HydrogenAudio

Music Discussion => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: melvin.crane on 2008-12-11 09:13:19

Title: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: melvin.crane on 2008-12-11 09:13:19
Hi,  I was wondering if anyone had any alternatives to the steve hoffman forums.  I like the talk about music and the depth of knowledge of some of the members and the fact that a few industry people hang out there (although most seem to get fed up and leave after a while).  But I can't stand the humourlessness, the insane over sensitivity, the hyperactive and heavy handed moderation, the nuking of any posts or threads that are in the least bit interesting, the pervasive acceptance of snake oil, the worship of flat transfers as the holy grail, the questionable ethics of the owner, I could go on.

So, do any of the HA people know of a somewhat audiophile music type forum with a large quality base, possibly including some pros, active discussions, sane moderation, etc.  I like HA, but there really isn't a whole lot of music talk here.

Cheers.
Title: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: LDM on 2008-12-14 20:44:40
First post, cheers (was banned when I registered...)!

Erm, you're not gonna do much "better" than the Hoffman boards.  Personally, I love it there and have never experienced any problems; have heard some horror stories there.  I mainly go there to research rare, great-sounding pressings of CDs rather than participate in music discussion.

Specifically, what problems have you had?
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: foothilla on 2016-09-06 05:29:02
Hi,  I was wondering if anyone had any alternatives to the steve hoffman forums.  I like the talk about music and the depth of knowledge of some of the members and the fact that a few industry people hang out there (although most seem to get fed up and leave after a while).  But I can't stand the humourlessness, the insane over sensitivity, the hyperactive and heavy handed moderation, the nuking of any posts or threads that are in the least bit interesting, the pervasive acceptance of snake oil, the worship of flat transfers as the holy grail, the questionable ethics of the owner, I could go on.

So, do any of the HA people know of a somewhat audiophile music type forum with a large quality base, possibly including some pros, active discussions, sane moderation, etc.  I like HA, but there really isn't a whole lot of music talk here.

Cheers.

I have also found several things that I don't like about Steve's forum.
 
1) It's hyper-sensitively over moderated.
2) It's loaded with Steve Hoffman fan boys that meltdown if you dare question anything his highness says.
3) If you logically question any of Steve's comments or perspectives, the thread disappears.

I too wish there was a less sensitive place to discuss music.

Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: foothilla on 2016-09-06 05:48:49
Specifically, what problems have you had?

I just had an issue that I found highly annoying.  Steve repeatedly stated his preference for flat mastering transfers.  He went as far as saying that even if the source tape sounds "off" or "wacky" or "less than optimal", he still prefers a mastering engineer to do a flat transfer.

That seemed preposterous to me.  Any novice mastering engineer is capable of doing a flat transfer.  If all you are going for is a flat transfer, why would you hire a Steve Hoffman, or a Kevin Grey, or a Robert Ludwig?  I made that point in a thread that was 10 years old, and the thread was quickly torn down.  A 10 year old thread filled with interesting perspectives, torn down.

Why?  Well, I can only assume that Steve realized that his comments devalued the entire mastering process.  His comments actually insulted his entire profession.  Why am I going to hire Steve Hoffman if he is just going to do a simple, flat transfer?  That isn't mastering at all, it's just transferring.

Instead of addressing his questionable comments, he just deleted the entire thread.  There were 10 years of perspectives and energy put into that thread.  Hundreds of people put time into that thread, just to have it deleted because Steve's love of flat transfers was logically called into question.  It's Steve's forum, but it's the member's time and participation that make the forum as successful as it it.  So, to me, it comes off as unappreciative and disrespectful to the members to handle it that way.  Steve is human, he isn't a perfect god, like many make him out to be.  If he and his fan boys were a little more accepting of fair criticism it would be a much better place to spend your time.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Apesbrain on 2016-09-06 14:49:58
In my experience the things you describe are "part and parcel" of music discussion forums.  Anyway, you might enjoy this:
http://microdynamiks.blogspot.com/2015/08/chapter-1-little-background-on-infamous.html

Just try to take it with a grain and have fun there.  Many participants are funny and helpful.

