How Audio Recordings Are Made

Ever wondered how those beautiful sounds emanating from your stereo system got onto the LP, audiocassette, or compact disc to begin with? This informative program explains the mystery. Disc jockey Pete Fornatale, from WNEW in New York, introduces the video. From there, the cameras move to the recording studio where the Washington Squares are recording new tracks. Producer Steve Katz talks about his role in the production, and engineer Rob Dimit takes viewers on a guided tour of both the recording area (placement of mikes, acoustic panels, etc.) and the recording booth, where he explains the various features of overdubbing, punching, mixing, and panning. Dimit and Katz also discuss the differences between analog and digital recording. Following the studio session, the locale shifts to the Edison Historical Site, where viewers are shown the first phonograph, and given a brief history of the 100-year-old recording industry. The final stop is at a compact disc manufacturing plant, where both the principle of laser recording/playback and the actual process of creating a disc are covered. This is an excellent introduction to the world of audio recording, and it is highly recommended for school and public libraries. (Available from: EAV, Pleasantville, NY 10570.)