What's new Pussycat too?

Nice one Matt, you have your audiophile hat on and those tapes look great, have fun with the LP's. I think I saw an article yesterday saying that Metalica sold soo many LP's last year that they are opening their own pressing plant. All power to vinyl..

 

"When I'm with you, baby
I just go out of my head
And I just can't get enough
And I just can't get enough

All the GAMES you RUN for me
And every TUNE you PLAY
And I just can't get enough
And I just can't get enough
...
It's getting hotter, it's a burning love
And I just can't seem to get enough of..."

 

"Well, you sang to us
Instead of explain to us
So I guess what's in the pic
Is the new gear and it's sic

Though the stickers have to go
And a little elbow grease for show
And a fine machine it will be
And you can let us all see

Off the top of my head it flowed
So now I drop the mic and go...
FREEBIRD!!!"

 

No need to explain, my dear friend.
Those who know me will easily know the end
of my usual short story where I finally roar:
yet, I've got another Commodore 64!

 

Wonderful, Matt.

Great news to have you back with news of your "what's new" items - those metal tapes sound like the dog's dangly bits - absolutely top taping, mate, and I can hear the enthusiasm as you type as you can't wait to blank em and then back up your rich LP collection, incl Rush of course, to handy sized cassette mega metal media!

And then you've some new Atari Jag game arriving with a custom built controller (like a paddle, by the sounds of it?) that you've adapted to work with software - it's all happening again and we're thrilled to hear it.

Nice work, fella - you've been sorely missed around these parts... (stobbit, Paul, you know what I mean!)

Titter ye not!

Great to have you back, Matt - much missed, matey.

 

Yep, people aren't just rediscovering the living sound of analog, but also vinyl that is being produced with the totally new Direct to Metal Master (DMM) manufacturing style along with many being double LP, which means the same music recorded over twice as much vinyl which allows more space for the grooves so the grooves can be recorded with more dynamic range. Sort of like the difference of the old video tape recordings where you can choose SP or LP recording and fit more video on a tape at lesser quality, or less at higher quality. If we were younger I'd say "this is not your father's LP technology," but in our case we would be the father.

This is analog tech approaching reel-to-reel tape recording which is still the ultimate (if manufactured to highest quality and standards) recording medium, still even better than any newer-than-CD digital audio medium. Is the new LP tech better than SACD or media formats better than MP3? Maybe not, but it's better than standard CD or MP3. It's just something that many won't believe about today's LP's until they here them for themselves on top audio equipment.

Again, they have to be the more expensive audiophile quality LP's; you can still buy new standard quality LP's made like they were 30 years ago too, so you have to look for the 180-200g DMM versions, even better the top quality double LP's in the format. And also make sure the description says "remastered from original master recordings" or at least "made with original master recording" at minimum, sometimes the original masters were mastered well enough that remastering won't make them better...if they don't say this, it's a strong possibility that the LP's were recorded from digital sources which defeats the whole purpose of being produced on an analog medium because it's not the living analog sound, but a lot of shysters do it.

Rush's best selling album 'Moving Pictures' was a triple-platinum status album until they released the remastered LP's and CD's and box sets over the past decade as each album reached it's 40th anniversary. 65% of new sales are LP and 45% CD and 'Moving Pictures' became 4x platinum in sales due to this, recently. Of course this boost in sales can also be attributed to the fact the band retired and the best drummer in the world, Neil Peart of Rush died in 2020.

LP sales have been so huge for Rush that they licensed out the record manufacturing rights to several vinyl LP manufacturers around the world to produce them. I now only by from Acoustic Sound/Quality Records company as after watching the documentary and seeing reviews of their records, and now owning a Rush LP made by Quality Records previous to this latest purchase, I now know they are the be the best of the best at what they do, to ensure the highest quality on every record sold...meticulous all the way to the special made shipping boxes for protection, and actually about half the price of other manufacturers!

 

Listening to you guys talking about vinyl nearly had me making a purchase last night. Even got as far as putting a Denon turntable in my Amazon basket before changing my mind at the last minute lol

 

Denon no less, lottery win Al, you being a 20 quid top price for everything

The one thing about LP's / 12 inches was the wear and tear, my cats (we had quite a few back then) used them as scratch posts no matter where you stored them. Everything else about them is great, especially the old picture disc's. I like the sound of this never evolution of the Vinyl record, even higher fidelity. Quite literally, sounds ace.

 

It was a beginners turntable Paul (with 5 easy Amazon payments). I'm still tempted as there are one or two country albums I'd like that are only on vinyl or tape but I'm a bit of a lazy git and don't like the idea of getting up and turning over the record halfway through the album! The thing that really appeals is the size of the packaging. Maybe they should start putting cd's in LP sleeves

Like you though I find the new manufacting methods that Matt speaks about fascinating. I had no idea about any of it.