Also: http://bfy.tw/7Yvf
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: apastuszak on 2016-09-08 02:24:40
The things that annoy me with the Steve Hoffman forums is:

1. The overabundance of preference for "hi-res" music.  You'll hear someone praise a current re-release of some classic album and someone will eventually say "as good as you think the CD layer is, the album really shines when you listen to the SACD layer."  Unless the SACD layer was mastered of mixed differently, it's going to sound the same as the CD layer.

2. The insane love of vinyl and it's supposed superiority to digital.  Find the thread on the Dire Straits albums Brothers in Arms, where it was discussed how they started recording the album on analog tape, but due to issues with the tape wearing out, they switched to digital.  There were a few guys that wanted those analog tapes found and pressed to vinyl, because digital has ruined music..

3.  The belief that anything done by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, Digital Compact Classics, or Audio Fidelity is always far superior to any other version of an album.

Other than those 3 points, it is a great place to research which master of an older album is worth getting.

I can't post there anymore since I was banned, but when I am looking for an older album I usually go there and read through the threads.  I was just researching "Tapestry" by Carole King last month.  Was kind of interesting to find that the master tapes for that classic album were lost and all CD pressings used a second hand copy, till the master tapes were found in a box in someone's basement.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: edwardar on 2016-09-08 20:23:16
Here's an interesting thread from the Steve Hoffman forums.  Someone discovered that one of the Simon & Garfunkel Audio Fidelity CDs was sourced from a 1980s CD (NOT the original master tapes as claimed).  The thread was closed...

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/af-to-do-simon-garfunkels-parsley-sage-rosemary-and-thyme.203582/page-31

I still think there's a lot of interesting stuff to read on there, but I ignore all the vinyl-worship.  I'm more interested in discovering good music!
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Goratrix on 2016-09-08 20:37:56
3.  The belief that anything done by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, Digital Compact Classics, or Audio Fidelity is always far superior to any other version of an album.

You forgot Japanese first pressings :)

I can't post there anymore since I was banned, but when I am looking for an older album I usually go there and read through the threads.

Lol, me too. Could not resist a thread about the "sound" of CD transports...
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: greynol on 2016-09-08 21:25:14
Japanese first pressings
...West-German target as well.

Believe it or not, some of the "Japanese first pressings" I've looked into contain readily obvious errors in the audio data that other pressings do not have.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: greynol on 2016-09-08 22:08:32
Someone discovered that one of the Simon & Garfunkel Audio Fidelity CDs was sourced from a 1980s CD (NOT the original master tapes as claimed).
I only skimmed the thread, but did he not begin with gushing praise over the release like just about every other sh.tv fanboy?

If so, what does this tell you?
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Hotsoup on 2016-09-08 22:09:30
One of the links in post 4 pointed me towards the Stereo Central forums. I had no idea that existed. It seems like most of the threads are poking fun at SHTV members or are parodies of SHTV threads. It had me cracking up for a while..
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Porcus on 2016-09-09 10:50:18
Believe it or not, some of the "Japanese first pressings" I've looked into contain readily obvious errors in the audio data that other pressings do not have.

Ah, so it does indeed matter! :-o
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: garym on 2016-09-09 13:12:10
One of the links in post 4 pointed me towards the Stereo Central forums. I had no idea that existed. It seems like most of the threads are poking fun at SHTV members or are parodies of SHTV threads. It had me cracking up for a while..

Yes, hilarious
http://stereocentral.tv/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=9&sid=27f1ccd6ff2ea94ccc4c0ddacc68489a
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Porcus on 2016-09-09 15:50:53
Funny for about five minutes, then it became predictable. (Did stereocentral last longer?)
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Hotsoup on 2016-09-09 16:37:38
Funny for about five minutes, then it became predictable. (Did stereocentral last longer?)
I wasted a good hour there at least, but then I needed a shower.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Porcus on 2016-09-09 17:02:00
but then I needed a shower.
You pig! :-p
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: foothilla on 2016-09-09 18:17:43
This is what I don't get about the reverence for Steve Hoffman....

