Preservation Sound

Author: chris

  • RCA microphones circa 1963 – 1965

    RCA_mics_1963Above: RCA 77, BK1, BK5, and a slew of others, all referred to by their ‘alternate’ MA-designations: the MA-2311, 2313, 2314, 2315, 2316, 2317, 2318, and 2319.   Can someone tell us why RCA used standard model names, MA designations, and MI designations?  Was it so they could charge certain customers more money for the same products?

    RCA_Mics_1964Oh and let’s not forget the SK–designations.  Anyway, here’s the SAME products in the SAME publication one year later.  Confusing.

    RCA_BK5B_1965So true.  What more DO you need in a mic?  The RCA BK-5 is one of my all-time favs.  No other ribbon mic sounds remotely like it.  If you dig ribbon mics, save up for one of these.  You will not be disappointed.  Especially if you need to tame a sibilant vocal while retaining an overall ‘bright’ and forward sound.   Also killer on piano, guitar amps, and probably everything else, actually…

  • Audio Production Primer c. 1965

    EchoSendFrom B.E. mag sometime in ’65 comes this article by one John Harmer.  Nothing all that notable in here except to marvel as just how incredibly primitive the techniques discussed are.  For instance, above…  an explanation (and this is in a fairly technical broadcast-engineering magazine, btw, not a consumer-facing publication) of… an echo send!  Hey everything had to start sometime, right?  Also, there is much music from 1965 that still sounds fkkn incredible today, so there’s no reason to accept a ‘linear-progressive’ narrative of technology, is there…

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE: AudioMastering_1965

  • Read my review of Sony Creative Software’s “WHAT IT IS” at ProductionHUB dot com

    SCS_WhatItIsHow are y’all doing on this fine day…  Wanted to LYK that I recently wrote another software review for our friends at ProductionHUB dot com…  you can read the full piece by clicking this link.   The review is for a new(ish) sample/loop collection called ‘What It Is,’ and it’s a library that I have found useful+ enjoyed working with lately.  As I have often remarked on this website…  my interest in all the ye olde audio stuff is not academic or collector-ish in nature… I actually use this stuff all the time in my work, be it studio sessions with bands or television/film music.  Loop libraries often a part of the latter, and it’s a product category that I have been exploring for many many years now.  You might imagine, therefore, that my interest in a 70s’-themed loop library would be especially strong.  And you would be correct.  If any of you, my dear readers, also use these types of products, drop us a line with any recos that you have to share.

    For my previous ProductionHUB review, click here. 

  • Some interesting mid-60s broadcast mics

    Standford_Omega_Mic

    Today: just a round-up of some broadcast mics that caught my eye for some or another reason:  above, the ‘Stanford-Omega’ condenser mic.  This is an odd one.  Anyone?

    EV_666_1965EV (electrovoice) 666.  I think I have mentioned this one about a million times already:  it’s the predecessor to the RE-20, a mic that I have used+ dig more than almost any other. EV 666’s appear in just a ton of great-sounding old TV music-broadcasts… Miles Davis on PBS comes to mind…  I must have bid on these things on eBay about 20 times. No luck yet.  Soon enough.  Oh but BTW I finally did get an RE15 (and not cheap either…) and it is really, really underwhelming.  Still my faith persists…

    Sony_TeleMic_1965Sony TELEMIKE circa 1964, with an (up-to) seven-foot probe!  And it comes with a built-in headphone amp.  Wild…

    AKG_1965AKG D-12 and C-60 circa 1963, a few years before the D-12 became the industry-standard in kick-drum mic’ing.  AKG recently sent me one of their new D-12 ‘VR’ models to review, and it’s pretty great, although not a re-issue in any strict sense…  full review to come soon.

    EV_655_1965And finally the EV 655, another favorite of mine…  just great sounding omni mics, pretty incredible fidelity for units that were introduced in 1951.  Lots more on this site about them.

