Intermodulation and Harmonic Distortion Tips in Tracer Newsletter

[Joeybear]

In one of the Tracer newsletters sent out a while back, I remember some specific tips and info regarding the removal of intermodulation and/or harmonic distortion from vinyl. Unfortunately, I can't find the newsletter in my files.

I'd really appreciate any help. At the very least, is it possible to find out what newsletter the info was in?

Thanks in advance.

[Brian]

Is this what you're looking for? (11/21/07)

"2. Tech Notes: New DC SEVEN Feature You May Not Be Aware Of
Many of you are starting to get DC7 now so we thought we'd tell you about an ability of the product that most of you won't know about.

This new feature allows DC7 to greatly reduce a super annoying type of noise called Intermodulation Distortion. I know some of you are saying, "Huh, what's that?", but even though you may not know what it is you have likely heard it and perhaps heard it many times.

Intermodulation Distortion is that high pitched, raspy, kind of "fingernails on the blackboard" sound that can come from worn records. 45rpm records often have this problem since they were frequently played hundreds of times, but well loved LPs can certainly have it too. Still not sure what it sounds like? Then download and listen to this sample. You'll hear the distortion in the lead vocals.

http://www.tracertek.com/wrapper.wav

So what to do? Distortion cannot normally be repaired with digital audio programs. But DC7 isn't your normal program. It can sometimes work a miracle on this type of IM distortion. After you listen to the problem, fire up your DC7 and let's fix it together. To do that follow these steps:

1. Open the file if you haven't already
2. Bring up the Continuous Noise Filter set to Normal CNF mode. Set FFT size to 8192 and overlap to 50%.
3. Check the Artifact Supression checkbox and set the Artifacts slider to about 200.
4. Take a noise sample from the noise at the beginning and adjust the attenuation slider for good noise reduction. Ignore the clicks and the raspy distortion for the moment
5. Now click on Keep Residue and adjust the Artifact slider upward until you hear the raspy vocals being removed
6. Lastly, uncheck Keep Residue and dial in the final settings.

I think you'll be very pleased at the improvement in this file. Before, it was hard to listen to due to the IM. Now it's just hard to listen to because of the song itself.

As far as we know, there is no other product out there that can deal with this type of distortion. Just another reason to upgrade to DC7. "

Brian

[Joeybear]

That's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks Brian!

[Brian]

Happy to help

[Joeybear]

Oops... see post below

[Joeybear]

I'm kinda embarassed that I didn't remember that newsletter, because of the sample file. It was a locally done hit back in 1970. My uncle worked (and is still friends with) one of the guys that played and sang on the song. (Donnie Iris)

And for you music trivia buffs, the band's name "The Jaggerz" refers to the term we locals (Pittsburghers/Western PA) have always used for any kind of thorn on a bush.

BTW... that newsletter tip refers to DC7. Does anyone know how to do the same thing in DC6?

[Craig Maier]

Folks,

Should I be embarassed that the record in question came from my collection of olde 45s?

Oh well - my taste may have improved over time. I guess that was the first "rap" song. To be fair to myself, I have a lot of 45s - - - around 1000, so a few questionable ones should be forgivable.

ps - but I must admit, I kinda like that song

[Geebster]

I'm kinda embarassed that I didn't remember that newsletter, because of the sample file. It was a locally done hit back in 1970. My uncle worked (and is still friends with) one of the guys that played and sang on the song. (Donnie Iris)

Excellent! Although He did it much later, one of my favorite songs is "Ah Leah".....

GB

[Dan McDonald]

... and one of my high school teachers was supposed to be a great friend of this band.

At least he claimed to be.

If it was 1970, it must have been spring of 1970?

And, to answer Joeybear's question, I don't think you can do this in DC6 because AS was a new (and now much-revered) feature of DC7.

Dan

[Joeybear]

... and one of my high school teachers was supposed to be a great friend of this band.

At least he claimed to be.

If it was 1970, it must have been spring of 1970?

And, to answer Joeybear's question, I don't think you can do this in DC6 because AS was a new (and now much-revered) feature of DC7.

Dan

Good point Dan. My post did kinda come off that way. LOL

As for answering my DC question, thanks. I was gonna upgrade anyways, so this just reinforces my decision.

BTW, the song was released in the fall of '69, and hit it's peak around the end of '69/beginning of 70.

[Dan McDonald]

Hi Joeybear -
Sorry - I didn't mean to sound like I had any doubts about your story. My h.s. teacher really did claim to be friends with these guys. I don't remember the context but one day in class he started talking about this song and how he was friends with them. I guess he was trying to 'connect' with us. He was pretty young, but it was spring 1970, and we were taking a class on "Communism vs Americanism" (that really was the title). We were into the revolutionary aspects, as you can imagine, given the time frame. Somehow the Jaggerz came up and he started talking about them.

Dan

[cromag]

I don't know. I mean, I liked Ah, Leah, but Do You Compute came out while I was taking night courses in Computer Science. As a result, it's been my favorite Donnie Iris song ever since!

[Geebster]

I don't know. I mean, I liked Ah, Leah, but Do You Compute came out while I was taking night courses in Computer Science. As a result, it's been my favorite Donnie Iris song ever since!

I have a reason I like "Ah Leah" so well. I played it 2 or 3 times a day when I was working at a Gentleman's Club and it always brings back fond memories of that time in my life....

[Brian]

I played it 2 or 3 times a day when I was working at a Gentleman's Club and it always brings back fond memories....

I know what you mean. I feel the same way about that great Bob Hope classic, "Thanks for the mammaries".

[DJBohn]

I guess that was the first "rap" song.

Officially, the first Rap song was "Rapture" by Blonde. But I alway felt the real first Rap song was "Ringo" by Lorne Greene, which was long before that Jaggerz tune. Unless someone knows of one even earlier...