Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 27, 18 January 1929, Page 24

Our Mail Bag

Will correspondents please practice brevity, as heavy demands are now made on space. All letters must be signed and address given as proof. of genuineness; noms de plume for publication are permitted. Address correspondence Editor, "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington.

The Unmusieal Tremolo. AY I ask for insertion in the "Radio Record" of the attached cutting from the "Observer" (London) of October 14, 1928? It gives expression to sentiments I have strongly held for a long time past, and although I know I shall be considered hopelessly out of date and antiquated as to my musical taste, I still feel that I-am in good company. I have very pleasant recollections of singers to whom I have listened in times past, both here in New Zealand and also in London, who gave utterance to song in a natural manner, without that abominable vibrato to which we are nowadays compelled to listen. It gets on my nerves and reminds me of an old friend, himself an able musician, who, when once speaking about it, used an expression forefixed with an adjective that would not look well in print! This style of singing is, I presume, an outcome of what is euphemistically called "voice produc-

tion."

T.

PROCTOR

(Island Bay).

Sir,-I was very interested to read your "Special Correspondent's" — strictures on "wobbling" in the broadcasting programmes. I have not been able to discover a single individual who approves of it, and countless protests have appeared in the Press against it. It is as bad as ever, if not worse, and, with your correspondent, I ask why? Why is it not plainly given out to all applicants: "We do not engage singers

who use the tremolo’? The persistence in engaging offenders is provocative of much strong language from those why know what good singing is, and ruln-. ing the taste of the rising generation.Yours faithfully, M, A. WHEATLBEIGH, London, 8.W.4, October 14, 1928. The Control was Master Oscillator Tube. ON Tuesday night (January 1) was 2YA on valve or erystal control? I would like to know, because Tuesday night’s programme was almost perfect ; in fact. the least fading since I got my set last February. : The Use of Growlers. I SEE a lot of growling about the different New Zealand stations. I often wonder why some of the growlers do not try some other station. There are four YA stations in New Zealand, and if one does not suit I find one of the other three stations does. But there is one good thing about the growlers, they have their own use, and I do not see that they do much harm. They Will certainly hc.p to keep the Broadcasting Company up to the mark if nothing else, but I expect that they would still growl if they had their radio service and their "Radio Records" for nothing. For myself, I have yet to get the Australian station that can beat our four YA stations. So carry on the good work, and at the same time nothing but the best is good enough for New Zealand. We have the best country in the world, and let us have also the best radio service by con-

stant nimprovements.-

W. A.

SUN

DERLAND

(Port (Chalmers).

4YA Wanter on Sunday. N opening "Radio Record" each week I. always look for 4YA’s Sunday programme, and neyer see an afternoou programme or session there. I consider that in fairness to Southland listeners, you should transmit from 4YA on Sunday afternoons. We can hear 8YA some Sundays, 2YA others, and occasionally 1¥A, but cannot rely on any of them for entertainment. Here 4YA is the only reliable daylight station and, of course, it is not on the air on the only day most of the listeners have an opportunity to listen to radio. 4YA’s Wednesday evening’s request gramophone session is a treat here, and I would like to have more of it. After dark 4YA falls off and isn’t worth tuning in generally, so why not give us a little extra daylight transmission -just 90 minutes-every Sunday. Night reception from 2YA has been very good for all the period. It has easily been the best station all the time. 3YA seems to have fallen off from last summer’s reception. In regard to the programmes, they have heen excellent, all classes of listeners being well catered for. In "Radio Record" of December 28, I see where Mr. F. ©. Collins suggests a reduction in the power of 2YA, I say, "Not on your life!" We are not

troubled with distortion here, and the volume helps to overcome statie and

like interferences.-

A.

PARCELL

(In-

vereargill).

Wobble of 4YA Carrier. ()NE of my New Year resolutions is to nag. the R.B.C. about poor old 4YA,. During Christmas and New Year 4YA was on the air fairly often, and not once while I was listening did the carrier-wave stop wobbling, just up and down all the time. It reminds one of the average S.W. station. The volume is there, but good modulation is impossible with a carrier like that. The fault must be in my receiver (yes. blame the receiver as usual), but why don’t 4ZL, 4ZM, 1. 2 and 8YA wobble like that. You can’t expect to get more radio licenses down here with a station like that. Put a decent 500watt output transmitter at, 4YA, and, the Scotechmen here will say, they are getting something for their money, and the licenses will come in, in great style. Make New Plymouth or Hastings a present of old 4YA. We were promised a new station at Stuart Street Dunedin, to be completed and officially opened during 1928. The company is taking a long time. Anyway. we are living in hopes down here, we may get a new station before 1939,J. LEADBETTER (Gore).