Categories
Connecticut Audio History

Scully kit of the early 1960s

Scully_270How are y’all doing today…  long-time readers will know that there is a lot of Scully material on this site… Scully was a Bridgeport institution; I drive by the ole Scully plant everyday on my way to the studio.  Not sure what goes on in that large brick structure these days, but many years ago it was turning out most of the lathes that were cutting LP masters in the US.  Scully tape machines were never as ubiquitous as their lathes, but were a big part of the US recording scene nonetheless…  Scully was a small family-owned company that competed favorably with Ampex, and this itself is notable. Anyhow…  at left is the Scully 270 transport, and below, I found a couple of period adverts for the 280, which seems to have been their most successful tape-machine design, if the number of surviving units is any indication.  My friend Sal sold his 280 -two-track AND 4-track machines, together with carts and racks, for $1000 last year…  and it was hard to find a buyer even at that price.  I will probably forever regret not buying them myself, but…  you can’t have it all, can you…  Anyhow, if you are using a 280 these days, drop us a line and let us know whatcha think.

For more Scully info, click the links below:

The Scully Model 100 16-track machine

Larry Scully interview and history

The Scully 601 LP Lathe

What’s inside a Scully 280?

Scully_280_1964Scully_280_1965

Categories
Microphones

Read my review of the AKG D12 VR and 451 ’65th Anniv.’ Mics at ProductionHUB

C451_with_accI recently reviewed the new (-ish) AKG “65th anniversary” model 451 and the very interesting D12 ‘VR’ model for our friends at ProductionHUB.  Click here to read the article.  The 451 ’65th,’ in particular, is an excellent deal for $400.  I’ve been using it every day and it is yet to disappoint.   If you are not aware of the new D12 and its remote-controlled frequency-contouring, you might find that interesting as well.

D12VR

Categories
Uncategorized

Angry eBay Listing Of The Week

FirefoxScreenSnapz001“This microphone is described as “in working condition” as there are no United States Standards for vintage microphones.  To use any other terminology than “in working condition” is highly subjective based upon each individuals opinion of a microphones performance.  I have endured countless debates as to the sonic performance of a vintage microphone with infinite varying opinions therefore I will not determine the degree of performance. As always human nature never ceases to amaze us.  Therefore,  if you believe that by purchasing this microphone that you and or others are going to magically sound better and it is magically going to improve your vocal & equipment abilities you are incorrect.  There is not a microphone on earth that magically makes a foreshortened vocalist or recording technician sound any better than they really are. “

Mamamerch, what went

so wrong in your eBay past?

Bitter caveat.

Categories
Uncategorized

This is an insane deal

22-15405_3I just received three units of the above – depicted ‘weatherproof case’ (10.6″ (L) x 9.8″ (W) x 4.9″ (H)) from my fav purveyor of dirt-cheap electronic supplies MCM ELECTRONICS.  Now, when I ordered ’em, they were on sale for $7.99 each.  But $9.99 is still an unbelievable price.  These things are incredibly close knock offs of the industry-standard Pelican 1200 for 1/4 the price.

photoAbove, here’s one of my $7.99 cases already in-service providing a good home environment for my SE1A mics (another great unsung deal in audio…).   Cases are a good idea.

Categories
Microphones

1965: Early Wireless Microphones

wireless_Mics_2Download a 3pp article from B.E , 1965, on the subject of wireless microphones used for broadcast reporting.  Author is R Fetterman.  BTW: is that a large collection of RCA OP-7’s pictured above?

DOWNLOAD:WirelessMics

WirelessMics_1

Categories
Uncategorized

Exactly WHAT do all those tubes do?

FirefoxScreenSnapz001Several things, actually.  Check out this great c. 1943 promo film produced by Westinghouse.  Thanks to TW for alerting us to this clip.

Categories
Uncategorized

DIY Tube Broadcast Console c. 1964

Console_DiaFrom BROADCAST ENGINEERING Mag, circa 1964, plans by one Robert Tiffany on the design and construction of a low-cost ‘standby’ broadcast console.  Output amp stage uses my fav line output transformer, the UTC A-25: still unequaled among air-gapped plate:line transformers for low-frequency response.  BTW, add a 600:60K mic input transformer to the front of this thing and you’ve got a pretty nice mic preamp with a LOT of gain.

DOWNLOAD: Console_0001 Console_Amp_Schem

Categories
Uncategorized

These Dudes Get It

1347384267-hI know there’s not too much value in my ‘re-tweeting’ (it’s safe to use that verb as a generic descriptor now, right?) something that the Ole Gray Lady published, but the piece by Jon Caramanica in Friday’s NYT really got my attention.  The article concerns a hip hop reissue label in Mass that’s doing terrific business because they have realized that the consumer-value inherent in certain sound-recordings can by applied, via symbolic transference, to what are essentially display or decor items.  Even tho the sound-recordings THEMSELVES no longer have cash value due to ‘the internets,’ by packaging certain totemic items alongside those sound recording it is possible to imbue the totems with a value that far exceeds their manufacturing costs.  WELL DONE.  I worked for many many years on reissue campaigns at one of the last Major Labels, and while we occasionally had products that skirted this semiotic territory, we never really went all the way.  These folks, ‘Get On Down,’ made the realization that it does not matter HOW LITTLE cash value there is to be had in sound-recordings at this time in history, because the emotional value, the use-value of those recordings in the lives of consumers, is still as great as ever.   Click here to read the piece in the NYT.    And if yr into classic hip hop at all, you will probably be very tempted to purchase some of these objects/recordings here: Get On Down.

Categories
Uncategorized

Symphonic Recording Primer c. 1964

Music_Pickup_1Download a five-page article from Broadcast Engineering mag regarding “Live Music Pickup” for broadcast.  This article seems to be primarily concerned with recording large live ensembles of acoustic instruments on-location;  I.E., symphonies and the like.  It is written by one Robert Carr, then product-manager at SHURE.

DOWNLOAD: MusicPickup

Categories
Pro Audio Archive RCA

UPDATED: Compressor Roundup c. 1963

Compressors_1963_1Today on PS dot come: a short but v v informative piece from BROADCAST ENGINEERING , July 1963, which gives specs for nearly all of the broadcast compressors that were available that year.  Models covered include: Collins 26J Auto-level, Collins 356E, Fairchild 666A, 666, and 663; Gates M-5167 Sta-Level, GE BA-9 Uni-levele, ITA AGC-1A, Langevin AM-5301 Leveline, Quindar QCA-2, and the RCA BA-25A

DOWNLOAD: Compressors1963

UPDATE: T. Fine was so kind as to provide the entire 3-part article as a compact PDF.  click here to download it: BrdctEngnrgAudioLeveling_1963

Compressors_1963_2