Th good old days

Charcole911 · 30-07-2011, 19:19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwrU8s-M-gc

Peter the Great · 31-07-2011, 18:44

The good old days of an over hyped format being used to rip us off? Yes great. I remember many of the CD's made in the 80's were poorly mastered, poorly made (ended up going rusty) and had poorly made plastic cases. Then the record companies had a cheek to charge 3 times the price of an LP when the LP was often better quality.

Charcole911 · 01-08-2011, 09:17

Did cassettes and CD's come about at the same time? Odd to think there was 3 formats of music then. But I suppose there is now the same today. itunes, mp3 and the CD.

I find i odd that cassettes were so popular given that LP's still seemed popular and CDs were the new big thing.

Nigel Goodwin · 01-08-2011, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charcole911

Did cassettes and CD's come about at the same time? Odd to think there was 3 formats of music then. But I suppose there is now the same today. itunes, mp3 and the CD.

No, cassette LONG predated CD (and it took many years for one particular type - Philips - to become the winning format), CD was essentially a superior play only format intended to replace records (which it did quite quickly).

soulboy77 · 01-08-2011, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charcole911

Did cassettes and CD's come about at the same time? Odd to think there was 3 formats of music then. But I suppose there is now the same today. itunes, mp3 and the CD.

I find i odd that cassettes were so popular given that LP's still seemed popular and CDs were the new big thing.

Cassettes were popular because they were the first 'practical' media system that provided both recording capability and portability to the public. The sound quality was never on a par with vinyl or later CD but the advantage was that you could record your own tracklist and play these in the car, on a portable cassette player or personal Walkman.

davidseven · 01-08-2011, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charcole911

Did cassettes and CD's come about at the same time? Odd to think there was 3 formats of music then. But I suppose there is now the same today. itunes, mp3 and the CD.

I find i odd that cassettes were so popular given that LP's still seemed popular and CDs were the new big thing.

I would add open reel tape, which just about survived into the 1980s with limited prerecorded releases.
When I started in the trade in the early 70s Sony were offering 5 or 6 reel to reel decks.

soulboy77 · 01-08-2011, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

No, cassette LONG predated CD (and it took many years for one particular type - Philips - to become the winning format), CD was essentially a superior play only format intended to replace records (which it did quite quickly).

Out of interest I looked up the Philips compact cassette history and surprisingly it dates back to 1962 - wow!

Nigel Goodwin · 01-08-2011, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulboy77

Out of interest I looked up the Philips compact cassette history and surprisingly it dates back to 1962 - wow!

I know

There were a number of competing formats, including some really weird ones - but Compact Cassette eventually beat them all off.

spiney2 · 04-08-2011, 13:07

What made compact cassettes a usable consumer format was Dolby B. Before that, they were VERY hissy!

I've still got an old Amstrad cassette deck, with Dolby B implemented in entirely discrete components!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_n...system#Dolby_B

http://www.davidreaton.com/Cassette_Decks.htm

CDs took off, because, they could be mass-produced by stamping - high volume low cost - just like records!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact...ng#Replication

Mike_1101 · 04-08-2011, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulboy77

Out of interest I looked up the Philips compact cassette history and surprisingly it dates back to 1962 - wow!

It wasn't the first, RCA Victor tried this system around 1959 although I never saw them over here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MPcy...eature=related

8-track cartridges had quite a following in the 70s although they died out, I last saw them on sale in this country around 1982. At one point there was a very good choice of pre-recorded material. There were also large hi-fi cassettes from Sony & BASF but they never took off.

I don't know if "Tefifon" was ever sold in the UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g9xzzNLL2g

and an amazing device from ITT Schaub-Lorenz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06MhpIaJnPA
with a hint of the i-pod about it. I found a website that said that after the system failed in Germany, many of the machines were sold to a company in London and sold at clearance prices. One ended up provididng background music in a brothel....

Nigel Goodwin · 04-08-2011, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_1101

It wasn't the first, RCA Victor tried this system around 1959 although I never saw them over here

As I mentioned much earlier, there were numerous different cassette systems tried before Compact Cassette won out, I seem to remember even Garrard (the record deck people) had a cassette system.

soulboy77 · 04-08-2011, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_1101

...8-track cartridges had quite a following in the 70s although they died out, I last saw them on sale in this country around 1982. At one point there was a very good choice of pre-recorded material. There were also large hi-fi cassettes from Sony & BASF but they never took off...