All over his forum Hoffman states that in mastering he prefers completely flat transfers (even if the source tape is "off", "wacky", or "less than optimal").  That's not mastering at all, that's just transferring.  Any novice mastering engineer is capable of doing a flat transfer.  Yea, flat transfers are great if you're dealing with a fantastic source tape.  But, when the source tape is lacking, that is where quality mastering can really make a difference (but, NOT if you just transfer it flat, like Hoffman).

Hoffman holds this stupid belief that a mastering engineer should just get out of the way and have no input on altering the sound of a source tape.  The recording and mixing engineers greatly impact the sound of the source tape, so if a quality mastering engineer can improve upon the source tape why shouldn't he?

Basically, Hoffman cherry picks recordings that have great source tapes, and then he just does a flat transfer on the industry's best equipment.  He isn't really doing anything.  He's just transferring quality source tapes on excellent gear, and then getting treated like a god for doing a simple, flat transfer.  It shows how little the supposed "audiophiles" understand about the recording/mixing/mastering process.

When you can take a lacking source tape and master it to sound brilliant (i.e. Robert Ludwig), that is when you should be revered.  Hoffman's simple flat transfers don't impress me in the least.  Again, any novice can do a flat transfer.  To make it worse, Hoffman's ego is running wild because the uninformed masses worship his ability to take a beautiful source tape and simply transfer it.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Groschi on 2016-09-10 11:15:45
Quote
Hoffman's simple flat transfers don't impress me in the least.  Again, any novice can do a flat transfer.  To make it worse, Hoffman's ego is running wild because the uninformed masses worship his ability to take a beautiful source tape and simply transfer it.

True. Although i think it's perfectly legitimate to produce CDs that sound exactly like the master tapes. If some people like it, that's fine.
However, it seems Steve Hoffman likes to put tubes in the signal path. That totally negates the "flat transfer" idea, adding coloration and distortion you may or may not find subjectively pleasing.

I guess in the audiophile world vintage technology=gooood.
Distortion makes it sound realer than the real thing, as long as it's analog and outdated.

Again, it's totally legitimate to use any gear or effect to shape the sound, but it contradicts what Steve Hoffman is claiming to achieve.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: krabapple on 2016-09-12 16:57:32
This is what I don't get about the reverence for Steve Hoffman....

All over his forum Hoffman states that in mastering he prefers completely flat transfers (even if the source tape is "off", "wacky", or "less than optimal").  That's not mastering at all, that's just transferring.  Any novice mastering engineer is capable of doing a flat transfer.  Yea, flat transfers are great if you're dealing with a fantastic source tape.  But, when the source tape is lacking, that is where quality mastering can really make a difference (but, NOT if you just transfer it flat, like Hoffman).

Hoffman holds this stupid belief that a mastering engineer should just get out of the way and have no input on altering the sound of a source tape.  The recording and mixing engineers greatly impact the sound of the source tape, so if a quality mastering engineer can improve upon the source tape why shouldn't he?


Historically 'mastering' only came into existence because what was on the tape often could not be 'flat transferred' to vinyl.  A 'mastering' step , in other words, was a consequence of the limitations of the final consumer delivery format, not any deficiencies of the master tape.  The idea that mixdown master tapes might be somehow routinely 'lacking' came later.  (Mastering also encompasses things like, adjusting overall track levels to make the album 'hang together', and also, inserting spaces between tracks.)

It is of course possible that a master tape really might need some help -- e.g. mixed by a coked-up sleep-deprived engineer with a cold, over a system deficient in either bass or treble.  They mixed it to sound good to them, at the time. That gets us to the ever-lasting, almost philosophical  issue of 'is what I hear at home anything like what they heard in the recording suite'?

Anyway, how 'mastering' came to be a routine step even for a format that is practically transparent, is an interesting question, and I'm not sure the story has ever been told in full.


