Inner Groove Distortion
Reply #21 –
Does anyone know if there have ever been experimental LPs that were cut "inside out" - starting at the centre and moving towards to outer edge. For some classical music, where the beginning is quiet and the climax has all-guns-blazing, I'd have thought that might help.
The BBC "Transcription Series" (radio programs that were recorded on disc for distribution to affiliates for later broadcast, such as syndicated serials) were cut alternately "outside in" to "inside out". (The first disc in the set would play "outside in" as usual, then the second disc in the set would play "inside out".) This avoided the sudden change in sound quality that would otherwise occur when changing discs. Broadcasting studios usually used spherical stylus profiles for reasons such as longer stylus and disc life, reduction in surface noise and ease of cueing, but the profile made inner groove distortion worse.