Categories
Synthesizers Technical

Bell Labs’ Electro-Mechanical ‘Speech Synthesizer’ circa 1951

**update 07.09.21 – audio clip added! see below! you can now HEAR this monstrosity!**

Download a 4PP article (+advert) from the June 1951 RADIO ELECTRONICS on the subject of a novel (+fairly creepy) electro-mechanical speech-synthesizer designed by Bell Labs.

This has got to be one of the wildest electro-mechanical synths every created. I wonder what New Jersey basement it ended up in. I’m preeeeetty sure that this abomination provided the historical-basis for the device that Tony Shaloub’s character was developing in the first season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Anyhow. It’s weird and far-out and I think you will enjoy reading about it.

T.F. provided us with this audio clip so that you can hear this device in action. it’s pretty remarkable TBH…

Categories
Custom Fabrication Technical

Bogen DB20 Equalizer Circuit circa 1953

From the October 1953 edition of RADIO ELECTRONICS comes this report on an exceptionally powerful EQ circuit as-found in the then-new Bogen DB20 amplifier. The circuit uses no special parts and promises extremely wide-range control. R11 is odd, i’m not sure why that is present. I’m thinking that this might make a good EQ circuit for the Berlinetta DJ console…
Categories
Radio Shows

Preservation Sound Radio: THE 80s PART 2 w/ Special Guests: ARCHIVE STREAMING NOW

Dave Zamboni, Emily Illsa and Masa Funiculaire joined me in the WPKN-FM studio for a second three-hour all-80s vinyl show.  As usual the emphasis is on new wave and post punk sounds.  The show has been archived and available for streaming until August 12 2018s, so don’t snooze!  Here’s the link. Safari seems to work best.  The setlist:

1. theme from ‘forbidden world’ SUSAN JUSTIN

2. that summer feeling JONATHAN RICHMAN

3. good friend THE VIOLENT FEMMES

4. the telephone always rings FUN BOY THREE

5. reap the wild wind ULTRAVOX

6. nice ago YMO

(set break)

7. everybody wants you BILLY SQIER

8. touch and go THE CARS

9. head-on THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN

10. i got you SPLIT ENZ

11. india THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS

(set break)

12. mad at you JOE JACKSON

13. love +1 HAIRCUT 100

14. only a lad OINGO BOINGO

15. don’t go YAZOO

16. e=mc2 BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE

(set break)

17. waiting (if i had a photograph) FLOCK OF SEAGULLS

18. moonshine STEREO

19. o superman LAURIE ANDERSON

20. cry baby cry THROWING MUSES

21. brass neck THE WEDDING PRESENT

(set break)

22. 7 minutes to midnight WAH

23. paint a vulgur picture THE SMITHS

24. better things THE KINKS

25. happy hour THE HOUSE MARTINS

26. julie loves johnny THE EASTERN DARK

(set break)

27. my city was gone THE PRETENDERS

28. she pays the rent THE LYRES

29. flip your wig HUSKER DU

30. no looking back BLUE ORCHIDS

31. my dreams THE GUN CLUB

(set break)

32. the rainy season HOWARD DEVOTO

33. haunted LOVE AND ROCKETS

34. this is your life GLAXO BABIES

35. fragile TOM VERLAINE

(set break)

36. two guitars YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS

37. fall on me REM

38. circles CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN

39. wuthering heights (1986 vocal) KATE BUSH

40. vanishing girl DUKES OF STRATOSPHEAR

Categories
Gold Coast Recorders

THE CITY new single from ULA RUTH available now

Ula Ruth‘s new single THE CITY is available now for streaming at purchase at all major digital outlets including Spotify and iTunes/Apple Music. The full record will be released soon; it’s one of the last albums that was tracked at Gold Coast Recorders and I am so excited for y’all to have a chance to hear it all soon…

Recorded at Gold Coast Recorders
Produced and Recorded by Chris Ruggiero
Mixed and Master by Greg Giorgio
Art/Design by Aashna Shah

Categories
Radio Shows

Preservation Sound Radio : June 12 2018 : NOW STREAMING

you can stream the complete 3hr 6.13.2018 WPKN FM show at this link ///click here/// link will be active for 30 days, so don’t snooze, some very rare numbers here…

SETLIST

1. alan price LUCKY MAN

2. terry reid SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YR PEACE

3. fluff YOU MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL

4. catmando TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR LIFE

5. five man electrical band SIGNS

(mic break)

6. frijid pink A SONG FOR FREEDOM

7. elephant’s memory MONGOOSE

8. kongos HE’S GONNA STEP ON YOU AGAIN

9. john entwhistle I WONDER

10 . mike wilhelm GOING TO CANADA / STYROFOAM

11. fusion GOIN UP TO CARSDALE

(mic break)

12. blue cheer SANDWICH

13. alexander gradsky ROMANCE FOR LOVES (EXCERPT)

