer John R.T. Davies Dies - Page 6

Realising that the exclusion of surface noise must bring about immense loss of peripheral information, it is necessary to seek amelioration of such noise whilst causing least damage to that information. It will be appreciated that simple or spot filtering will not answer such a requirement. At the other end of the scale, a computerised sampling of noise applied variously across several frequency bands to weed out or otherwise reduce or nullify those noises appearing in a programme - while capable of delivering dramatic noise reduction - will, if it does not actually destroy much of the peripheral information contained among the unwanted debris, cause a continuing variation among the parameters applied so that the ears are denied a stable platform on which to function.

Whether by mechanical or computer-screen methods, interferences of a benevolent nature covering no more than a couple of milliseconds will safely achieve the least destructive results in comparison with those engendered by any "blanket" system of processing. It has been shown all too often that over-driving of blanket systems can destroy peripheral information to the extent that notes played on an alto saxophone are indistinguishable from those played on a trumpet!

Apparatus which serve to curtail or replace obviously unwanted transients bring with them hazard to other transients, notably those arising from onsets and harmonic breaks peculiar to brass instruments.

Thus, any of these electronic solutions can readily destroy that which is intended to be preserved, and must be applied with extreme care on a moment-to-moment basis if a useful and seemingly non-destructive result is to be achieved. This, in turn, will demand the least processing rather than the most! Here is an interview with Davies conducted by Joel Slotnikoff of Bluesworld:

What kind of equipment do you yourself use both for transferring and for listening?

It has long been suggested that I write a book. . . but the information still materialises at a speed which might be likened to that of computer technology which carries the proposition that: by the time you've got it home and plugged it in, it is already obsolete! Continuing investment in available new technology is no longer financially practicable with advancing years and largely my equipment is extremely basic and, in evolution, inexpensive. Much of my work is done in analogue form in which domain I have developed methods not applicable to the digital. . . rather than a case of old dog and new tricks. Turntable: Goldring-Lenco GL75 (mounted not as the manufacturer intended) which offers near-universal speed/pitch facilitating adjustment usually to "New Philharmonic" C=522/523 c/s or (for brass bands in earlier recordings) "Old Philharmonic" C=537 c/s. . . or, rarely, "Steinway" C=517 c/s. Pick-up arm: Linn Ittok 12" (whose rigidity--pivot to stylus--allows opportunity of un-smeared upper frequency separation) with Cartridge: Shure M-44 (not, perhaps, the greatest tracing ability but an indestructible work-horse) and others for specialist purposes. Pre-amplifier of my own design (whose attributes could fill another chapter). Main (monitor) amplifier: Leak TL12 (outstanding at its time more than half a century ago and even more so with the introduction of some more modern components). Speakers: 10" Golden Warfedale (advantage of single-source reproduction despite 70-year-old design and range short-comings. . . There are others which I would prefer but which require more space than available). Analogue tape: Telefunken M-24 (of which I have three). This machine, dating from c. 1960 and now needing considerable "nursing" is not only a fine recorder but is more importantly the greatest editing machine of its kind. More recently added are various digital items. Still an important adjunct is a gadget which I call "the decerealiser" which enables me to remove snap-crackle-and-pop as well as modifying unwanted noise in the analogue domain; its function, based on the principle of violin string and bow, would require another couple of chapters to extoll!

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