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A look at DAT - tape that sounded as good as a CD and was supposed to replace cassettes...however the recording industry decided it had to die.
FAQs & Updates are below
CORRECTIONS
Long Play Mode is 32kHz (added as an annotation before the video went live)
WARNING
This video may contain the occasional redundant turn of phrase...e.g. "DAT Tape" if this is of concern, please do not press play.
FAQs
Q) Are you going to do a video about Minidisc?
A) Yes - (see 21:22)
Q) When
A) I don't know
Q) Hey why didn't you go into detail about the computer backup tape drives that used DAT?
A) Because this was a video about DAT...Digital Audio Tape. You're thinking of DDS Digital Data Storage. I won't be making a video about DDS, so if it's something you know a lot about, and you think there would be an audience for a video on DDS, you should cover it.
Q) Did you know that you can record off a radio using a computer?
A) I'd guess that everyone knows this...I was only pointing out that Modern HiFi systems rarely contain a separate recording component any more. You can always record anything if you put your mind to it.
Q) Hey LOL you said that we are using Napster...you're so out of date dude...etc
A) Here's what's going on - Remember Mr Angry in 1986 trying to stop DAT (pretty much what the first half of the video is about)...well when I say..."of course he wasn't to know that in 15 years or so we would be using file sharing programmes like Napster". The maths works like this 1986 + 15 years = 2002 (2017 is 31 years later...not 15).
A quick look at the Grundig Ocean Boy 210 radio from 1970.
Also known as the Transistor 3005 in some countries.
A window cleaning robot could be a good idea - providing you have the right kind of windows.
In the 1990s cassette sales were falling just as their quality was improving. This video takes a look at some of the techniques used (including DIGalog) to make pre-recorded tapes sound better, with the hope of slowing their demise.
CORRECTIONS:
07:46 - "July 1992" (not July 2002)
07:55 - "August 1992" (not August 2002)
Fuse a record with a Compact Disc and you get Vinyl-Disc an unusual format from 2007. Introduced by the record label owned by the bloke who discovered Right Said Fred and popularised Crazy Frog...how could it possibly fail?
These active speakers contain a phono stage so they can be connected directly up to a turntable without an in-built phono stage. ....CONTINUED....
This means fewer wires and power plugs.
The Mobius 2 has been available months, but still performed like a beta product until the recent introduction of much improved firmware. Now it's finally ready for a review...
You may have owned a LaserDisc or even a CED system...but the odds are that you've never seen a VHD. It's time to put that right with this comprehensive look at the third videodisc system of the eighties.
A look at the defunct Playbutton MP3 Player. A wearable album that can play itself.
Background music machines once derided are now collected. The BMS1 featured in this video might be the most desirable of the lot.
You can also stream the music at http://seeburg1000.com/
A review of the Sony MP-CL1 and the pros and cons of a 120" display that fits in a pocket.
A Blunt Edge Tech Review (This has been on sale for well over a year...but is still not officially available in the UK).
A video about Sony Minidisc from the beginning to the end.
A quick video about cheap 3D effect colour-changing LED lights. Available in countless designs from the links below (and elsewhere).
The Buttkicker is something I've wanted to try for years, so now that I've finally got one...was it worth the wait?
In this video I attempt to repair the only twin-tape Walkman that Sony made, the WM-W800 from 1985
In the days before music compression if you wanted to carry more music in less space you had to shrink the cassette itself.
A look at the rare Audio Craft CC-1 cassette. Released only in Japan.
A review of the Polaroid Snap Touch - a touchscreen digital camera with built-in Zink Printer.
A demonstration of the Atari Video Music from 1977.
Anders Enger Jensen's music can be found here: www.eox.no
In this video I’m assembling an educational kit from Japan. The end result should be a functional model of an Edison Cylinder Phonograph.
Originally an expensive tool for professionals, old cassette field recorders are a good option for people looking for a high quality compact deck.
Made for the Japanese market - it's a video projector inside a globe. Whilst the supplied videos are made for the Japanese educational market - you can add your own clips and a guide explaining how to warp these for the convex screen can be found here: http://bit.ly/2x9kNcw
Watching video, listening to your music and receiving radio broadcasts on a single pocket sized gadget was possible in the 1980s it just took a bit of effort.
A "Rider Cam' is 'dashcam' for your bike...but this one isn't perfect.
A quick look at a 7" 45rpm picture disc I got made up with my own picture and music from http://vinylart.co/
The small tape that was supposed to become the next big thing.
Here's a video about the forgotten history of the format and a demonstration of a rare Sony Video 8 machine called the Walkman Compo.
I stumbled across this undocumented feature on my Mini the other day and thought it too good not to share.
The Aldi supermarket chain (including online) in the UK is selling a new 'boombox' for fathers' day 2017. For £29.99 you get a cassette recorder, MP3 player, Bluetooth speaker and radio....but just how good (or bad) is it?
A quick extra video about a cassette that arrived in the post from Sega.
TP-Link HS100 Voice activated Smart plugs have proved useful for me in utilising the power sockets in my house that are otherwise inaccessible.
The Sabamobil is one of the rarer tape formats from the 60s. The cartridges may look strange but they hide a simple secret inside.
A video answering the question - "Why don't they make handheld Digital TVs?" The wrong answer would be to say that "smartphones killed handheld TVs"...it's more complicated than that. Smartphones might be one reason people don't use handheld TVs nowadays but pocket TVs were killed off years before 3G networks suitable for streaming video had been built out in the UK.
