How Many Regular Members Are No Longer Here?

[Muckelroy]

I'm about 40% musician and 60% gear head. I love knowing how stuff works. Tinkering, taking stuff apart, etc. I had a few various analog multitrack decks in college but had to sell it all when I moved to Austin to work at my current job. I'm still a musician and play regularly, but don't record a whole lot, at least not personally. I just come here regularly to keep track of various peoples' restoration projects.

 

[Lt. Bob]

I wasn't regular but with Metamucil I'm doing better.

 

[Herm]

Im still here. But have been slowly selling all of my gear. I might keep a 4 track 22-4 and a 22-2. But that will be it. Sold the last 38 I had and now am getting rid of the small stuff that goes with it. I cant hear crap anymore and I probly need to stay away from monitors and drums stuff like that. Just ordered new hearing aids. 8900.00 yes you read that right for hearing aids. so think about that guys while your jammin away with the tunes cranked up. protect your ears.

 

[lo.fi.love]

I stop by maybe a couple times a week to see if there's an interesting thread.

I'm actually ditching my current career (software engineering) to get into music production, and I've got so much to repair and rebuild that I don't really have time to discuss anything else related to gear.

 

[trancedental]

All the great information has been spread by the many experts on here, & us lesser mortals advising the newbies!!! So it's a natural slowdown over time.

Maybe we should have more threads on various connected subjects, outboard / mics, diy, songwriting, instruments, live sound which I don't have a clue about LOL!

 

[Dr ZEE]

well, it looks like most of the ol' "analog only" mafia is still around ... heh heh

that's cool

 

[technoplayer]

Im not one of the 'old guard' and admittedly do absolutely no real "home recording" any longer. Alas time and life demands as well as motivation have shifted my efforts to being much more of a listener than anything else.
Been slowly selling off stuff, but being a gear slut I havent yet broken the buy-tinker-sell cycle that keeps me having too much stuff I dont really need.
I am a usual daily follower of the forum and infrequent contributor...I have a lot of respect for the knowledge of many of you and enjoy following your discussions.

>>>2012 RESOLUTION: DIVEST MYSELF OF UNUSED EQUIPMENT TO TO THOSE WHO WILL USE IT.

 

[A Reel Person]

This Poll is Funny

Poll: How Many Regular Members Are No Longer Here and why?
= If someone is no longer here, how could they read or reply?

X I’m here but getting old and tired, so I just read = less likely but somewhat true

O I’ve found another forum I like better = not

O The analog thrill is gone… it was a phase = as if

X I’m not much into recording at all anymore = in practice not theory

O I’m addicted to Internet **** = not

O The price of tape is too damn high = not

O The prison no longer allows me to use the computers = seriously!

X After buying lots of gear I realized I had no musical talent whatsoever = definitely a factor

X Can’t believe Chaz Bono was a cute little girl and now looks like a Baptist preacher from Arkansas. = definitely that

X They never found WMD’s in Iraq = makes no difference

X Other (Please explain) = many personal issues and demotivating factors

X I refuse to participate in this stupid poll (Participation required) = Beck is so clever!

Hi,... and thanx Beck and Jjones for thinking of me!

Seriously,... I hop on here frequently to read, but not so much to post. Sometimes people dig up my old posts and/or message me offline with comments and questions, which I'm happy to reply to. Sometimes I blow my own mind about how much I used to post. However, there comes a time when all the lite topics have been covered well: replace the belt, check the fuses, tighten the reel tables, clean the muck off the heads, thread the tape right side up,... etc. Along with many of you, I'd hop on here to marvel at the posts of others like Beck, sweetbeats, ofajen,... some others that deserve mention but slip my mind at the moment.

As for me,... my thoughts follow (the poll and) much of what Technoplayer has already said. I've been through some personal issues, some big changes, some ups and some downs, etc, which has taken a lot of the wind out of my sails for recording. The last recording I actually made was nearly a full 2 years ago. However, I'm still mulling over ideas and pre planning on pre production for more recordings as ever, and I've not thrown in the towel. Along with that, I've been through a paralyzing funk in which I realized my GAS and hoarding tendencies got the best of me in years past. It's still weighing me down, crowding me out, and so on,... as I've slowly turned the corner on the idea of selling most of it off and moving it on to someone who will use it properly. I've already sold one of my 388's to a guy who was very happy and pleased to get a cherry condition unit, which he'll use a lot and enjoy. The rest of the "sell off" plans are still just that: plans. I'm having a little trouble getting started on that, but I'm determined to downsize. In the turnaround, I've had little modifications and starts and stops of setups and projects,... but nothing that's added up to much. I feel very handicapped musically at the moment, with probably more ideas and ambition than talent,... but it's all just a hobby for me and I don't sweat it too much. I have lots of gear that I'd either bought as fixers, or malfunctioned in some way during my posession and also needs fixing,... and my personal situation makes it very hard for me to get a functional tech bench setup and flowing,... also owing to my limited electronics knowledge or ability to fix such gear. That's why Sweetbeats amazes me most in his tenacity and ability,.... and a guy in the other sections of the board called "queepy" who seems to knock out a tune or two each week,... as well as others such as "heatmiser", no doubt Beck for his knowledge and willingness to give and give, plus the real pro's either mentioned or not mentioned,... I've drawn inspiration from you all. Cjacek is someone I admire greatly, as well as being a bit jealous of his ATR-60/4,... but I'm the LAST person to need or acquire more gear. WHEN I get the bug about 2488NEO or DP24, DP008, DP03, or whatver, I quickly remind myself of the HUGE LOAD of other gear I have to choose from on hand, if and when that recording project bug ever hits me. AFTER ALL,... who needs a DP24 when he has an MSR24? My MSR24 records 24-simul,... ha ha ha go eat your heart out DP24! Sure, I like new toys and the idea of a desktop 24 track sometimes sounds attractive, but no,... it's not for me. Why would I care about any of that when I have an MS-16 and M520? What do I care about tape? I HAVE THOUSANDS OF TAPES. I like the DP03, but I have a DP02cf. 488mkII, 238, 388, 38, Fostex up the yingyang,... you name it. All I need is time and inspiration, and a healthy dose of practice. Fortunately, as for myself, I have hundreds of recorded production numbers from years past which at least for me never get old,... and stand up to the test of time. Sure, I'm a hack. All my recordings are hacked versions of something. [SEE: this!] I'm happy to have fun and seek to my own level of expertise. Nonetheless, I've been in a downside cycle which I'm still coming out of, and I sometimes get discouraged that I can barely put 2 chords together. SO,... I have a lot of upside in this game, as yet to come,... so always remember to never forget me and stay tuned! [HAH: PUN!] That's my story up to the moment. CHEERS!