Were 8 track players ever widely popular in this country as they were in the U.S.? My uncle had one in his car but he was the only person I ever knew that had one. I remember petrol garages always seemed to have left over stock of pre-recorded cartridges on the shelves well into the 80s

Nigel Goodwin · 04-08-2011, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulboy77

Were 8 track players ever widely popular in this country as they were in the U.S.? My uncle had one in his car but he was the only person I ever knew that had one. I remember petrol garages always seemed to have left over stock of pre-recorded cartridges on the shelves well into the 80s

They were too large, too poor a quality, and far too unreliable - the crude 'endless' tape cassettes frequently chewed up and destroyed themselves.

They were reasonably popular for a few years, mostly because the players were far cheaper than cassette ones, particularly at the time, but it was basically a 'play only' system. There were a VERY tiny number of recorders available, but I've never seen one, or seen any blank tapes for them.

I did repair plenty of car players though - horrible things - they were cheap because they were so crude.

I 'think' I might still have one 8 track cassette at work, left over from testing the players

Mike_1101 · 04-08-2011, 17:39

I once found an unusual cartridge player and some cartridges by the door of an office building, waiting to be put in a skip. It was a special type made by Clarke & Smith (better known for schools equipment) for the RNIB blind society.

Probably a valuable antique one day...

soulboy77 · 04-08-2011, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_1101

I once found an unusual cartridge player and some cartridges by the door of an office building, waiting to be put in a skip. It was a special type made by Clarke & Smith (better known for schools equipment) for the RNIB blind society.

Probably a valuable antique one day...

Talking Book? - http://www.ferrographworld.com/c&s2.html

Mike_1101 · 04-08-2011, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulboy77

Talking Book? - http://www.ferrographworld.com/c&s2.html

It was the small one (TB2000) at the bottom of the page.

2Bdecided · 04-08-2011, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_1101

and an amazing device from ITT Schaub-Lorenz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06MhpIaJnPA

Wow - never seen that before! Others like it on YouTube too.

Cheers,
David.

30-07-2011, 19:19	#1
Charcole911 Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Fife Posts: 6,078	Th good old days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwrU8s-M-gc

31-07-2011, 18:44	#2
Peter the Great Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,078	The good old days of an over hyped format being used to rip us off? Yes great. I remember many of the CD's made in the 80's were poorly mastered, poorly made (ended up going rusty) and had poorly made plastic cases. Then the record companies had a cheek to charge 3 times the price of an LP when the LP was often better quality.

01-08-2011, 09:17	#3
Charcole911 Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Fife Posts: 6,078	Did cassettes and CD's come about at the same time? Odd to think there was 3 formats of music then. But I suppose there is now the same today. itunes, mp3 and the CD. I find i odd that cassettes were so popular given that LP's still seemed popular and CDs were the new big thing.

01-08-2011, 10:08	#4
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Charcole911 Did cassettes and CD's come about at the same time? Odd to think there was 3 formats of music then. But I suppose there is now the same today. itunes, mp3 and the CD. No, cassette LONG predated CD (and it took many years for one particular type - Philips - to become the winning format), CD was essentially a superior play only format intended to replace records (which it did quite quickly).

01-08-2011, 11:09	#5
soulboy77 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Herts Posts: 17,005	Quote: Originally Posted by Charcole911 Did cassettes and CD's come about at the same time? Odd to think there was 3 formats of music then. But I suppose there is now the same today. itunes, mp3 and the CD. I find i odd that cassettes were so popular given that LP's still seemed popular and CDs were the new big thing. Cassettes were popular because they were the first 'practical' media system that provided both recording capability and portability to the public. The sound quality was never on a par with vinyl or later CD but the advantage was that you could record your own tracklist and play these in the car, on a portable cassette player or personal Walkman.

01-08-2011, 11:24	#6
davidseven Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 3,174	Quote: Originally Posted by Charcole911 Did cassettes and CD's come about at the same time? Odd to think there was 3 formats of music then. But I suppose there is now the same today. itunes, mp3 and the CD. I find i odd that cassettes were so popular given that LP's still seemed popular and CDs were the new big thing. I would add open reel tape, which just about survived into the 1980s with limited prerecorded releases. When I started in the trade in the early 70s Sony were offering 5 or 6 reel to reel decks.

01-08-2011, 12:08	#7
soulboy77 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Herts Posts: 17,005	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin No, cassette LONG predated CD (and it took many years for one particular type - Philips - to become the winning format), CD was essentially a superior play only format intended to replace records (which it did quite quickly). Out of interest I looked up the Philips compact cassette history and surprisingly it dates back to 1962 - wow!