  • From the ‘Yesterday’s Problems’ department: sonic ‘Print-Through’ on analog audiotape

    Kodak_DiaCourtesy of Kodak, a discussion of the problem of print-thru on audio-masters.  I used to notice this on LPs quite a bit as a kid, Led Zep esp. comes to mind, and I always assumed that it was intentional… kinda just makes the whole thing seem more EVIL, ya know?  But apparently not.  Apparently this was a thing-to-be-avoided.  Hey any of y’all ever create an artificial print-thru ‘effect’ for a DAW production?  Drop us a line and let us know…  seems like it could be interesting,,,   anyway here’s the bit:

    Kodak_Print_Thru_1965

  • Shure SE-1 RIAA phono pre-amp circa 1964

    Shure_SE1_preampAbove, Shure’s SE-1 RIAA phono pre.  I would love to see the schematic for this is anyone can direct me to it.  The specs look extremely good.  These seem to go for a pretty penny on eBay and seems like a worthwhile thing to DIY.  Anyone?Shure_Broadcast_1964And above, again, this time next to Shure’s 576, 570, 546 (AKA SM-56) and 333 mics.  I have the ‘other’ broadcast – quality Shure Ribbon, the 300, and I like it alright…  had it re-ribboned by Stephen Sank and it’s decent.  The 300 definitely sounds v v vintage but it’s a useable sound.  Really want a 333.  This is the same as an SM-33, yes?  No?  anyone using these things lately?

  • First listen to new Stephen Kellogg album recorded at Gold Coast Recorders

    SK_Tkgvng_VideoI spent a good portion of the fall last year working on Stephen Kellogg’s new record BLUNDERSTONE ROOKERY at Gold Coast Recorders. Stephen produced the album with Kit Karlson; I engineered, and the mixing was done by Mike Mogis at his spot in Omaha.  Audio mastering by Bob Ludwig at Gateway.

    As USA TODAY announced in this great write-up last month, the album drops June 18, but Stephen decided to pre-release the 10-minute track “Thanksgiving” with a wonderful music video by Daniel Cummings.  Beyond the length of the song and the emotional intensity of the lyric+vocal performance by Stephen, this production is incredibly epic  in scale:  from the full live choir that bookends the body of the song (recorded on-location in Massachusetts) to the kaleidoscopic arrangement of live rock band, horn section, and big string section, I can safely say that this track is the most ambitions that I have been a part of.  We’ll have a more detailed account of the album sessions when the album comes out, but for now, check out… “THANKSGIVING.”

  • Coming this month at PS Dot com: broadcast engineering highlights of the mid 60s

    BE_1063_CvrHow are y’all doing…  I recently picked up a large pile of the old ‘Broadcast Engineering’ mags from the mid 60’s.  Although much of the content focuses on video engineering (not quite ready to go there yet…), I found a good amount of audio-related content that is still potentially relevant today.  I’ll be uploading bits and bobs throughout March.  Thanks for reading, and stay tuned…. oh and here’s a sample of that yr in for…

    BE_1264_Cvr BE_1164_Cvr BE_0764_Cvr BE_0763_Cv BE_0664_Cvr BE_0564_cover BE_0465_cvr BE_0364_cvr BE_0164_Cvr

  • Mates of State record “Desire” for AUDIO-FILES television program at Gold Coast Recorders

    MOS_AT_GCRWe were lucky a few months back to have the fantastic band MATES OF STATE at Gold Coast Recorders to tape part of their AUDIO-FILES episode.  You can watch the whole performance right here.  Wonderful performance by Kori and Jason and just an absolutely delightful crew to work with.  Directed by Matt Eastin.  Recorded by Chris and Cade Thalman at Gold Coast Recorders, mixed by Jason Hammel.

  • Loft Model 440 Console on eBay

    Loft_1

    Several years ago we ran a couple of pieces about LOFT AUDIO, a 1970’s era Connecticut Pro Audio manufacturer.  LOFT founder Peter Nimirowski got in touch with us and provided some never-before seen factory photos and documentation.  Click here to read the initial PS dot com article, and then click here for the follow-up with Peter’s comments.  Anyhow, a decent-condition LOFT 440 Console has finally turned up on eBay, and if it wasn’t tax-time you know I’d be buying this thing.  As with any 40-year-old piece of audio equipment, caveat emptor.   Click here for the eBay auction. BTW, whatya think all those vintage-70’s API-type knobs are worth? Prolly close to the BIN price…

    Loft_knobs Loft_Meters