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Catcher10 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 09:55
Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:


Here is a great article on vinyl by The Guardian........notice in the pics who is listening to vinyl in the bar, not grumpy old codgers as some think, looks like 20-30 somethings and I also like their comments on why vinyl....."You take ownership of something...." I like that. Clap
 
 
 
This article was a terrific read - thanks for posting it, Jose.
One question I have - with all this strict overseeing and maintenance of pressing machines, and the pride taken by the workers at the plant, how come we still get certain albums which are pressed slightly off-centre ?? This is annoying - the vinyl press of the last Le Orme album is slightly off, gives it a wavering pitch which becomes more noticeable as the revolutions get smaller....this is unacceptable in his day and age.....and 'old equipment' is NOT an excuse.....It shouldn't happen.......

I don't want to jinx myself but this is one problem I have not had with vinyl of late, of course it is a QC issue and not an equipment issue. So any human element will always play a factor on quality.......For example my copy of IQ-RoB...I had to have Greg @ Symphonic send me another LP1 as it had a horrible tick, he did and same issue although not as bad, but the markings when inspected with my jewelers loupe look the same, so it is a stamper issue...again QC. The stamper may have had a pc of hair or something that created the tick line....Adjusting the azimuth of my cartridge actually almost eliminated the tick so I can tell it was mainly on the left channel.

But I agree it should not happen
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 10:00
Originally posted by HolyMoly HolyMoly wrote:

I always got the "hi-bias" cassettes, but never the metal ones.  I recorded in "Dolby B" as well.  Back then, slightly muffled sound was much preferable to tape hiss.  Tape hiss was the Devil.  Nowadays modern "lo-fi" bands actually TRY to get tape hiss into and vinyl surface noise into their recordings.  Funny how things happen.

The best tape I ever used was Denon HD8 Metal tapes in both 90 and 100 (for CD). The 60 min tapes were amazing. TDK MA90 were next in line......those were the days
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Meltdowner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 13:43
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:


My copy is a US original version and it sounds pretty darn good....other than being old it's good. I have toyed with getting the remaster version I think done by Friday Music, which would be a half speed, but actually hoping SW remixes this one...Clap
Mine is an original German pressing: it's in mint condition, both cover and vinyl, the owner said he only listened to it once Tongue
Cool, although I don't know if SW will remix TFTO, since he already remixed Relayer Ermm

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argonaught Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 15:11
Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

One question I have - with all this strict overseeing and maintenance of pressing machines, and the pride taken by the workers at the plant, how come we still get certain albums which are pressed slightly off-centre ??
"Taking pride, strict overseeing and feeling ownership", it's all fine and dandy, but in precision manufacturing there is also such a thing as allowances and tolerances, measured in microns, millivolts and arc seconds Geek.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argonaught Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 15:25
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

 The best tape I ever used was Denon HD8 Metal tapes 

Sorry for malignant off topic-ing, but I have a question: if I were to use metal tape on a deck that has automatic tape selector, do I need to fiddle with this? Last time I recorded on a metal tape will have been in the late 1980s, but now I feel like getting myself half a dozen of 'em to see how they compare to type II. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TeleStrat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 15:58
Originally posted by Meltdowner Meltdowner wrote:

Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:


My copy is a US original version and it sounds pretty darn good....other than being old it's good. I have toyed with getting the remaster version I think done by Friday Music, which would be a half speed, but actually hoping SW remixes this one...Clap
Mine is an original German pressing: it's in mint condition, both cover and vinyl, the owner said he only listened to it once Tongue
Cool, although I don't know if SW will remix TFTO, since he already remixed Relayer Ermm


I have about 400 imports in my collection including many German pressings because I liked the heavier sound of the 70s German music. The quality of these pressings are definitely better than other imports that I own.
But the majority of my "classics" are US releases because of availability and cost. The US releases use to cost $4.98 for single albums while the import versions of the same LP cost $6.98. 
That's not a lot but if you regularly bought LPs it added up.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Meltdowner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 16:57
^ I have many German pressings (considering my small collection Smile), it's probably what I have more, after the Portuguese ones. I don't have much LP's to affirm the heavier sound though Tongue

