[Dixielandjazz] Correct pitch in recordings

[Robert Ringwald]

Ulf Jagfors, ulf.jagfors at telia.com wrote:


(Snip)
By using the tunes that constantly come up
on OKOM radio I get a very good practice for both the harmonies and rhythm.

However very often the tunes played are much out of the regular 440-442 A
pitch, sometimes up to half or whole tone away. C will be C# etc. That goes
both for old recordings as well as contemporary ones. The question from side
is following. How come? Are there a problem in the player equipment used by
the different programmers? If not, in many cases a piano is involved. I
always assume that the piano should set the pitch for band at least around
440, at least for modern recordings after WW II. Then you have the none
conform standard of the old 78 rpm records of the 20´s were the different
recording companies not always recorded in 78 rpm. 
(Snip)
 
Ulf,

As far as I know, the newer recordings, if done professionally at all, should have been recorded at the correct speed.  Thus the pitch, if played on a device that is calibrated to the correct speed, should be at the right pitch.  

On Radio OKOM, if the pitch is off, then I would guess that the equipment used while producing the show was faulty.  This, especially on the shows that were recorded early on, around 2002, before some of the equipment was updated.  This would be especially true if the DJ was using a turntable or cassette player.  These devices can very easily not be calibrated and be running at the wrong speed.  The shows also might have been recorded on tape.  That machine could also be off-speed.    

Anyone on DJML who does shows on Radio OKOM, such as Harry Callaghan, or a recording engineer such as Jim Kashishian might be able to shed more light on the subject.  

Best,

--Bob Ringwald
www.ringwald.com
Fulton Street Jazz Band
530/ 642-9551 Office
916/ 806-9551 Cell
Amateur (Ham) Radio K6YBV

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