Return of Kershaw

**johncorrigan** · 19-09-20, 07:16

Thanks for that, Global. Andy did the rounds with his cassette over the years. A quick glance at the R3 world music archive shows him in Haiti; North Korea, Iraq and Iran (as part of his Axis of Evil trilogy

); Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mali (with Ali Farka Toure), Sardinia and Corsica among others. Some great shows in there. I'll be tuning in!

**johncorrigan** · 22-09-20, 07:39

Started with the typically inappropriate comment from Andy calling his Walkman Pro the 'AK-47 of recording devices'! Nevertheless, in a really enthusiastic and enjoyable programme, Andy visits a shop in Yorkshire where one Any Wilkinson gives a very clear reason why Andy's Walkman has lasted for over thirty years, through the sands of Timbuktu and rivers of Equatorial Guinea. Some great recordings from his kitchen in Crouch End...I saw Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in Perth, and Ali Farka Toure in Glasgow on the back of hearing them on Kershaw's old radio 1 show...memorable gigs.

Sunday Feature - Andy's Kitchen and On the Road in Africa - BBC Sounds

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000mrgj

Andy Kershaw introduces rare recordings from his personal archive.

**Bryn** · 22-09-20, 08:26

Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post

Started with the typically inappropriate comment from Andy calling his Walkman Pro the 'AK-47 of recording devices'! Nevertheless, in a really enthusiastic and enjoyable programme, Andy visits a shop in Yorkshire where one Any Wilkinson gives a very clear reason why Andy's Walkman has lasted for over thirty years, through the sands of Timbuktu and rivers of Equatorial Guinea. Some great recordings from his kitchen in Crouch End...I saw Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in Perth, and Ali Farka Toure in Glasgow on the back of hearing them on Kershaw's old radio 1 show...memorable gigs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000mrgj

Hmm. My Walkman Pro (admittedly and early version, sans the problematic Dolby C) had to go back to Sony twice in the first year due to what were basically design faults. When working properly, with the right tape for its Dolby B calibration, it was a very fine device, but hurrah for the introduction of even more portable high-end MiniDisc recorders and an even louder hurrah for modern solid-state devices such as the Zoom "Handy Recorder" range.

Though not up to the audio quality of ambisonic recording solutions costing more than 4 times a much, the Zoom H3-VR is an amazing compact ambisonic recording tool. I see that Zoom have now launched a new flagship "Handy Recorder", the H8, along with an optional ambisonic capsule array, the VRH-8. The VRH-8 looks to have the same capsules as the H3-VR. If so, unless one want to use the VRH-8 along with other microphone inputs to the H8, I think a separate H3-VR would be a better option.

**eighthobstruction** · 22-09-20, 11:15

....excellent thankyou....memories....

**Globaltruth** · 22-09-20, 14:50

Originally posted by Bryn View Post

Hmm. My Walkman Pro (admittedly and early version, sans the problematic Dolby C) had to go back to Sony twice in the first year due to what were basically design faults. When working properly, with the right tape for its Dolby B calibration, it was a very fine device, but hurrah for the introduction of even more portable high-end MiniDisc recorders and an even louder hurrah for modern solid-state devices such as the Zoom "Handy Recorder" range.

Though not up to the audio quality of ambisonic recording solutions costing more than 4 times a much, the Zoom H3-VR is an amazing compact ambisonic recording tool. I see that Zoom have now launched a new flagship "Handy Recorder", the H8, along with an optional ambisonic capsule array, the VRH-8. The VRH-8 looks to have the same capsules as the H3-VR. If so, unless one want to use the VRH-8 along with other microphone inputs to the H8, I think a separate H3-VR would be a better option.

I'm a fan of the Zoom - I use a clunky old H5 with a couple of separate mike option capsules, each with a hairy sock! Quality is fine for what I want - mainly external field recordings.
I can't see the reason to upgrade to the H8 - although it is wonderfully small. I'm surmising you're not an H8 owner, just seen the spec?

I will listen to AK of course at some point....

**Bryn** · 22-09-20, 15:55

Originally posted by Globaltruth View Post

I'm a fan of the Zoom - I use a clunky old H5 with a couple of separate mike option capsules, each with a hairy sock! Quality is fine for what I want - mainly external field recordings.
I can't see the reason to upgrade to the H8 - although it is wonderfully small. I'm surmising you're not an H8 owner, just seen the spec?

