Author: chris

  • From the why-didn’t-i-think-of-that-first file – Great EZ hack for Octal can transformers

    FirefoxScreenSnapz001Via this eBay auction: a UTC A-12 mounted on a plate-retained octal plug, with the pins wired to correspond to the pin-out of an Altec 4722 input transformer.

    FirefoxScreenSnapz002It had simply never occurred to me that the mounting-diameter of a UTC A-series corresponded to the mounting-diameter of those octal-mount plates.   Well done sir.  Great idea if you have an Altec 1567, 1566, or ANY piece of old pro audio gear that uses octal transformers – and a great many do.  RCA, Newcomb, Ampex, the list goes on….

  • “Dear Microphone Friend”: wacky Sennheiser promo chart circa 197*

    Sennheiser_HD424Download a 4-PP chart from Sennheiser, circa 197*, on the subject of choosing the appropriate model of microphone for your application.  Sample topics:  Will you be recording animals?

    Recording_of_animalsChoosing a mic ain’t easy.

    D_M_FDownload now.  It’s all very logical.  Sennheiser_Chart

  • Fostex A-Range Tape Machines c. 1981

    Fostex_1981Download a 5pp review of the Fostex home-multitrack range circa 1981.  Published in British magazine STUDIO SOUND, the review covers the Fostex A-2, A-4, A-8, as well as the Fostex 350 mixer.  Review is by one G. Chkiantz.

    DOWNLOAD: Fostex_A_range_1981

    Fostex_specs_1981

  • The Publison DHM 89 B2: Highly advanced signal processor/sampler c. 1978

    Publison_DHM_B2Download the original 2pp product sheet for the Publison model DHM 89 B2:

    DOWNLOAD:Publison

    Publison is a French manufacturer which made at least two generations of this highly advanced early digital signal processor/sampler.  Later offerings progressed to proto-DAW systems.   There seems to be a fair amount of information online regarding the later Infernal Machine Model 90, but very little on this early piece.  Best part:

    Publison_Keyboard…by 1982 you could also get a companion keyboard that offered the promise of ‘Taming’ any sound, IE., conventionally-pitched sample playback.  While I was well aware of super-pricing contemporary offerings by the like of New England Digital that offered similar performance possibilities, this lil keyboard took me by surprise.  Anyone using one of these things?  Drop a line…

  • The Telefunken Magnetophone 15A tape machine

    Telefunken_15A_2Download the original 12pp catalog for the Telefunken 15A tape machine:

    DOWNLOAD: Telefunken_Magnetophon_15A

    I can’t imagine that many of these things were sold in the US.  If you’ve used one, and have some conception of how it compares to contemporary offerings from Studer, Ampex, and MCI, drop us a line a weigh in…

    Studio_telefunken

  • Super Rad Headphones Circa 1980

    Kenwood_KH71 KKoss_ESP6_ESP9 Sansui_SS35Download the original catalogs for the Kenwood KH-71, KH-51, KH-31; the Sansui SS-35; the Pioneer SEQ-4 quad headphone; the Superex Pro-B VI; and the entire Koss line, including the ESP-9, ESP-6, K 2+2, Pro 4AA, KO-747, KO-727B, K-6LC, K-6, SP-3XC.

    DOWNLOAD: Headphones

    I have not owned any of these other than the Superex (which were fkkn terrible), but damn these things had style…  which is interesting when one considers that this was all pre-walkman, IE., these were not fashion items; no one other than yr S.O. would have seen you wearing them.  Any opinions, L U K…

    Pioneer_SEQ404 Superex_Pro_B_VI Koss_Quadraphones_K2plus2

  • The Conbrio ADS 200, Most Ambitious Synth Ever Made

    Conbrio_ADS_200Wanna talk about rare?  How about a keyboard synth of which only two were ever made, and only one has survived; the price was $30K (in today’s bread: $85,000).  The only person to buy it?  Beck‘s old man.  The guy who currently owns it?  This dude.    I ended up with two copies of the original sales lit for this thing; I offer to you all here as a HQ scan:

    DOWNLOAD: ConBrio_ADS_200

    You can read the story of the Conbrio ADS 200 at this Wiki page.  I really don’t need two copies of the catalog, so Kehew, if yr reading this… drop me a line and its yrs.

  • Holy Moly

    500lbsI think I may need a bigger scanner

    How y’all doin.  I’m happy to announce that we have just received a massive archive of literature, catalogs, manuals, ETC., from a storied studio/post-facility originating circa 1980.  I don’t even know exactly what’s in these boxes yet, but get ready for some odd + interesting curious from audio-land-past.  More to come…

  • Live DJ Set Tonight 5.22.13: Unspun @ Firehouse 12 : New Haven CT

    DeadRecordHey y’all… once again i will be at Firehouse 12 in New Haven CT, sweatin to the oldies with my good old buddy Jay AKA Sway. Both my sets tonight: all rare psych and freakbeat.

    Firehouse 12 – 45 Crown St – New Haven CT – 9P -1A 5.22.13

    Things have been a lil hectic here in ole BPT town lately, hence the paucity of new PS dot com material…  do not fear tho, we have some REALLY exciting new developments coming down the pike for ya… details real soon…

  • CBS Volumax and Audimax circa 1964

    CBS_Audimax_1963 CBS_Volumax_1964 CBS_Limiters_1965CT!  CBS labs, Stamford, 1963 – 1965.   These CBS units still seem like the ugly ducklings of the vintage limiter market.  I have had 3 of the later solid-state audimax 4440’s in the basement for the past 3 years.  They work fine.  No one wants em!  Eventually these will be re-discovered by some hotshot mixer dude and prices will rise.  The 4440 is so goddamn complicated inside, its like a fkkn analog computer.  Anyone using the Audimax and/or Volumax lately?  Drop us a line and let us know…