White Papers Written by Kermit V. Gray

The following are a few of the brief white papers written by KVG Laboratories founder and chief designer, Kermit V. Gray. Links are to files in the Adobe Acrobat PDF format for your convenient reference. Please download, enjoy and make beautiful music!

  1. Selecting Microphones for Any Audiophile Quality Recording - Not all microphones are perfect for all subjects. Here's how Kermit approaches most situations.
  2. Compression Quick Guide - Of course, no compression at all is the ultimate goal, but in case you need to use it, this article will help you avoid common pitfalls.
  3. Setting Optimum Recording Level with DBX Type I or Type II Noise Reduction - A method for optimizing the calibration of outboard DBX noise reduction units.
  4. EQ It! How to "Fix Your Mix" with EQ - Of course, no EQ at all is the ultimate goal, but in case you need to use it, this article will help you avoid common pitfalls.
  5. Major Label Sound How-To - A brief overview of multi-track recording technique as practiced by major record labels in the 1970s. The information in this file is gleaned from both the author's apprenticeship experience and from years of practical, in-the-studio experience. It will help you make excellent recordings every time. Some of this information cannot be found in any book or magazine article.
  6. Reverb Quick Guide - Basics of using reverb in a recording successfully.
  7. The Mastering Conundrum - A philosophical discussion of the aesthetics of record mastering.
  8. Fret Spacing Basics - Have you ever wondered why the frets on a guitar are psaced the way they are? This brief white paper tells you how the spacing is calculated.
  9. Huge Sound From Small Guitars - One-page white paper describes a technique for making your recordings sound large and professional. The technique was developed for guitars but may be adapted to other instruments.
  10. General Guidelines for Electric Guitar Speaker Cabinet Design
  11. Warm Up Those Cold Digital Recordings! - One-page white paper explains one approach to improving a digital recording.
  12. Basic Soldering Tips with Fred Lifton, gives practical tips on assembling and soldering electronic equipment.
  13. How to Make a Successful Demo
  14. How to Fix A Bad Mix
  15. Brief Audio Glossary
  16. How to Care for CDs and DVDs
  17. Decibels and SPL
  18. Dynamic Range
  19. Engineer's Tool Kit - Every serious studio needs to "stock up" with this list of everyday studio essentials.
  20. Cleaning and Demagnetizing Tape Recorders - The basics of cleaning and demagnetizing tape recorders.
  21. A Commonly Overlooked Repair Issue: The Right Screwdriver For The Job. - Use the proper tool to dismantle most Japanese-made audio equipment to avoid damaging the equipment.
  22. Review: AT440MLA Quick Review of the AudioTechnica AT440MLA phono cartridge.
  23. Review: Shure V-15 Type III Stylus Review of the replacement stylus sold by Ed Saunders.
  24. Review: Monster Turbines Comprehensive review of the Monster Turbines In Ear Speakers made by Monster Cable
  25. Type 76 Program Amplifier (short form). - During the mid-1970s, Kermit ran a small company, Specialized Recording & Audio, that made studio equipment, did live sound re-enforcement, and ran a recording studio. This is a scan of the original literature for one model of "program amplifier," which is a kind of studio preamplifier that is very versatile. The 76 was the entry level model at that time.The address and telephone number in the literature is no longer valid, so please do not call or write to the address or call the telephone number. The original document was typed on an Underwood manual typewriter, the copies were made on a mimeograph machine.
  26. Type 76 Program Amplifier (long form). - This is a scan of the original literature for one model of "program amplifier," which is a kind of studio preamplifier that is very versatile. The 76 was the entry level model at that time. This piece of literature is very detailed and is a good education into 1970s-vintage studio equipment design. The address and telephone number in the literature is no longer valid, so please do not call or write to the address or call the telephone number. This is one of the mid-1970s products of Kermit's previous company, Specialized Recording & Audio, that made studio equipment, did live sound re-enforcement, and ran a recording studio. The original document was typed on an Underwood manual typewriter, the copies were made on a mimeograph machine.
  27. Type 77A and 77B Program Amplifiers (short form). - This is a scan of the original literature for the 77 Series "program amplifier," which is a kind of studio preamplifier that is very versatile. This piece of literature is interesting from its historical context. During the 1970s, the ideal audio equipment was said to be a "straight wire with gain" with no distortion or coloration. The literature emphasizes that the 77 doesn't sound like valve equipment, which was quite a selling point at the time. The 77 was the most popular model at that time. The address and telephone number in the literature is no longer valid, so please do not call or write to the address or call the telephone number. This is one of the mid-1970s products of Kermit's previous company, Specialized Recording & Audio, that made studio equipment, did live sound re-enforcement, and ran a recording studio. The original document was typed on an Underwood manual typewriter, the copies were made on a mimeograph machine.