The truth is that Apathy killed the dream of Pocket Digital TVs.
In this video I'll attempt to explain what happened as far as the UK goes and then demonstrate the kind of results you can expect to get if you use one of the limited range of no-brand handheld TV that can be found in the depths of eBay. In the absence of any offerings from Sony or Casio...this is as good as it gets.
Following the video where I assembled a Japanese wax cylinder phonograph kit - in this one I'm putting together a newer revised version that records onto plastic cups. I purchased this kit from Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2sLZyvu and it was sent to the UK from Japan.
From the 1960s through to the 90s radio DJs used Cart machines to play jingles and now I've managed to get hold of one. In this video I get to try out the tech by playing some interesting old recordings.
The Sena Prism Tube is a simple motorcycle or bicycle camera with mic in capability that's suitable for people who want a small neat camera that gets the basics right.
In this video I try my hand at cleaning some old records plagued by crackles and pops with the reintroduced Allsop Orbitrac 3Pro vinyl cleaning system.
Demonstrating the excellent LG 29UM68 UltraWide 21:9 29" monitor.
The Omni from Milton Bradley is a product that straddles 70s and 80s technologies. At it’s core, it’s a game, an electronic quiz machine. However if you examine the way it works, it could be described as an interactive computer that reads program data from tapes.... 8-track tapes. In the video above I demonstrate what it does and how it does it…but first I have to get it working.
A review of the Prynt Pocket - A portable photo printer for the iPhone. It can be purchased from Amazon
UK: http://amzn.to/2vYt7MD US: http://amzn.to/2vwLwNi
CAN: http://amzn.to/2hTtbH7
Manufacturer’s website: https://www.prynt.co
Old & new collectable tapes with a tale to tell.
Includes a look at the smallest cassette in the world.
With countless cassette Walkman sold across 30 years, choosing a good one can be difficult. This video and the links below will help first-time retro Walkman buyers to narrow down that choice.
In the early 1960s Philips in The Netherlands were working on creating a new compact cassette tape system. Meanwhile over in Japan, Sanyo were doing the exact same thing, but the results were very different…
A review of four music visualisation devices.
A review of the latest Sony Cassette/CD/Radio boombox models from the UK & Japan.
The Bacon Express is a toaster shaped kitchen appliance that has just one function - to cook bacon, so you'd think it would be good at it....
A forgotten vision of the future of Long Distance voice communication.
Hipac is the pre-recorded tape format that history forgot, so it's time to fix that.
“Is he slow?”. A demonstration of the device used in the movie.
Here's a look at the Wearable Gimbal from Feiyu Tech. Most 4K action cameras do not have image stabilisation for the 4k/UHD modes, a notable exception being the expensive Sony FDR-X3000R http://amzn.to/2fY6GwV which uses optical image stabilisation. So that's where this device comes in, it stabilises the motion of any action camera that fits within its mount, but it's not perfect. Watch the video to learn more.
Feiyu Tech have already brought out a newer version, the WG2. I haven't tested this, but hopefully it rectifies the tilting issue of its predecessor.
CBS envisioned all records made after 1982 utilising their CX encoding system, but if you've bought any music on vinyl since the mid 80s, you won't see a CX logo on the sleeve...so what went wrong. Watch this video to find out.
If you are interested in the technical details of CX - here’s the patent https://www.google.com/patents/US4376916
A look at a new four digit nixie watch and a vintage nixie stop-clock.
The First Commercial Album Release on Elcaset.
A Clockwork Orange replica Tape.
Old Recordings about weight & teeth.
Endless Loop mini Album.
....and my small contribution to a Hiphop album.
An unopened forty year old gadget from Japan. Can you guess what it does?
A review of the Xiaoyi Yi Ultra 2.7K dashcam - includes sample clips.
The Sky Soundbox really does sound pretty good...but unfortunately for me that's only half the story.
Sony's portable battery-powered turntable from 1983 has become a highly desired and expensive collectors piece. However before I can demonstrate this one, I'll need to get it working.
A review of an all-in-one two player arcade machine that contains hundreds of games...you just need to add a TV.
Below are a few ebay links that will show you what's currently available - there are a number of different configurations but please ignore ebay fraudsters pretending to sell these for just £30-£50 it costs more than that for the components. You should expect to pay £120 - £150 for a Pandora Box 4S like mine (or the equivalent of this in your local currency). Turn on international search to get the widest selection.
A look at the Roland MT-80S - A 'Music Tutor' device that's still great fun, even for non musicians.
A look at the tiny but fully functional collectable mini arcade machines.
A look at the three-disc, book and hologram vinyl Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope 40th Anniversary Soundtrack Boxset. To jump straight to the hologram demonstration - go to 05:40
Is Reel to Reel the new Vinyl? Short answer: No. Long answer: It's complicated - Press Play.
In this video I'll be playing pre-recorded tapes from 1957 & 2017 The first half concentrates on the history & background, and the second moves onto the current day and the most expensive pre-recorded music format available for the home.
CHAPTERS
01:11 i) History - Explanation of the format
15:01 ii) Now - The ultimate in high-end analog music
A review of two 360º cameras. The Yi 360 VR and the Ricoh Theta V.
It's a lengthy video, so if you are in a hurry jump to 28:12 for the conclusion.
A look at eightban. Collectable, playable mini records from 2004. A deliberately, unashamedly low-fi format.