Quote
Basically, Hoffman cherry picks recordings that have great source tapes, and then he just does a flat transfer on the industry's best equipment.

In fairness, not always.  He has claimed that some tapes he worked with needed 'help', for sure.  And whether he uses the 'best' equipment is debatable.  And of course, there's his fondness for using tube stages during mastering.


Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: eagleray on 2016-09-12 22:34:13
I recall there are such things as two and three mike recordings.  Nothing is close miked.  The center mike (when used) is split to left and right channels during the recording session, so a mix in the usual sense of the word is not used.  For a while there were direct to disk recording where the master stamping disk was cut during the recording session with no tape involved.  One lovely track I recall was Thelma Houston singing I've Got The Music in Me.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: old tech on 2016-11-29 04:03:09
The SH forum is a great resource for finding good music and the better CD and LP versions of any album.

Many of their members are in the "analog is best" camp so it does take a while to get a hang of the site and the subjective viewpoints of many members.  For example, while there is never total agreement on which mastering or CD or LP version is best, I find where a majority converge it is usually borne out in practice.  I also tend to avoid masterings that many describe as "analog sounding" as they inevitably are masterings which are dull with a mid bass emphasis and no top end.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: rw11 on 2016-11-29 05:05:43
it sounds like we need to get the alien spaceship to train their devinylizer on the SH forum and let loose
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Apesbrain on 2016-11-29 13:58:17
it sounds like we need to get the alien spaceship to train their devinylizer on the SH forum and let loose
Why? We need more "live and let live", not less.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: rw11 on 2016-11-29 20:15:08
they'd still be alive - just w/o vinyl to discuss

or did you mean the vinyl system was too 'live'?
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: MrMonkey on 2017-06-01 14:50:43
Anyone know what happened to the Stereo Central forums?  All I see is "This board has no forums" when I visit http://stereocentral.tv/phpbb/index.php .
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Hotsoup on 2017-06-01 15:20:10
Anyone know what happened to the Stereo Central forums?  All I see is "This board has no forums" when I visit http://stereocentral.tv/phpbb/index.php .
I noticed that too, and it didn't appear to let you register either.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Pepzhez on 2017-06-02 08:14:56
I am an administrator over at Stereo Central. The service provider had a catastrophic failure, which they keep promising to fix—and then they don't. I am beginning to think that they lost the entire archive, although they claim they can fix things. We are still waiting. Failing that, we are trying to get them to let us start afresh. It has been a real mess, and quite frustrating. We cannot log in either.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: MrMonkey on 2017-06-02 13:52:49
Thanks for the update and good luck! I thought maybe the site was hacked by rogue Gorts or something.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Chibisteven on 2017-06-02 22:27:54
In the case of game consoles I do my rips straight.  Unless adding fading out to pieces that loop forever counts as not being straight?  With some but not all consoles a simple modification can change the sound dramatically as well.  I'm not afraid of soldering iron to get results that I want if that's what it takes.

Every time I ripped from a medium like compact cassettes or vinyl I found myself trying to fix the audio with all kinds of software because the audio quality is just too objectionable for me.  I gave up on digitalizing those mediums because I can get the CD in 99% of cases and just save time not having to do anything.

The mastering engineering's job is an important one like or not.  I've played around with various kinds of compressors (single and multi-band), equalizers, limiters, expanders, and such.

One MIDI I used a soundfont for (which had the exact font specified in the comments section of the file interestingly) needed a lot of equalization and a bit of stereo widening because of how dull and muffled it sounded to me, when I decided to record it for personal, private use.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: sparklydog on 2017-06-16 14:22:15
I am an administrator over at Stereo Central. The service provider had a catastrophic failure, which they keep promising to fix—and then they don't. I am beginning to think that they lost the entire archive, although they claim they can fix things. We are still waiting. Failing that, we are trying to get them to let us start afresh. It has been a real mess, and quite frustrating. We cannot log in either.

