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TomR posted:Did anyone ever make a tape deck that took cassettes but ran faster, or would that be pointless? I have never heard of it, and it would be an exercise in futility. To have any real benefit, you would have to run at double or quadruple speed, and halve or quarter the playing time. So a standard C60 tape would only be able to fit 15 or 7½ minutes per side. If you compensate for that by using longer-running tapes such as C120 or C180, you have to use thinner tape to make it fit, and that decreases fidelity significantly, and makes the tape much more vulnerable to stretching and other damage. I've never seen a C180 in real life, but according to wikipedia, the tape is thin enough to be nearly transparent, and has just barely enough magnetic material to record anything intelligible. So you quickly run into issues if you want to increase fidelity by upping tape speed on cassette tapes. It was never meant to be anything other than a cheap portable-friendly format with "that'll do" sound quality. Initially it was meant for voice recording only, so the fact that we even got the sound quality that we did out of the drat things is an amazing achievement. Dolby noise reduction and HX Pro etc. are amazing feats of engineering. KozmoNaut fucked around with this message at 21:15 on Mar 13, 2015 |
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Mar 13, 2015 21:12
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That's what I figured. I forgot that tapes had short play times as is. Really makes you appreciate what a wonderful thing the CD was when it came out.
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Mar 13, 2015 21:15
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TomR posted:That's what I figured. I forgot that tapes had short play times as is. Imagine how mindblowing those shiny discs with the equivalent of 600+MB of data were in the late 70s/early 80s. In the early 80s, the state of art for consumer portable data storage was the 5¼" floppy, which at that time had a maximum capacity of 720KB, and only with specific drives on specific OSes. The 3½" floppy was introduced in 1983 with a capacity of 360KB. KozmoNaut fucked around with this message at 21:26 on Mar 13, 2015 |
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Mar 13, 2015 21:24
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When I got my first CD drive, my hard drive had less than 600 MB. It was a massive jump in technology.
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Mar 13, 2015 23:12
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TomR posted:Did anyone ever make a tape deck that took cassettes but ran faster, or would that be pointless? 8 tracks ran faster on an endless loop so they wore out quicker and were essentially replaced by cassettes(except for quadraphonic)
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Mar 13, 2015 23:25
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TheLastManStanding posted:When I got my first CD drive, my hard drive had less than 600 MB. It was a massive jump in technology. I remember getting a Zip drive for our Performa 450 which came with a 120 MB hard drive.
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Mar 13, 2015 23:40
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Pfffft! I remember using a Sony Cassette Corder as a tape drive for a Tandy Color Computer II. I used that same device to listen to my Labrynth soundtrack tape.
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Mar 14, 2015 01:10
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Well, I guess it's garage sale season already. I got this Technics SL-3300 for a whopping $6 from a lady who just bought a bunch of storage lockers and was letting people dig through them. I know a lot of people turn their nose up to fully automatic tables because the high-end tables are usually manual function, but I don't know if I can go back after having a couple automatic tables in a row now. Also picked up a Sony ps-210 for the same price, but it turns out it must have been in a really hot place because every plastic piece on it is slightly warped and it doesn't run well at all. At least I can salvage the slipmat and cartridge.
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Mar 14, 2015 22:14
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$6 for a Technics SL (even if it is less sought-after than the 1000/1100/1200) is an outright steal, nice find! A fully functional full-auto turntable is wonderful piece of mechanical design in action. Even on my old semi-auto Thorens it was was pretty cool to study how intricate the auto-return/stop system was. I love the full-auto turntables that automatically sense which size record you have on and literally do everything for you apart from actually putting the record on the platter and turning it over at the end of a side. All you have to do is press "start". Which we obviously take for a given now, but I bet it was totally amazing when it was introduced.
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Mar 14, 2015 22:36
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I guess it's $6 turntable day then? I bought a Pioneer PL-220 today for the same price. Won't be able to test it until I replace the belt because the one that's on there has turned into some horrible jelly. Even if 80s Pioneer isn't so great, it's now the only table I have that takes a standard 1/2" cartridge.
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Mar 14, 2015 23:18
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Glad people are getting cool stuff! The Pioneer PL-1000A that I worked on for a friend, he gave it to me since I fixed up a bunch of equipment for him. Also I'll take a full auto table over a manual table any day, my SL-1200 sits unused since I got the SL-1600 MK2. WA27 that is a good table, just go through relube and deoxit the POTs and enjoy. I wanna say it has two sets of pitch pots, one based on a circuit board that you have to access from underneath, hit though up first along with the 33/45 switch. TomR posted:Did anyone ever make a tape deck that took cassettes but ran faster, or would that be pointless? I had a Marantz tape deck that went up to 3 3/4, but like Kozmo said, what's the point. Quick googling shows this might have been done before Dolby NR got big. TooLShack fucked around with this message at 23:40 on Mar 14, 2015 |
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Mar 14, 2015 23:32
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wa27 posted:Well, I guess it's garage sale season already. I got this Technics SL-3300 for a whopping $6 from a lady who just bought a bunch of storage lockers and was letting people dig through them. I know a lot of people turn their nose up to fully automatic tables because the high-end tables are usually manual function, but I don't know if I can go back after having a couple automatic tables in a row now. I dread the day that my PS-X800 finally breaks down. I can't go back to manual TTs and I know I'll be looking at  to replace it with a modern equivalent (is there anything that would even stack up nowadays?) or to get it repaired.