 

If you like the size of the packaging, then a laserdisc player and laserdiscs would be right up your alley too. The exact same size; I store my laserdiscs and LP's next to each other, LD's to the left and LP's to the right, all standing vertically of course...though that's only for the safety of the LP's as laserdiscs can be stacked without risking damage, but it's still more convenient to access them standing vertically like books between bookends.

I suggest looking into those country albums before you spend a wad of cash, to see if any of them have been remastered on 180-200 gram DMM LP's. Though even traditional records sound better and better, the better your turntable, needle and Hi-Fi stereo get too. But that is true to an extent no matter the media; the better the player and sound system, the better it all sounds.

Though I've mentioned that DMM is better than traditional record mastering, below is an in depth description of the technology used:

DMM Principle

Separation of DMM master plate and nickel stamper
DMM transcribes audio coming from a workstation or a master tape into a copper plate using a diamond cutting stylus (the copper that is being cut into is a plated layer on a non-magnetic steel substrate). This creates an original "positive" (master/mother) disc that is used to create a "negative" stamper in an electroforming galvanic process. Stamper is then attached onto a pressing machine and is used for a mass replication – pressing of vinyl records.

In comparison with lacquer cutting, lacquer is cut into a nitrocellulose layer coated on an aluminum disc using a heated sapphire cutting stylus. Because nitrocellulose is not electrically conductive it needs to be sprayed with a thin layer of silver in order to be usable in a later electroforming galvanic process. The traditional lacquer processing which includes three copies: "negative" (father), "positive" (mother), "negative" (stamper). These added steps and processes can each introduce flaws in the final product that is completely avoided by the DMM process.

DMM production process advantages:

*more accurate reproduction of high frequencies (16kHz up)
*DMM allows for thinner groove (less noise, longer playtimes)
*better signal-to-noise ratio (even on a groove of the same width, DMM has about 7-10dB better S/N compared to lacquer)
*reduced print-through sounds (pre-echo, post-echo) between adjacent grooves. Double-spaced grooves of a double LP record eliminates this completely. Though there are 2 records and four sides per album doubling the cost of production and higher end price (but well worth it to audiophiles)
*only one subsequent electroforming step

Pre-production VMM mastering:

VVM mastering, improvement to DMM cutting process

VVM (Vinyl Visual Mastering) is software tool designed specifically for needs of a vinyl mastering engineer (ME). It includes a state-of-art computer simulation of the mastering process that allows setting up cutting parameters and simulating the cutting process before the actual cutting is performed.

Consider a CAD system that is aiding an architect and is able to identify critical parts of the construction and address them specifically. That is what VVM achieves for a mastering engineer.

VVM allows for these main critical features:

A very accurate virtual simulation which will find critical parts in supplied audio before the actual cut. Every cutting system needs to employ protections against critically high electrical current fed into the cutting head or critically high acceleration of the cutting stylus to avoid damaging the cutting head or stylus. In most cases this is done using an electrical circuit breaker and an acceleration limiter. Simulating the cut allows to address these critical conditions in a more sensitive and controlled manner with better results in the cut audio.
Each order has individual settings, which can be adjusted for arbitrary parts of audio. There is a direct two-way communication between the computer and the cutting lathe
Differential sound and graphic analysis can play or show differences between original audio and processed signal, feedback or vinyl record signal.

Vinyl measuring system - geometric, physical, dynamic and load measurements in time or frequency domain.
Groove processor - controls groove pitch, groove width and warps audio signals to compensate possible cutting and playback distortion. Every cut can have a different groove pitch strategy.
Mathematical model of stylus and groove – the software computes a virtual groove based on geometric dimensions of a defined cutting stylus and can compare it visually with a real groove photo from a microscope.
High quality non-destructive signal processing with unique vinyl algorithms. The original audio data remains untouched for a future use.

Then, of course, if the records pressed from DMM masters are pressed onto the thicker, heavier and more rigid 180-200 gram vinyl, it virtually eliminates vinyl record warping that can cause distortion on your turntable and less chance of the record getting bent or broken with use.

