Sights and Sounds: Laserdisc players

Welp. This is the first! I hope you find it valuable and enjoyable.

[kanrakucheese]

Beyond the explicitly stated reason, there’s another good purpose for this: Since a lot of things Technology Connections features are antiques that won’t be around forever and/or relatively niche devices, it’s good to archive the audio devices make. External visuals for most of this stuff is relatively common, but audio documentation is basically non-existent (What sound, if any, does a lantern make? Come to think of it, I have no idea.).

In that interest, perhaps get a decibel meter? They’re relatively cheap (~$20) and rather small, yet provide an objective measure for HOW loud something is.

[awaman]

Man, I feel like I haven't experienced that high-pitched mosquito noise of an crt tv since I was a kid. Legitimately surprised I can still hear it to be honest

[JanRademan]

Laserdisc: Seeks to individual frame by number.
Blu-ray: Oh, you want to skip something? Gotta start the movie over first.

[Skylarka]

With the stereo mics, I think there is incredible potential for this series to double as "Vintage Technology ASMR" which would be absolutely awesome!

[ziatonic]

I can hear a lot more mechanical whirring with stereo...and that's good. That's what I wanna hear with mechanical devices.

[mallesbixie]

In this era of solid state electronics it is great to have the sounds of the "old" electro-mechanical devices to appreciate. It always fills me with awe when I see the clever ways 'we' solved these things in the old days.

[INE]

7:13 As someone with a mechanical engineering degree: God, I wince at the need for percussive maintenance
7:13 As someone that uses equipment well beyond it's expected lifespan: God, I love some good percussive maintenance.

[KOrgan]

This has a very "Bob Ross" type vibe. Quite soothing to listen to, even if it's in the background. Great work, hope to see (and hear) more soon!

[luluehayes]

I have to say that this is a simply terrific idea. Extra bonus content for those who love archival information, while also being tailored to be more accessible to those who need it. TechConnect, you're one of the best youtubers out there. 😄

[JamesOKeefe-US]

This is awesome. I am sighted but even focusing on the sounds makes the experience so different. It is truly amazing how long things took and the physical machinations these devices went through.

[thatcriticvideo]

I see you're doing the greatest ASMR videos for me specifically. Can't wait for the crunchy Dreamcast disk drive noises video.

[MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio]

That laserdisc sound is one that's extremely nostalgic.

[TheOnjLouis]

This is it. This is what I’ve always wanted in videos like these.
The spin up of the disk at around 2:00 reminds me strongly of an old-style London double-deck bus, the one with no doors, as it lumbers off down the road.

Now for 21 minutes in: The stereo recording gives us a little more room ambience, but in most other respects doesn’t really add too much extra to the sounds, I feel.
It’s not like going from 720P to 1080P for example.
Mono seems to work really well for this situation and doesn’t detract from the noises of the equipment.

[SplicesAndCelluloid]

I very much enjoyed this video, it was very relaxing.
Random fun fact! This laserdisc copy of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory has changeover cues! Those are the little white dots you can see in the top right of the TV screen at 21:45 and 21:52. These were used back in the days of film projection, and when movies were not run on big platters, but several smaller reels (usually 20 minutes). These are to signal the projectionist to start the motor of the 2nd projector (the first dot) and to "changeover" to it (the 2nd dot). Usually you don't see this in home video, as it's not usually part of the movie itself, but added by the projectionist when the film is received at the theater and "benched" onto the several 20 minute reels. It's physically scratched into the emulsion of the film. So whatever physical film this laserdisc copy was made from was used in a movie theater at some point, whereas ideally it's made from a master negative, which doesn't have these changeover cues.

[brettvitaz]

I didn’t know I needed this in my life. I really miss sounds like this.

[ruairi_d]

I was kind of sceptical about this, but actually I think it's really cool! It's like audio description that you get while watching some television programmes. Class idea!

[hermesserranoaudio]

I’m a sound engineer. For sure sound is my goal. I must express my gratitude because in a visual world, your efforts trying to explain with sounds just a little more “extra”, is very welcome.
By the way, also thanks for all your magnificient videos.

[STOG]

There's definite ASMR quality to this.

[purpleldv]

Thanks for the new series Alec! It's nice of you to do this for us! I'm one of your blind viewers. :)
By the way, I imagine that bloopers for this series would be something like catching your finger in the disk tray, or the Pioneer machine having a short-circuit... :)
Besides being very considerate, I think you are also one of the most intelligent, thorough and funny person I know! It's like if Jerry Seinfeld was a bit more focused on technology than on humor, and was a whole lot mor kind!

[jeffreysneezos]

Everything is on-point here. Great job! I like the slow narration which gives a nice relaxing vibe to the whole video.