14. pink floyd ASTRONOMY DOMINE

15. amsterdam INDIAN PIPE

16. quicksilver messenger service CODINE

(mic break)

17. tranquility COULDNT POSSIBLY BE

18. king crimson EPITAPH

19. pelican GOLDEN PROMISES

20. manfred mann SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT

21. thin lizzy SPIRIT SLIPS AWAY

22. rolling stones NO USE IN CRYING

(mic break)

23. spooky tooth I AM THE WALRUS

24. tin tin SPIRITS ON THE STARBOARD

25.  sammy johns CHEVY VAN

26. gallery I BELIEVE IN MUSIC

27. jim dawson THE GOOD EARTH

28. the great grizzly bear hunt I DREAMED I SAW ST AUGUSTINE

(mic break)

29. black pearl PEOPLE GET READY

30. the sopwith camel DANCIN WIZARD

31. mike yanoska SONG

32. fairport convention EASTERN RAIN

(mic break)

33. country joe and the fish WHO AM I

34. yes YESTERDAY & TODAY

35. john prine ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY

Categories
Radio Shows

Preservation Sound Radio: May 09 2018: The 80s with Special Guests

Last night’s show has already aired, but you can stream it for a limited time at this link.  The theme for this show was THE 80s and I had three guest selectors in the studio with me.  All vinyl as per usual.  Here’s the playlist:

Neneh Cherry “Buffalo Stance”
Tina Turner “Better Be Good to Me”
A Flock Of Seagulls “Space Age Love Song”
Jan Hammer “Theme from Miami Vice”
Fleetwood Mac “Seven Wonders (Remastered)”
Kate Bush “Cloud Busting”
Grace Jones “Nipple to the Bottle”
Beastie Boys “Egg Raid on Mojo”
Flock of Seagulls “Telecommunication”
Glaxo Babies “This is your life”
Au Pairs “Don’t Lie Back”
The Vapors “talk talk”
New Order “the village”
Shannon “Let the Music Play”
Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark “Telegraph”
NRBQ “Captain Lou”
Book of Love “boy”
Two Party System “safety in numbers”
Mystery Girls “Mystify Me”
Kristy MacColl “A New England (12″ Mix)”
The Cult “Big Neon Glitter”
The Smiths “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This Once Before”
Echo & The Bunnymen “The Killing Moon”
Orange Juice “What Presence?!”
Billy Idol “eyes without a face”
Inxs “New Sensation”
The Pretenders “Middle of the Road”
Barrence Whitfield & The Savages “Georgia Slop”
The Pogues “If I Should Fall from Grace With God”
Blue Orchids “Dumb Magician”
The Clash “Atom Tan”
Big Dipper “Ron Klaus Wrecked His House”
New Order “Age of Consent”
The Go-Betweens “Cattle and Cane”
The Sea Urchins “Cling Film”
The John Black Experience “crystal mirror”
Enya “Storms in Africa”
Momus “Flame into Being”
Jane Birkin “Baby alone in Babylone”
The Philistines Jr. “Tarzan at the Met”
Jane’s Addiction “Up the Beach”
The Smiths “I Know It’s Over”
The Commodores “Nightshift (Single Version)”
Devo “beautiful world”
Cocteau Twins “Cico Buff”

Categories
Film Scores

HOT DOCS Toronto 2018 Festival to feature two films with scores by Halpern and Ruggiero

I am very pleased to announce that two films I’ve recently scored (with Nathan Halpern) are appearing in this year’s HOT DOCS film festival in Toronto.

CALL HER GANDA premiered just last week at the 2018 TRIBECA film festival.  This intense and beautifully shot film was reviewed in The Hollywood Reporter this past week.

MINDING THE GAP premiered at the 2018 SUNDANCE film festival where it won an award in competition.  This film has received numerous strong reviews and we are thrilled to see it appearing now in this fantastic showcase for documentary cinema.

Categories
Radio Shows

STREAMING NOW: Pres Sound Radio 4.11.18: 90s Indie Rock Vinyl w/ J Hammel and EKL

Jason Hammel (Vosotros, Mates Of State) and Emily K Larned (Muffinbones) join me in the studio for three hours of HVY 90S NOSTALGIA all broadcast from the original 45s and 33RPM LP records.  Check it out ::: This program has already aired, but u can Click here to stream the show until May 2018.