01-08-2011, 13:11	#8
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by soulboy77 Out of interest I looked up the Philips compact cassette history and surprisingly it dates back to 1962 - wow! I know There were a number of competing formats, including some really weird ones - but Compact Cassette eventually beat them all off.

04-08-2011, 13:07	#9
spiney2 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24,123	What made compact cassettes a usable consumer format was Dolby B. Before that, they were VERY hissy! I've still got an old Amstrad cassette deck, with Dolby B implemented in entirely discrete components! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_n...system#Dolby_B http://www.davidreaton.com/Cassette_Decks.htm CDs took off, because, they could be mass-produced by stamping - high volume low cost - just like records! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact...ng#Replication

04-08-2011, 13:41	#10
Mike_1101 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lancs Posts: 7,928	Quote: Originally Posted by soulboy77 Out of interest I looked up the Philips compact cassette history and surprisingly it dates back to 1962 - wow! It wasn't the first, RCA Victor tried this system around 1959 although I never saw them over here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MPcy...eature=related 8-track cartridges had quite a following in the 70s although they died out, I last saw them on sale in this country around 1982. At one point there was a very good choice of pre-recorded material. There were also large hi-fi cassettes from Sony & BASF but they never took off. I don't know if "Tefifon" was ever sold in the UK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g9xzzNLL2g and an amazing device from ITT Schaub-Lorenz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06MhpIaJnPA with a hint of the i-pod about it. I found a website that said that after the system failed in Germany, many of the machines were sold to a company in London and sold at clearance prices. One ended up provididng background music in a brothel....

04-08-2011, 14:41	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Mike_1101 It wasn't the first, RCA Victor tried this system around 1959 although I never saw them over here As I mentioned much earlier, there were numerous different cassette systems tried before Compact Cassette won out, I seem to remember even Garrard (the record deck people) had a cassette system.

04-08-2011, 14:59	#12
soulboy77 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Herts Posts: 17,005	Quote: Originally Posted by Mike_1101 ...8-track cartridges had quite a following in the 70s although they died out, I last saw them on sale in this country around 1982. At one point there was a very good choice of pre-recorded material. There were also large hi-fi cassettes from Sony & BASF but they never took off... Were 8 track players ever widely popular in this country as they were in the U.S.? My uncle had one in his car but he was the only person I ever knew that had one. I remember petrol garages always seemed to have left over stock of pre-recorded cartridges on the shelves well into the 80s

04-08-2011, 15:16	#13
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by soulboy77 Were 8 track players ever widely popular in this country as they were in the U.S.? My uncle had one in his car but he was the only person I ever knew that had one. I remember petrol garages always seemed to have left over stock of pre-recorded cartridges on the shelves well into the 80s They were too large, too poor a quality, and far too unreliable - the crude 'endless' tape cassettes frequently chewed up and destroyed themselves. They were reasonably popular for a few years, mostly because the players were far cheaper than cassette ones, particularly at the time, but it was basically a 'play only' system. There were a VERY tiny number of recorders available, but I've never seen one, or seen any blank tapes for them. I did repair plenty of car players though - horrible things - they were cheap because they were so crude. I 'think' I might still have one 8 track cassette at work, left over from testing the players

04-08-2011, 17:39	#14
Mike_1101 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lancs Posts: 7,928	I once found an unusual cartridge player and some cartridges by the door of an office building, waiting to be put in a skip. It was a special type made by Clarke & Smith (better known for schools equipment) for the RNIB blind society. Probably a valuable antique one day...

04-08-2011, 17:44	#15
soulboy77 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Herts Posts: 17,005	Quote: Originally Posted by Mike_1101 I once found an unusual cartridge player and some cartridges by the door of an office building, waiting to be put in a skip. It was a special type made by Clarke & Smith (better known for schools equipment) for the RNIB blind society. Probably a valuable antique one day... Talking Book? - http://www.ferrographworld.com/c&s2.html

04-08-2011, 17:51	#16
Mike_1101 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lancs Posts: 7,928	Quote: Originally Posted by soulboy77 Talking Book? - http://www.ferrographworld.com/c&s2.html It was the small one (TB2000) at the bottom of the page.

04-08-2011, 21:37	#17
2Bdecided Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 4,391	Quote: Originally Posted by Mike_1101 and an amazing device from ITT Schaub-Lorenz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06MhpIaJnPA Wow - never seen that before! Others like it on YouTube too. Cheers, David.

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Th good old days