Big Ol' Analog Gets The Heave-Ho
Analog broadcasts will be turned off today. Forever. Snif. Another clunky piece of 20th century technology kicked to the curb. You think all that analog equipment doesn't have feelings? I guess I've seen The Brave Little Toaster too many times.We are among the 15% of American households that don't have cable or satellite. So tonight comes the test: did we or didn't we hook up our converter box correctly?
Here's a common misconception about the switch-over to digital: No more rabbit ears. In fact, if you don't have cable, you need an antenna and a converter box.
From this point forward, TV historians might distinguish the analog age of TV from the digital age, with the analog age of course seeming more primitive. They will have no other way to explain things like reality shows and Dancing with the Stars.
Doesn't technology usually fade into disuse more quietly, while no one is looking? It just seems so crass to take such a widely used system and shut it down on a specific day. Hmmpf!
Thank goodness not everything has been digitized yet. The other day Roger told me of a recording studio he went to, where the owner uses analog equipment to achieve a certain effect. Analog aficionados say tape has a warmer tone, a "brown sound."
Well, it's time to go turn on the TV and see if we are counted among the living or are stranded in analog purgatory.
Analog, we will miss ye. Ah, the world where everything changed smoothly...
ReplyDeleteBTW -- if you DO get a converter box and some rabbit ears, the reception is supposed to be moi better than it was with analog...
So sad! I'm going to be an analog aficionado. I still miss the weird coloring of 1970s tv.
ReplyDeleteOn a semi-different note: i want to play the moog and vibraphones.
I was thinking of linking your other analog post to my blog. I'm too lazy to keep up with the times.
I like the wierd coloring of 1970's TV too!
ReplyDeleteAndi, I think you should definitely play the moog and vibraphones. I think this should be a goal of yours.
Wouldn't it be awesome if we could start an experimental group? You could play the moog and vibes. I would occasionally add some riffs on the violin, just as an accent.
I would love that--we could do weird harmonies with our voices--but no words--just sounds...as another accent.
ReplyDeleteI just need to find a cheap moog and vibes...I guess we could start with a guitar and accordion. I already have those instruments. :)
Don't forget the theramin! Now you're talking my kind of music.
ReplyDelete