I will listen to AK of course at some point....

No H8 here, and no plans to get one. I am a bit overloaded with Zoon devices, even after recently selling my trusty H4n to a friend. The H2n is a very handy device to carry with one most of the time. The H3-VR makes more than passable ambisonic recordings while being very portable (I strung mine up, inverted, above the performance space, using fishing line, for a performance of Tom Philips' IRMA last summer. I was very pleased with the mix-down to 5.1 surround. Where there is room to set such up, I also use a RØDE NT-SF1 with a Zoom F4. Unfortunately, that setup really needs an external power supply since the F4 eats batteries (8 AA 2,800 mAH NiMHs) in an hour or two. The H5 is a beaut. For 2 channel stereo recordings, I use one with a vertically coincident pair of large diaphragm condensers (AT4033a) with the upper one inverted over the lower one. When they were released, I made the error of purchasing a Tascam DR-100 Mk III on the basis of its claimed digital input option. Turned out it cut out altogether if the digital signal fell below -54 dB so useless for backing up digital transfer of 'classical' music with very quiet passages.

**Globaltruth** · 23-09-20, 07:19

Originally posted by Bryn View Post

No H8 here, and no plans to get one. I am a bit overloaded with Zoon devices, even after recently selling my trusty H4n to a friend. The H2n is a very handy device to carry with one most of the time. The H3-VR makes more than passable ambisonic recordings while being very portable (I strung mine up, inverted, above the performance space, using fishing line, for a performance of Tom Philips' IRMA last summer. I was very pleased with the mix-down to 5.1 surround. Where there is room to set such up, I also use a RØDE NT-SF1 with a Zoom F4. Unfortunately, that setup really needs an external power supply since the F4 eats batteries (8 AA 2,800 mAH NiMHs) in an hour or two. The H5 is a beaut. For 2 channel stereo recordings, I use one with a vertically coincident pair of large diaphragm condensers (AT4033a) with the upper one inverted over the lower one. When they were released, I made the error of purchasing a Tascam DR-100 Mk III on the basis of its claimed digital input option. Turned out it cut out altogether if the digital signal fell below -54 dB so useless for backing up digital transfer of 'classical' music with very quiet passages.

Thank you - I’ll look into the AT4033a, I also need to be able to pick up low level sounds which is problematic currently .

I've now set up a separate thread in the Techie area called 'Friends of Zoom', kicked off with a copy of your recent post Bryn.. Hope I can tempt you to post there Bryn, always interested to hear more details of how you obtain the best results from this tech.

**Globaltruth** · 23-09-20, 12:38

Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post

Started with the typically inappropriate comment from Andy calling his Walkman Pro the 'AK-47 of recording devices'! Nevertheless, in a really enthusiastic and enjoyable programme, Andy visits a shop in Yorkshire where one Any Wilkinson gives a very clear reason why Andy's Walkman has lasted for over thirty years, through the sands of Timbuktu and rivers of Equatorial Guinea. Some great recordings from his kitchen in Crouch End...I saw Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in Perth, and Ali Farka Toure in Glasgow on the back of hearing them on Kershaw's old radio 1 show...memorable gigs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000mrgj

Variable I thought - no criticism of the quality which was amazing, however some of the choices fell into the 'you had to be there' category for me.

**johncorrigan** · 23-09-20, 16:57

Ask P.S.,Global...he was probably there.

**Globaltruth** · 24-09-20, 08:05

Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post

Ask P.S.,Global...he was probably there.

**DracoM** · 24-09-20, 08:30

Pity this thread got a bit mired in the tech of AK's back history.
Thought the music was the justification and fine, part of a heritage of its own.
Good on yer, Andy!

**Forget It (U2079353)** · 24-09-20, 09:01

happy days

**johncorrigan** · 24-09-20, 11:40

Originally posted by Forget It (U2079353) View Post

happy days

Nice one, F I. Looking forward to a bit more Andy this weekend. Wish he was around the airwaves a bit more often.

**Serial_Apologist** · 24-09-20, 14:31

Originally posted by Forget It (U2079353) View Post

happy days

Appeeling?

Return of Kershaw

Return of Kershaw

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