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Elektromesstechnik (EMT) is a manufacturer of
phonograph A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration Waveform, waveforms are recorded as correspond ...
turntables and professional audio equipment, including a well-regarded line of artificial
reverberation In acoustics, reverberation (commonly shortened to reverb) is a persistence of sound after it is produced. It is often created when a sound is reflection (physics), reflected on surfaces, causing multiple reflections that build up and then de ...
devices beginning with the EMT 140 plate reverb. The company was founded by
Wilhelm Franz Elektromesstechnik (EMT) is a manufacturer of phonograph turntables and professional audio equipment, including a well-regarded line of artificial reverberation devices beginning with the EMT 140 plate reverb. The company was founded by Wilhelm F ...
.


Founding

Wilhelm Franz, born in
Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...
in 1913, founded Elektromesstechnik Wilhelm Franz K.G. in
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
in 1938. Two years later Wilhelm’s brother, Walter, joined the company. The Allied bombing air raids over
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
intensified in 1943 and Franz moved to Schuttertal, then, after 1945, to
Lahr Lahr (officially Lahr/Schwarzwald since 30 September 1978) (); ) is a city in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany, approximately 50 km north of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, 40 km southeast of Strasbourg, and 95 km southwest of Ka ...
, in the Schwarzwald region of south-western Germany. The logo of an "arrowhead" was chosen as a symbol of the passage of an electric signal in an electronic circuit.


Reverb effects


140 plate reverb

In 1957, EMT introduced the EMT 140 reverberation unit, an electro-mechanical reverberation device that offered an alternative to the spring reverbs and echo chambers of the era. The EMT 140 utilized a very thin 1 meter by 2 meter steel plate suspended within a steel frame. A transducer and a pickup (later two pickups for "stereo") were attached to the steel plate at different locations. When activated, the transducer induced sound waves into the plate. Those direct sound waves traveled through the plate and were, along with the indirect vibrations, sensed by the pickups and then amplified. This signal could then be mixed with the original signal to provide a simulation of a reverberant space. Reverberation times were adjustable between one and five seconds by means of a soft damping felt, which could be moved closer or farther from the steel plate. Like the R80 turntable, the "140" was developed in co-operation with the and went on to become one of EMT’s most successful products, remaining in production for 25 years. A stereo model, the was introduced in 1961. Four EMT 140 were installed at
Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a music recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, London, Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of ...
in the late 1950s, and three more added by 1976, for a total of 7. In 2004, the EMT 140 was inducted into the TECnology Hall of Fame, an honor given to "products and innovations that have had an enduring impact on the development of audio technology".


250 digital reverb

EMT introduced the first commercial digital reverb, the EMT 250 mobile reverberation unit, in 1976. The "250" quickly gained a solid reputation among West Coast recording studios in the US. The physical design of the unit in 1974 by freelance industrial designer Peter Bermes for EMT in close cooperation with EMT Technical Director Karl Otto Bäder and MIT Professor Barry Blesser, who had developed and patented the unit's digital algorithms. The EMT 250 was commonly referred to either "R2D2" because of its iconografic lever-controlled interface, or "Spaceheater" due to its vertical heat sink body made of black anodised aluminium panels and separate U-shaped "chimney", housing all heat-emitting ICs and therefore being painted red. In 2007, the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio recognized the EMT 250 as a significant contribution to the advancement of audio technology by inducting it into the TECnology Hall of Fame.


