January 25, 1975
Exploring Billboard for Quadraphonic Information
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Note: This article came out one month before Jim Croce’s passing, 50 years ago.
________________________
August 18, 1973
Confidence Buoys Croce
LOS ANGELES-
Jim Croce has gotten off his stool and is playing stand-up guitar with aid of a neck strap. Of course, this has added more dynamic movement to an already energetic act. Buy what it really means is that Croce has finally gotten over his fears that some drunk in the audience will leap onstage and get him.
These fears were by no means irrational. Croce spent the final few years before his "Don't Mess Around With Jim" smash by playing an endless round of beer clubs in the Pennsylvania region. "When the fights started, you wanted to be able to put down your guitar and dive behind the bar in a flash," Croce said.
"Playing with a strap on slows you down too much."
Another new Croce development is his gradual improvement and a flashy lead guitar picker. He generally practices or plays classical guitar some eight hours a day. There is nothing he would rather do after a concert than get some musicians together and jam. "Lyrics have always been the easiest part of songwriting for me," Croce said. "Now at last I feel my music is expanding too."
His Own Man
Like Bill Withers, Croce is one of the new individualists of contemporary music. Over 30 years old and with hard experience at the world of manual labor, Croce realizes there is more to the world than the hitmaking process. His experiences range from performing on a Middle East tour for the State Department as a college folkie, to teaching black children in ghetto school.
"I quit teaching when I found that the girls could beat me up as badly as the guys," he said.
Croce has been touring constantly for the past 18 months. The idea was to establish him as a national draw by having him play every important gig two or three times. The grind took its toll on Croce several months ago as throat strain made physicians order him to stop talking for 10 days.
Silent Jim
This was an extreme deprivation for Croce, who loves constant conversation and a running humorous commentary. "I wore out a couple of those little blackboards," he said.
According to Croce, this was the worst thing that happened to him since he found himself on a Chicago theater in the round with a revolving stage which was revolving at nearly twice the usual speed, barely got through my set and made it offstage before throwing up," Croce recalled.
________________________
August 18, 1973
Confidence Buoys Croce
LOS ANGELES-
Jim Croce has gotten off his stool and is playing stand-up guitar with aid of a neck strap. Of course, this has added more dynamic movement to an already energetic act. Buy what it really means is that Croce has finally gotten over his fears that some drunk in the audience will leap onstage and get him.
These fears were by no means irrational. Croce spent the final few years before his "Don't Mess Around With Jim" smash by playing an endless round of beer clubs in the Pennsylvania region. "When the fights started, you wanted to be able to put down your guitar and dive behind the bar in a flash," Croce said.
"Playing with a strap on slows you down too much."
Another new Croce development is his gradual improvement and a flashy lead guitar picker. He generally practices or plays classical guitar some eight hours a day. There is nothing he would rather do after a concert than get some musicians together and jam. "Lyrics have always been the easiest part of songwriting for me," Croce said. "Now at last I feel my music is expanding too."
His Own Man
Like Bill Withers, Croce is one of the new individualists of contemporary music. Over 30 years old and with hard experience at the world of manual labor, Croce realizes there is more to the world than the hitmaking process. His experiences range from performing on a Middle East tour for the State Department as a college folkie, to teaching black children in ghetto school.
"I quit teaching when I found that the girls could beat me up as badly as the guys," he said.
Croce has been touring constantly for the past 18 months. The idea was to establish him as a national draw by having him play every important gig two or three times. The grind took its toll on Croce several months ago as throat strain made physicians order him to stop talking for 10 days.
Silent Jim
This was an extreme deprivation for Croce, who loves constant conversation and a running humorous commentary. "I wore out a couple of those little blackboards," he said.
According to Croce, this was the worst thing that happened to him since he found himself on a Chicago theater in the round with a revolving stage which was revolving at nearly twice the usual speed, barely got through my set and made it offstage before throwing up," Croce recalled.
May 3. 1975
JVC Quadracenters
Boost 'Q' Concept
By STEPHEN TRAIMAN
NEW YORK-
JVC is establishing 25 to 30 "Quadracenters" at major audio/hi fi dealers across the country, coupling intensive sales training and consumer seminars in a major effort to sell quadraphonic as a concept-not "which system is best."
Being set up by Bob Walker, JVC hi fi merchandising manager, the Quadracenters are being franchised in key markets over the next few months. Vital criteria are good 4-channel demonstration facilities and knowledgeable salespeople.
