We ❤ Retro Media: Vinyl, VHS, Tapes & Film | Off Book | PBS Digital Studios

We live in a digital world that gives us all the media we could possibly dream of at the click of a mouse, yet many people miss the old school physical formats from our past. Listening to vinyl and cassettes allows us to connect with music in a different way than MP3s. VHS and 8mm create visual aesthetics and atmospheres that are difficult to replicate in digital video. And the surprises inherent to analog instant photography help embed an organic quality to the recording of our memories. The challenges these retro formats present to capturing and experiencing media actually enhance our appreciation for the sound or image, making the art we love a bit more intimate, and real.

Here's a list of all the art used in the episode!

Featuring:
Prof. Al Nigrin, Rutgers University
Ryan Martin, Dais Records
Rebecca Cleman, Electric Arts Intermix

Music:

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[sayrith]

I get it. All of these formats just induce nostalgia. You can easily re-create the warm fuzzy picture quality in digital. I think what most people miss is the handling of the media and that's the key here. I have a feeling that in 20 years or so people will miss handling SD cards, DVDs and external HDDs.

[toshineon]

When it comes to digital media over analog media, I'd say both definitely has their advantages.

[twin]

You guys did it again!!! I lOVE every episode of OffBook. It is a really high quality production. <3

[NationalFilmSociety]

Great episode. We're huge VHS fans. In fact, Patrick still own a LOT of them.

[TheoriginalBillBraskey]

I'm 35 so it's just what I grew up with. I never trashed my VHS or VCR and now collect media but VHS is my drug of chose. I got into it cause I was looking for some horror films and found out they were only available on VHS. Then I found out about the eBay market. I love how I can go to thrift stores and garage sales and people are almost giving away VHS, cassettes, and other older media. I buy for $.50 what can go for $50 online.

[Phoust]

I remember the days before mp3 and the internet and I also remember how difficult it was to hear good music never mind even knowing that it existed. The real question today is how do you recreate that listening experience of past in an attention deficit era.

[SunshineInLA]

You guys make me happy =) I love this channel all the people you have on it and the feel of honesty in your work. So thanks you =)

[acheron]

VHS and Cassette Tapes, aww my childhood.

[umiluv]

I doubt that. Analog mediums are very different from digital, whereas digital doesn't change much (gifs & jpgs have been around for a long time). Digital images don't fade over time and rarely do they glitch (though there are artists experimenting with that). Analog allows for a lot of experimentation using your hands and materials vs. digital which you do all on your computer. Some artists enjoy doings things with more than just your computer.

[michiganrecordclub]

Excellent information. The journey of music is different than that of film. I would love more detail on music recording evolution.

[Mediaselectah]

Analog is the way!
I started as a Vj with tons of VHS, and we use to make analog loops from one VHS recorder to the other : play, rec, pause, rewind, play, rec...
_*_

[idonotknowme]

I write with fountain pens and recently spent 75 monies on a new one, does this make me cool enough for this video? Also, I love getting digital recordings of records. All the benefits of a record without the excessive use of space, anyone who disagrees has either never heard a digital recording of a record or are just lying to themselves. TAKE THAT PBS!

[The_Ballo]

10 years from now my tapes will still work while everyone else's optical media will be dead

[The_Ballo]

I'm disappointed that DAT wasn't even mentioned despite it's still in use and superior in quality than 99.9% of what's out there.

[Razerboard]

I agree to some extent, but I also beg to differ. I have a concentrated collection of mp3s on my harddrive(s), mostly hip-hop albums which will never see the light of re-release in LPs (underground, avant-garde, international groups, etc). I remember having lost part of my mp3 collection (a little under 150 albums) in 2005 which I still am in anguish over. Hip-hop has kept LPs alive for a long while and will still continue to do so, even tapes. Do a YouTube search for "JonWayne casette".

[aaronjacobwillman]

i agree. i think that if the music is good, you'll remember it no matter the format of consumption. ...and there have been studies done that prove that CDs did actually have a higher quality of audio than that of vinyl. i don't think MP3s qualify, as they are really compressed comparatively. I know that audiophiles that like digital formats used to like FLAC and other lossless file compressions, i don't know if that's changed in the past few years... i just use MP3s and i'm happy with them.

[Gizmo]

I think the comment on VHS is spot on. There is something ominous and exciting about that black, unlabeled VHS. What memories could be on it?

[BGBTech]

internet: yes, especially. put the file up on a server somewhere and anyone can get it at pretty much no cost.
CD-R's are similar: just get a stack of cheap CD-R's and start running off copies. likewise, most of the independent musicians I had seen had usually been selling music on CD-R's, not on cassettes.
so, yeah, I think it is a lot more about nostalgia and similar, rather than about being economical.

[braedonsrantsmore]

I think what makes analog media special is fact that unlike shit today analog had like human touch to it the flawed nature we have that's what made it great now everything is online and digital not saying it doesn't it have it's plane but I collect vhs DVD blue rays to some degree now cassette tapes maybe vinyl I even have some laserdiscs I think it's this fun to go back and this remember these times of history also it's good keep these things around for future generations so that way they can understand what lot of us before them experienced

[casb-]

I remember my first MP3 download. It was Leave It Alone by NOFX. I was 12 and it was downloaded from Napster. I still have my Napster MP3s! Hopefully this comment doesn't lead to me getting sued... PS I don't remember my first CD.