Phonograph turntables

After the war, Franz, in co-operation with the (Broadcasting Technique Institute), directed by Walter Kuhl, designed the EMT 927 large studio turntable. Introduced in 1951, the "927" is 67 cm wide, 52 cm deep and 21.5 cm high. Its enormous main platter (44 cm) was necessary to play 16” acetate records and was driven by a very large electric motor through a sturdy idler-wheel system. Additionally, it could play the 33 rpm 12”
long-playing The LP (from long playing or long play) is an analog sound storage medium, specifically a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of  rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification ...
records and 7” 45 rpm (
RCA RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded in 1919 as the Radio Corporation of America. It was initially a patent pool, patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Westinghou ...
-standard) discs. The Danish firm
Ortofon __NOTOC__ Ortofon is a Danish manufacturer of electronic audio equipment. It is the world's largest producer of magnetic cartridges for phonograph turntables, with 500,000 cartridges sold annually. History Engineers Arnold Poulsen and Axel Peter ...
provided the tonearm for the 927 ("RF-297") and the first magnetic pickup officially installed by EMT on their turntables. A
stroboscope A stroboscope, also known as a strobe, is an instrument used to make a cyclically moving object appear to be slow-moving, or stationary. It consists of either a rotating disk with slots or holes or a lamp such as a flashtube which produces br ...
engraved around the acrylic outer platter allowed the fine tuning of the 927’s speed, and its quick-start arrangement allowed a remarkably short starting time of less than 500 milliseconds at 33 rpm. The 927 was built in different versions: the "927A", with an optical indicator of the position of the
stylus A stylus is a writing utensil or tool for scribing or marking into softer materials. Different styluses were used to write in cuneiform by pressing into wet clay, and to scribe or carve into a wax tablet. Very hard styluses are also used to En ...
on the grooves, the "927D", a special reference version built with special care and very close tolerances for laboratory use, the "927F" that could accommodate a second tonearm behind the platter, and "927st"
stereo Stereophonic sound, commonly shortened to stereo, is a method of sound reproduction that recreates a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective. This is usually achieved by using two independent audio channels through a configurat ...
version. The EMT 930 is a large machine as well (49 cm × 39 cm × 17.5 cm), which maintains all the functional characteristics of the larger brother in a more compact package. Its very sturdy cast-metal frame, (
Bakelite Bakelite ( ), formally , is a thermosetting polymer, thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. The first plastic made from synthetic components, it was developed by Belgian chemist ...
) main board and idler-wheel drive to the internal rim of its heavy platter gives it peerless sonic qualities. The drive system, start/stop system, brake and speed control are exactly as on the "927". Its bearing, though of a slightly reduced diameter than in the "927", is on par for quality, and it is a "wet" bearing too: it contains 25 ml of special EMT oil, which must be changed every time the turntable is serviced. The preamplifier of the monophonic "930" was the tube "139". The quality and reliability of the EMT machines became rapidly legendary, and the "arrowhead" logo became a symbol of German engineering at its best in professional studio audio equipment, the only possible choice for top radio stations and the phonographic industry. With its more reasonable size, the "930" was somewhat more economical to build than the "927", making it a very interesting turntable even for smaller studios, but EMT was not building only exceptionally good (and extremely expensive) machines. In 1958, the sound-reproduction world was shaken by the introduction of
stereo Stereophonic sound, commonly shortened to stereo, is a method of sound reproduction that recreates a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective. This is usually achieved by using two independent audio channels through a configurat ...
, and "927"s and "930"s were quickly adapted to the new system with stereo cartridges, appropriate rewiring of the tonearm and the new stereo preamplifier "139st"; it was phased out of production when the more modern solid-state "155st" arrived, in 1960. In that same year,
Studer Studer is a designer and manufacturer of professional audio equipment for recording studios and broadcasters. The company was founded in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1948 by Willi Studer. It initially became known in the 1950s for its professi ...
and EMT began to cooperate officially in the professional sound sector, the German firm becoming a distributor of the Swiss equipment for many world markets. The success of this company, directed by Eugene Sporri since 1962, is driven by the Studer C37 and
Revox ReVox (on-logo styling REVOX) is a brand name, registered by Studer on 27 March 1951 for Switzerland, Swiss audio equipment. History The first Studer-designed tape recorders were branded Dynavox. After the first production series of Dynavox rec ...
