Music donations…and more
Over the last couple of months I accumulated a few music donations, so it seemed a sensible idea to open them together in one video.
While not all the music featured is something I’d choose to listen to, exposure in a video like this really can help these independent artists and small companies get noticed. I’ve received some lovely letters in the past from people after their music or product was featured and gave them a much needed boost. So the purpose of this video is really to help others out.
To keep things visually interesting I used a different piece of equipment for each demonstration. This took a lot more time than I anticipated. All audio was recorded live into the camera (routed via a device to attenuate the levels).
Hope you have a good weekend. Take care.
UPDATE: Re-editied and re-uploaded
Comments (59)
some awesome players on show there! Specially like the blue netMD player... Just ordered something similar to try to save my netMD recorders from burn out... :D
I hope you are happy in what you have caused....I picked up a very cheap Pioneer Elite DVD player (that will play almost every audio format) and am now collecting SACD...will your chaos never stop? :)
That’s definitely the best (well most sensible) way to play SACDs. I plan to cover them properly at some point. I just picked a bundle up a few weeks ago.
Having sold my Sony minidisc player on eBay a year ago, I recently bought one back - so this video came in with perfect timing. Just ordered the synth wave album on minidisc ✅💯👌👍🚀
This video was sublime - a great mix of retro modern music and amazing vintage hardware.
That cameras of sound album is dope man, had to have a listen after hearing the clip is this video, dropped in for some tech, left with a new album to listen to in the car
They’ve got a lot of back catalogue too.
Just seen this regarding a rise in cassette tape buying. Thought I would share with you. You may of seen already. https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2021/03/27/why-cassette-tape-sales-doubled-during-pandemic-syndication/
Speaking of Edison cylinders the National Film and Sound Archive in Australia, has been recording some modern artists onto cylinder, even a Hiphop artist. https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/wax-cylinder-recordings
Love the mini disc / CD player with sliding door! Ok, complete random note here, but just saw a Kickstarter for a Nixie tube clock radio. I know you’d mentioned getting burned on Kickstarters in the past, but this looks gorgeous. https://bit.ly/3cTNKO4
Yes I was one of the early bird backers. You’ll see it get a mention in the March/April Patreon Update video.
Was that first one really 1mm thick tape? That must be like a reel of leather or something?!
I misspoke - I meant to say '1 mil' - I'll upload an edit.
If you like music with a good dance beat like the Synthwave you might consider looking into the Greek group, Otherview. You don't have to be able to speak Greek to enjoy the music, but they've recorded many of their songs with Greek and English lyrics. Fun to listen to in the car. You can find them on the iTunes Music Store and several of their music videos are available on YouTube.
Not on this topic, but saw this ad for a new VCR. https://radvcr.com/products/the-rad-vcr-dvd-combo-player
I’ve seen a few mentions of this. I’ve still got a decent HiFi VHS VCR so I’m good. I really wasn’t aware that you couldn’t get a new one though - I assumed someone was still making a cheapie model.
There's something quite relaxing and enjoyable about listening to and watching Synthwave played on various vintage devices. If only there was a way to host such videos without worrying about content strikes.
I thought the Vogue Machine track sounded nice. Doesn’t look like those songs are available commercially.
I think you may be right. I guess he was just sending it over for me personal use. Hopefully the group will upload it somewhere.
Hi Mat, I was wondering if you could annotate the video with the models of all the players you used? Thanks
Would adding something in the description suffice?
For the sheer variety of formats and playback devices this video needs to be tagged as ‘Techmoan Eye Candy’.
I enjoyed the diversity of players you showed off. Partly because of the inadvertent flex. There's a hipster somewhere who's been totally insufferable about how he's "really into vintage audio" ever since he snagged a mono Radio Shack tape recorder that his grandparents were about to throw away. His friends will be very pleased to show him this clip.
So far from your videos over the years I've bought Retro Grooves 3 on MiniDisc, Powers Activate by Candy Apple Blue on cassette, and a couple of things from Lavender Sweep records (two floppy discs and that half inch Rusty Nutz single!) You have reminded me to check stock for the Synthwave MiniDisc! So yes, this promotion works!
Thanks for the great video. And an awesome opportunity to show off you marvelous player collection.
Do you think there is enough material of interest for a video on transcription disks from the BBC? Or would the sum total of your commentary be "these are flippin' big vinyl albums. But that's all for now..."
If I were to make a video about transcription discs I'd really need a stack of them and a record player with a 16" platter. I always want to try and demonstrate the thing I'm featuring rather than than just talking about it. Unfortunately there have been some occasions where that hasn't worked out for one reason or another and the video just falls flat. Like the German slot machine video.
I loved this video because it takes me back to the early 90s when I'd make mixes of various Depeche Mode tracks (especially b-sides) then make cassette inserts from my Mac Plus hypercard program! I adored making unique graphics and challenging myself to print lyrics as tiny as possible for the increasingly long insert! It's a lot of fun to see familiar cover artwork on an unfamiliar or abandoned format. Also... your shirt is very cool!
Yes I'm tempted to get a classic hip hop album put onto 8-track. I have no idea what it costs though.
Saw Slugbug on the dead media tapes page. They have a quadraphonic record and cassette from 2013 called Truck Month.
Slugbug are good. I really appreciate VWestlife bringing them to my attention.
I would offer to send a couple Dolby S prerecorded cassettes I have come across, but you probably already have more cassettes than you have room for, and they would only be for curiosity, since they would hit copyright matches if used in a video. They are both from Warner owned labels from summer 1994. One released in late June (Kyuss, Welcome to Sky Valley) one in mid August (Barenaked Ladies, Maybe You Should Drive).
Yes thanks, not really my cup of tea - so hang onto them. I managed to get a couple of Prince Dolby S cassettes a while ago, so that’s ticked that box for me.
Ohhh.. I like that Synthwave album!
Unfortunately quite a few of the tracks would content match as they’re from a variety of artists. There were a couple of good ones that I wanted to play but had to skip.
Mat, you are a really good man
It costs nothing to be nice and even if just a handful of people end up streaming or buying this music it can make a big difference to a small operation.
I'm looking forward to Mark Ronson accepting your challenge by releasing his next album on Edison Cylinder.
I was expecting an Elcaset release amongst them. Maybe Sony are still trying to forget about those.
Thanks for that whole "camera of sound" bit - I'm always on the lookout for metaphorical design examples for a design theory course I teach, and that Sanyo Micro Pack is going in my next lecture. Cheers.
I am amazed at the number of creative (and generous) people that are out there. As for the actual music, the Synthwave appeals to me the most as I grew up with electronica in the 1970s.
Nice video - especially like the glimpses of the more esoteric equipment, like the Panasonic CD player.
Yes, I am really interested in that Panasonic player in the Candy Apple Blue segment. Did you do a video on it that I missed? If so, link please.
There may be a Parental Advisory on that tape, but I don't think that will stop the kids playing it on their fancy open reel boom boxes.
Awesome thumbnail!
Yes it came out well - often they’re lacking in colour.
I'm on bandcamp for a couple of those albums, neat to see the multitude of new music on legacy formats, especially the one-off's that you can have format shifted.
That Panasonic SA-PM50MD looks 'cool' - is it ? or just a 'gadget'? ;) I guess Japan only.
As far as build quality it’s a typical of a budget-ish mini HiFi of its age. Nothing outstanding.
That Panasonic SA PM50MD is a really nice looking machine that I don't think I have seen before.
It’s certainly eye-catching. I can’t resist a back-illuminated button.
The printing quality on those reel boxes is just incredible, so professionally done! With regard to any other reels bearing a Parental Advisory label, I suspect the PMRC era and the end-of-the-line, record club-only era of 3 3/4 ips reels may just have missed each other by a couple of years - can anyone confirm?
I think you’re right about them missing each other. The reels seemed to die out pre 85.
I think I recognize all of the playback devices from previous videos apart from the fantastically complicated looking Panasonic in the bottom left of the thumbnail and at 14:52, have you shown this before? Great video by the way.
It’s something I picked up recently from Japan so it hasn’t shown up before. I plan on using it in a future video about Mini HiFis.
Update - by complete coincidence I was just contacted by someone who is releasing a track on a cylinder very soon. Unfortunately they went for a 4 min cylinder and my Edison Gem machine only plays the far more common 2 minute recordings. It just wouldn’t work. Shame. The 4 min players rarely come up for sale but when they do they cost crazy £€$¥s
You can look out for converted standard and home phonographs with 2/4min switch, sometimies they may be cheaper than later amberolas
So I can send something for you to use? Wow I didn't know that,I think now I'll have a lot more money to spend in postage fees
I’m good for the moment.