Hipac - Fixes, fails and a flash (of inspiration).
I started off this week catching up on general admin. So when it got to Wednesday lunchtime and I had nothing recorded for this week I decided that this should be a week without a video.
For a while I’ve been thinking about moving to a less rigid schedule. I want to base things more around how long a video takes to make rather than trying to fit each one to a week.
It turned out though that towards the end of the week there was sufficient time to make a less elaborate video, so here it is.
Allocating the usual amount of time to this subject would have been overkill, so it all worked out in the end. I think maybe should change that thumbnail though, once/if inspiration strikes.
Update:
Added in new sections that might clarify some things.
Update 2: Removed the first 25 seconds to make me appear more fun.
Update 3: Yet another update - this time to correct details regarding the BGM tape speed
Comments (74)
Amazed that someone missed the point of these videos exploring formats so badly to suggest streaming. These old formats have character to them that I never get tired of.
Your videos on HiPac stuff has me feeling quite fond of the format for some reason. I love that luggable car version you’ve got. Perhaps it’s nostalgia because my grandfather had an 8-track(similar?) player in the den. It sounded great playing Pet Sounds until the tape snapped.
I found something called the "Pioneer SPEC Bible" that seems to be THE resource on Pioneer products, which is just what I was looking for. Wondering if you'd benefit from it to? I've just paid for it. https://www.stereomanuals.com/man/rep/pioneer/pioneer_spec_bible.htm
That’s certainly quite the resource and I’m glad someone went to the trouble of putting it together. I’m more of a glossy brochure type of chap, so all those specs would be lost on me, but it’s good that you’ve found what you wanted.
Don't tell me I'm a grown adult, I don't like it! :)
Great video, bring back the puppets! Don't let the trolls win, do you.
The reason the puppets have stopped is nothing to do with trolls - Here’s the current stock answer regarding the absence of The Moans puppets/muppets: The puppets went on hiatus during the current situation because their ‘set’ has been commandeered as an office while the Mrs is working from home for her employer due to The Event. Prior to that fresh ideas for their segments weren’t exactly flowing thick and fast any more. Then along came COPPA - a US federal law that means YouTube videos can’t be monetised if they appeal to children. I know children watch the puppet segments as I’ve been told many times that ‘My kids love the puppets’. So if the puppets were to feature in a video and I don’t tick the box to confirm that ‘this content appeals to children’ I could lose the channel. However if I do tick that box, then the associated video isn’t eligible to earn any money at all. All because I chose to stick a puppet sketch at the end of the video. So pretty much everything is counting against them appearing again unless a lot of things that are out of my hands change - and that seems unlikely.
The price of the cartridges is scorchingly expensive. 1800Y in 1971 is about 5500Y today, which is about 35 pounds .. for an album's worth of music!
Yen inflation is weird - due to Japan’s flat economy, the average Japanese person had a lot more disposable income during their boom time. I suppose it’s a bit like the US in the 1950s.
As someone who said changing the capacitor wouldn't work, I'm glad to be proven wrong! I watched the linked video by Sparky Projects, but it didn't explain the theory of why it works. Here's a more technical explanation of what's going on for anyone else who is curious: https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/218304/varying-run-capacitor-for-speed-control-of-single-phase-motor I assumed it wasn't this kind of motor since it means the speed is inherently dependent on the load on the motor, which means speed control, wow, and flutter will always be iffy.
No Moan puppets, but we did get Grumpy Mat at the end. :-) Another enjoyable show! And no, not because the host was having a fit with the device and the cartridges. :-)
That was fantastic. I love the videos where it’s a mystery that needs to be solved along with Matt. Bonus points for the jump scare. I flinched.
"For a while I’ve been thinking about moving to a less rigid schedule. I want to base things more around how long a video takes to make rather than trying to fit each one to a week." Please take all the time you need. at least for me, I will be patiently waiting, looking forward. (and thanks for this!)
Imagine sitting down and watching a well produced video only to leave a crappy ass comment about streaming audio. Great video and hope you find new in diverse formats!
Loved this Mat - classic TM. Thank you!
That's a super fantastic video. Really interesting
Seeing the original unedited version with the cut 25 seconds restored has now unseated The Day The Clown Cried as the most obscure of all media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPAClLc_y78
A tad annoying that a clip from a Patreon exclusive is out there before the video goes live.
I assumed you had Photoshopped that spark in the thumbnail, but nope : ) Glad you're OK, and so is the device. This was a good video.
I think Clas Ohlson have completely gone here now. The one in Leeds went some years back. I stocked up on their excellent replacement DVD cases, as they were far better quality than the horrid brittle ones doing the rounds on eBay.
Clas Ohlson effectively had a "royal warrant" in DIY- and geek-households for many, many, decades here in their home country of Sweden. Starting out as a mail-order company for spare parts, kits, and specialty tools not normally available in your local hardware store. In recent years, though, some retailing consultant has apparently sold them on the idea of needing to "IKEA-ify" their stores. Gone are the specialty items, and in came the candles, pots and pans, and assorted household items. But that has just resulted in their stores struggling to compete with Big Flatpack. No doubt that's what already has killed them off in the UK. And their loyal DIY- and geek-customer base in Sweden has mostly gone elsewhere — such as on-line. Makes one think Clas Ohlson might have more success going back to their roots as a mail-order company. They should probably "Amazon-ify", rather than "IKEA-ify", in other words. If anyone from Clas Ohlson is listening, I'm sure I'll be cheaper than your current retail consultant...
This is the most enjoyable video I've seen in ages, Mat. It covers the entire gamut of human emotions and I learned several things along the way. BTW thanks for the heads up re: streaming music. Sounds like a gimmick that'll probably be a flash in the pan, but it could be fun to try out.
Well count me as surprised - but also happy.
How long before some enterprising band releases the first ever commercial album in the Hipac BGM format ?
They'd all have to visit Mat's house in order to record and play it ⏹️⏏️ 😅 I mean, how many of these things still exist? I venture not many. I know you weren't entirely serious but still, it would be unique and fun to see a band do that. If only for the number of people who are like, "how am I supposed to play this sh*t?"
Really interesting and fascinating video. Almost more questions than answers!
I enjoyed the journey of discovery in these videos. First what type of type? Then What is the CM slot? Why won't it stop? (my guess of a tone system was wrong) Will the capacitor fix work? Why does the tape still sound wrong? Each little mystery was fun by itself and together made for an enjoyable ride. I hope you do find some of the background music carts for two reasons. 1) To see it in action, 2) What is Japanese BGM from the 70's like? Oh, and as always, I got a solid laugh or two out of the video and comments (not the shock though, I've done that myself). Whenever you do make a video, I will watch it.
An interesting video Mat. Personally I was not keen on the first 25 seconds of intro. It feels to me you had to throw something together before I saw it. I was apprehensive to carry on. I did enjoy the rest of the video though. I don't know how others felt. My diabetes is in a mind of it's own this week I know how you feel. Best wishes.
Honesty is never the best policy on the internet - I should try to be more Mr Showbiz. I’ll see if I can snip the beginning off.
Great content as always! There sure are some great people out there I would have never known about streaming media...
Damn, I spent 10 minutes adding your shocked face to the above thumbnail but there’s no way to upload it to Patreon. Needless to say, I’m sure it would have got the clicks.
You could always put it on a photo sharing site and post the link.
"You're a grown adult; you know what to do!" Hahaha, I love it!
I didn’t comment on the capacitor controversy because I wasn’t actually sure - there are many kinds of motors and motor stuff is outside my expertise, it’s surprisingly complicated. But I did some research and I could give a simple explanation if you cared to hear? I watched the explanation video you mentioned and I found it very difficult to follow.
It’s OK - I’ve seen quite a few detailed explanations in the comments and I get the general idea, but I also wouldn’t want to try and explain it to anyone else. I’m glad you didn’t comment because you weren’t sure - that’s exactly how I operate - if I don’t know then I don’t try and blag it like I do. Unfortunately this stood me in poor stead in life as it turns out the BS artists get all the breaks because there are enough nincompoops who’ll believe anything they say.
Good video. I bought a vintage 1970's National TE61 Clock/Timer from Japan. It runs on 100 Volt, 50 Hz. I'm in the USA; my stepdown transformer works OK, but I'm having no luck on the 60 Hz to 50 Hz frequency conversion without spending too much money or time on making something. The clock runs 20% too fast. I haven't seen anything online about wiring a capacitor in to change the motor speed. No electronics in the clock, just a 100 Volt, 50 Hz, 250 RPM synchronous motor, the size of a few stacked coins.
Your type of motor is likely a shaded pole motor, which cannot be adjusted using capacitors. Only a variable 50/60 frequency converter, something you would have to purchase or assemble, could solve your problem.
I enjoyed this follow-up video. I love it when you are tinkering with mechanisms. The added win out of it is that you discovered there are tapes out there specifically for this device. Voice-over at 6:08 sounds great. Have you noticed improvement with the echoing after installing your sound dampening panels? Don't worry about electric shock - a little jolt now and then just reminds you that you're still alive. 🥴 And on a purely shallow level, I do like your saxophone shirt.
Yes I think the echo has reduced - it was mostly a problem with the lavalier when facing the wall. I’ve also used a wireless mic system this time for some shots and since no one has complained (and I didn’t need to do any audio tweaks) I think I can call that a success.
I encourage the change to a more flexible video schedule. Many of the large players, such as Internet Historian and Jontron, release videos on an extremely infrequent basis yet still find success. A bit like the shift from episodic to arc based tv.
I'll be interesting to hear how this video does. People love a "fail" and a thumbnail of things going wrong. You just needed to add the soy face and you'd be rolling.
I’ve just had to look up soy face. That’s one heck of an annoying Google image search result.
I would like to ask everyone here: What is your favorite button on a computer? The like and subscribe buttons are okay. However, I personall like the backspace key, because it generally gets me out of trouble.
I quite like dash (-) I definitely overuse it anyway.
