Copper

I would never overtly diss a legendary Groundhog, but six more weeks of winter? It's going to be 68 deg F here in Boulder today---and 70 tomorrow!
I think the weather cadre got together and bribed Phil, for their own nefarious purposes....(Oops: plenty of folks in America are freezing right now. Never mind.)

We also have an unseasonably-warm issue of Copper, this go around. We're happy to present a piece by yet another new contributor, industry veteran Ethan Winer. In the past we've presented pieces by Ken Kantor and Jim Smith on what they see as common misconceptions or fallacies in audio, and Ethan discusses Audio Myths that just ain't so. I look forward to reading the comments that Ethan's piece will undoubtedly initiate.

Also featured in this issue, our guy Darren Myers wraps up the "CNC" DIY phono stage project, with circuit boards you can buy direct from us, parts lists, everything you'll need to build it, aside from a hot soldering iron. Jim Smith is back, probing the group psyche and asking, what do you want to read about?

From our usual crew, Dan Schwartz is wrapped up in the music of Steve Reich; Professor Schenbeck continues his series on musical elements with a look at style; Richard Murison gets all metaphysical about metadata; Duncan Taylor introduces the amazing spectacle that is Dirty Bourbon River Show--- imagine Tom Waits meets Louis Prima meets The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and you'll kinda get it; WL Woodward looks into four decades of Steely Dan; and finally, I kvetch about the IoT and look back at another beloved brand: Spica.

We open #26 with more Industry News, and close with another cool reader system, and an incredible Parting Shot.

Until next time---stay warm, or cool, as appropriate!

Cheers, Leebs.

Welcome to Copper #47!

I'm alarmed at how rapidly 2017 is disappearing, and I'll bet I'm not alone in that. The days are long, the years are short, yadda yadda....

As mentioned last issue, we're pleased to have Professor Larry Schenbeck back. Larry's Too Much Tchaikovsky column returns in this issue with the musical question, "How Moist Is Your Music??" Alrighty, then.

What are our other regular columnists up to? Well, Dan Schwartz examines what makes a bass a bass; Richard Murison begins a series on music-management software Music Brainz; Jay Jay French continues the '67 Psychedelic Shootout with a look at Are You Experienced; Duncan Taylor tells us how he captures the sounds of bluegrass in live recordings; Roy Hall remembers major parties to which he wasn't invited; Anne E. Johnson brings us Crying, an indie group that may give you '80's video game flashbacks; Woody Woodward looks at the rise and end of The Band in his best piece yet; and I remember audio industry legend Arnie Nudell, and look back at a music biz that just ain't no more.

Industry News looks at Circuit City, ten years dead, but not gone yet; A. J. Hernandez concludes his series on southern Italian wines with a look at the complex history and mythology of Sicily; and Gautam Raja looks at how motorcycles and stereo systems are alike. Kinda.

Copper #47 concludes with another classic audio cartoon from Charles Rodrigues, and a Parting Shot from Paul McGowan.

Next issue, we'll begin a series on the real science behind cables...and yes, there is (or at least should be)  real science behind cables. I think you'll find it extremely interesting and thought-provoking.

Until then---enjoy!

Cheers, Leebs.

Neither rain nor snow nor CES crud nor car crashes stays these Copper couriers from the swift completion of their deadlines....

Let's just say 2017 started with a bang. Literally.

NONETHELESS!---here we are. Copper #25 opens with yet another new feature, Industry News. I tend to think that the business aspects of the audio industry are every bit as interesting as the technical bits; I guess we'll see if readers agree. Dan Schwartz writes about rising star Courtney Hartman; Professor Schenbeck continues his series on musical elements with Melody;  Richard Murison writes about the hard journey to hard drives; Duncan Taylor brings a live performance from Jaden Carlson; our friend Jan Montana is back with a tale of those times when Memorex beats live; Jim Smith writes about why vinyl playback is rarely all that it could be; I take a look back at CES  and why Quad ESLs will live forever. We wrap with another reader system, and an image from Publisher Paul McGowan.

Let's hope the next few weeks are less trying---and we'll be back with our friend WL Woodward and  (after a few delays) the wrap-up on our DIY Phono Stage!

Cheers, Leebs.

Happy New Year to all, and hope my colleagues are recovering post-CES.

I have no desire to go off on a tangent here, so I'll keep it brief:

We try to make Copper a place of refuge. A place of entertainment, enjoyment, and education. We do what we can to edit out the intemperate and belligerent. We do what we can to encourage free expression in readers who write in with comments on our articles.

Some comments are, to be kind, overly-emphatic, even mean. We have readers from all works of life, and all levels of knowledge. You may know more than another reader. That's fine: feel free to share your knowledge in a gentle way. If you feel compelled to insult one of our writers or a fellow reader, do me a favor: don't include that in your comments, or it will disappear.

And sooner or later, so will you.

In Copper #24, Richard Murison explains what FLAC is all about; Dan Schwartz waxes lyrical on lyrics; Larry Schenbeck examines rhythm at a stately pace; Duncan Taylor returns with teen guitar whiz Jaden Carlson; and WL Woodward looks back upon musical life---and death---in 2016.  Our old friend Jim Smith considers why some systems sound terrific, but don't have soul. I look at the differences between creation and recreation; the history of the everlasting Quad '57 (with contributions from some notable colleagues); and poke around CES.  We wrap the issue with another beautiful image from Publisher Paul McGowan.

Until next time, be well---or for many of us, get well!

---Leebs.

Happy New Year, and welcome to Copper #23, and 2017!

As I look back at 2016...well, Popeye put it best:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h97kbv4mbsc

Really, what more is there to say? Right up to the last minute, the Reaper was ripping creative souls from our midst. Let's hope for a better new year.

In this issue, we start with Richard Murison explaining the convoluted concept of convolution, then go to Dan Schwartz for a tale of musical evolution ; Professor Schenbeck takes a look at the best musical releases of that annus horribilus, 2016; Duncan Taylor presents another killer local group, The Railsplitters ; and Woody Woodward takes a last, twisted look at Christmas music (no toys this time, but there is an extra-special performance). I pay homage to yet another friend and colleague who passed away this year, Ken Furst, and explore what readers and industry folk would've wanted as an audio gift, if they could just have one precious piece of gear back again.  Jim Smith is back with more on the ACK Attack; Ken Kessler is back also, with another batch of artists who really don't deserve to be forgotten; and in  our final feature, Darren Myers has an update on the "CNC" DIY phonostage.  This issue's reader system is a particularly attractive one, and our issue closes with yet another gorgeous image from Paul McGowan.

I wish all the best for our readers in the New Year. Next issue I'll be in CES-recovery mode, and may or may not be up to writing about it. ;->

Until then---cheers!

---Leebs. 

Welcome to Copper # 21!

It's hard to believe that 2016 is almost over, and that we've been putting Copper together for nine months now. I'm not a Supremes fan by any stretch of the imagination---I lean more to Stax than Motown---but as soon as the phrase, "where did the year go?" came into my head, the Supremes came with it: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzKUoxL11E

Earworms. Sheesh.

In this issue, Richard Murison gets the jitters;  Dan Schwartz tells about the events leading up to Rosanne Cash's Black Cadillac ; Larry Schenbeck considers a holiday starter kit for Classical music newbies; Duncan Taylor writes about recording  two fabulous but very different solo artists;   WL Woodward considers the incredible influence and legacy of John Hammond;  I  look at some of the musical talent lost in 2016, and conclude our look at vintage manufacturer Weathers.

We're really pleased to have three new contributors this issue:  Jim Langley presents a DIY moving magnet phono stage project (and our guy Darren Myers is working on another project which will go nicely with this one);  veteran speaker and electronics designer Ken Kantor writes about that pesky objective/subjective thing in the first segment of a two-parter;  and reader B. Jan Montana ---yes, you too could write for Copper!---gives some thoughts on why we love turntables. I can't wait to get Michael Fremer's reaction to this one!  Finally, we have an especially yummy  reader system from Finland, wrapped up with another striking image from Publisher/Photographer Paul McGowan.

Jim Smith will be back soon with a new series of articles.

Until Copper#22—enjoy!

—Leebs.