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The Media Network Vintage Vault 2024-2025


November 2024 - A message from Jonathan Marks, producer Media Network.  Yes, we're still here although my other work has meant I have little time for shortwave these days. I've started sorting out some off-air archives in the audio-only selections. It's true, radio has a terrible memory. (I'm delighted to learn that the British Vintage Wireless Society is still going strong https://www.bvws.org.uk ) Now you know why I am publishing old editions of Media Network here on this site, as well as some of the off-air recordings of stations I monitored in the 80's and 90's as part of the research for the programme. I'm simply looking for ways to capture more unique stories that I believe need to be told before we all forget. I realise that in 1000 editions of Media Network, we had only just begun the scratch the surface. So at this time of reflection, I'd just like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement as the archive project enters a new phase.   First time visitor? I'm Jonathan Marks. If this is the first time you've visited the vault, then I'm glad you dropped by! There are over 660 editions of Media Network, representing just over half the episodes that we made and broadcast from the Radio Netherlands' studios in Hilversum. I'm pleased to say most survived in excellent studio quality (quite often in stereo). 

Aug 16, 2014

I remember going on a trip to the BASF chemical factory in Ludwigshafen, Germany. We went to see why Chrome Dioxide cassette tape was such a superior recording medium. At that time, there were stories in the scientific press that audio and data could be stored in "bubble memory". BASF said that this was a long way off. In this programme the prediction was that solid state memory with a capacity of 650MB might be around by 2014. It shows how difficult it is to predict the rapid advance of techology, since some of the high end iPads now have 128 GB of solid-state storage. The machine I'm using for this entry has 256 GB. 


Anthony
almost eleven years ago

BASF Chromdioxid tape was THE pacesetter in terms of audio performance and value;crisp clear and clean sharp sound, lower tape noise, good low end bass, decent midrange and crystal clear highs, the performance was that good. BASF Chromdioxid video cassettes were equally remarkable performers too, low levels of picture grain and fizz, vividly good colour reproduction, remarkable staying power and quality at slower speeds on good performance VHS machines and indeed Super VHS machines where BASF S-VHS tapes were used, low dropout rates, superb crystal clear HiFi VHS Stereo audio combined with excellent NICAM Stereo/Zweiton A2 Stereo reproduction and FM Simulcast recordings and reasonable linear stereo sound performance (much better with Dolby B noise reduction selected on these decks though where available).

Anthony
almost eleven years ago

BASF Chromdioxid and all it's variants delivered excellent crystal clear sound with bright crisp highs excellent midranges and very good bass content with lower hiss and background noise than regular normalbias type I 120uS ferric cassettes while BASF Chromdioxide video cassettes deliver sharp images vivid colours low dropout rates with lower grain crisp details and dynamic clear HiFi VHS Stereo sound.