Copper

The bizarre year proceeds apace as here in Boulder, we've had an uncommonly dry winter---as shown by the wildfires west of town, just before the last day of winter. The area would normally either be snow-covered or well-irrigated by snowmelt; this year it was dry as tinder. Meanwhile, major chunks of the rest of the country have been hammered with massive snowfall. Go figger!

I'm happy to introduce another new contributor, one you might not expect to be associated with the world of high-end audio. Jay Jay French was lead guitarist for Twisted Sister for many years, and all during that time, was combing the world for esoteric audio gear. These days, Jay Jay is a manager and entrepreneur, writes a column for Inc. magazine---and now will be writing about his audio adventures for Copper, under the heading of Twisted Systems. I hope you'll make him feel welcome here.

I'm also happy to introduce two new departments: High Society  will feature news from audio societies, including info on upcoming meetings and reports of recent meetings. This issue features the River City Audio Society of San Antonio, and we invite audio societies worldwide to send us their announcements and news. Something Old/Something New will feature record reviews from a number of contributors, starting this issue with something old from PSer Dan McCauley. Readers are invited to take a crack at reviews of new releases and interesting old records, 400-600 words, please!

Our usual columns open with Industry News regarding familiar names Radio Shack, Sonos, and Denon; Dan Schwartz writes about musician/mystic Terry Riley; Professor Schenbeck gets back to the subject of musical style; Richard Murison goes back to the stone age of digital sound; Duncan Taylor gets all moony about a new transport and the band Gipsy Moon; Woody Woodward  looks back at the work of  James Cotton; and I question who's minding the store?--- and look back at the old ways.

Jim Smith continues with reader-chosen questions in The Answer Man; we have an elaborate, mostly home-built system in In My Room; and we close with another Parting Shot from Publisher Paul McGowan. 

See you next issue!

Cheers, Leebs.

It honestly, really, truly  came as a shock to me when I realized that Copper's first anniversary was just ahead. Copper #1 went live on March 3rd, 2016---so this will have to serve as our birthday edition.

Our initial plan to publish on a weekly basis was hugely optimistic, and we quickly shifted to every two weeks. Notice that I don't refer to our publication schedule as "biweekly" or "bimonthly"...and here's why: "Biweekly: appearing or taking place every two weeks or twice a week." "Bimonthly: appearing or taking place every two months or twice a month."

What madness is this? It's as bad as "flammable" and "inflammable" being synonyms! Or "regardless" and "irregardless"! Aaaaghhhh!!

"Semi-monthly" would appear to be the correct term, as it means "twice monthly", and nothing more. But that would mean 24 issues per year, and....

Thus, "every two weeks".  English, she is a funny language.

But I digress.

This issue opens with Industry News about MQA; Dan Schwartz writes about the late Larry Coryell; Professor Schenbeck sprinkles on the Style; Richard Murison gets uncharacteristically irate about the Crown Jewels; Duncan Taylor writes about reggae, and introduces us to Intuit; and WL Woodward looks at funk. I continue the Spica saga with an interview with the brand's creator, John Bau, and rant about remembering in Cynic. Duncan does double-duty with Part 1 of an ambitious DIY subwoofer project; we talk with Cartoon Bob; and Jan Montana stirs up trouble with his listening buddies again. We wrap with an especially yummy  reader system of scarce'70's gear,  and a striking Closing Shot from Publisher Paul McGowan.

And now, a rare moment of sentiment from Ye Olde Editor: thanks for the tremendous support shown to Copper for the past year. I appreciate everyone who reads the mag, and I am especially thankful for those who take the time to write....and write...and write....;->

Here's to many more years!

Cheers, Leebs.

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Congratulations on Copper Magazine’s first birthday, a monumental landmarl for any infant. When Editor Leebs and I first envisioned the magazine, we wanted more than anything to accomplish two goals: build a thriving community and foster awareness for music, the arts, and high-end audio. I think we’ve succeeded. Copper’s circulation is approaching the 10,000 mark and shows no signs of stopping. The articles get better, the subject’s broader, the community the richer for it.

