ODD Tape Recording Level Question

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rayc

rayc

retroreprobate
I re read the booklet with my copy of SCOTT 4 HDCD & noted an interesting bit of info.
There's a snap of the master prodcution master tape box upon which is sticky (cello) taped a card. The tape seems to have been made 6/10/69 by Keith at 15ips so the card was produced before the recording and must therefor relate to more than just this recording. The following is typed onto it:

OLYMPIC Sound Studios
Reference: L R 56 - yellow back

This tape is recorded at an operational level of 8 db above normal peak maximum. Before playing this tape it is imperative that the replay level of the sending machine must be recalibrated to minus 8db reference normal peak level. It is not permissable to turn down mixing channels, the level change must be done at the machine. August 1968

I get the recailibration to accommodate etc but could someone please explain the reasons for the levels in some sort of historical context?
 
The hot level was to overcome the tape hiss as much as possible.

Noise reduction was in its infancy state at that point and most studios didn't have it.

Cheers! :)
 
OK, that's something I can understand. More signal recorded the less tape hiss on playback.
I didn't even think of that line. I was just taken by the amount of extra signal and the formal nature of the card. Given that it was, presumably, the studio's standard procedure for noise reduction it makes sense.
Thanks Ghost!
 
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