paradox-convenience at the cost of fidelity

a study of tape and phonograph formats, shows a continual sacrifice of
fidelity, to attain convenience

facts:

early reel to reel decks of the 50's ran at 7.5 IPS and were full track in
one direction only

that configuration was modified, so one mono track could be played in each
direction- this was done by cutting the track width in half- this required
less tape for the same length recording- hence 2-track stereo, one mono
track in each direction

when stereo was invented, they reduced the speed to 3.75 IPS, and decreased
the track width again, so they could save on tape and get the same amount of
music on less tape- this enabled 4 track stereo, or 2 stereo tracks in each
direction

the best way to do it, would be keep it at 7.5 IPS and half track/2 track
stereo- only playing in one direction- but that would require MORE TAPE- and
cut into the bottom line

the same thing happened with vinyl records- 78 rpm mono, gave way to 33 rpm
LP- sacrificing speed and fidelity. To get all that music on the same 12"
LP disk, the groove diameter was also reduced, from approx. .003" to .001",
or "microgroove"

the bigger .003" stylus, running at 78 rpm in stereo, would have resulted in
much better fidelity

analog formats dramatically increase fidelity, with wider LP grooves, or
wider tape tracks- and increased speed

yet every time a "new" format came out, it typically sacrificed these
basics, to get longer playing time, and a smaller, more compact format

convenience in audio, is truly a 2-edged sword

and this legacy continues today, with the standard CD and SACD/DVD-A
formats, being sacrificed in favor of the more convenient MP3 and IPOD

eventually the consumer will end up listening to white noise-like music,
sounding similar to controlled radio and TV static, on a tiny unit the size
of a dime, that holds "10,000,000 songs"

what a sales pitch....

On Sat, 8 Sep 2007 10:55:37 -0400, "DeserTBob's Futile Efforts"
wrote:

a study of tape and phonograph formats, shows a continual sacrifice of
fidelity, to attain convenience

facts:

early reel to reel decks of the 50's ran at 7.5 IPS and were full track in
one direction only snip

Wrong. Most consumer machines, even before stereo, were half track,
and had selectable speeds from 7.5 to 1 7/8 IPS. Once stereo came in
circa 1956, 2 track was used...probably the best consumer format
before CDs. To save money, the industry hatched the 4 track/reverse
format to save tape, sacrificing 6 dB of noise floor and adding bass
crosstalk. Later, they went down to 3.75 IPS. Another Charlie Nudo
load of delusional crap. Get your facts straight from someone who
knows and was "there" at the time, idiot. You coal mining ginzoes in
NE Penna thought "high fidelity" was an RCA Victor table radio, for
chrissakes.

when stereo was invented, they reduced the speed to 3.75 IPS, and decreased
the track width again, so they could save on tape and get the same amount of
music on less tape- this enabled 4 track stereo, or 2 stereo tracks in each
direction snip

Again, Noodles has his facts out of order.

the same thing happened with vinyl records- 78 rpm mono, gave way to 33 rpm
LP- sacrificing speed and fidelity. snip

LMAO! That's the most RIDICULOUS thing you've ever puked up, Noodles!
The LP was a quantum leap in fidelity, save for the VERY few 78 RPM
singles pressed in vinyl, and they weren't very good in comparison to
the LP versions, either, due to increased surface noise.

the bigger .003" stylus, running at 78 rpm in stereo, would have resulted in
much better fidelity snip

Stylus diameter has NOTHING to do with "fidelity," idiot.

analog formats dramatically increase fidelity, with wider LP grooves, or
wider tape tracks- and increased speed snip

More delusions.

and this legacy continues today, with the standard CD and SACD/DVD-A
formats, being sacrificed in favor of the more convenient MP3 and IPOD snip

"IPOD" isn't a format, moron. It's a player that uses the MPEG 1
Level 3 format. You figure it out.

eventually the consumer will end up listening to white noise-like music,
sounding similar to controlled radio and TV static, on a tiny unit the size
of a dime, that holds "10,000,000 songs"

what a sales pitch.... snip

Your "sales pitch" should be, "I'm Charlie Nudo! I'm a hapless moron!
Listen to me make a fool out of myself daily on Goo Goo Groopz! Oh,
that's right, you can't...they've banned 27 of my accounts, so now I
have to use a ****ball Italian freebie NNTP server. That makes me a
FOREIGN SCUMBALL!"

What a stugot.