I miss SC since Hoofman banned me. Perhaps a SC forums fundraiser is in order. Advertisers have been licking their lips for years andOHDEARGOD.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: WDPhile on 2017-07-22 05:41:09
Damn.  Looks like the service provider for SC's site has totally lost the plot.  Now they don't even have a DNS entry.  
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: essayceedee on 2017-07-27 17:19:55
As is probably obvious by now, it's gone forever. I do have a backup that the shitty service provider sent me, but have no intention of putting it up anywhere. Honestly, I don't really care that much. It was fun while it lasted, but after a decade (plus the previous iterations plus the Rancid Snakepit), it was about time for it to be euthanized anyway.

Regardless, if someone else wants to start up a new board, I'll be happy to participate. I have no desire to own it again though. Being responsible for that place wasn't exactly hard work, but it was still a pain in the ass. I'd been trying to hand it off to someone else or just kill the damn thing for the last 7 or 8 years.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: nothingisrevealed on 2017-07-29 09:01:25
As is probably obvious by now, it's gone forever. I do have a backup that the shitty service provider sent me, but have no intention of putting it up anywhere. Honestly, I don't really care that much. It was fun while it lasted, but after a decade (plus the previous iterations plus the Rancid Snakepit), it was about time for it to be euthanized anyway.

Regardless, if someone else wants to start up a new board, I'll be happy to participate. I have no desire to own it again though. Being responsible for that place wasn't exactly hard work, but it was still a pain in the ass. I'd been trying to hand it off to someone else or just kill the damn thing for the last 7 or 8 years.

Damn, the definitive final poat.

Alright, I don't blame ya.  Thanks for letting us know, and thanks so much for having provided such a valuable service over the years.  I'm gonna miss it.  It was great to have a place to vent, and the humor was razor sharp.  Huffy now unchecked and running amok is a sad situation.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: hiwatt on 2017-08-03 06:46:41
As is probably obvious by now, it's gone forever. I do have a backup that the shitty service provider sent me, but have no intention of putting it up anywhere. Honestly, I don't really care that much. It was fun while it lasted, but after a decade (plus the previous iterations plus the Rancid Snakepit), it was about time for it to be euthanized anyway.

Regardless, if someone else wants to start up a new board, I'll be happy to participate. I have no desire to own it again though. Being responsible for that place wasn't exactly hard work, but it was still a pain in the ass. I'd been trying to hand it off to someone else or just kill the damn thing for the last 7 or 8 years.

I also wanted to thank you for what was truly a great and necessary counter to the SH forums madness. I lurked at SC for a few years before I finally registered (under a different user name than this one) because it was the sharpest and funniest writing I've ever seen on a forum. It's rare for me to lol at written content, but that happened frequently there. I spent hours reading the old threads, wishing I had discovered the site sooner.

The thing that really sucks about the abruptness of the outage is that a lot of the long-time poaters like yourself, COLA, Dave D, Boozin' Susan, C.W.F., Hoffa Nagila, and many others, felt like familiar old friends. And suddenly they were scattered to the four winds. I googled for weeks afterward, trying to find any mention of where anyone had gone, which is what ultimately led me here. I just miss sc.tv and that little community an awful lot. It never got old to me - SH and some of the battier members on that site just keep on giving and giving.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: sennhead on 2017-08-08 02:51:54
Damn, that stinks. I didn't check the site but a handful of times a year and "Tube Rolling In The Glory Hole" was guaranteed for some great laughs. This is the thread that came up when I searched for where did stereocentral.tv go
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: sparklydog on 2017-08-25 23:57:59
The thing that really sucks about the abruptness of the outage is that a lot of the long-time poaters like yourself, COLA, Dave D, Boozin' Susan, C.W.F., Hoffa Nagila, and many others, felt like familiar old friends. And suddenly they were scattered to the four winds. .....I just miss sc.tv and that little community an awful lot. It never got old to me - SH and some of the battier members on that site just keep on giving and giving.

