Author: chris

Videos

Announcing The Preservation Sound Video Series

Post author By chris
Post date 08/01/2013
6 Comments on Announcing The Preservation Sound Video Series

Alright! So we’ve been toiling in the summer heat here on CT’s Gold Coast to get the first three Preservation Sound videos ready for ya. Filmmaker Richard Ruggiero has put these together, and we plan on making a new show every two weeks or so.

Click on the ‘VIDEO’ tab at the top of the page to view more detailed information about each video.

And… for those you who are into this sorta thing: we’ve created a Facebook page so that you can receive auto-updates on new PS dot com pieces. And you know what else, fukk it, I am done with tumblr, i love it but it’s a one-horse town, so yeah i’ve changed to instagram. Expect all the same bullshit that I used to post to tumblr, but now with cliche shading/vignetting.

Click any of those lil graphic icons at the upper right to check out the new Fbook, twitter, and instagram. Paul Weller, take us out…

Issue #1

Issue #2

Issue #3

Antique Hi-Fi Archive

British Industries Corporation, US importer/marketer of UK hi fi kit c. 1955

Post author By chris
Post date 07/27/2013
2 Comments on British Industries Corporation, US importer/marketer of UK hi fi kit c. 1955

BIC_System Got a pretty good one for y’all today… download the 8pp B.I.C. audio catalog circa 1955:

DOWNLOAD: BIC_Audio_195X

Products covered, with text, specs, and photos, include: Garrard RC88, RC98, RC121, 301, model T Crest phonographs; LEAK TL/10, TL12, and TL/25 amplifiers; Genalex KT-66 and Z729 tubes; Wharfdale W15/CS, W12/CS, Super 12 CS, W10/CSB, Super 8/CS/AL, and Super 3 treble speakers; the Wharfdale Briggs corner enclosure; plus a range of enclosures from R-J and River Edge.

Tags BIC, garrard, leak, wharfdale

Pro Audio Archive

360 Systems model 2800 programmable EQ

Post author By chris
Post date 07/26/2013
1 Comment on 360 Systems model 2800 programmable EQ

Download the 2PP spec-sheet for the very obscure 360 systems Model 2800 programmable 4-band parametric EQ:

DOWNLOAD: 360_EQ

Four channels, fully parametric, with filters that offer +12 db/ -infinity (notch) operation, and 28 memory locations. The pre-plug-in plug-in. Anyone?

Tags 360 systems, equalizers

Pro Audio Archive

Audio Obscurity: The VSC Analog Pitch Correction System C. 1980

Post author By chris
Post date 07/25/2013
1 Comment on Audio Obscurity: The VSC Analog Pitch Correction System C. 1980

Download four pages of documentation regarding the M8 series of analog pitch-correction devices from the VSC corporation:

DOWNLOAD: VSC_Ana_Pitch_Cntrl

There were three models of these devices offered: the ready-made M8-C (above), which offered a pitch-shift range of 0.6x to 4.0x (with glorious 300-5Khz bandwidth); the M8-A was a expansion-only module, and the M8-B was a compression-only module.

If the idea of completely analog real-time pitch-shifting is not wacky enough for ya, how about mechanical pitch shifting? See this earlier post…

Tags pitch correction, VSC

Uncategorized

Live DJ Set Tonite Wed 7.24.13 New Haven CT

Post author By chris
Post date 07/24/2013
No Comments on Live DJ Set Tonite Wed 7.24.13 New Haven CT

How y’all doing… tonight I’ll be behind the Garrard 301’s at Firehouse 12 in New Haven Connecticut, joining mi hermano Sway for another night of dark old rock soul + psych. Come on down to the best bar in CT and expand yr horizons, man.

UNSPUN at Firehouse 12

45 Crown St New Haven CT

Custom Fabrication

Another Carbon Mic Power Supply

Post author By chris
Post date 07/11/2013
No Comments on Another Carbon Mic Power Supply

Here is a one-of-a-kind unit using a re-purposed Thordarson transformer. IT works great, and the vintage Shurite (made in New Haven CT!!!) DC voltmeter is a bonus.

On the ‘business-end’ (topmost image) you can see XLR output jack (for connection to the input of your mic preamp), on/off switch, pot for controlling the DC voltage that mic receives, and at right the cable-exit for the seven-foot cable harness that connects to your double-button carbon mic. At right: red and black wires connect one-to-each button, and the clear wire connects to the metal shell of the mic.

For an explanation of WTF this thing is, and why you might possibly need it in your life, see this previous post.

Tags carbon mics, custom audio equipment fabrication

Microphones

RCA’s ‘Starmaker’-brand prosumer mics of the 70’s

Post author By chris
Post date 07/08/2013
1 Comment on RCA’s ‘Starmaker’-brand prosumer mics of the 70’s

Download an eight-panel catalog for the RCA “Starmaker” lineup of 1970s prosumer microphones:

DOWNLOAD: RCA_Starmaker_Mics

Not to be confused with the RCA BK-4 “Starmaker” hand-held ribbon mic of the 1950s, these later Starmakers were cheap prosumer and consumer units. Models on offer included the Starmaker 96, 97, 98, 101, 99, and 100. The top-of-the-range 96 has decent specs and useful features; gonna keep an eye out for that one.

Tags RCA, vintage microphones

Pro Audio Archive

The Ecoplate Reverb c. 1980

Post author By chris
Post date 07/06/2013
45 Comments on The Ecoplate Reverb c. 1980

Apparently built by a company called Programming Technologies (anyone???) and sold by Wes Dooley’s AEA firm, the Ecoplate is a well-regarded unit which has a pretty impressive frequency response for a mechanical reverb. If anyone out there is still using one of these, drop us a line with yr thoughts.

Tags AEA, eoplate, plate reverb

Pro Audio Archive

MicMix “Master Room” 210 and 305 Spring Reverbs C. 1979

Post author By chris
Post date 07/05/2013
13 Comments on MicMix “Master Room” 210 and 305 Spring Reverbs C. 1979

Download 8pp of sales + technical information regarding the “Master Room” XL-210 and XL-305 stereo spring reverbs manufactured in 1979 by MicMix of Dallas Texas.

DOWNLOAD:MicMix_210_305_reverbs

The 210 was the economy model. The 305 had optional balancing transformers. I regularly use a couple of other contemporary spring reverbs (Orban and Sound Workshop) but I’ve never had a MicMix unit. Anyone?

Tags MicMix, spring reverb

Pro Audio Archive

NONE OF THIS STUFF IS ACTUALLY FOR SALE SO FOR GOD’S SAKE DO NOT EMAIL ME ABOUT IT

Post author By chris
Post date 07/03/2013
3 Comments on NONE OF THIS STUFF IS ACTUALLY FOR SALE SO FOR GOD’S SAKE DO NOT EMAIL ME ABOUT IT

Download an 8pp 1980 sales flier from Boynton Studio, a long-running pro-audio dealer. Still in business, actually, after 60 years.

DOWNLOAD: BoyntonStudio_0980

I’d actually never heard of this company until I came across a bunch of these old fliers. They are apparently still ‘in-the-game,’ albeit as dealers of new gear only. You can see their site here. Anyhow, I thought I would offer this scan as a (potentially) interesting look back at how pro audio gear valuation has changed over the years – because I, like many engineers, still use a lot of this same kit today. The fact that there is so much used gear in the flier makes it even more interesting. Also: you could still get a new EV 667 in 1980 ??? I would not have imagined…