Fifteen Inches Per Second
December 15th, 2007 by Russell DaviesRetro-technology + music geekery = speechification crack. And that’s what this programme is; “a radio celebration of quarter-inch magnetic tape - an invention that revolutionised the whole world of recorded sound”. I can’t find any reference to it anywhere on the BBCternets but it’s full of names that will excite audio enthusiasts: Paddy Kingsland. Geoff Emerick. Ron Geesin. Piers Plowright. Brilliant programme. I also enjoyed knowing that it took 2,100 feet and 7 inches of tape to make. (MP3 here)
December 18th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I think I owe a large part of my audio addiction to the vast, warm presence of my Dad’s 1950s (Victorinox, I think?) quarter-inch open reel tape recorder. It was a mighty beast: as big as a large suitcase in a heavy wooden case covered in black vinyl. I used to huddle over it to keep warm on cold nights. The light from the valves leaking through the air vents was enough to read by. The Goons, Hancock’s Half Hour, Ivor Cutler, Tom Lehrer, Round the Horne… If I messed up a tape (which I did quite often) there was a little splicer built-in so I could fix it up.
December 20th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
This was brilliant, I especially like the imagery conjoured up during the discussion of long loops; out of the shed, around the garden and back. Splendid. Keep it up guys.
Out of interest, what happened to the rest of the series about pies, they didnt seem to turn up in my podcast.
December 20th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Good wasn’t it? I added programme two of Who Ate All The Pies? you should have got that, but I don’t seem to have the others I’m afraid. I don’t think. I’ll have another rummage around in the hard drive.
December 31st, 2007 at 6:17 pm
[...] at the hands of experimental composers, this feature is a well produced bite size history. Listen here. simonsound still use a (ex BBC) Studer 1/4 inch tape machine to add warmth to the sometimes cold [...]
April 12th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I’m a little late to the party here, but great program! Now I want to hear all the early Les Paul multitracking experiments.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:21 am
[...] The ever informative Speechification guys bought this excellent radio feature to my attention last week. Fifteen Inches Per Second tells the story of 1/4 inch tape and how it revolutionised the world of recorded sound. From its use by Hitler to broadcast multiple ‘live’ speeches, its huge impact on music through the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and its abuse at the hands of experimental composers, this feature is a well produced bite size history. Listen here. [...]