TO DOLBY OR NOT TO DOLBY : THAT IS THE QUESTION

How It Works:
------------

All tape recordings suffer from some amount of noise.
This is inherent to the tape (and to the tape recording process)
and is unavoidable.

Noise reduction systems work by elevating certain frequency regions when
recording.  They reduce these same regions on playback.  The frequency
regions used are not those associated with hiss (the ONLY noise
these systems *reportedly* reduce).  On playback, all frequency ranges
are reduced.

When played back, the music returns to its normal level and, since all
regions are reduced, the noise supposedly drops out.

Unfortunately, most of these noise reduction systems work
poorly, and the tapes tend to sound muddy when played back on
any machine other than that in which it was recorded.

Most traders will insist that you leave Dolby off.  One notable
exception to this is Owsley Stanley, who Dolby's EVERYTHING.

The best solution, in my opinion, is to have your levels high
when you record your own master at the show (if you tape
shows yourself) and the hiss that is a result of the medium and
the process itself will be in the background to the point that it
will be unobtrusive.

A word of final advice, whatever you do, agree with your tradng
partner before hand about whether or not to use Dolby.

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