Ok Im getting a lot of emails about
"how do I do this?"
"Can you sell me your preamp and or software?"
"Can I buy all your gear and have Exclusive rights for It?"
(just in, Ive been offered 100$US to "hand over" everything to a CD Company in the US who specialize in Remastering 78's. They give me 100$ , I refrain from using my own technology for good. Eh? how insane)
After saying "no thanks" its been a recerch project and a passion of mine that isnt finished yet!
I get very angry and quite rude reply's.
Which startle and confuse me. some are very very vicious and demand that I take all my content offline as they want to "steal my work" for their own gains. That is the most polite of em (over 40 emails and counting)
all from well meaning sorts that are just like me. People with a passion for restoring.
This I admire and respect. (the polite ones!) But, As Ive tried to state before and will again...
This whole restoring 78's and other mediums has been my passion for over 20 years,
It only all came "just right" after the purchase of some mighty fine stylus's
which were a gift!! I could never afford them, and unfortunately as they are wearing out which
is now the case I'll never afford to replace them.
after 20 years of reading (off and on) 1000's of electronics and audio magazine which
spanned back to 1939, I learned a great deal on the reproduction of the mediums.
as well as a first hand look at the technology at the time. I also have collected many
old player and promptly "pulled it to bit's" learning the "secrets"!.
Apparently when I was very very young. I never wanted toys, I wanted old electronics gear
to "play" with. I had old Transmitting gear, a Full desk with TT's from the late 40's, dozens of raidos tape decks all manner of stuf . I got my amateur Lincence when I was 12 (but never used it!!)
this gave me a incredible "start" to my learning on how the original discs were cut. This and reading of 1000's of mags which were very technical about the recording process.
This was the start!!..
I then started a radio show in the late 90's. and was playing big band swing type material.
I was totally disappointed at the quality of the sound from these "NEW REMASTERS" for the most part had come from "respected"
companies. I started hearing the same "dubs" on many a CD release. most were made by RCA in the late 50's!! this and the always annoying for me "reverb on mono releases" which I can't stand (although I know some people actually like this stuff)
I started to play with preamp designs and came up with a few idea's of my own.. Bought several different types, Pulled em to pieces and finally came up with my final design. Sparing nothing just the Highest of FI for my preamp.
Believe it or no,t a lot of my "restorations" I played "on air" between 2005-07. No one cared or noticed, It would take me hours and hours to prepare each show with discs that no one had heard for 60 years, while other presenters played crappy cd's of the more "popular" songs "in the mood" "sing sing sing" etc and got all the listers, respect and job offers so i got very dispondant with it all and for about a year "gave it up"
Applied for thousands of IT jobs, got a Degree in 99 and have stayed very currant, including building and designing Digital Cinemas For ******** ******.
I was the head IT guy there or i should say the ONLY IT guy there!! and helped install and design 100's of systems, In the end after they wouldn't pay me 30 hours overtime then i asked to be paid more than AU16$ an Hour for the IT, Electronic repairers (fixing all manner of gear) I did and the Metalwork every day This was not possible so I quit, Tried to get the dole to hold me over but was denied this as i had quit my job. had to live on handouts etc.
so to say when i was rejected over 2769 times for jobs Aplications in a 12 month period was pretty bad. when I had done SO MUCH it work in a 3 year period than most IT professionals today.
So last year I got "back on-track" I had no turntable, couldn't in a million years afford one so bought one on ebay that was broken "beyond repair" I got this for nothing and quickly had fixed the hundred or so "broken Tracks" on the circit board (most needing nearly microscope work)
Fixed it fine!! (ok it still needs work every week or so) but it is a direct drive model with variable speed. just what i need.
found I had a few boxes of 78's I had won at an auction about 10 years ago. so started to transfers what I new would be "different", being involved in a few Radio stations I kinda know what's available and whats not (or at least whats on poor sounding "Grey" market cd's).
Then it struck me after hearing some new cd's of transfers, that my "transfers" might be sort of unique. and believe me that's been the aim for the last 5 years of a hard very hard slog.
My whole aim in this field is to firstly obtain a job in this kind of work, or at least a job in archives (which has been my dream for as long as i can remember I'll even work as a cleaner in an archive!)
so to "give away" my years of rescherch overnight is kind of insulting to me as i can only hope you can appreciate and respect.
all I want is to be able to work for someone who can appreciate my work and a paid job!! not much to ask is it!!
so to the 30 or so people who email me (more coming each day!). I'm very sorry, this merge "skill" of mine is not to be given away, I can not provide schematics or Software Packages of my "rig". It's not just the tools you need to do this but a very good "ear" and the experience and the knowledge of 60 years of recording techniques that you could never learn from "the Net" .
would you ask a painter for his palette and brushes and expect to paint like him... think about it..
But rest assured I still love hearing your comments about my "restorations". It can be quite irritating after posting 10 or more 78's to find no one has commented on any of em!! this can "slow" my work down considerably. But as you are here because you LIKE my work , have it
yes have it for free and enjoy!!
Plus If you know anyone who would needs some transferring work .. let me know..!!
I know all this is is a Hobby, at it remains for me, as it always amazes me when I hear a disc Ive not transferred before. The thrill of a band playing a familiar song with a different arrangement still gives me a kick! and to be honest My preferred "take" on these discs are the RAW dubs. these are the ones I listen too!! like some, I have my Own De-clicker built in my head!!
I transferred some 40 78's today (moving interstate to find work. and don't want to lug em there)
some nice material like Joe Daniels (some i had "put off" as they are badly Scrashed)
most of em at the bottom of my "pile" but hey most were a revelation!!
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