Techmoan Video Oddcast April 2020

I'm slowly working my way back through some of your older updates, and really enjoying them. I'm glad someone else had already given you the name for thumb screws, and also pleased you were thinking about getting some measuring calipers. We have a nice digital one, and although they're not something I use very often, they are nice to have, and you'll figure out extra things you can use them for, like checking the tread depth on your tyres. I was also delighted to see your Spectrum Next. I also have one. Like you I grew up with a classic Spectrum in the UK. I'm actually a bit glad that it's a thing you got for yourself rather than to make a video about—not everything needs to be a video project and thus work. I hope at some point you get to play around with it. I've found mine rather fun, not least because there is such a devoted community surrounding it, which helps to transform it from being just a thing to being a bit more than that. FWIW, as you probably know, they have another kickstarter going on right now. I'll probably buy another just so that I have a spare if something breaks on the first one. That said, although I think ZX Spectrum-related stuff doesn't have to be make-a-video work, I will note that the Microdrive cartridge system for the ZX spectrum is a continuous-loop tape system! And old cartridges still work, but need refelting.

That faking steps meter. Here in China some companies issued a policy for employees to exercise, eg minimum steps per week or something. Even some companies said there would be penalties for not reaching the step goal. So this was a natural product development in China ;) :D

I have one of those Russian doll things, Ringo inside George inside Paul inside John.

Your videos are TOO SHORT!!!! What am I supposed to do with the other 23 hours of my day?

That was an enjoyable 40 minutes, where else would you get a Sting doll, a 5 screen TV and St Pancreas. ( I used to call it that before it was rebuilt and used to smell like a pile of offal)

Has anyone seen a left handed violinist by the way??!?!!? Do they exist??

Love the long videos, the longer the better for me :D

I'm definitely with you re. the phone-as-camera thing. Maybe it's to do with preferring to have the right tool for the job, or a dedicated machine for a specific purpose. I suppose that's why I will never combine all my music into one format (i.e. digital). I have a deep-seated aversion to anything that describes itself as 'universal', too; more often than not they are mediocre at lots of things, but rubbish at anything in particular.

First and foremost, stay safe. Now, sheer curiosity. Is there any measure of the impact on a particular video's success from a subscriber's or just plain viewer's sharing the video on FaceBook or Twitter?

If you think the matryoshka doll of Sting is odd, I picked up one featuring the various leaders of the Soviet Union back in the 1990s when I visited Germany!

Not something specific to this Oddcast but more a general point. So Mat: if there was any tech item you could have (cost no object) what would it be? And if it isn't HiFi related, what would your holy grail piece of HiFi kit be?

Interesting and entertaining as always, Mat. My other half (Sheila, the musician) says you're dead right about the violin. Its predecessor was a thing called the Treble Viol ( https://is.gd/tviol ) and that was/is played upright. Whoever thought of turning it around was a nutcase. :-) "STING"? LOL. Keep well, both of you. SB.

Perhaps you can answer a question for me. How does Youtube determine what goes on a viewer's recommendation list? I subscribe to Technomoan, The History Guy, Curious Droid, and Glen & Friends (cooking) I NEVER or rarely get recommendations for your channel, History Guy ,Curious Droid, and maybe a handful of Glen & Friends. BUT, I watch ONE Key and Peele skit and suddenly my recs are FLOODED with Key and Peele videos. A channel I don't subscribe to. Why wouldn't youtube use my subscriptions to at least partially determine what my recs are? I invariably have to go to your page to browse through your catalog, which is fine but seems to add an extra step in the process. Thoughts?

Well I will keep an eye out. You never know when these things crop up

Hi. Another great Oddcast. Really enjoy when you do these. Real stream of consciousness. That strange, and heavy music player. Sure you have tried, and it might be too old. But looks vaguely V2000 like? Anyway, keep up the good work and stay safe.

I wonder if that eBay seller that sold you the stereo knows the guy I recently bought an old Speccy joystick interface from? Said interface was wrapped in a paper toilet roll wrapper, placed inside an empty Lean Cuisine box and posted to me in a taped down plastic supermarket carry bag! I ended up making a video about it because it was just the most extraordinary packaging I'd ever seen in my 20-odd years of buying random online tat.

Woah, interesting hearing My Pet Flamingo get a mention in the Oddcast. I’ve bought quite a few LP’s and recently a minidisk from them so it’s cool to see them get a mention. They do really nice work.

Always a treat to get your 'oddcast' - it's like having you drop in for a chat and a bit of a catch-up. I am pleased with the quality of pictures and videos from my Sony RX100M7, but it has FORTY screens of menus, which I find to be a major disincentive to experimenting with settings. Even if you know what you want to change, finding it can be an issue if your are in a hurry. We visited Moscow last year, and you'd be amazed at the range of people portrayed on Russian dolls. We saw a Beatles set of 5 dolls and had to open it to see if they'd been really cute and had Pete Best or Stuart Sutcliffe as the fifth doll - but it was an extra John Lennon. I guess they like the sound of his name, being close to you-know-whose. I really don't get the guy who hasn't time to watch a 15 minutes video but does have the time to berate you for daring to make money out of creating them. I bet he doesn't work for nothing - apart from Mother Theresa and maybe Gandhi everyone always has. Actually, if you got some circular lensed glasses you could have a bit of a Gandhi look going on.... Thanks for a great update, Mat - have a good weekend, stay safe. (Isn't this all horribly akin to that MItchell and Webb post-apocalyptic series of sketches?)

haha Mat there are violas as too

Typewriter ribbon! lol.

I saw the Vectrex lighting episode...but I didn't see the Tempest being played on it...is that your setup, or someone else's? If it is yours...how did you do it?

Love the videos no matter what the length. Seems to me that chewing gum all day would give the same results as that Jawciser.

Hmm I commented about Vectrex not having proper vector monitor and people said I was wrong. Mat seems to confirm on this video? 🤔

Really liking that neon light formed as a cassette. Where can i get one?

I adore videos like these, Mat. Thanks. BTW - that Jawcerciser (orwhateveritscalled) advert might trigger an adult content alert. When that gal used it halfway through, it certainly triggered one with me!

I took a Eurostar train from London to Marseille 3 years ago. 6 hours, but an excellent way to get to the south of France. Highly recommended holiday location (if you drive around the nice bits). If you don't want the ZX Spectrum Next I'd be happy to buy it off you if you want to brave the post office at this time now or later on (I'm in no rush). I'm in Seattle, but you could post it to Telford where my dad is and I could get it the next time I'm there.

A TFM-110A?!?!?!? OMG! So, first, yes, design is lovely (please post the model number for your "new version" Sony so I can look it up). There were a number of variations for different markets, some with LW, some with SW, most seemed to have AM (MW) and FM at least. My grandfather had a TFM-110W and I inherited it (and a Zenith Royal 2000) when he died many years ago. I was always intrigued by the "MPX" jack on the back. Never knew what it was for. Lo and behold, there was an STA-110 that looks the same, but with no antenna or dial (there is an area on the opposite side for symmetry that *looks* like a dial) and it had a cable that plugs into that jack (and the adjacent AUX-IN) and, voila, gives you stereo on an FM stereo signal! No balance control, each unit has a volume for its speaker. And I found one on eBay. It all works, but my TFM needs a more thorough going over than I gave it (dirty pots, maybe a cap or two). But I agree - it's a great looking design! Love your Oddcasts. Miss the Muppets but completely understandable.

On that big, heavy tape player. Does it appear to have a regular tape head for linear recording? Or does it have a circular head like a VCR? It looks about the size of a U-Matic player.

One thing I have always wondered about, I have a Youtube premium (formerly Red) subscription to get rid of the ads without using an adblocker. I still use the adblocker, but on mobile devices and on the playstation etc this is not an option, and I got really sick of the ads. But I always figured, some of the monthly money went to the creators I watched. Is this actually true though? Do you only get ad revenue, or do you also get paid for those that have a YT premium account?

If you could get the measurements of those screws to a YouTube machinist I'm sure they could make a couple, I suspect it would be well within the capabilities of someone like Clickspring. They would be known as a knurled thumbscrew, there are also lots of alternatives online when searching for that term but you would of course need to know the thread. You would hope it's just be metric, measurement should easily confirm this. That machine also reminded me of Sony's use of what I would consider to be backwards play arrows, this confused me recently when I tried to use a mid-2000s Walkman. I gave up after the rewind button shot out and hit me in the face.

Hope you don't take it as an insult, but upon first seeing the thumbnail for this video showing you holding up the Sting nesting doll, I didn't know what the object was, but I thought that was a photo of a younger Mat printed on it. After seeing the image of you as a Ninja Turtle, I wouldn't be surprised if someone doesn't actually make a nesting doll of you as well (MATryoshka)!

I love your long videos Matt. You rigger my memories from when I was a buyer in the Hi Fi and video trade. When you mentioned the Nordmende it made me think of the reps who used to come in and see me. I remember that TV as well although they did eventually mange to get picture in picture. In the domestic market it was more for channel hoppers. I can't remember he lady reps name but it was odd to have email reps in those days. Normende was the company that pushed the Technicolor video format.

Totally understand that, compressor is available separately, and could convert a 60fps video to 50fps, but might still leave some artefacts from the original export. I don’t envy you, my advice is always don’t work with video if you can avoid it ! Amount of sleep I’ve lost over the years from format conflicts isn’t worth thinking about :/

Thanks for the video, really enjoy the candid behind the scenes style and great to see and hear about some bits and bobs that might never graduate to a full video. As a video maker/artist grappling with obsolete analogue video tech not unlike the vectrex, I’ve had great success with Apple’s much maligned but now highly capable FCP X and it’s often over looked companion Compressor. I can see you’re using a Mac in the studio so do give them a go if you haven’t already as I’ve always found they can handle every format i’ve required of them for import and export. If you haven’t installed Mac OS X 10.15 then QuickTime 7 Pro is an amazing Swiss Army knife of video stuff, but sadly as 32bit only and ancient 10.15 breaks it. RIPQT7 Looking forward to the next Oddcast !

Techmoan going full Jeremy Clarkson on the horribleness of smartphones. 😁 You're absolutely right that the ergonomics of a camera matter a lot. This was my experience when buying my first DSLR - a fairly reasonable entry-level Canon kit. Soon after using it, I realized that the camera housing was simply too small for my giant hands. An upgrade to a ~15% bigger (and 50% more expensive) semi-pro camera made all the difference. This is even though they both had much the same type of sensor, and I was using the same lenses I'd got for the first one. I've also made the same experience in pistol shooting. Never mind how many reviewers rave about the accuracy of a certain 9mm, when its still too small for me to hold properly. Literally missing the mark. So, about those smartphones: surely there's a market for some kind of holder that will provide a better grip when taking pictures. Maybe even a faux camera housing, with room for a smartphone inside... 🤔 Is there such a beast being manufactured already, or should I apply for a patent? Also, this comment is far too long.

Watching your videos, especially the oddcasts, reminds me of when my uncle, who was in the military, would visit after a lengthy stay Germany or Turkey or whatever. He would usually bring home some electronics he bought in the PBX. I was only 6 or 7 when I listened to my first stereo record, saw my first reel to reel and learned what music should sound like. He’s probably the reason I have so much stuff. I still have that reel to reel, as he knew how much I loved it and gave it to me in the 70’s. Anyway, my point is that some folks in the 1700’s and 1800’s waited for sailors to visit from faraway lands. I had my uncle. Now we have Techmoan. Always a welcome time spent. Thank you.

Did you say St Pancreas Station?! 😆

This video wasn't long enough! My phone did not get enough steps in! (I do like these videos and your sense of humor. I guess I'm old too.)

post on Facebook. It's on my own page. I didn't request any comments. Kindly bug off. Same for the people who think your videos are too long. Bug off.

I like these oddcasts. I feel like I just had a visit with my old friend, Mat. And if you don't like the length, DON'T WATCH IT! Nobody's twisting your arm. Don't know of any Youtube videos that are mandatory. I have the same attitude for people who feel the need to correct someone

16:25 Tom Scott has great video "explainer" of copyright, especially with respect to music, and why classical music is not "free" https://youtu.be/1Jwo5qc78QU

"I hope you're ready for a long Oddcast", that's easily the best part of being a Techmoan Patron, couldn't be more ready for it!

"I've written down 'Ugly-Ass Audio Machine'..." well there's your video title right there, it writes itself

Ahh, a new Oddcast. More entertaining for me than any Netflix show.

I just watched 40 minutes of pressure relief, like some little jet of steam. Me: doing our household accounts for January, just receipts and a spreadsheet. You: all the side business of the business. All good now. Thanks.

I love these Oddcasts....I'd never heard the term butterfly hands before! Maybe these are suitable for the hifi screw replacement: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323608620623

"Nordmende" pronunciation was spot on. I really enjoy learning about these fancy gadgets that seem to serve only a very limited purpose, probably only ever enjoyed a tiny market share but were developed to market nonetheless. It makes me wonder what other interesting things of similar nature were lost to history when just right before they were completely finished someone higher up decided that it was no longer a great idea (and maybe they were even right).

The swinging thing is really meant for Pokemon Go (You hatch eggs while you walk) and other walking type apps.

Thanks Matt. I always enjoy watching these updates. All the best.

I recently rebought my childhood "hi-fi" too. Actually, it's a Sharp QT47 boombox (or whatever we called them back in 1985). Only this time I got the red one I wanted back then as opposed to the blue my parents bought me. Works fine, although the tape head is picking up hum from the the transformer.

I wonder how YouTube decides who get's to see these cheaply made advertisements. I only get adverts from big companies and they are repeated over and over. Doesn't make much sense to me. I also don't get the hate for long videos. As if the length says anything about the quality. I've seen 10 minute videos that felt like 30 minutes and vice versa. These oddcasts usually feel shorter than they are.

This is the first of these I'd seen (just became a Patreon supporter yesterday) and really enjoyed it: you covered a good range of topics. Your story of the abysmally-packed HiFi is why buying anything fragile on ebay is a real gamble. Looking forward to seeing this 'awful' system, though. I'm betting it was either Amstrad or possibly Saisho/ Matsui?

Love the shirt. When we watch in advance as pateron are these part of the overall watchers?

Those are usually called Knurled Thumb Screws, but as to what size you have there I have no idea. The threaded portion looks very short and may have been custom machined, in which case you may have to cut down a more standard length knurled screw.

I heard that Sting once got kidnapped, for a while the Police didn't have a lead :)

Missing Screw: The gap on that SD card is supposed to be 1.5mm wide. So Iwould assume it is a M1.6 thread. That would loosely go in. An M2 thread would screw into the gap and make groves into the plastic. Those screws are called "Knurled screw" and usually look like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/M2-M3-M4-M5-Knurled-Thumb-Screw-GB835-Adjust-Screws-Bolts-Stainless-Steel-4Pcs-/332141768470. As usual those ones are custom made for the device. So finding the exact one could be difficult I guess.

Thanks for the long ramble. That was very enjoyable. By the way the difference between ships and boats is that boats can be carried on ships but not the other way around.

Thank you for the update; saving me from more lockdown jobs that have successfully been avoided for years. I think there was something like that jaw exercise in the film Red Dragon.

Nordmende was a german company located in Bremen, and you pronounced the name perfectly.

I took the dishes. :-)

I believe the step counter cheat thing for your smartphone is used by people who play Pokémon Go because you get rewards for walking. I don't use it myself, but I know people who do. Still cheating yourself, but at least there's slightly more if a point than just filling up your step counter!

That pedometer thing: There are health insurance and other schemes that give you discounts for staying active. It’s not useless, it’s smashing the system.

At 18:24 "You'll never guess...": That has a lot of comedian values in it. LMAO :) Love it.

Now you have a fursona, you gonna get Animal Crossing?

love these ramblings, good background listening for the lockdown, keep smiling

well this is my sound track to cleaning the workshop