Setlist:

  1. Guided by Voices – My Son Cool

2 Helium – Baby Vampire Made Me

3 heavens to Betsy – calculated

4 beck – Asshole

5 sebadoh – on fire
6 blonde redhead – fake can be just as good
7 stereolab – miss modular (12″ single version)
8 gamma rays – Lovely
9 aislers set – red door
10 nirvana – Molly’s lips
11 free kitten – Cleopatra
12 chisel – your star is killing me
13 pavement – carrot rope
14 eggs – a pit with spikes
15 team dreschdon’t try suicide
16 Gbv -game of pricks (ALT EP version)
17 superchunk – kicked in
18 mommyheads  -cactus farm
19 the sea and cake  -Station in the valley
20 sebadoh – Soul & Fire
21 lungfish – instrumental
22 six finger satellite -coke and mirrors
23 Neptunes – knife fight
24 Antioch arrow – Too band you’re gonna die
25 slant 6 – click-click
26 secret stars -sister brother
27 heavenly – trophy girlfriend
28 pavement  – Perfume V
29 lync -firestarter
30 the monorchid – oral fixation
31 the makeup  -the choice
32 air Miami  -Airplane rider
33 thermals – no culture icons
34 gbv -cutout witch (EP version)
35 new bad things -no pass, no fail
36 kicking giant – she’s real
37 smog – all your woman things
38 cat power – you may know him
39 aislers set – Chicago  New  York
40 belle and Sebastian  – Slow Grafitti
41 neutral milk hotel – Naomi
42 nick cave – are you the one I’m waiting for
43 pavement  – filmore jive
44 Elliot smith -St Ides Heaven
45 porno for pyros – black girlfriend
46 broadcast – living room
47 Mates of State – I have space
Categories
Radio Shows

Preservation Sound Radio 031518 : LINK TO STREAM

Last night was the first P-S-R broadcast of ’18.  The show has been archived and you can stream it until April 15 2018 at this link.  Don’t snooze this is a good one – the first two hours are post punk /new wave and the last hr is moody 70s doper jams.  All from the original LPs.   GET IT ::::::::::

  1. Joachim Witt GOLDERNER REITER
  2. Grauzone EISBAR
  3. Greg Kihn THE BREAKUP SONG
  4. Soft Boys I WANNA DESTROY YOU
  5. Hot Head Slater IT HAPPENED TO ME
  6. 999 HOMICIDE
  7. Romeo Void NVR SAY NVR
  8. The Flying Lizards HER STORY
  9. Anika YANG YANG
  10. Alva KOPA
  11. Glaxo Babies AVOIDING THE ISSUE
  12. Siouxsie and the Banshees JIGSAW FEELING
  13. Blue Orchids DUMB MAGICIAN
  14. MI-Sex COMPUTER GAMES
  15. Yello NIGHT FLANGER
  16. Magazine DEFINITIVE GAZE
  17. Higelin BOOGIE ROUILLE
  18. The Only Once ANOTHER GIRL ANOTHER PLANET
  19. Nick Lowe HEART OF THE CITY
  20. INXS DONT CHANGE
  21. MX80 Sound MAN ON THE MOVE
  22. Larry Wallis POLICE CAR
  23. The Chameleons DONT FALL
  24. Simple Minds SPEED YOUR LOVE TO ME
  25. Soft Boys INSANELY JEALOUS
  26. Talk Talk HATE
  27. Colin Newman FISH 3
  28. Lilliput HITCH HIKE
  29. The Raincoats IN LOVE
  30. Violent Femmes GOOD FEELING
  31. Robert Wyatt AT LAST I AM FREE
  32. Can DEADLOCK (theme from the film)
  33. Peirre Bachelet & Herve Roy EMANUELLE THEME
  34. Total Issue LES MARINS
  35. Plain Jane SILENCE
  36. John Kay TWO OF A KIND
  37. The Appletree Theatre WHAT A WAY TO GO
  38. The Rationals GLOWIN’
  39. Fluff WHOS GONNA LOVE ME
  40. Elephants Memory PIECE NOW
  41. Blue Cheer SATURDAY FREEDOM
  42. Lee Python Jackson IN A BROKEN DREAM
  43. The Instincts DONT LOOK BACK
  44. Don Walker DEAR PRUDENCE
Categories
Connecticut Audio History Pro Audio Archive Technical

Excellent Larry Scully / Bert Whyte interview from AUDIO 1969

Download the complete 5-page Bert Whtye interview of Larry Scully from the 11.69 issue if AUDIO:

DOWNLOAD: LarryScully_BertWhyte_Interview_AUDIO_1169

As longtime PS dot com readers know, we are based in Bridgeport CT,  former home of Scully.  Scully was America’s leading manufacturer of Lathes for cutting LP masters; only Neumann lathes offered any real competition in terms of quality. Starting in 1962, with the aid of former PRESTO engineers, Scully also began manufacturing high-quality tape machines in a variety of formats.  I had a Scully 1″ 8-track machine recently and it was a marvel of engineering; the sound quality was absolutely astonishing.  In this article, L Scully describes his father’s start at Columbia Records (also based in Bridgeport in the early 20th century), their movement the manufacture of professional tape machines, ETC.   Great piece of history.

There is a plethora of Scully, Columbia/Bridgeport, and Bert Whyte material elsewhere on this site; just use the search box.