I'm off to listen to the second TFTO LP now Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:23
Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

 The best tape I ever used was Denon HD8 Metal tapes 

Sorry for malignant off topic-ing, but I have a question: if I were to use metal tape on a deck that has automatic tape selector, do I need to fiddle with this? Last time I recorded on a metal tape will have been in the late 1980s, but now I feel like getting myself half a dozen of 'em to see how they compare to type II. 


 
It depends if you know if your deck has been calibrated for a particular tape formulation, you might start by looking up your deck's manual online or doing some checking. In general though, this bias adjust will affect harmonics if you + adjust it will tend to increase low end, - adjust and you might hear a bit more highs.
 
I always left them at 0 when using chrome or metal tapes, but did a bit of - adjust when using normal bias tapes.
 
On my reel to reel deck I leave it at zero as my deck is calibrated to use Maxell XLI 1/4" tape, which pretty much is all I have.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argonaught Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:49
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

 It depends if you know if your deck has been calibrated for a particular tape formulation, you might start by looking up your deck's manual online or doing some checking. In general though, this bias adjust will affect harmonics if you + adjust it will tend to increase low end, - adjust and you might hear a bit more highs. 
This is definitely the case with CrO2 tape. I keep it on zero at all times
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

 
On my reel to reel deck I leave it at zero as my deck is calibrated to use Maxell XLI 1/4" tape, which pretty much is all I have. 
Interestingly, most of my R2R tapes are Maxell UD (some are marked XLI, others aren't). But for some reason I am not too friendly with Maxell XLI cassettes .. is there something wrong with them, or with me?  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 17:56
Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

 It depends if you know if your deck has been calibrated for a particular tape formulation, you might start by looking up your deck's manual online or doing some checking. In general though, this bias adjust will affect harmonics if you + adjust it will tend to increase low end, - adjust and you might hear a bit more highs. 
This is definitely the case with CrO2 tape. I keep it on zero at all times
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

 
On my reel to reel deck I leave it at zero as my deck is calibrated to use Maxell XLI 1/4" tape, which pretty much is all I have. 
Interestingly, most of my R2R tapes are Maxell UD (some are marked XLI, others aren't). But for some reason I am not too friendly with Maxell XLI cassettes .. is there something wrong with them, or with me?  

Is your tape deck a 2 head or 3 head? If 3 head you can actually set your bias by first recording some FM white noise, between two stations, very close to pink noise, about 1-2 minutes worth. Then play it back while switching back and forth between the live FM noise and what you recorded using your monitor switch. Use the bias knob to try and get what you recorded to sound the same as possible as the live feed.

Once there then you can do the same with other brand tape or formulations, that should give you an idea what your deck is calibrated to.

EDIT: I never used Maxell cassette tapes...dunno


Edited by Catcher10 - January 08 2015 at 17:57
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Walton Street Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 18:55
still bringing my vinyl out of storage at a rate of about 4 - 6 boxes a day after work.
Each box is huge so it's slowly killing me but i got a big boost today when i cracked open the box with my Tubes, Van Der Graaf, and 10CC in it

also found a couple of quad albums .. (santana)

did anyone here ever have the capability to play quad?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 19:15
^ Never did quad.....sounds like you are having painful fun
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TeleStrat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 19:24
I remember when quadraphonic albums came out in the early '70s. My local record store had a very small section of quad LPs.
If you didn't have a quad system and four speakers (which were expensive) it was pointless. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Argonaught Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 20:27
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

 Is your tape deck a 2 head or 3 head? If 3 head you can actually set your bias by first recording some FM white noise, between two stations, very close to pink noise, about 1-2 minutes worth. Then play it back while switching back and forth between the live FM noise and what you recorded using your monitor switch. Use the bias knob to try and get what you recorded to sound the same as possible as the live feed 
I have a CD - full 75' of wholesome red noise Thumbs Up but .. My cassette decks have only two heads (each); the R2R has more (I think 3?), but it only has a two-position bias switch, not a pot. 




