Categories
Microphones

Audio Technica ‘Mic Selector’ gadget c. 1979

AT_Selector_1Came across this charming lil ‘Recording Microphone Selector’ interactive marketing-gimmick.

AT_selector_2Inside the cardboard sleeve (which offers frequency-distribution information regarding various musical devices/situations) is a two-piece device.  When pulled/tugged, the device responds by suggesting which A/T offering might best suit your needs.

AT_Selector_3The rear of this slide-rule goes so far as to then suggest where-to-stick said microphone.

AT_selector_4Nice to see that my A/T 813 rates so highly in this competition, garnering numerous “Number-Ones.”

On a more serious note, tho, despite my initial lack of enthusiasm over my $50 eBay-d 813, it seems to be proving its mettle… it gets used weekly for acoustic slide gtr and mandolin in conjunction with my DIY’d REDD47 mic pre…  mainly because it does not require phantom power, true, but it’s hanging tough alongside the much more expensive AKG 451 nonetheless.  Gotta get around to that SDC shoot-out one of these days…

Categories
Uncategorized

eBay Alert

FirefoxScreenSnapz003This is pretty rad.  10×3 (plus echo send) console circa 1955 built for one Jimmy Carroll, who we apparently have to thank for the 10,000,000,0000 sing-along-with-mitch LPs that clog every Salvation Army record-bin from here to Timbuktu.  ANYways… check it out here…  Dude seems a tad optimistic with the price, considering what the legendary Kearney Barton console went for.  (also see here).   Cool to check out, nontheless.   Here’s one of the preamp modules:

FirefoxScreenSnapz004

Categories
Microphones

“The Microphone Wardrobe,” Absurd Audio-Technica Offering c. 1981

AT_Mic_WardrobeCan you say “Costume Change!”

“Top artists told us what they wanted, and we listened.”

AT_Mic_Wardobe_2

In 1981 you could apparently purchase an Anvil-briefcase loaded with seven ATM-41 mics, each in a different color.  Seven corresponding mic cables were also included, as well as… touch-up-paint.  The price of admission to this zenith of vanity?  $1595 (list), aka $4080 at the pump this week.

IMGIMG_0001

Categories
Technical

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….

Categories
Microphones

“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

Categories
Pro Audio Archive

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

Categories
Pro Audio Archive

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…

Categories
Pro Audio Archive

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

Categories
Antique Hi-Fi Archive

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

Categories
Synthesizers

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.