It still amazes me that I openly visited Hoofman's forum and sc.tv and I lasted for years on Hoofy's site with only a rare case or two of members calling me out about my "cronies" at sc.tv. I had just come back from a "time-out" after torturing forum members who tried to take advantage of an Amazon.ca screw-up offering an absurdly low incorrect price for the Sgt. Pepper super-deluxe box set. The Gorts were pissed because I was taunting them about it and I called some idiot a jerk who implied that I was a liar. This final post is what got me banned. Some poor guy from Beirut who did not know English too well started this thread: What CCR song you can not stand most? Steve-O just couldn't take it.


(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/21122434_1450050411776434_8587190608118580927_o.jpg?oh=ed9e26b16299d28f7fe8ce60bc98150c&oe=5A213913)

Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: krabapple on 2017-08-27 02:55:08
Post like these make me regret that HA has no 'like' button.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: kode54 on 2017-08-28 00:31:46
There's a like feature in this forum package, as well as a karma feature, but I wasn't sure we wanted either of those turned on.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Boozin Susan on 2017-08-28 12:30:47
I also regret the quick way SC.tv just went <poof!>.  I miss the snarky nonsense that went on over there.

Don't much pay attention to whatever hijinx ol' Hoofy is up to anymore.  But, I'm sure glad Sparkdog saved his classic kiss-off.  Reading it again was nice.

Anyway, if a new Stereo Central arises from the ashes of the old one, please post...er...poat the info here.   Those old Guffy avatars of mine need a new home.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: sparklydog on 2017-08-29 16:44:48
Anyway, if a new Stereo Central arises from the ashes of the old one, please post...er...poat the info here.  Those old Guffy avatars of mine need a new home.

(http://i.imgur.com/8lUxwqR.gif)

I have a sort of "Son of Stereo Central" phorum ready to go live. It is mainly based on the old SCtv structure. As a courtesy, I asked a couple of the old mods if they cared. I'll let you all know if it's a go but please share the URL if you would!!
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: bongeau on 2017-08-31 16:51:24
I didn't poat a lot at SC, but I read it off and on for years.  I have no words to express my feelings about this loss, so I will resort to these lines from a forum-favorite poet:

And if I say I really knew you well
What would your answer be?
If you were here today
Ooh ooh ooh, here today

Well, knowing you
Youd probably laugh and say
That we were worlds apart
If you were here today
Ooh ooh ooh, here today

But as for me, I still
Remember how it was before
And I am holding back the tears no more
Ooh ooh ooh, I love you, ooh

What about the time we met?
Well, I suppose that you could say
That we were playing hard to get
Didn't understand a thing
But we could always sing

What about the night we cried?
Because there wasn't any reason
Left to keep it all inside
Never understood a word
But you were always there with a smile

And if I say I really loved you
And was glad you came along
When you were here today
Ooh ooh ooh, for you were in my song
Ooh ooh ooh, here today

Stereo Central, YOU were in my song!
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: TurboDriver on 2017-08-31 18:26:25
I have a sort of "Son of Stereo Central" phorum ready to go live. It is mainly based on the old SCtv structure. As a courtesy, I asked a couple of the old mods if they cared. I'll let you all know if it's a go but please share the URL if you would!!

Please do this.   I miss SC.TV

Never posted, but loved the commentary... 
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: burkjavier on 2017-09-03 01:19:27
Also hoping for a SOSC to rise up from the ashes.  SC was sometimes over the top itself, but was a good balance to some of the goings on in that other forum.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Chicken in Black on 2017-09-03 21:33:26
Well, we definitely need a platform, because this is what happens when we're down:

Quote
I got in an argument with one of their members at Steve Hoffman's forum and a few days later the same guy showed up at a forum I hosted with a profane pic and aggressive post, also an email and a link to stereocentral forum. I went there and found several threads directed at me, these people were some of the creepiest trolls i ever ran into and I've dealt with quite a few. They looked up stuff I did online years ago and sabotaged my Amazon site where I was selling my CD with a bogus review. What was interesting though was that even though they claimed to hate my music deeply, enough to make fun of it for years after this, they alone were responsible for a stretch where I got more listens than any other time in my musical career since mp3.com closed the doors on indies. I mean there was a massive spike in listens on my bandcamp page, which I was fine with. I joined their forum and they thought they were going to taunt and bully me but I've handled far more sophisticated trolls than them, I got in their faces about their Hoffman usurping, totally had the upper hand, me against a dozen of them. When they realized I was playing them, they banned me like cowards.