The move is part of JVC's recognition of the fact that 80 percent of the hi fi business is done by 20 percent of all dealers. With the end of fair trade near, the firm will be working closely with its best dealers, staying primarily with audio/ hi fi locations.
First franchise agreements were signed with three-store Cartridge City, Kirksville, Mo.; Mission Elec-tronics, Los Angeles; Audiocraft, Cleveland, and Palmer Stereo, Toledo. Initial outlets in the metro N.Y.-N.J. area, opening this week, are Classic Electronics on Wall Street, and Newark's Electronic City.
Although JVC is one of the prize movers (and co-developers) of the CD-4 discrete quadraphonic system, Walker emphasizes that matrix gets just as much attention in his intensive sales briefings.
"We need matrix and CD-4 side-by-side to do the job in quadraphonic," he notes. "The consumer is confused enough without having to worry about a particular system, and most manufacturers are incorporating both matrix and discrete modes in their receivers now."
Among incentives for dealers to display the full range of JVC's quadraphonic product line-receivers, demodulators, turntables-are use of a JVC MM-4 4-channel memoryscope in the demo area, "Q” incentives to salespersons, an extensive national Quadracenter promotion, and free enrollment in the new RCA Quadraphonic Record & Tape Club (Billboard, Feb. 15) to purchasers of any JVC quadraphonic component.
To help promote the Quadracenter concept, JVC will run one of the first 3-dimensional hi fi ads in the industry in the July issue of National Lampoon, viewed through special punch-out 3-D goggles. Ad will include a toll-free 800 number to call for the nearest Ouadracenter or JVC dealer. Dealers also will get special point-of-purchase material, an official Quadracenter plaque and CD-4 demo sampler disks.
At Classic Electronics in Manhattan, more than 60 percent of the hi fi business is now quadraphonic, according to the firm's Gary Cantor, due mainly to a new sound room that Walker terms among the best he's seen. A Switchcraft unit enables salesmen to shift between up to 24 receivers, 24 tape decks or turntables, and 24 pairs of speakers. Primarily quadraphonic lines are JVC, Marantz, Sherwood and Fisher.
The Electronic City Quadracenter opening in Newark is to kick off with a weekend (2-3) consumer seminar, following an intensive sales training session by Walker.
Walker will be kept busy setting up the new Quadracenters, but sees the JVC move as another vital step in getting the most important dealers in the business to sell the overall concept of quadraphonic.
JVC Quadracenters
Boost 'Q' Concept
By STEPHEN TRAIMAN
NEW YORK-
JVC is establishing 25 to 30 "Quadracenters" at major audio/hi fi dealers across the country, coupling intensive sales training and consumer seminars in a major effort to sell quadraphonic as a concept-not "which system is best."
Being set up by Bob Walker, JVC hi fi merchandising manager, the Quadracenters are being franchised in key markets over the next few months. Vital criteria are good 4-channel demonstration facilities and knowledgeable salespeople.
The move is part of JVC's recognition of the fact that 80 percent of the hi fi business is done by 20 percent of all dealers. With the end of fair trade near, the firm will be working closely with its best dealers, staying primarily with audio/ hi fi locations.
First franchise agreements were signed with three-store Cartridge City, Kirksville, Mo.; Mission Elec-tronics, Los Angeles; Audiocraft, Cleveland, and Palmer Stereo, Toledo. Initial outlets in the metro N.Y.-N.J. area, opening this week, are Classic Electronics on Wall Street, and Newark's Electronic City.
Although JVC is one of the prize movers (and co-developers) of the CD-4 discrete quadraphonic system, Walker emphasizes that matrix gets just as much attention in his intensive sales briefings.
"We need matrix and CD-4 side-by-side to do the job in quadraphonic," he notes. "The consumer is confused enough without having to worry about a particular system, and most manufacturers are incorporating both matrix and discrete modes in their receivers now."
Among incentives for dealers to display the full range of JVC's quadraphonic product line-receivers, demodulators, turntables-are use of a JVC MM-4 4-channel memoryscope in the demo area, "Q” incentives to salespersons, an extensive national Quadracenter promotion, and free enrollment in the new RCA Quadraphonic Record & Tape Club (Billboard, Feb. 15) to purchasers of any JVC quadraphonic component.
