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[quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1443339972' post='2873879'] Ok, that's cool - I'll look into that and pay a visit to my local Maplins. Thanks to everyone who's replied [/quote] If you draw a blank then pm me.

Looks like that mixer has 4 stereo inputs all on 1/4-inch jack. One of those would be ideal for your PC. What you need is a stereo lead which is 3.5mm jack to 2 x 1/4-inch jacks. These are difficult to find so an alternative is a 3.5mm stereo to 2 x phono lead and a pair of phono to 1/4-inch jack adaptors

Today's Cab Shoot Out at the SE Bass Bash got me wondering if one gets conditioned to certain sized speakers. For some years now I have used cabs with 12" speakers, I have briefly deviated to 10", 15" and even 5" but I always find that the sound that pleases me most comes from 12" drivers and I invariably return to using them. Have I become conditioned to 12" and unable to accept anything else or is it something more fundamental in their sonic characteristics?

Thanks to all. An excellent day.

Which mixer do you have Louis?

Well Bluejay I've finally decided what to bring on Saturday. Along with the two Sadowsky Metros and the Westfield Mini-P there'll be the Mesa Prodigy, a TH500, a pair of PJB Compact 4s plus an EH Mini Qtron for the raffle. I also might have a few cables and a few used connectors for sale.

Sold Alex a Hipshot DeTuner and a couple of speaker cables. Flawless transaction. Highly recommended

+1 for the Sony DWZ.

You could try Cadillac Guitars (Robert van der Linde) in Farnborough. Although he's not done any work for me I do know he did an excellent complete refurbish on Paul Geary's SR5 last year. Hopefully he will be at The Bash on the 26th.

Falls in the same category as directional speaker cables and super-dooper mains leads.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1438011486' post='2830830'] I should add that im hoping to get one of the new Tech 21 500watt heads later this year, once our gigs pick up. Ill be able to stop using the VMTD as well then. [/quote] Just returned mine to Thomann. Just didn't get on with it. Seemed under-powered, Will continue with the TH500 for the time being.

Very interesting LS. I started with the Beeb and then was with Thames for a while occasionally using VR1200 or VR2000 VTRs. Later I worked for Ampex when the AVR-2 was current and then joined a fledgling Sony Broadcast and was involved with C-Format, Betacam, Betacam SP, D1, Digital Betacam and Betacam SX. Thinking back to early years with the BBC, almost 50 years ago now, there was a device in the radio programme path called an ASN, Aural Sensitivity Network, which rolled off the LF and boosted the mid-band in order to make speech more intelligible. I seem to remember that is was supposed to be removed during music but not sure that it ever was. I still have a piar of LS3/5As, which I don't use any more, but they lacked a lot of LF as well. As for the chap with his own VR2000,that doesn't surprise me at all knowing some of the guys who worked in VT.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1442219313' post='2865139'] Other people have assumed that there was a deterioration in the sound when it was sold/licensed across from the BBC to Yesterday. I assume the BBC would have digitised the material from their masters and this is what was sold, I can't imagine they sent the master tapes. [/quote] Firstly the BBC would never let go of the original master tapes. As the artistic and financial values of archives were fully understood there was a great move to transfer away from Quad tape to newer formats. Quad tape is very expensive and can deteriorate if not stored correctly. Also the Quad VTRs are delicate and complex bits of kit and the guys who knew how to get the best out of them have mostly retired. In those days it was an engineer per machine. It could well be that some of these programmes have been transferred several times before ending up as a digital file on a transmission server.

[quote name='Slipperydick' timestamp='1442228509' post='2865258'] I mean mono as in monaural, not monochrome. When did nicam sound start ? [/quote] I think it was 1991

[quote name='Slipperydick' timestamp='1442184537' post='2865038'] This... Probably. The simulcast 'In Concert' shows with the sound broadcast in stereo on Radio 1 (Tellys were all mono back then) were better, but not great by modern standards. [/quote] First Simulcast was 1974. BBC2 was colour from 1967. BBC1 and ITV in colour from 1969.

Video recording started in the late 1950s and by the 1970s it was still a bit of a black art. Because it was the most difficult priority was always given to recording the pictures. The audio tracks were a bit of an afterthought and the concept of synchronising a multi-track audio recorder wasn't even considered. The workhorse video recorders of the broadcast industry were the Quadraplex Ampex VR2000 and the RCA TR70 which both 2-inch tape. The video was recorded transversely across the tape using a 4-headed scanner. Audio tracks were longitudinal and somewhat rudimentary by modern standards. The BBC used mainly VR2000s. Here is the brochure. Have a look at the audio specs. [url="http://www.digitrakcom.com/literature/VR2000BbrochureWEB.pdf"]http://www.digitrakc...brochureWEB.pdf[/url] . Initially there was no electronic editing so the only way to edit was by developing the tape to see where the control track pulses were and then physically cutting and splicing the tape to make a simple cut. Anything recorded prior to the mid/late 1970s was on one of these machines. By the mid 1970s the Quad machines started to be replaced by the C-Format 1-inch VTRs and then in the 1980s by the Analogue Betacam SP Cassette Recorders. Finally in the 1990s recording started to become digital and proper full-bandwidth audio was possible.

Westfield, when they were in business, produced a small Precision with a 24" scale. I acquired one from this Forum last year with the intention of giving it to my Grandson one day but it is really quite good and I'm having second thoughts especially after a set up and new set of string which I cut down and unwound from a full-scale set. They do come up on Ebay and Gumtree occasionally.

To quote from an email I received last week. "It's funny how we spend lots of money on amps and guitars and then completely overlook the bit that connects them all together!"

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1441377319' post='2858465'] No, I wouldn't have bought it in the first place at that price. [/quote]

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1441368421' post='2858316'] I'm comparing buying privately from a US dealer with buying privately from a UK dealer. [/quote] so in the event of a problem you'd send it back to the USA to be fixed?

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1441366077' post='2858285'] £500 would be a bit low, but the US price is about £460, plus about 25% VAt and duty is £575, so there's about £150 in price difference once you've accounted for shipping. [/quote] That's only a valid comparison if you are buying privately from a US dealer.

I've done more than a few in my time but not much lately. I like going because you often don't know what you're going to have to play. It makes you think on your feet, listen carefully (good for ear training) and watch the other band members. Yes occasionally there's a train wreck but mostly it's pretty good. Got one tomorrow afternoon in Godalming, a memorial Jam to a former band mate who passed away a few months ago and with whom I shared house band duties many times. We are hoping to raise some funds for the Music4All charity Can't think of a better way to pay tribute.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1441282250' post='2857495'] I'd much prefer it if most manufacturers just sold direct to stores. I've barely ever seen an advantage (in my personal experience) with having a dealer. Depends if you've ever needed a lot of after sales care. [/quote] Unfortunately this becomes eventually becomes an administration nightmare for the manufacturer who finds himself dealing dozens of companies per country rather than filtering them all through a single distributor. Even your friends Musicman find it necessary to route all their business through Strings and Things. Also there are considerable savings in consolidating shipments through a single company.