 

[Blue Jinn]

so always remember to never forget me and stay tuned!

Tuning a Mellotron doesn't

 

[Victory Pete]

I havent been here for 2 years due to "Extenuating Circumstances". It is nice to be back.

VP

I now understand the phrase "Turn The Other Cheek"

 

[sweetbeats]

First time I've checked in in many weeks.

Had a major epiphany thrust upon me by my Creator and I woke up. In one fell swoop my interest in the gear went from grade 5 to 1 in light of the revelation as to why I was hoarding...literally. Watching Hoarders right now. That's me...all the twisted drivers.

People can change and often it takes a lot of time or a lot of work or both. I got changed in an instant and it wasn't for my benefit but for those around me. The changes involved a lot of pain which serves well to be a lasting reminder...helps change to stick.

So, clearly TMI but the poll asked for an explanation and that's it. I haven't moved to another forum, just backed off out of pure lack of interest. Still keeping tabs on the recordist.com Ampex List and checking the MCI JH-400 series forum every now and then. I expect I'll update a selection of my threads here every now and then but honestly its more to complete the stories there rather than something I enjoy. Maybe the gear projects will be, for the first time, a real hobby rather than an obsession.

I'm currently working on the Tascam BR-20T though very perioidically. Its a mess. Headphone amp needed help, the chassis was live and there was a ton of dc noise getting into the audio path. The headphone amp is in the middle of a rebuild and upgrade that I started months ago, the audio section of the power supply blew...recapped the supply but still have to bench test it with a scope to see what else is hosed...at least I figured out why the chassis was live.

I've done nothing on the Ampex MM-1000 though I'm collaborating with a technician/acquaintance to resolve the leaky reel idler viscous-damped flywheel. The silicone fluid is able to seep through the porous aluminum casting that comprises the exterior of the flywheel so I've offered my flywheel to be the guinea pig for vacuum impregnation with a silicone-based sealant. It has to leave a coating less than 0.002" to avoid messing up the dynamics of the assembly and it has to stick. The technician is close to treating the flywheel housing now having found what we believe to be an effective primer and sealant combination. I imagine I'll put the whole mess of info in the MM-1000 thread when all is said and done. I don't think I'll be converting it to 2" operation any time soon. I'm tired of the circus.

Almost got rid of the MCI JH-416 console...would love to get rid of the prototype Tascam "M-__" mixer...gave my Ampex 440C project away with a headblock and electronics to a friend in trade for his vintage 3M halftrack...that's still in the works...but there is just a crap-ton of stuff I want to ditch here.

So, I'm awake and alive again. Its been a real wild ride these past few months.

 

[Blue Jinn]

Dude, getting the balance right is a great thing. I'm not quite there yet, still way too much gear, and between not wanting to get rid of stuff and nobody wanting to buy it....

I've been doing a lot of DIY so been spending a lot of time at GroupDIY. (microphone modding and I'm waiting on a PCB for the NYDave 1 bottle preamp) had a bunch of PCB's made "offshore" for tube mic mods. It has been fun and a great learning experience, and has been a motivation to straighten out the bench. I finally understand a plate curve too....

 

[Dr ZEE]

... I'm awake ...

Uh, good for you.

There IS(!) Life beyond a reel ran empty.

 

[mixmkr]

I may have one of the earlier join dates...but I usually hung out at the mp3 clinic 10 years ago. Now it's overun by waaaaay too many people that don't even know what a XLR cable is.... even though they used one.

I've always lusted for a MCI 600 series...or just an old black face... but had one of those 500lb monsters back a long time ago and was afraid I was going to have to bury it, to get rid of it. That rememberence keeps me "in check" nowadays. Same with rediculous priced 2" machines.

I'll keep using my Cakewalk SonarPE, all my virtual synths, but come to places like this for fun reading. Analog never dies...just gets a little "flakey".