My personal and heartfelt thanks for all those that contribute, but mostly, to our readers who are the core of the community. I am honored to consider myself a member of this great group of people.---Paul McGowan, Publisher

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When I came to PS Audio a year and a half ago to seek sponsorship for my Second Story Garage project, about two hours (!!) into my visit, Paul started to tell me about an available job he thought I might be good at. I walked out of the factory admittedly buzzing, but reality eventually set in and I was greeted with a difficult decision. The staff at my former employer, the local newspaper The Daily Camera, could not operate the Second Story Garage live video recording studio project without me. During my interview process with PS, I voiced a concern that my joining the team might mean that this amazing music project, my baby, could see its end. The management at PS is simply awesome, and they expressed that the passions of their employees were important to them. They were as interested in seeing my project survive as I was. The newspaper also had interest in continuing a partnership, even discussing a big future investment in a new studio. Unfortunately, the reality of today is that newspapers are contracting, not growing. In the time since I joined PS Audio, the newspaper has shed even more jobs, including two in the photo staff. Second Story Garage can’t function without adequate photo staff.

Right now, the Second Story Garage project is on indefinite hold, and has likely come to an end. I feel as though I should probably be sadder about it than I am---but I'm in a good place about the whole thing.

The fact is that YOU, dear reader, are the source of my uplifted spirit. This writing opportunity I've had with Copper, where I get to delve into my memories from Second Story Garage and share the stories and techniques and headaches… honestly, it's really been a gift to me on a personal level.

I want to thank you all for reading any of my techno twaddle (my binaural blather, or channel chatter) over the seasons. I don't use the best syntax or grammar, and I often emerge foggy-headed after cranking out a 1700 word column for DJ Leebs. But I continue to crank it out because every issue I'm given the chance to remember and savor a fascinating experience from the past. For that, again, I am grateful. Much more to come from my department -- stay tuned!---Duncan Taylor

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I’m afraid my prime experience of writing for Copper, now that we’re a year into the project, is very selfish. Aside from getting to know Bill Leebens, it’s been about experiencing my own mind, post-stroke. I’ve found, that when I’m fairly excited by my topic, my spoken language gets hung-up. (My wife and adult daughter tell me that, at last, I’m like everybody else. To which I say, “Hah!”) But writing, you would think, would be different, and it is ---- to an extent. More than ever, however, I discover the truth of the saying, “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture”. I want to say, “Just listen!” But that’s not the job, and unlike the distant past, I struggle frequently to find the things that I want to say about the subject of my columns.

 But --- without HAVING to do this, I wouldn’t. So thanks to all of the readers, and Bill and Paul, for cracking the whip.---Dan Schwartz

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Happy Birthday!

This issue commemorates the first anniversary of Copper Magazine.  It’s been a long strange trip and will continue thanks to all you readers out there.  I started when they asked me to write an article and I did write up the 2016 Grammy show.  That article was weird enough they asked me to write more and they’ve been sorry ever since, but they’re too nice to ask me to just stop already.

We have some wonderful writers and great content.  I thoroughly enjoy every issue and it keeps getting better.  In fact, I think the last issue is my favorite.  Thanks to Bill Leebens for his steadfast and patient editor work, and Paul McGowan who started the mag with Bill and allowed us to keep going.  And thanks to all of you for reading and writing.  Couldn’t do it without y’all. ---Woody Woodward

httpv://youtu.be/MjF1bG5LUcs

The first year of Copper saw the mag start from scratch and grow to 9,000 subscribers through steady, consistent growth. While it's not  the circulation of People magazine, you won't find any Kardashians here (other than in my occasional off-topic rants). We have grown steadily, and I think our content has steadily improved, as well.

The next few issues will introduce several new contributors, both columnists and feature contributors. I think you'll be surprised and pleased by the names you'll see, and the topics they write about.

We lead off the first issue of Copper's second year with Industry News about some major moves in the audio biz; amongst our regulars,  Dan Schwartz continues minimalist musings with a piece about Philip Glass; Professor Schenbeck takes a queasy look at Schoenberg; Richard Murison writes about a place where no one can hear you scream, mostly (and no, it's not space);  Duncan Taylor writes about  Ayo Awosika, a striking young jazz singer; and I write about cut-and-paste business, and finish my interview with John Bau of Spica. Woody Woodward is on vacation (boo, hiss), but will return to Copper soon.

In  this issue's features, Jim Smith writes about topics picked by Copper readers; Duncan's back again with Part 2 of his DIY subwoofer project; and as usual, we wrap with another In My Room reader system  and a Parting Shot from Publisher Paul McGowan.

See you next issue!

Cheers, Leebs.