Found an article here today.
https://thecarverystudio.com/randys-records-studio-17/
Studio 17
Dusty place innit?
Lathes in Jamaica
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audiosteam
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Re: Lathes in Jamaica
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Last edited by audiosteam on Wed Sep 13, 2023 2:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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audiosteam
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Re: Lathes in Jamaica
The one from Studio One uncropped in higher resolution.
taken from here https://thevinylfactory.com/features/remembering-joseph-hoo-kim-reggae-producer-channel-one/
the article shows a few more nice studio pics and a small press.
taken from here https://thevinylfactory.com/features/remembering-joseph-hoo-kim-reggae-producer-channel-one/
the article shows a few more nice studio pics and a small press.
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Dub Studio
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Re: Lathes in Jamaica
A mastering engineer by the name of Geovanni Simpson from Dynamic has an impressive 5954 credits on discogs. Does anyone have any information about him?dietrich10 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11, 2023 10:52 amthey had a 2nd VMS70 in a different room sort of hidden from the main room. I believe one of the VMS is still there with some pressing gear
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Aussie0zborn
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Re: Lathes in Jamaica
What I found interesting about Jamaica is that almost eveybnody I met there had released a record! For a country of 3 million people, they had at least eight pressing plants (not all operated at the same time) and a vibrant music scene. The equipment they used may not have been the most up to date state of the art equipment, but they made it work.
Equally interesting is that there are no reggae clubs there and if you ask where you can go to listen to reggae music, they simply don't know.
The VMS70 at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong factory was stripped down and in disarray when I saw it but was installed in a very nice purpose-built room, which was off limits to visitors so I was quite lucky to see it. I hope it sbeen restored and functional now. Other facilities such as Arrow Studio had a Scully with the first Vinylium "Pitch" system and lots of Ramsteele equipment in the rack, as well as a Presto 8D or 8G lathe with a mono cutterhead. It's all gone now. The plating facility was incredibly antiquated but it worked for them until the owner was shot dead at the front door (RIP) exacty where I had been waiting for his son to come and open up. No wonder he was nervous about me standing there waiting for him and even more nervous when I waited on the same spot for my taxi driver to come back. He suggested I wait on the corner. I didn't know why until I later learned of his father's fate on that doorstep.
Other VMS70s were at Dynamic Sounds (they're gone too, now) and in recent years another one popped up but disappeared just as fast as it appeared. Even nearvby Barabados had a VMS70 with an SP77 console so while the region had some good gear, its hard to say they pressed the best quality records. With Tuff Gong starting presisng again with a new press, one would assume their quality is to an international standard now.
Ofcourse, we will never forget the photo of that old Neuman lathe dumoped outside. I wonder what happened to it.
Equally interesting is that there are no reggae clubs there and if you ask where you can go to listen to reggae music, they simply don't know.
The VMS70 at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong factory was stripped down and in disarray when I saw it but was installed in a very nice purpose-built room, which was off limits to visitors so I was quite lucky to see it. I hope it sbeen restored and functional now. Other facilities such as Arrow Studio had a Scully with the first Vinylium "Pitch" system and lots of Ramsteele equipment in the rack, as well as a Presto 8D or 8G lathe with a mono cutterhead. It's all gone now. The plating facility was incredibly antiquated but it worked for them until the owner was shot dead at the front door (RIP) exacty where I had been waiting for his son to come and open up. No wonder he was nervous about me standing there waiting for him and even more nervous when I waited on the same spot for my taxi driver to come back. He suggested I wait on the corner. I didn't know why until I later learned of his father's fate on that doorstep.
Other VMS70s were at Dynamic Sounds (they're gone too, now) and in recent years another one popped up but disappeared just as fast as it appeared. Even nearvby Barabados had a VMS70 with an SP77 console so while the region had some good gear, its hard to say they pressed the best quality records. With Tuff Gong starting presisng again with a new press, one would assume their quality is to an international standard now.
Ofcourse, we will never forget the photo of that old Neuman lathe dumoped outside. I wonder what happened to it.
Re: Lathes in Jamaica
Sadly, most of the younger people there can not operate the equipment anymore.
If you listen to the actual stuff that comes from jamaica, sound quality is very often
ultra terrible, bad recorded and mixed... only the big artists have good sound engineers.
they listen to the music everywhere, in the car, bus, at dances at night, don´t worry,
there are still a lot soundsystems arround
If you listen to the actual stuff that comes from jamaica, sound quality is very often
ultra terrible, bad recorded and mixed... only the big artists have good sound engineers.
they listen to the music everywhere, in the car, bus, at dances at night, don´t worry,
there are still a lot soundsystems arround
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Dub Studio
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Re: Lathes in Jamaica
This is a lazy stereotype, and I don't think its true. King Tubby smoked weed too, right? Well no, by all accounts, he didn't.andybee wrote: ↑Fri Sep 15, 2023 8:05 amSadly, most of the younger people there can not operate the equipment anymore.
If you listen to the actual stuff that comes from jamaica, sound quality is very often
ultra terrible, bad recorded and mixed... only the big artists have good sound engineers.
they listen to the music everywhere, in the car, bus, at dances at night, don´t worry,
there are still a lot soundsystems arround
Maybe all the old gear is sitting there covered in dust, but so were some of Schubert's lost works until someone found them on a trip to Germany and brought them back to life.
Things change, and people move on. People may have moved on from vinyl in Jamaica, but that doesn't mean everthing else has gone downhill. There are plenty of people who can record and mix, and I am sure there are plenty of newbies who aren't so good but they could improve with time. Same as everywhere else. Why is Jamaica any different?
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Dub Studio
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Re: Lathes in Jamaica
So an acquaintance of mine, who visited Tubby's studio to work with him, remembered seeing a Presto lathe in the corner of the room.
This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhLfddqlh3c (0:39) shows a tantalising glimpse of what looks like a Presto Type 125-A microscope (see: https://archive.org/details/PrestoCatalog1940/page/n33/mode/2up)
Further digging unearthed a photo from a book on Tubby, showing a Presto 6N lathe with what looks like a Grampian cutting head... not sure what type:
This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhLfddqlh3c (0:39) shows a tantalising glimpse of what looks like a Presto Type 125-A microscope (see: https://archive.org/details/PrestoCatalog1940/page/n33/mode/2up)
Further digging unearthed a photo from a book on Tubby, showing a Presto 6N lathe with what looks like a Grampian cutting head... not sure what type: