This thread’s pushing all kinds of (physical, real) buttons for me. Begin multi-quote…
I spent insanely significant parts of my life striving to keep records from being scratchy and CDs from skipping—privately, professionally (home audio a.k.a. “stereo” repair, 1981-1995), and otherwise (KALX UC Berkeley, 1980-1995), so this gets a 🤦♀️ from me.
Fun 1980s Fact: both CD players and discs could contribute to skipping. Customers tended to blame the expensive player(s), so market pressures led to player manufacturers improving tracking abilities well beyond the original Philips/Sony Red Book CD standards. Major (U.S.) recording labels went the other way: cheaping out, making shittier and shittier discs which were far outside the standards… and the players had to deal with them.
I repaired right about 1000 CD players over my career (yes, i counted). Many times when the disc was the problem and it was one or a few discs and not the whole production run, i offered to buy a brand-new copy of the disc to give to the customer in turn for keeping the defective one. Built up an amazing CD torture test disc library that way… way more stressful than the industry-standard Philips 5A test disc, and could even beat the Pierre Vernay Digital Test disc set.
Me too, friend. Every day. Many’s a time i strive to repair the “unrepairable”. Sometimes it works.
That’s a thing. Early 1980s, visiting grandparents of my then-Love. They pulled out a portable cassette machine to play some music. Sounded like mud! That thing had so much built-up shedded tape oxide on the head that the oxide wore down, rather than the metal of the head! Quality time with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs, and the head was like new!
I do that as well with digital files, whether extracted from physical media or purchased from Bandcamp or the iTunes Store or wherever else. Yes, the managing and backup/archiving is time-consuming, but i’m doing that anyway with other important files. Does not look good on a shelf, but with cover art displayed in iTunes, it’s pretty good. Same issue with friends looking over the collection: easier on a shelf, but still about the same experience reading what’s in my music library in iTunes.
1) There was a lot of tech available… just not so much digital.
2) Decently-made and -maintained things were not always breaking.
3) Brands and models ranged from breathtakingly amazing through average to crappy junk.
At this moment, there is a fully functional* 1968-1969 component audio system at my mom’s house, used most days. Yes, i’ve repaired the Dual turntable and Kenwood receiver a few times over the years, but not often!
*there are a few minor glitches i haven’t had time to fix, like the dial lights being out on the receiver and the mute switch on the turntable needing work.
))Sonic((
Harleen Zaftig:
[…] .... Well, I couldn't find it. But it was something along the lines of "The flaws of a technology become its greatest feature, retroactively."
I can't wait for the scratchy records and having to rewind the casettes.
The skippy CDs will still drive Me crazy, I'm sure, but in a warm way.
[…] .... Well, I couldn't find it. But it was something along the lines of "The flaws of a technology become its greatest feature, retroactively."
I can't wait for the scratchy records and having to rewind the casettes.
The skippy CDs will still drive Me crazy, I'm sure, but in a warm way.
I spent insanely significant parts of my life striving to keep records from being scratchy and CDs from skipping—privately, professionally (home audio a.k.a. “stereo” repair, 1981-1995), and otherwise (KALX UC Berkeley, 1980-1995), so this gets a 🤦♀️ from me.
Fun 1980s Fact: both CD players and discs could contribute to skipping. Customers tended to blame the expensive player(s), so market pressures led to player manufacturers improving tracking abilities well beyond the original Philips/Sony Red Book CD standards. Major (U.S.) recording labels went the other way: cheaping out, making shittier and shittier discs which were far outside the standards… and the players had to deal with them.
I repaired right about 1000 CD players over my career (yes, i counted). Many times when the disc was the problem and it was one or a few discs and not the whole production run, i offered to buy a brand-new copy of the disc to give to the customer in turn for keeping the defective one. Built up an amazing CD torture test disc library that way… way more stressful than the industry-standard Philips 5A test disc, and could even beat the Pierre Vernay Digital Test disc set.
Mysteriousraven:
I miss things being built to last. The ability to repair.
I miss things being built to last. The ability to repair.
Me too, friend. Every day. Many’s a time i strive to repair the “unrepairable”. Sometimes it works.
[…] That thing was so dusty and dirt encrusted. I broke it down as far as i could and cleaned it all. Replaced the laser. Reassembled it. Works and looks like new. I guess the dust and dirt actually kept the outside from getting messed up and scratched somehow 😆.
That’s a thing. Early 1980s, visiting grandparents of my then-Love. They pulled out a portable cassette machine to play some music. Sounded like mud! That thing had so much built-up shedded tape oxide on the head that the oxide wore down, rather than the metal of the head! Quality time with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs, and the head was like new!
Also the right to own. Physical media takes up room yes. Its not as convenient at times. But you own it. You can lend it. You dont have to worry about it being revoked on a virtual store. Or rights to a song being revoked and not being able to listen to it anywhere online. Looks great on a shelf. You curate your collection. If you have a friend over and they look at your collection they get to know more about you etc. all you have to do is keep it clean and store it properly.
I do that as well with digital files, whether extracted from physical media or purchased from Bandcamp or the iTunes Store or wherever else. Yes, the managing and backup/archiving is time-consuming, but i’m doing that anyway with other important files. Does not look good on a shelf, but with cover art displayed in iTunes, it’s pretty good. Same issue with friends looking over the collection: easier on a shelf, but still about the same experience reading what’s in my music library in iTunes.
Slip130:
I really love vintage electronics, they have a certain soul and feel to them, especially stuff dating from like the early 70s or even 80s. Though admittedly I've never had to work with any of it as I'm not an old timer so to speak. The fact they were able to do as much as they could back then with as little tech available is impressive even if it was annoying or finicky and always breaking.
I really love vintage electronics, they have a certain soul and feel to them, especially stuff dating from like the early 70s or even 80s. Though admittedly I've never had to work with any of it as I'm not an old timer so to speak. The fact they were able to do as much as they could back then with as little tech available is impressive even if it was annoying or finicky and always breaking.
1) There was a lot of tech available… just not so much digital.
2) Decently-made and -maintained things were not always breaking.
3) Brands and models ranged from breathtakingly amazing through average to crappy junk.
At this moment, there is a fully functional* 1968-1969 component audio system at my mom’s house, used most days. Yes, i’ve repaired the Dual turntable and Kenwood receiver a few times over the years, but not often!
*there are a few minor glitches i haven’t had time to fix, like the dial lights being out on the receiver and the mute switch on the turntable needing work.
))Sonic((
1 day
