Interview with Don Plunkett, February 9, 1999

Interview Summary

This interview begins with a brief discussion of Les Paul. It then moves on to discuss Plunkett's childhood and background in audio engineering. Plunkett then talks about his brief stint at the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Radio Recording Division. Plunkett and Schmidt Horning then move on to talk about Les Paul's wife, Mary Howard, and the controversy over the development of selective synchronization (Sel-sync). He then talks about the creation of the Society for Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS) and then discusses his time at Harvey Radio Laboratories. Plunkett also discusses his time at RCA Records and Capitol Records.
The interview then moves on to talk about the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and various aspects of the recording business, such as unions and job titles. Finally, the interview ends with a discussion of reverberation in recording and Plunkett's fellow audio engineers.

Interview Keyword

Plunkett, Donald Audio Engineering Society (AES) Harvey Radio Laboratories National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Society for Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS) Paul, Les Ford, Mary Selective synchronization (Sel-sync)

Interview LC Subject

Music History of science and technology Sound--Recording and reproducing Sound--Recording and reproducing--History Sound recording industry Sound recording industry--History Sound recordings Record labels. Audio equipment industry RCA Records Capitol Records, Inc.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.