 

Great posts on using quality analogue audiophile gear again and sharing the listening pleasure. It is very much appreciated by us all who lurve our sounds - wonderful pure sounds and of course the chance to again wallow in nostaligia as the rock and the country and the synth/disco/funk etc, propels us back in time, in our time machines, to a time when... we didn't ache so much or spend so much time being ill and down the docs...
I briefly explained to Alex Drito this week, I have been really poorly but didn't want to harp on about it, but in a nutshell I've had acute stomach pains, in and out of A&E twice this week (spending nearly 15 hours in there on intravenous drip painkillers) and also to and from my surgery seeing a locum doctor who one day said he couldn't take bloods, and then the next said he could... wish he would make up his mind. Anyhow, I'm on a dose of antibiotics and a shedload of other anti stomach inflammatory/cramp/acid tabs... keep you posted, guys, but suffice to say I'm tired out, sore, achy and have chucked up more times this past week then I have in the past 10 years. At least I hit the bowl.
Take care one and all and stay safe and well, folks.

 

Take it easy and get well Andy, I'll say a prayer for you. Health is the most important thing in life. I'd rather be totally healthy and dirt poor than be a millionaire with health issues any day, hands down.

 

My goodness Andy, sounds horrible, have they got you on Omeprazole, seems the go to anti inflammatory / gastro reflux jobby.

Have they x-rayed? The chucking up and acute stomach pains are not a great thing.

Me and Serena live on Omeprazole, me as a side effect of other meds and Serena because of her reflux.

 

Thanks, Matt and Paul.

As you both say, when you've got your health you've got all you need but once it's gone and shot to shit, well... all the tea n spy balloons in China won't do you any good ;-)

God knows what caused the acute sudden intense pains last Sat night/Sun morning but it was like a constant searing pain in my lower intestines... never known owt like it before.

Tried the old bog clearout and fingers down the throat/multiple puke sessions and still it persisted.

In the end, Bev wheeled me into A&E and said told em she couldn't do anything with me - can you lot? So they pumped me full of I/V painkillers and I curled up into a ball between two plastic chairs and waited and waited and waited...

You guys know the drill and here's the lowdown on the Hull A&E:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65039055

and

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-63904676

It doesn't make for good reading.

Any road, I must praise the bloods nurses who did all they could to both reduce my pain and take my bloods and just like last year when I went in with a dodgy heart, I never saw a doctor as I got to the end of my endurance/acceptable time waiting in such places (6-7hrs). Unfortunately their waiting times are anything between 12-20hrs plus which means that me and them are incompatible. It's appalling, guys, but I know you know this already.

Anyhow, Bev tells me, after I was also sent there Wednesday night for more bloods / amylase tests (another 7hr sesh and didn't get to see a doctor... again), that my stomach spasms are being treated for with what the locum GP has prescribed, Paul:

Co-Amoxiclav (3 times a day) and also Sodium Alginate/Potassium Bicarbonate pills plus Mebeverine tablets.

So what with me vitamin tabs each morn, I've suddenly become a walking chemical lab.

She knows of Omeprazole and says that's more for inflamed stomach?

As you say, you and Serena sound like you have delicate tums with all that acid reflex etc and you suddenly have much more sympathy from me now I've been down this particular gastro road.

No, with not seeing any docs they haven't taken any x-rays.

We will await the blood tests, mate.

They did tell me Wed night that the bloods they took Sat/Sun didn't show any levels showing any concern to them.

Hey ho, I haven't been sick since and I;m now left with feeling a tad bloated, sore, achy and washed out.

There are millions far worse off so I'll belt up!

Have a good weekend, guys and enjoy your retro pleasures.

 

Glad the vomitting has stopped now Andy, no wonder you are feeling washed out after that experience.
Have an easy weekend if you can and give yourself some time to recover. Maybe even a game of pinball or watch the footy if you feel up to it.

Take care everyone, springtime is coming!

 

Only one new piece of gaming and not even retro! I picked up Wreckfest on the PS4 now that it has came down to £10 in CEX. Just waiting on Tetris and Arkanoid reaching that magic price point now and my PS4 collection will be complete. I only have about 12 games on it but that's more than enough to keep me busy, what with my short gaming attention span

Been doing a bit of wheeling and dealing and as well as the 7800 I've moved on a few other bits this week (tv's, more Subbuteo, bike etc but they've all been replaced with a new Android tablet for watching movies and reading my PDF's on, along with a particular special edition single speed bike I'd been keeping my eyes open for over the last while.

And finally saw one of my A8 'Grail' items on EBay. The Track and Field controller along with the game on cartridge. Seller is also in Glasgow but he has it up at a very unrealistic price of £120 Looking at his other listings most items seem to be well overpriced. I've made him a very cheeky starting offer of £30 and will see where it goes from there, but I won't offer any more than £50.

 

Sorry Andy, had missed your reply....Hoping that something can be done to fix you up asap. Certainly does not sound fun one way or another.

