| Old technology - new technolgy | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 29 2013, 04:15 PM (764 Views) | |
| dai Cottomy | Apr 29 2013, 04:15 PM Post #1 |
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I'm doing a bit of Spring Cleaning, and have unearthed a box of vinyl LPs which I havn't listened to for years. I tried one out on my vintage record player, but it was terrible. The sound was muffled, and suffered from what used to be called "wow and flutter." However, with a bit of detective work on the interweb, I traced down a drive belt which fitted my turntable, plus a replacement stylus. Fitting them was remarkably easy, and hey presto, when I tried playing the record again, it sounded superb. Vinyl is apparently back in favour, and many audiophiles say they are better than CDs. Although to buy new ones costs an arm and a leg. Anyhow I have been trying out the ones that I have bought new in years gone by, plus the ones picked up for a pittance in charity shops. Today I listened to Tchaikovsky's fourth symphony and Stravinsky's Firebird. Followed by the Amnesty International "Secret Policeman's Ball" and finishing up with Lionel Hampton and the Just Jazz All Stars. Just a sample of my eclectic tastes. Does anyone else listen to vinyl records? I still have some 78s, but I havn't got a suitable turntable to play them on. My Granddaughter (15) is coming with her family at the weekend for my birthday. I have asked her to explain about Ipods and that sort of stuff. I might get one.We octogenarians must try and keep up. |
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| rumbaba | Apr 29 2013, 07:42 PM Post #2 |
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I just received a new, vinyl EP this very day. It's the second in a planned series by Geraint Watkins. Each volume had been launched with a gig, I attended the first in November at The Underbelly in Hoxton but couldn't make the second in March at Dingwalls, Camden . I've just been playing it, four great tracks, and sound great on vinyl.
Edited by rumbaba, Apr 29 2013, 07:51 PM.
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| rumbaba | Apr 29 2013, 07:47 PM Post #3 |
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![]() http://z4.ifrm.com/30299/87/0/p1149452/183139_410714125693128_1481624889_n.jpeg ]Edited by caissier, May 5 2013, 01:39 PM.
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| AmosBurke | Apr 30 2013, 08:12 AM Post #4 |
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With 350 7" singles and 700 LPs, I certainly do listen to vinyl. I also listen to cassettes. Back in the 1970's, I recorded a lot of "Hancock's Half Hour" off the radio in Australia. Over the years, I swapped cassettes, and later CDs, until I have everything and then some. I spent years building the collection. Of course, when the BBC released episodes on cassette and later CD, I purchased those. A few years ago, a friend gave me three CDs with all of the Hancock audios, both the officially available ones and the rare stuff only of interest to collectors. They've all been cleaned up and converted to MP3s. I have a listen to one episode and noticed little gaps in the sound. I dug out my audio cassette, had a listen, and the gaps occur in exactly the same place as the wireless signal faded in and out. Yep, my original recordings have be swapped and re-swapped and eventually came "home". I could listen to the MP3s, but I much prefer to listen to my original cassettes. |
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| dai Cottomy | Apr 30 2013, 10:43 AM Post #5 |
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Yes, the sound quality on cassettes can be surprisingly good. I recorded some "Jazz Record Requests" programmes, some dating back to the 80s with Peter Clayton, and they still sound as fresh as they did then. The trouble with cassettes is that you can't go straight to the track that you want. I have a gem of an LP called Goon Show Classics. Issued in 1979 by the BBC, it is a recording of two episodes originally broadcast in 1957. Side 1 is "Wings over Dagenham" and side 2 is "The Rent collectors." Vintage Goons. Edited by dai Cottomy, Apr 30 2013, 10:55 AM.
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| rumbaba | Apr 30 2013, 11:18 AM Post #6 |
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I rarely (these days probably 'never' is closer) use my tape deck but it incorporates a search function. Auto fast-forwarding to specific tracks and gap detection between tracks. I suppose it was state of the art in its day but a bit rubbish compared with digital media. I used to use very high quality tapes for stuff I wanted to keep. I think my tapes are mostly binned now - it fills a space in my hi fi rack, I suppose
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| May-Cee | May 5 2013, 11:21 AM Post #7 |
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I have far too many records to ever be without a turntable for long. Though I've never been the sort of buff who insists on (and invests in) the best equipment; my plastic all-in-one Toshiba unit does me fine. (Besides, all the features of a good system are wasted when you share an apartment block with neighbours who don't care for Mahler or Sun Ra.) As well as the regular stuff I've bought over the years, I have three mini-collections. A lot of rare and collectible records I bought as a teenager during the Punk Wars. Many moons ago Tony Wilson himself offered me an outrageous sum for the "Factory Sample" two-disc EP complete with the Situationist stickers; which almost got stuck on my school satchel. (I'm looking at one right now; and it pre-dates, by several years, the naming of the Hacienda.) A nice collection of Tango records that my grandfather left me. (He moved from Argentina to Belfast in the 50s.) A decent selection of 50s and 60s jazz discs on Blue Note, Impulse, Riverside, etc. I bought the first big bunch in a library sale (I turned up, literally, with a suitcase) and I add to it when I can. (Those were the days when discs were built to last; they're a quarter of an inch thick.) I also still play audio cassettes because I've taped too much stuff I've never owned. It's mostly compilations I've put together from tracks played on Gilles Peterson and "JRR". My cassette player is attached to a (long defunct) CD Player; it's been decades since you could buy that kind of dual function machine. And somewhat ironic that the cassette player has lasted longer than the CD player. But when it dies, where in Hell (or Dublin) will I be able to buy a new one? In fact, a few years ago, it was surprisingly difficult even to buy a bloody CD Player. |
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