Massive Folk Music collection collated by Alan Lomax goes online

Folklorist Alan Lomax spent his career documenting folk music traditions from around the world some from as far back as the 1930's.

Thousands of the songs and interviews he recorded are now available for free online, many for the first time. It's part of what Lomax envisioned for the collection — long before the age of the Internet.

Lomax recorded a staggering amount of folk music. He worked from the 1930s to the '90s, and traveled from the Deep South to the mountains of West Virginia, all the way to Europe, the Caribbean and Asia. When it came time to bring all of those hours of sound into the digital era, the people in charge of the Lomax archive weren't quite sure how to tackle the problem.

Steinway agrees to sale

The Steinway Musical Instruments has been producing piano's for over 160 years and

has recently agreed to a takeover offer that values the company at over Au$565 million.

Read more here.

Changes to Wireless Microphone Frequencies

Highlighting an upcoming technical issue
Do you use a wireless mic in your band, venue or business? There's close to 200,000 units in use in Australia so there is a strong chance that you need to use one from time to time. 

We're all aware of the introduction of digital TV and the shift in channels, along with the (slow) introduction of Digital Radio (DAB). To allow that to happen there is also re-organisation of the Wireless Frequency Band for other equipment throughout Australia.

A portion of this spectrum either has or will be auctioned and made available for the use of mobile digital devices following the switch to digital TV that is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. The sale and re-use of this spectrum is known as the "digital dividend".

How will this affect you and other users that have to vacate the 694MHz to 820Mhz frequency band.  Read on:

Up to 80% of current equipment (around 150,000 units) may have to be switched off from 1st Jan 2015

Over $200 million worth of equipment could be made redundant

Fines (or Jail) could be enforced for use of the equipment after 1st Jan 2015 

Obviously without some information from the Federal Government there is a great deal of confusion, According to AWAG as of 9th August 2013 there have been no replies that adequately address the issue.

So what can be done in the interim?

If you are buying new equipment or need to replace current equipment, ensure that it complies with the post 1st Jan 2015 legislation.

Purchase new wireless systems that are agile ( multi-frequency ) so that they can be operated outside of the current TV bandwidth.

We would strongly recommend visiting the AWAG website for a complete run down of the situation, There are also documents explaining the work done so far in alerting the Federal Government to the matter.  

Also signing this petition will give weight to the industry concerns. Not least would be gaining some financial compensation for the considerable expense that all concerned will have to go through.

 More details available on the ACETA and AWAG website: Click the image below:

     

Vale Wayne Smith - Chapple Magnetics

It's a sad day when you hear of the passing of a work colleague and no more so than good friend Wayne Smith from Chapple Magnetics in Melbourne

I was contacted by Simon Murphy from FujiFilm this morning who passed on the sad news. 

I only spoke with Wayne a few weeks ago and he was his normal vibrant self, no hint of a problem and we discussed catching up at this year's Entech as our paths don't cross as often as they used to with the massive changes in our Industry.

Although we were to some degree competitors in business our friendship surpassed that and I'm sad to hear that he passed away on Friday (cause yet to be determined). 63 is way too young.

I raise a glass to you Wayne,

and condolences to your family

RIP my friend

Mark Whitehouse

Manager 

and friends at ProCopy

How does the oldest surviving English Style Grand Piano Sound?

 How does the oldest surviving English Style Grand Piano Sound

The oldest-surviving English grand piano, one of the first ever made, was built by the piano maker Americus Backers in London in 1772 and has now been returned by English Heritage to the home of its former owner, the Duke of Wellington.

The Today programme's reporter Tom Bateman went to hear it being played by Pianist and composer Professor David Owen Norris.

Link to the audio of the oldest surviving English Style Grand Piano here