  28. Type 78A Program Amplifier (short form). - This is a scan of the original literature for the 78 Series "program amplifier," which is a kind of studio preamplifier that is very versatile. The 78 was the flagship model at that time. This piece of literature is interesting from its historical context. During the 1970s, the ideal audio equipment was said to be a "straight wire with gain" with no distortion or coloration. The literature emphasizes that the 77 doesn't sound like valve equipment. The address and telephone number in the literature is no longer valid, so please do not call or write to the address or call the telephone number. This is one of the mid-1970s products of Kermit's previous company, Specialized Recording & Audio, that made studio equipment, did live sound re-enforcement, and ran a recording studio. The original document was typed on an Underwood manual typewriter, the copies were made on a mimeograph machine. Printing and word processing technology has come a long way!
  29. DIY Audiophile Cable.
    30. A simple DIY cable that will outperfor any exotic audiophile cable, regardless of price. Requires only good readily-available shielded twisted pair microphone cable and good quality RCA plug. This design is given freely to benefit the audio community and is not licensed for you to use commercially. IN OTHER WORDS, NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.
  30. DIY Tube/Valve Microphone Preamplifier - Battery powered, this easy to build project will rival high end studio microphone preamplifiers.
  31. The "56", an Audiophile DIY Tube/Valve Stereo Amplifier - The 56DIY is a single-ended ultralinear beam tetrode amplifier that will give caviar-quality sound on a fast-food restaurant budget. Only a few parts are critical, and layout is non-critical. Similar to our Type 56J series amplifiers.
  32. The Bird Foot Microphone Array - This method is an extremely easy and nearly foolproof way to achieve high quality recordings that are the equal of any audiophile record label. Uses three matched microphones: Left, Blend and Right. Designed by the author originally as a simplified variant of Nakamichi's 3-microphone pickup descibed in "Nakamichi Live Recording System Manual" and as a competitor to the Decca Tree. The array may be adapted to other setups. Kermit pioneered The Bird Foot Microphone Array in 1978 and has used it for more than thirty years with great success.
  33. The Cheap DIY Decca Tree - Sketch of a simple do-it-yourself Decca Tree microphone mount made of ordinary, easily-obtained lumber. The Decca Tree was an excellent stereo microphone array developed in the 1950s by Decca Records that used three microphones. This method is an extremely easy and nearly foolproof way to achieve VERY high quality recordings (usually of orchestra, theatrical, or choral performances) that are the equal of any audiophile record label. Uses three microphones: Left (Omni), Center (Omni or Cardioid) and Right (Omni).
  34. Cheap 3-Mike Adapter - Connect 3 Microphones to a stereo microphone preamplifier.
  35. Photo Quick Reference - Now all those confusing exposure settings put in charts, which filters to use and when, along with a few basic tips for photography.
    36. Guidelines for Packing Framed Photographs - how to ensure your photos arrive unbroken.
  36. Ten Cameras That Changed Photography - What are the best cameras ever made? The list would be long. Kermit decided on listing the cameras that had the greatest effect on photography as the criterion for "best cameras."
  37. Writing Tips - How to make your Internet writings better.

Videos

Below are a few videos, mostly of a technical nature. Unless noted otherwise, videos were recorded with either a Pentax K-x DSLR or Optio S12 compact camera, then edited on Apple iMovie, with soundtrack edited on a KVG Labs EdiDAW digital workstation, with some audio elements also edited on Propellerhead Reason Record. Other equipment includes Bang & Olufsen Beovox S45 monitors, Crown D75 monitor amplifier, Focusrite Saffire24 A/D/A convertor, and numerous microphones (refer to studio equipment list elsewhere on this website).


  5. [TECH NOTE: Tape recorder's sound picked up with CAD Equitek E200 condensor microphone.]

  6. [TECH NOTE: Phonograph's sound picked up with Shure KSM32 condensor microphone.]

  9. [TECH NOTE: Canada Geese and snowblower sounds picked up with AKG C568 condensor shotgun ENG microphone.]

Non-Technical and Miscellaneous

  1. 2008 Voter Attitude Survey - 2008 Voter Attitude Survey conducted in the United States.
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