B36/D36 tube recorders. In the same period, the German firm printed the first issue of its fabled "bulletin", named in the German edition, "EMT-Courier" in the English one. 46 issues were printed. Wilhelm Franz, having expanded his factory (in 1963, the in
Lahr Lahr (officially Lahr/Schwarzwald since 30 September 1978) (); ) is a city in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany, approximately 50 km north of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, 40 km southeast of Strasbourg, and 95 km southwest of Ka ...
-Kuhbach, directed by Franz’s brother Walter, employed more than 200 workers), was also following his other firms: sold "Loopmatic", "Vid-E-dit" and Studer products in Germany and the rest of the world, distributed EMT products only in
Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
, sold Studer products out of their home country, was the distributor for
Thorens Thorens is a formerly Swiss manufacturer of high-end audio equipment. Thorens is historically renowned for the range of phonographs (turntables) the manufacturer produces. In addition to audio playback equipment, Thorens is also a historical ma ...
for the whole world. In the following years, while
Studer Studer is a designer and manufacturer of professional audio equipment for recording studios and broadcasters. The company was founded in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1948 by Willi Studer. It initially became known in the 1950s for its professi ...
/
Revox ReVox (on-logo styling REVOX) is a brand name, registered by Studer on 27 March 1951 for Switzerland, Swiss audio equipment. History The first Studer-designed tape recorders were branded Dynavox. After the first production series of Dynavox rec ...
developed their own distribution network (one part of whom originated from ), Franz slowly tightened its relations with Thorens until, in 1966, he bought a majority stake in the firm. The production of their turntable was then relocated from
Wettingen Wettingen is a residential community in the district of Baden in the Swiss canton of Aargau. With a population about 20,000, Wettingen is the second-largest municipality in the canton. Geography Wettingen is located on the right bank of the Li ...
to
Lahr Lahr (officially Lahr/Schwarzwald since 30 September 1978) (); ) is a city in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany, approximately 50 km north of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, 40 km southeast of Strasbourg, and 95 km southwest of Ka ...
's Gerätewerk, because
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
's labor cost was far lower than
Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
's. It was also this close co-operation that carried, in 1969, to the birth of the first EMT tonearm, the fabulous "929" (introduced in 1971 on the new "928" and, since July of the same year, on the "930st"), loosely based on Thorens' 9” TP-14’/BTP-12S arms. The 10” long 929 replaced the
Ortofon __NOTOC__ Ortofon is a Danish manufacturer of electronic audio equipment. It is the world's largest producer of magnetic cartridges for phonograph turntables, with 500,000 cartridges sold annually. History Engineers Arnold Poulsen and Axel Peter ...
RF229/RMA229, while the "long" version of the "929", the 12” "997" for the "927", arrived in 1974 and replaced the RF297/RMA297 Ortofon. In 1968, to try to fight the mounting tide of Japanese turntables, it was decided to try to "diversify" the range of professional turntables, and the result of this attempt was the EMT 928. It was based on the excellent Thorens TD125, using its bearing, stroboscope, platter/subplatter arrangement and two-part sturdy chassis: both were designed and developed in the laboratories of the Gerätewerk. EMT modified the electronics, fitted their own
RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
-curve compensating circuitry and
preamplifier A preamplifier, also known as a preamp, is an electronic amplifier that converts a weak electrical signal into an output signal strong enough to be noise-tolerant and strong enough for further processing, or for sending to a power amplifier a ...
, stiffened the suspension of the main chassis. The "928", that used the new "929" tonearm, was the last EMT turntable to appear under the management of Wilhelm Franz. Then the company moved its headquarters in a completely new, 35,000-square-meter factory with a tidy two-storey building in Kippenheim, Wilhelm-Franz-Strasse 1. Following this expansive trend, EMT enlarged the new premises in 1976 and 1984. In 1978, the name of the firm was changed again, this time becoming . Direct-drive turntables were changing the habits of radio professionals; a rigid coupling between the motor and the platter was desirable for quick starts and stops. Accordingly, as the idler-wheel concept was beginning to look old-fashioned, EMT followed the example of National’s SP-10 and proceeded to build a direct-drive turntable: the EMT 950 . The EMT 950 was introduced in 1976 in two types: "Standard" ("950", 693 millimeters wide), with controls on the left side of the disc, and a "Narrowline Model" ("950 E" or , 519 mm wide, 573 mm deep, introduced at the end of 1977) conceived for less spacious studios; the "narrowline" "950" had