http://www.bootlegzone.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35601

http://indiemusicpeople.com/songs.aspx?SongID=94754&ArtistID=154549
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: TurboDriver on 2017-09-06 20:26:54
The Hoffman forums are nothing more than a honey pot for the industry.  
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: patate91 on 2017-09-07 00:04:18
The Hoffman forums are nothing more than a honey pot for the industry.  

I think a couple of forums are like that.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Chicken in Black on 2017-09-07 00:28:59
The Hoffman forums are nothing more than a honey pot for the industry.  

Maybe the hardware resellers, or a very limited series of audiophile labels with which Hoffman hasn't burnt bridges, but not the overall record industry.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Boozin Susan on 2017-09-09 03:42:03
Well, that was fast...

There *had* been a new SC set up (by Spakydog), but it looks like the plug was pulled after only a week or so. 

Too bad, but I can kind of see the point.  Just a few of the original SC.tv cast of characters turned up, so it was kind of hard to get any good snark going.

FWIW, I think the plug was pulled a bit too fast.  It might have been better to leave the site up, even if things were going rather slowly. 

Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Pepzhez on 2017-09-09 10:06:15
Well, no one informed me about the "new" SC. If I had known, I would have been more than happy to contribute. (Full disclosure: I used to post at Stereo Central under the name COLA).
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Boozin Susan on 2017-09-09 12:27:16
Well, no one informed me about the "new" SC. If I had known, I would have been more than happy to contribute. (Full disclosure: I used to post at Stereo Central under the name COLA).

I also hope SC2 is reinstated.  It takes time to get a place like that going strong, considering the way the original SC was so quickly rendered FUBAR (preventing any sort of PMs to the folks who had been a part of it).

SC2's banner was also top notch.  A great parody of the outhouse SC was born to ridicule. 
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: krabapple on 2017-09-10 06:42:04
Well, that was fast...

There *had* been a new SC set up (by Spakydog), but it looks like the plug was pulled after only a week or so. 

Too bad, but I can kind of see the point.  Just a few of the original SC.tv cast of characters turned up, so it was kind of hard to get any good snark going.

FWIW, I think the plug was pulled a bit too fast.  It might have been better to leave the site up, even if things were going rather slowly.


I never saw the 'new URL' either.   Otherwise I would have joined. WTF?
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: TurboDriver on 2017-09-10 14:47:55

There *had* been a new SC set up (by Spakydog), but it looks like the plug was pulled after only a week or so. 


I'm not sure it was well known?  I'd have been there in a second but didn't hear about it.  No announcememt that I saw.  

Surprised they gave up so fast.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: essayceedee on 2017-09-11 18:52:43
I have no idea what happened either. Sparkydog sent me a link, I registered, and before I even had a chance to poat it was gone.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Chicken in Black on 2017-09-11 22:30:37
I told you guys it was a mistake to hire the guys who handle Audio Fidelity quality control for this.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: nothingisrevealed on 2017-09-12 08:33:30
Damn, *again*?

I did manage to get in there - I'm the one that started the "Poat or die!" thread.  That wasn't the actual policy, of course, but that seemed like a good way to kick off SCII.  Taken down *way* too soon....we just needed more time to get the word out.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: hiwatt on 2017-09-13 17:45:19
Well, no one informed me about the "new" SC. If I had known, I would have been more than happy to contribute. (Full disclosure: I used to post at Stereo Central under the name COLA).

I also hope SC2 is reinstated.  It takes time to get a place like that going strong, considering the way the original SC was so quickly rendered FUBAR (preventing any sort of PMs to the folks who had been a part of it).