Edited by Argonaught - January 08 2015 at 20:31
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2015 at 21:38
Originally posted by Argonaught Argonaught wrote:

Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

 Is your tape deck a 2 head or 3 head? If 3 head you can actually set your bias by first recording some FM white noise, between two stations, very close to pink noise, about 1-2 minutes worth. Then play it back while switching back and forth between the live FM noise and what you recorded using your monitor switch. Use the bias knob to try and get what you recorded to sound the same as possible as the live feed 
I have a CD - full 75' of wholesome red noise Thumbs Up but .. My cassette decks have only two heads (each); the R2R has more (I think 3?), but it only has a two-position bias switch, not a pot. 


Also forgot to mention to set recording level to around -10db on your VU meters with the pink noise. You might be able to download a 1khz test tone, which is better to record and use that. Pink noise is fine though.

With the 2-head takes longer because then you play it back then record again with adjustment, play it back, record again so on.....with a 3-head you can monitor the recording and make on the fly adjustments, much quicker.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Walton Street Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2015 at 07:15
Originally posted by TeleStrat TeleStrat wrote:

I remember when quadraphonic albums came out in the early '70s. My local record store had a very small section of quad LPs.
If you didn't have a quad system and four speakers (which were expensive) it was pointless. 
 
 
I never bothered .. not sure how I ended up with the albums but they're interesting as curiosities.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Walton Street Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2015 at 07:16
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

^ Never did quad.....sounds like you are having painful fun
my back is a screaming mess.  only 15 more boxes to bring home and i'm done
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2015 at 08:59
Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

^ Never did quad.....sounds like you are having painful fun
my back is a screaming mess.  only 15 more boxes to bring home and i'm done
 
I have lost about 5-7 boxes of vinyl and some tapes in various house moves around the country.....I used to have a pretty nice collection of R&B/Funk albums, all gone. Along with some hard rock and prog that was lost.....Moving insurance paid for it but that is not the same, slowly been trying to replace them all.
 
I was close to 1,500 albums at one time.......Right now I am back up to about 500. Cry
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TeleStrat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2015 at 09:25
Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

Originally posted by TeleStrat TeleStrat wrote:

I remember when quadraphonic albums came out in the early '70s. My local record store had a very small section of quad LPs.
If you didn't have a quad system and four speakers (which were expensive) it was pointless. 
 
 
I never bothered .. not sure how I ended up with the albums but they're interesting as curiosities.

You never know, with so few of them released (compared to standard stereo) yours may be valuable as collectors items.
I know what you're going through with the boxes of LPs. I have moved my collection from house to house three times since the seventies. I have moved them from one room to another three times since living in this house.
It's not easy being a vinyl collector.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Walton Street Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 09 2015 at 09:43
Originally posted by TeleStrat TeleStrat wrote:

Originally posted by Walton Street Walton Street wrote:

Originally posted by TeleStrat TeleStrat wrote:

I remember when quadraphonic albums came out in the early '70s. My local record store had a very small section of quad LPs.
If you didn't have a quad system and four speakers (which were expensive) it was pointless. 
 
 
I never bothered .. not sure how I ended up with the albums but they're interesting as curiosities.

You never know, with so few of them released (compared to standard stereo) yours may be valuable as collectors items.
I know what you're going through with the boxes of LPs. I have moved my collection from house to house three times since the seventies. I have moved them from one room to another three times since living in this house.
It's not easy being a vinyl collector.
 
it's worse than that - I collect film and books as well .. all large scale
"I know one thing: that I know nothing"

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