the same controls, but its pushbuttons were all lined up in the front panel. Starting time at 33 rpm was 200 milliseconds, and, just pushing a button, the record would rotate backwards to find the beginning of a track: the user could monitor the cueing with the inbuilt speaker. Both machines could be mounted on their own "legs" or in a console; the shock absorber frame was built-in. In stock form, whichever the cabinet, the "950" had three speeds (33, 45 and 78 rpm) with automatic selection of 33 or 45 at the raising of the central adapter for the smaller records, a "929" arm in stock aluminium finish with brass or black counterweight and a TSD15 '' Tondose'' with "4 150 056" transformers on the equalizer board "7 950 038" or "7 950 088" board ("9 950 110" or "narrow" "9 950 210"). It was possible to order a tailor-made "950" to suit any professional need, provided that the customer could pay the extremely high prices of this machine. In 1976, 15000 Deutschmarks was the basic list price of a "950". To meet the needs of less affluent stations, EMT introduced in 1979 a new model, based on the same principles as the "950": the EMT 948
broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...
turntable. It had direct drive, sophisticated electronics and a "929" tonearm, but in a much more compact envelope. Its Perspex dust cover featured a "groove" where the DJ could put the cover as a handy reminder of the record that was being played. Basically, its design owed much to the superb construction of the "950", and its sturdy metallic chassis was filled, under the deck, by a neat stack of boards carrying the electronic circuitry allowing an easy, quick access for service or repair. Though somewhat simplified if compared to the mighty "950", the "948" had the same illuminated pushbuttons, a wise choice of speeds and the reverse rotation of the record for cueing. After a first series, a green synchro light was fitted at the lower right edge of the platter to indicate the reaching of the nominal rotational speed. The external illumination "pod" was available as an option, and was mounted on the left near side of the deck. The EMT 948 cost around DM 12000 and was therefore still too expensive for many professional users. (For many customers in faraway countries, it was also too complicated, so EMT continued the production of the "930" until 1982.) An even smaller and cheaper unit was designed and introduced in March 1982: the EMT 938
broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...
disk reproducer () featured a simplified direct-drive and electronics, it was slimmer and cheaper than its two brothers, and some of its parts, like the plinth and lid, were taken from commercial "hi-fi" products. The "938" had been designed in co-operation with
Thorens Thorens is a formerly Swiss manufacturer of high-end audio equipment. Thorens is historically renowned for the range of phonographs (turntables) the manufacturer produces. In addition to audio playback equipment, Thorens is also a historical ma ...
, and a modified version of the "938" was marketed by this firm as the TD 524, a discothèque-oriented deck that could be equipped with a Thorens TP 16L or even the EMT 929 tonearm. The "938" cost around DM 6000 without the upgradeable, pluggable moving coil cartridge preamplifier circuit board. In 1985, the TSD 15 cartridge was improved, fitting an elliptical "super fineline stylus" in place of the original conical one. Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall for the vinyl LPs and for the turntables built for them; the arrival of the 5”
Compact Disc The compact disc (CD) is a Digital media, digital optical disc data storage format co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. It employs the Compact Disc Digital Audio (CD-DA) standard and was capable of hol ...
, in 1982, made an irreversible impact on the pro world. EMT began to produce CD players as well (the first, in 1987, was the EMT 980, followed by the EMT 981 and then the wonderful EMT 982), but in 1988 sales of CDs overcame the sale of LPs for the first time in history, and the CD/LP ratio had been declining since then with the definitive disappearance of the LP from the mass market. This left little choice: at the end of the 1980s the last EMT 950 rolled off the factory in Kippenheim.


1989 purchase

EMT was bought by the Belgian firm Barco and became "Barco-EMT" on 1 January 1989. The production of professional audio equipment was gradually discontinued.


Awards and recognition

Wilhelm Franz died on 10 April 1971, at the age of 58 years. In 1983, the
Audio Engineering Society The Audio Engineering Society (AES) is a professional body for engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or product ...
awarded Franz a posthumous Honorary Membership, recognizing his impact in the professional sound field with products like the model "140", "240" and "250" reverberation units and his turntables.


References

{{reflist


External links


www.emt-studiotechnik.de

www.fabtech.de



www.jpvanvliet.nl

Article in Sound Practices - EMT 930/927 turntables

www.emt-profi.de
Companies based in Baden-Württemberg Audio equipment manufacturers of Germany Manufacturers of professional audio equipment Electronics companies established in 1938 Turntables German companies established in 1938