Well, that one was fun! Having repaired unwound 8-tracks some 40 or so years ago, it did make me twitch when you pulled that mess out of the player. The player that still screams H-R99 to me. In the US we don’t use the phrase “draft excluder.” Probably reminds too many of us old folks about the Viet Nam war. I have a feeling your rolls will turn to dust before you’re able to use half of them. Now me, I’d take some of those tapes I know I’d never listen to and record some Beastie Boys or Golden Earring or something over them, and enjoy that changer! Just once I’d like you to sign off with “that’s it for the moment, so clear off, the lot of you! And sod off, Mr Roger Swift!” Thanks for the fun.
The tape is for sale in Denmark https://www.bygma.dk/byggematerialer/lister/tatningslister/stokvis-tatningsliste-stov-hvid---6x9x6000mm100p033255/
Sure you're not just a spokesman for Insulate Britain?
Good to hear Zak again even if we don't get to see him;-)
I am very, VERY sorry to admit that I felt a bit of schadenfreude watching you (even rarely) run into the same type of problems I seem to experience in every venture into electronics repair. I will now schedule some therapy for myself and try to be better. Thanks for the video.
That’s what it’s there for, entertainment, so I’m glad you enjoyed it. If I wanted to try and look cool I wouldn’t be putting out videos that prove the opposite.
"Streaming music"? All I have by me is a river and a creek, no streams. :(
That's a shame; there's no appropriate body of water to give your tapes, records, etc etc a proper Viking boat pyre funeral. 😆
Hey Roger Swift, here is a very precise German proposal of what you can do: Fick dich ins Knie! Almost everyone here likes and loves these old crusty formats and i would love to see Mat explore them all, handle them like Pokemon, catch them all and show them off. And besides, your shitty streaming music has one big drawback a tape hasn't, it only works online. If the connection to the interbutts is broken you can't hear a thing, the tape can still be played.
Of course the puppets have been here already. There’s relatively little that changes on the internet when it comes to nutters. https://youtu.be/b6Xe8qLY7cw
That was a journey! For a device I didn’t know existed a few months ago, it certainly had me enthralled.
It would be fun to hear your voice recording played in your car Hipac player to see just how fast it is in that
Perhaps next Patreon update...
Beautiful response the commenter who bluntly suggested 'streaming'. That was the highlight of this video for me. The section in question is at the 21:38 mark for anyone interested.
You wouldn’t believe how often I see that. These people are so nauseatingly stupid they actually believe that they’re clever in knowing about streaming music - like it’s some kind of underground movement that only a few select people have heard of.
Thanks Mat so the Eyes Had it.
Music can be streamed? Goodness me, whatever will they think of next - maybe find some way to apply electricity to the gramophone so it doesn't have to be wound every couple of records?! Fascinating as ever, Mat and so comforting to know that even you get tape tangles and sparks. btw, I know you have looked at some vinyl record cleaning systems in the past. I finally found one that works really well - I got it on Amazon and it contains a weak solution of Isopropyl Alcohol. I know that will give certain folk the screaming hab-dabs. Certainly worth a try when the water based ones fail - and no, my records didn't instantly turn into a lump of melted plastic. It's just called 'Professional LP Record Cleaner Solution'. I imagine there's more than one brand containing alcohol.
Next thing they'll have telephones with cameras in them. It'd be pretty pointless though as the wire would tether you to just taking pictures within a couple of feet of the phone socket in the hall.
You may use silver conducting ink to fix the cartridge.
That would have been safer.
Regarding the schedule, it's hard to give up the schedule as the viewers are used to watching the videos at a certain time and day. There's a lot said about 'the algorithm' favouring regular uploads, but I've found that views and watch-time don't correlate with the publishing date and time. Even a series of similar videos published regularly don't get the same number of views. I suppose that's a long way of saying that it's more important to have a healthy lifestyle that publish to a schedule. It's hard to give up on a schedule though. Most of us would watch anything you publish. How about sandbagging some shorter videos so if you can't do the big video on the scheduled time, you can still get the shorter video out and give yourself an extra week.
I find short videos take me almost as long to make as the normal ones. There seems to be a base number for ‘the time it takes to make any video’ …and then taking or adding minutes to the length alters that initial base number by a fraction of a percent.
I really enjoyed that! It may have been a bit weird, but that was, to me, very entertaining, Mat. Just a thought, but I wonder if you worked out how slow it still is as a percentage and upped the capacitor value again by that percentage . . . Ummm . . . no . . . OK . . .. maybe not, then. :-) S
I think I’ll have to edit something in - it’s definitely running at the correct speed now…for tapes that run at half the speed of the Hipac
Check if the motor run hot, just in case, I don't think so but just in case
It’s OK this one is going back into storage now - until hopefully one day the right tapes for it appear.
Sorry to hear that you've been ill recently, and that you escaped unharmed from the zap. A quick question, you say it's still slow, but your recording with your voice was too fast? Or is that what you recorded on that when it was too slow, but was at normal speed for the recording?
I recorded that in the previous video - when it was running slower.
Well it's 3 AM in the US right now so that's bad timing, I'd love to view this, but I'm going to bed. At least I know there's something to view when I wake.