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Mar 14, 2015 23:40
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I don't feel like I'm missing anything with my manual SL-1500, honestly. It's not that hard to work the cue lever and position the arm yourself. The mechanical intricacy of full auto is intriguing, but in the grand scheme of things it's not that huge of difference in actual use.
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Mar 14, 2015 23:55
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The automatic function on my turntable (I forget which model) is broken and half the time I have to fight it to actually start playing and I'd prefer manual just for that. I'm sure if I pulled it apart, I could fix it.
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Mar 14, 2015 23:59
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What's the general consensus on using the cueing lever versus hand cueing. I think when I first started I used the lever for a while but now it's just easier and more accurate for me to do it manually.
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Mar 15, 2015 00:38
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Holy poo poo, is customer service completely dead? I just received a limited edition album, with poster, snazzy sleeves, fancy red vinyl, the whole deal. Unfortunately, the inner sleeves are ruined by the records sliding around and punching through the paper at the top. Obviously, I sent an e-mail to Napalm Records about it, including pictures and everything, saying that I would like to exchange it for an undamaged copy. It's a limited edition record, but I can see one copy left in stock on their web store. So what kind of reply do I get? quote:Great that you did receive your order and sad to hear about the Powerwolf Inner Sleeves  That is not how you do customer service, you gigantic idiot German fuckface. I have replied in a polite but very firm tone that I expect to receive a perfect-condition album to replace the damaged one, after which they will take back the damaged album, and pay for all shipping. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll have to raise a complaint with Paypal that I was not delivered the promised product in the promised condition. I'd hate for it to get that far, though. KozmoNaut fucked around with this message at 17:30 on Mar 16, 2015 |
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Mar 16, 2015 17:26
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I stopped buying limited pressings of new albums because the quality control these days is abysmal.
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Mar 16, 2015 17:30
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Everything else seems good enough, the records themselves look alright (I haven't played them, in case I need to return the album), and I have a couple of other limited pressings that sound perfectly fine. But I guess a lot of the limited pressings are meant to just go on a shelf and never be played.
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Mar 16, 2015 17:36
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Just flipped a record and got some weird static buzzing at the beginning of Side B that went away and then returned. Sounded like the record was slowing down with it so I was thinking it was the TT and promptly lifted the needle, buzz persisted, unplugged it, buzz buzz! Removing my speaker cable from the back of the receiver stopped the buzzing, putting them back in anywhere in it gets the buzz to return. Only hearing this problem on the Phono setting, radio doesn't seem to be affected, CD was fine. Sounds like maybe I popped a ground cap or something? Any ideas? I'm running a Technics receiver from Goodwill. It has a ground skinny thing on the back next to the phono input but I'm really not sure what it does other than screw and unscrew. :\ I want to listen to my records :C EDIT: Disconnecting and reconnecting everything solved the problem for a few minutes but now it's back. Sound definitely is distorting and slowing down and speeding up. What is thiiiiiisss EDIT2: Unplugging my 1970s era heating pad from the same surge protector as my receiver seems to have permanently solved the issue 
Quidthulhu fucked around with this message at 04:01 on Mar 17, 2015 |
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Mar 17, 2015 01:02
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I'd recommend keeping the records in proper inner sleeves, not buying from them again, enjoy the music and stop being a giant baby
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Mar 17, 2015 21:24
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Elrobot posted:I'd recommend keeping the records in proper inner sleeves, not buying from them again, enjoy the music Well yes, I do have proper lined inner sleeves, however the included inner sleeves are printed instead of just plain white paper, which is why I'm annoyed that they're damaged. They're part of the artwork. And unfortunately, the store in question is run by the record company, and is the only place to get the limited editions. If this is the usual state of affairs, I'll just stick to physical record stores and bins at thrift stores. quote:and stop being a giant baby Wouldn't you complain if you bought something brand new and it turned up damaged?
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Mar 17, 2015 22:04
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KozmoNaut posted:Well yes, I do have proper lined inner sleeves, however the included inner sleeves are printed instead of just plain white paper, which is why I'm annoyed that they're damaged. They're part of the artwork. I am also picky about this. If a record is gonna get damaged, I want it to be be my fault, not for it to come broken.
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Mar 17, 2015 22:36
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Elrobot posted:I'd recommend keeping the records in proper inner sleeves, not buying from them again, enjoy the music and stop being a giant baby This. Too much of people's expectations and complaints about customer service and quality come down to one thing: Its an imperfect world. Get over it.
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Mar 18, 2015 02:51
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He has a point. In no other industry would you find it acceptable to receive a damaged product from the factory no matter how superficial. It isn't about being a baby, it's about receiving an item in the condition in which you paid. Especially so if it's a collectors item. Sorry you have low standards
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Mar 18, 2015 03:48
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If I bought a rare book and it came with the cover ripped I would be pissed. Same thing.
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Mar 18, 2015 03:57
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I mean they could have packed it in a generic paper inner and slid the printed one in the jacket too. But effort. I'm desensitized, eBay got to me years ago--if it plays I'll keep it. Hell, if an hour between my two slabs of glass in the sun will fix it I'll keep it.
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Mar 18, 2015 04:30
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DawntoDust posted:if an hour between my two slabs of glass in the sun will fix it I'll keep it. Does this work? I have some 45s that are badly warped that I would like to be able to play. Nothing terribly valuable but still would be a pain in the rear end to source replacements for.
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Mar 18, 2015 04:53
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BANME.sh posted:Does this work? I have some 45s that are badly warped that I would like to be able to play. Nothing terribly valuable but still would be a pain in the rear end to source replacements for. It's kind of hit or miss--I think if the warping is bad enough they might not track anymore or get weird, but I've definitely gotten enough of the warp out to make a couple records playable again.
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Mar 18, 2015 05:36
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I just think if you want to yell at anybody it's probably your mailman, not the internet and not the label.
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Mar 18, 2015 05:40
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Ripped inner sleeves is an extremely common issue when mailing LPs. Any seller worth their salt will remove the records prior to shipping and put them in standard sleeves outside of the gatefold.
BANME.sh fucked around with this message at 07:17 on Mar 18, 2015 |
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Mar 18, 2015 05:51
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Elrobot posted:I just think if you want to yell at anybody it's probably your mailman, not the internet and not the label. I have opened a case with the mail service. The label says the damage must have happened during shipping, but the box is completely unharmed, so I dunno. The label has offered me €5 worth of loyalty points for their web store, but I've told them that I'd prefer a direct partial refund.
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Mar 18, 2015 06:11
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BANME.sh posted:Ripped inner sleeves is an extremely common issue when mailing LPs. Any seller worth their salt will remove the records prior to shipping and put them in standard sleeves outside of the gatefold.
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Mar 18, 2015 16:37
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I've run into new records that the inner sleeve is so big and tight you almost can't get it out of the outer without ripping something. I don't know what's worse.
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Mar 18, 2015 16:39
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Hey here's a good customer service story: this months Vinyl Me Please record is J Dilla - Donuts and I opened it up tonight, right on the front is a note saying that they discovered a pressing defect after they got the batch back, minor on some, more noticeable on others, and they're having disc 1 repressed and shipped out with next month's mailing. So, not amazing, but hey, good customer service.
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Mar 18, 2015 23:44
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Vinyl Me Please is super nice and very much focused on quality over...basically anything else. I've been super impressed with their service.
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Mar 19, 2015 02:29
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They phoned in the art for the FJM album though. I like that stuff and it was disappointing to receive for the first time.
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Mar 19, 2015 03:17
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Smeed posted:They phoned in the art for the FJM album though. I like that stuff and it was disappointing to receive for the first time. Yeah that's pretty hit or miss but whatever. That one was a miss
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Mar 19, 2015 05:14
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Is a Thorens TD166mk2 for $250 a steal, or just OK? What about a Technics 1200mk5 for the same price? Which should I get, and why?
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Mar 19, 2015 16:06
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ShotgunWillie posted:Is a Thorens TD166mk2 for $250 a steal, or just OK? What about a Technics 1200mk5 for the same price? Which should I get, and why? Is the Thorens in good-to-perfect condition, with a new pickup, no cracks or scratches in the dust cover etc.? If so, IMHO $250 is OK, but not a bargain. The 1200 MK5 was introduced in 2002, so it's a significantly newer turntable. If it's in good condition and hasn't been subjected to DJ abuse etc., I'd say the price is fair for that as well. I'd go for the Technics, but take into account that I have an unhealthy preference for direct drives. The Thorens is a lot more interesting, if that's what you're looking for.
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Mar 19, 2015 16:21
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The Thorens is only a good deal if it's in perfect shape. The 1200 might be a better deal since the prices of those have gone up considerably the past few years, and it's a lot newer (they came out in 2002) The Thorens is belt drive, and has issues with 3rd party belts. You'll have to find an authentic replacement. It has a suspended chassis, which can be finicky to get properly set up. The 1200 is direct drive, built like a tank, and will be more likely to last forever without much service needed.
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Mar 19, 2015 16:21
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