Good luck with the controller Al, been looking at the price of retro joysticks and it's just silly money. I'd love a competition pro mini again, but the prices are just plain stupid. Until I see one at a sensible price then I'll just keep using my small set of old joysticks. Considering how little I play on the Amiga, C64 and Atari, I'm not willing to spend big money for a joystick. (not that I have the money to waste).

 

That's the best thing to do Paul. My offer has just been declind (surprise!) but I'm going to leave it as is for now.

Competition Pro's are great sticks, don't think I've ever tried a mini version though. Was that designed for Jeremy Beadle?

I have Competition Pro's on my 800XL and a usb version on the A500 Mini. Then Zip Stick Professionals on the STFM and 800. They don't make 'em like they used to, that's for sure. I also use a Retro-bit USB Saturn controller on my pc. It's brilliant for Saturn (of course), Megadrive, 7800 and NES/SNES.

What controller do you use on the PC when emulating the Playstation 2?

 

Hi Folks

Here is the link to tomorrow nights online meet. Time is UK GMT.

Easter Atari Owners Meet
Monday, 10 April · 8:00 – 9:00pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ipp-mfiv-ycj

 

Many many thanks for setting this up for us lads, Al.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing from you tomorrow neet, fellas,

 

I should be there unless I feel much worse, beware, I'll have a bog roll with me Our only worry is that Cindy's mum continues to feel very ill and refuses to see a doctor or go to hospital as she's worried about being kept in to die there. We are monitoring the situation daily and so far she's troubled but ok. We were hoping that her daughter Fiona would stay with her to help, as she had promised. But instead of that she arrived, moaned that the place was a bit dirty, stuffed her face with chocolate, refused to see her mum because she was "too ill to be around" and talked again about her ex then left...Utter dirt bag...

Anyway, should be ok and looking forward to a chin-wag about silly stuff

 

Feel for you guys, Paul. You just don't need this crap but it always seems to come the good guys' way. As you say, we could all do with a pleasant, hobbyist, humorous, putting the world to reet, random ramble down retro lane talking shop n shite ;-) , so...

Here's to Al's virtual hospitality tent being full of Atari, Oric and TRS-80 lunatics / Owners for his Easter get together over at:
Easter Atari Owners Meet
Monday, 10 April · 8:00 – 9:00pm (GMT)
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ipp-mfiv-ycj

I'm busily downloading the Goggle-eyes s/ware now to my 486 laptop running Windows 98 and I';m getting some groovy early errors...



and the ol classic:



Should be good for one month next Thursday!!

 

So far, in-laws are ok, wish I could say the same, feel like crap again, I wish I knew how to shake this thing, just keeps going in circles. Coughing is back, throat is sore, nose starting to run, everything aches. Went to get electric and the woman in the shop stared at me like I had 4 heads. I don't think I look that rough?

A bit on the red side, but that is just my dry skin flaring up.

I think my neighbour's husband has gone to pick the family up from the parents, so looks like it will be bang central later

 

Latest acquisitions are Crazy Taxi for the GameCube and Final Doom for the PS1 nothing Atari related this week. I did buy a disk copy of The Eidolon with its manual it has Atari one side and C64 on the other. I just need Koronis Rift to complete my Fractal collection. I have Ballblazer on the 7800 and that’s a better version than the Atari/C64 so I’m not looking for that on disk. Next quest is for Infocom adventures.

 

Brilliant, a man after my own heart - I love those Lucasfilm classic titles too for the Atari 8bit, mate.
If I spot Koronis Rift at a good price, buddy, I'll get it for you as a thank you for all the fixes and help/great deals you've done for me down the years, Rich.

The disco light came back today - you might have seen some flashes going on in the b'ground last night lads as I faffed about with a much older unit that's been kicking about in me garage for yonks.

The one I sent Rich, I believe, is one of the more modern "mini LED spot moving head gobo units".
It does all the panning, tilting and swivelling you could wish for but does it LIGHT UP - does it fek but that didn't stop Richie having a good old skeg and trying to sort it to which I'm very grateful for his efforts.

I've now got a USB > DMX (disco light control interface) which I've tried with the faulty beast as I have the "Freestyler 2" software which commands it to do the tilting and panning - AND LAMP LIGHTING - etc but it still won't play ball so clearly the thing has some kind of deep-seated firmware/hardware fault but not to worry - was Rome lit in a day?
I think not.

I will get another and sell this as spares/repairs/exchange it with some disco retailer etc.
As you can see in the clip below, fellas, all it's done is re-whet my appetite for whizzy lights and virtual DJ software and to think that maybe a future party can be sound/light controlled by some dude on the laptop will once more be a distinct possibility, partly thanks to Rich for keeping the energy & positive vibes flowing as it were.

Cheers again for trying for me, Rich, and here's the "light" in action, lads: