Greetings all…

[Malc2311]

Hi all
I cannot deny that I’m completely out of my depth here but, as a music biographer in my spare time (not much of that I'm afraid !), with three published bios to my name, I love discovering more about the music I write about - hence my discovery (50 years too late) of the isolated quad discs. Not sure what is permitted and what’s not on this forum but getting quads transferred across is seemingly nigh-on impossible these days - especially for a technophobe like me ! Even my friend who runs his own mastering studio looked blankly at me…
I can write about it but thats about my limit !! Can anyone advise (if allowed here) ? My latest ‘potential’ project has hit a roadblock it seems !! Heck, I’ll even give y’all credit in my next book

 

[gene_stl]

Welcome!
I think you have come to the right place.
The only thing that is frowned upon here is illegal file sharing. Helping someone extract files from their own media is not against the rules. As far as I know.

You will find many folks here who will be happy to assist you , I think.
The first thing you might do is identify the record(s) you want to hear and extract the quad from. There were several systems and the first thing is to know the system. Then a strategy for decoding it can be figured out.

If the records in question say "CD-4" on them , that is the hardest to get a needle drop from. Most of the other systems are "matrix" systems and can be decoded in multiple ways.

There are a couple of UK list members who are engineers.

 

[Hamilton59]

Hello and Welcome Malc2311 !
Another way to listen to some of those QUAD discs is to listen to the modern re-releases on newer formats. Have you checked out the Dutton Vocalion site yet ? They have a lot of quad discs re-released on SACDs that sound great ! Also, take a look at CDJapan for other modern QUAD releases...

https://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/
https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/

 

[Malc2311]

Thanks for the swift reply ! As a starters I’m hoping to get the Best of The New Seekers disc isolated - once it arrives from the US - so I can listen to and ID the vocal split clearer - tho’ it appears to be listed as a CD4/Q8/QR. As I say, I’m embarrassed to admit that means nothing to me (as Cliff and Phil E once sung)… so any further advise forthcoming out there ? Mucho appreciated compadres…

 

[LuvMyQuad]

Thanks for the swift reply ! As a starters I’m hoping to get the Best of The New Seekers disc isolated - once it arrives from the US - so I can listen to and ID the vocal split clearer - tho’ it appears to be listed as a CD4/Q8/QR. As I say, I’m embarrassed to admit that means nothing to me (as Cliff and Phil E once sung)… so any further advise forthcoming out there ? Mucho appreciated compadres…

CD4/Q8/QR are the formats that were available for the release. All of these are dead formats and quite antiquated, although some members here still have the means to play them.

CD4 is the vinyl LP format that @gene_stl was describing as being difficult to playback. It requires special equipment and setup. You will not be able to play this in Quad without that special equipment.

Q8 is a Quad 8 track tape cartridge. If you are too young to know what a 8 track tape is look here

QR is a Quad Reel to Reel tape. If you are too young to know what that means look here

 

[Malc2311]

Thanks again… this is proving harder than I thought ! That said, once I can get my head around it all, the world is my lobster…
Without wishing to go against any rules, are there any UK specialists with the facilities to play/isolate CD4 albums out there ?

 

[Obbop]

For a very basic introduction to quad try the blog located here:

https://quadraphonicaudio.wordpress.com/