SC2's banner was also top notch.  A great parody of the outhouse SC was born to ridicule. 

I'm glad to contribute $ or time to get SC II going again. It's a real shame to lose the archive from SC because it was gold (witness threads like "what's that glow on the horizon"), but I'm so bored with the now Stereo Central-less internet.

Plus, do we really want people like Penn State Keith to think they finally won? That just won't do.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Joteri Manhoof on 2017-09-14 00:02:11
Yes, yes, yes.   Who had Steely Dan in the celebrity death pool? 
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: burkjavier on 2017-09-14 00:06:23
There's a Giles Martin Sgt Pepper thread right now where I could use some Stereo Central eye bleach.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: essayceedee on 2017-09-14 13:55:56
Somebody needs to do what I did: buy a domain and start up a new forum.

Do it now, fucker.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Curseon on 2017-09-15 03:49:58
I only ever lurked, but damn I miss SC
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: WDPhile on 2017-09-16 06:12:18
I managed to get in a poat or 2 at the new SC, and then ... *boom* ... it was gone.     The idea of grabbing a domain and starting a forum has crossed my mind - although those .tv domains are too expensive now, so it would have to be something else.  Also, I'm thinking of a brand new name if it's starting again.   Any suggestions? 
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: nothingisrevealed on 2017-09-16 10:27:04
Also, I'm thinking of a brand new name if it's starting again.   Any suggestions?

trumpedupcuttingengineer.com
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: greynol on 2017-09-16 10:41:15
We have one of those.  He's quite good a sucking the air from the atmosphere.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: WDPhile on 2017-09-16 12:21:22
Also, I'm thinking of a brand new name if it's starting again.   Any suggestions?

trumpedupcuttingengineer.com

Heh.  One of Ken Scott's finest hours!
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: Joteri Manhoof on 2017-09-16 14:36:41
The idea of grabbing a domain and starting a forum has crossed my mind - although those .tv domains are too expensive now, so it would have to be something else.  Also, I'm thinking of a brand new name if it's starting again.   Any suggestions? 

audiophool, ShiteSlayers, HouseOfHoofman, AnalPlanet (thanks Mikey!), MintyBaldwin, the combinations are endless

.tv domains have gone up in price because EQ consultants are now world famous.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: hiwatt on 2017-09-16 19:40:06
A new site really needs to be in place before McCartney passes, don't you think?
By the way, anyone heard back from Sparklydog? I pm'ed him but he seems to have gone MIA.
Like WDPhile, I've been thinking about getting this going but don't want to step on Sparklydog's toes.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: WDPhile on 2017-09-17 22:35:12
The idea of grabbing a domain and starting a forum has crossed my mind - although those .tv domains are too expensive now, so it would have to be something else.  Also, I'm thinking of a brand new name if it's starting again.   Any suggestions? 

audiophool, ShiteSlayers, HouseOfHoofman, AnalPlanet (thanks Mikey!), MintyBaldwin, the combinations are endless

.tv domains have gone up in price because EQ consultants are now world famous.

That must be true, I read it at thehouseofclaus.nut
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: essayceedee on 2017-09-18 15:47:41
If someone does actually start up a new forum, make sure it's on a domain that you own. The biggest potential issue I saw with sparkydog's forum is that it was hosted by one of those sites that offers "free" hosting. As we discovered way back in the earliest days of SC, that's a recipe for disaster. If the host goes belly-up (or you get DDOS'd or you need a backup or...), you're fucked.

(Of course, we were fucked anyway even with the expensive *.tv domain, but whatever.)
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: sennhead on 2017-09-19 19:52:06
I thought SC.tv went away because the admin(s)/owner were tired of running the site.

Guppy seems to have taken a sabatical from the shites, or maybe daddy yelled at him and he took his glowing toys and left.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: jonchuckle on 2017-09-26 11:58:54
ARE WE BACK YET? The internet just isn't the same without SC.tv.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Steve Hoffman's Forums
Post by: joteri on 2017-09-27 20:01:37
http://stereocentral.freeforums.net