To help promote the Quadracenter concept, JVC will run one of the first 3-dimensional hi fi ads in the industry in the July issue of National Lampoon, viewed through special punch-out 3-D goggles. Ad will include a toll-free 800 number to call for the nearest Ouadracenter or JVC dealer. Dealers also will get special point-of-purchase material, an official Quadracenter plaque and CD-4 demo sampler disks.
At Classic Electronics in Manhattan, more than 60 percent of the hi fi business is now quadraphonic, according to the firm's Gary Cantor, due mainly to a new sound room that Walker terms among the best he's seen. A Switchcraft unit enables salesmen to shift between up to 24 receivers, 24 tape decks or turntables, and 24 pairs of speakers. Primarily quadraphonic lines are JVC, Marantz, Sherwood and Fisher.
The Electronic City Quadracenter opening in Newark is to kick off with a weekend (2-3) consumer seminar, following an intensive sales training session by Walker.
Walker will be kept busy setting up the new Quadracenters, but sees the JVC move as another vital step in getting the most important dealers in the business to sell the overall concept of quadraphonic.
March 30, 1974
Finnish First:
‘Q’ Broadcast
FINLAND-
The first major Finnish broadcast in quadraphonic has been made by the Government-controled radio, Oy Yleisradio Ab.
The presentation, which lasted six hours, featured recordings by the European Broadcasting Union and included one of the BBC's promenade concerts.
Oy Yleisradio Ab said in a statement the broadcasts should be looked upon as a basis for further discussion on the future of quadraphonic in Finland.
Finland has its own contender in the battle for quadraphonic supremacy. The Orthoperspecta, or OP-System, invented by Finnish electronics expert Tapio Koykka operates with a high-powered amplifier and a wide-range speaker.
It requires another amplifier of lesser power and two smaller speakers to complete the set-up.
The OP-System, made by Finnish TV and radio manufacturers, Salora, is claimed to be cheaper than its competitors and to provide a greater impression of depth of sound.
Finnish First:
‘Q’ Broadcast
FINLAND-
The first major Finnish broadcast in quadraphonic has been made by the Government-controled radio, Oy Yleisradio Ab.
The presentation, which lasted six hours, featured recordings by the European Broadcasting Union and included one of the BBC's promenade concerts.
Oy Yleisradio Ab said in a statement the broadcasts should be looked upon as a basis for further discussion on the future of quadraphonic in Finland.
Finland has its own contender in the battle for quadraphonic supremacy. The Orthoperspecta, or OP-System, invented by Finnish electronics expert Tapio Koykka operates with a high-powered amplifier and a wide-range speaker.
It requires another amplifier of lesser power and two smaller speakers to complete the set-up.
The OP-System, made by Finnish TV and radio manufacturers, Salora, is claimed to be cheaper than its competitors and to provide a greater impression of depth of sound.
August 25, 1973
4 Pilot 'Q' Receivers
By RADCLIFFE JOE
CHICAGO-
The Pilot Radio
Corp. has introduced four new 4-channel receivers at the Consumer Electronics Show here, under-scoring, as it did so, the attention paid to performance and reliability, by setting up a testing facility at its booth, where the company's technicians tested the units on display for power output, hum distortion and other features.
Acknowledging that the Pilot name was relatively new to the consumer electronics industry, Bill Hooper, vice president of the company said. "Because we are aware that we have a long way to go before receiving the kind of acceptance accorded some of the more proliferated names, we designed and developed the line with almost fanatical attention to performance and reliability.
Hooper added that his company felt the only way anyone could make a mark in today's high fidelity market was by standing ready to back all claims with proof.
Top of the Pilot line was the model 336 4-channel receiver, which Hooper said was capable of reproducing virtually any quadrasonic format. The unit has a Pilotone built-in balancing signal, plus four individual balance controls, and a master volume control.
Direct coupled circuits in the 366, deliver 30 watts per channel continnous power. between 20-20 KHz with all four channels driven at 8 ohms. Hooper said that in stereo operation a special circuit doubles the power available to each channel. Electronic circuit protection plus fused speaker lines are provided.
4 Pilot 'Q' Receivers
By RADCLIFFE JOE
CHICAGO-
The Pilot Radio
Corp. has introduced four new 4-channel receivers at the Consumer Electronics Show here, under-scoring, as it did so, the attention paid to performance and reliability, by setting up a testing facility at its booth, where the company's technicians tested the units on display for power output, hum distortion and other features.
Acknowledging that the Pilot name was relatively new to the consumer electronics industry, Bill Hooper, vice president of the company said. "Because we are aware that we have a long way to go before receiving the kind of acceptance accorded some of the more proliferated names, we designed and developed the line with almost fanatical attention to performance and reliability.
Hooper added that his company felt the only way anyone could make a mark in today's high fidelity market was by standing ready to back all claims with proof.
Top of the Pilot line was the model 336 4-channel receiver, which Hooper said was capable of reproducing virtually any quadrasonic format. The unit has a Pilotone built-in balancing signal, plus four individual balance controls, and a master volume control.
Direct coupled circuits in the 366, deliver 30 watts per channel continnous power. between 20-20 KHz with all four channels driven at 8 ohms. Hooper said that in stereo operation a special circuit doubles the power available to each channel. Electronic circuit protection plus fused speaker lines are provided.
August 25, 1973
Alshire Uses QS
By Sansui for 'Q'
Realizing the audiophile and mature music listener appeal of the 101 Strings Orchestra, Al Sherman put a very early foot into the 4-channel door in late June, 1971.
Sherman demonstrated his first Sansui QS encoded disks at the Consumer Electronics show in Chicago. That initial 4-channel disk release was predicated upon a very successful release of 4-channel 8-track tape some months earlier. A major component maker had come to Sherman, asking for a set of 101 Strings tape albums, which the manufacturer could package with an early 4-channel tape setup.
Sherman sampled audio manufacturers at that summer 1971 show. The feedback, both from a tape and disk standpoint was phenomenal. Soon after, 20 4-channel 8-track cartridges were available. The new "Quad Spectrum" series grew. Currently, there are 24 LP's available.
Sherman has been careful in producing 4-channel. All albums are recorded in multiple tracks with only those suitable for 4-track reproduction being made in quadrasonic. "We never have and never will ‘mickey-mouse' our 4-channel sound," Sherman pledges.
Alshire will release regular quarterly 'Q' releases. They will come about four albums at a time. Other of the Alshire labels will also feature 4-channel, but again, only when the recording and the repertoire is suitable.
Alshire Uses QS
By Sansui for 'Q'
Realizing the audiophile and mature music listener appeal of the 101 Strings Orchestra, Al Sherman put a very early foot into the 4-channel door in late June, 1971.
Sherman demonstrated his first Sansui QS encoded disks at the Consumer Electronics show in Chicago. That initial 4-channel disk release was predicated upon a very successful release of 4-channel 8-track tape some months earlier. A major component maker had come to Sherman, asking for a set of 101 Strings tape albums, which the manufacturer could package with an early 4-channel tape setup.
Sherman sampled audio manufacturers at that summer 1971 show. The feedback, both from a tape and disk standpoint was phenomenal. Soon after, 20 4-channel 8-track cartridges were available. The new "Quad Spectrum" series grew. Currently, there are 24 LP's available.
Sherman has been careful in producing 4-channel. All albums are recorded in multiple tracks with only those suitable for 4-track reproduction being made in quadrasonic. "We never have and never will ‘mickey-mouse' our 4-channel sound," Sherman pledges.
Alshire will release regular quarterly 'Q' releases. They will come about four albums at a time. Other of the Alshire labels will also feature 4-channel, but again, only when the recording and the repertoire is suitable.
August 25, 1973
AT $50 'Q' CARTRIDGE
FAIRLAWN,Ohio-
Audio-Technies U.S. Inc. here believes its new Model AT 12S phono cartridge for the CD-4 disc carries the lowest price tag currently on the market ($49.95) for a cartridge with a genuine nude Shibata diamond tip.
The cartridge, recommended for either manual or quality automatic turntables, features the patented dual magnet construction used in other AT cartridges. The Shibata tip and a tapered cantilever is said to permit optimum reproduction of CD-4 recordings, as well as reducing record wear and improving stereo or matrix disc tracking.
General manager Jon R. Kelly emphasized that the AT 12S is now in dealers stocks across the country. Explaining the low cost, he said, "Increased production brought the cost down for the only cartridge shape recommended by the inventors of the CD-4 system.”
AT $50 'Q' CARTRIDGE
FAIRLAWN,Ohio-
Audio-Technies U.S. Inc. here believes its new Model AT 12S phono cartridge for the CD-4 disc carries the lowest price tag currently on the market ($49.95) for a cartridge with a genuine nude Shibata diamond tip.
The cartridge, recommended for either manual or quality automatic turntables, features the patented dual magnet construction used in other AT cartridges. The Shibata tip and a tapered cantilever is said to permit optimum reproduction of CD-4 recordings, as well as reducing record wear and improving stereo or matrix disc tracking.
General manager Jon R. Kelly emphasized that the AT 12S is now in dealers stocks across the country. Explaining the low cost, he said, "Increased production brought the cost down for the only cartridge shape recommended by the inventors of the CD-4 system.”
August 25, 1973
Sony Corp. to Release New Quadrasonic Decoder
SAN FRANCISCO
The Sony Corp. of America will release its most recently developed quadra-sonic decoder to the consumer market this winter.
The unit, which will carry a list price of under $100, was demonstrated by marketing and product development executives of Sony at the Columbia Records convention held here last week.
The decoder, model SQD 2070, is the first by Sony to utilize the recently developed Sony Logic integrated circuits (ICs).
Another presentation of special interest to radio station executives was the newly developed Sony SQ broadcast encoder. This unit, model SQE 2000, especially designed for broadcasters, can encode SQ from four channel sources, live or taped. for transmission via existing EM stereo stations for quadrasonic reception by SQ equipped listeners.
The demonstrations were conducted both for the benefit of Columbia Records sales personnel, and various guests comprised of major record retailers, independent pro-ducers, radio executives, performing artists and personnel for CBS International's overseas companies.
Sony Corp. to Release New Quadrasonic Decoder
SAN FRANCISCO
The Sony Corp. of America will release its most recently developed quadra-sonic decoder to the consumer market this winter.
The unit, which will carry a list price of under $100, was demonstrated by marketing and product development executives of Sony at the Columbia Records convention held here last week.
The decoder, model SQD 2070, is the first by Sony to utilize the recently developed Sony Logic integrated circuits (ICs).
Another presentation of special interest to radio station executives was the newly developed Sony SQ broadcast encoder. This unit, model SQE 2000, especially designed for broadcasters, can encode SQ from four channel sources, live or taped. for transmission via existing EM stereo stations for quadrasonic reception by SQ equipped listeners.
The demonstrations were conducted both for the benefit of Columbia Records sales personnel, and various guests comprised of major record retailers, independent pro-ducers, radio executives, performing artists and personnel for CBS International's overseas companies.
September 1, 1973
KUSISTO BLASTS
'Q' CONFUSION
BERLIN
Oscar Kusisto, vice president and general manager, Motorola automotive products division. was set for press conferences here in conjunction with the Radio & TV Exhibition (see separate story) to plug the discrete quadrasonic tape and disk formats.
"Consumers have been deluged with information and misinformation" (about various systems). Ku-sisto believes, "The proliferation of matrix systems available testifies that no solid, long term benefits exist for any single matrix system. The discrete concept, on the other hand, has a natural evolution of earlier recording techniques which allows the industry great flexibility of recording and provides maximum
ambience.
"It is up to those of us in the tape industry to honestly inform the consumer of the differences in the various configurations... The industry badly needs 4-channel standards and better education to halt the wave of confusion that exists in the 4-channel marketplace."
KUSISTO BLASTS
'Q' CONFUSION
BERLIN
Oscar Kusisto, vice president and general manager, Motorola automotive products division. was set for press conferences here in conjunction with the Radio & TV Exhibition (see separate story) to plug the discrete quadrasonic tape and disk formats.
"Consumers have been deluged with information and misinformation" (about various systems). Ku-sisto believes, "The proliferation of matrix systems available testifies that no solid, long term benefits exist for any single matrix system. The discrete concept, on the other hand, has a natural evolution of earlier recording techniques which allows the industry great flexibility of recording and provides maximum
ambience.
"It is up to those of us in the tape industry to honestly inform the consumer of the differences in the various configurations... The industry badly needs 4-channel standards and better education to halt the wave of confusion that exists in the 4-channel marketplace."
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/orthoperspecta-anyone.15904/
http://www.salora.name/radiot/tekniikka/SALORA_orthoperspecta/SALORA_orthoperspecta.htm
It seems to me that surround sound doesn't need to be so complicated, just 4 full range speakers arranged in a square with the listener in the center, none of these unusual frequency range restrictions on certain channels.
Kirk Bayne
http://www.salora.name/radiot/tekniikka/SALORA_orthoperspecta/SALORA_orthoperspecta.htm
It seems to me that surround sound doesn't need to be so complicated, just 4 full range speakers arranged in a square with the listener in the center, none of these unusual frequency range restrictions on certain channels.
Kirk Bayne
