I thought it would be fun to see if anyone new what this is. So the questions are as follows:

What is it
who invented it and when
When was it first used
and why is it so important today

Lets see who knows this


<a href="http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/scooterdog4u2/?action=view&current=20090311.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/scooterdog4u2/20090311.jpg" border="0" alt="Guess What I am"></a>

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/scooterdog4u2/20090311.jpg

his and hers toothpick set?:p

Although I like the guess (hehe) I must say thats not it

Any chance of a larger size pic?
Definitely looks like some sort of X-Y encoder. Can't make out the two rectangular bits on the top. Almost make it out to be some sort of multipin connector.

Yeah, a closer view would be handy.... :D

must be the first video game controller...:p

Isn't that Pink Floyd's Azimuth Co-ordinator, used as a live surround mixing device circa 1968-1972, mostly for sound effects?

shinksma

Isn't that Pink Floyd's Azimuth Co-ordinator, used as a live surround mixing device circa 1968-1972, mostly for sound effects?

shinksma



Correct!

I actually thought it would take a few more tries to get this one. This is the only one left in existence and it is going into a London Museum. The first one built was stolen and this one was built in its place. Richard Wright (rip) was the one that controlled the quad effects during live concerts.

I thought it would be amusing to place it in the surround forum to see what would happen...Nice call Shinksma

If I realized you had to be older than dirt to know the answer... :p

Heh, I'm not older than dirt, though pretty close. :D

But I am a huge Floyd Droid, and reading about the surround effects of the Azimuth Coordinator while listening to old mono/stereo audience recordings (and hearing the audiences' reactions!) stuck in my head, which is probably why I'm such a surround-o-phile.

It's also possible I saw a photo of the Az Co in one of the Floyd tomes, like Nicky Mason's book, or Vernon Fitch's encyclopedia.

shinksma

I too am not older than dirt but I am probably getting closer. I first saw PF in 1972 at the Hollywood Bowl. I was 15 and had buy a ticket for my sister so she could take me and a friend. It was the first time I experienced live quad in concert. There were some strange sounds coming from the back and I remember everyone standing up and looking to the back as it got closer and closer until it passed thru us and wet to the stage and all of a sudden there was smoke and lights and I knew right then I had drain bramage and I would never turn back. aawwww what memories

Just kiddin ya shinksma. Obviously you're very educated in this subject matter and your answer was far from a guess. Nice job :).

Good one scooterdog. I was fortunate enough to catch a Floyd concert in my younger days... just listening to their music for the first time a couple months before the concert. I loved it!... and still do.
I was young and naive. It must have taken me at least 15 minutes to figure out what that "smell" was during the concert. :D:D:D

Is it snow cone maker? No it’s a water heater.:D

I can’t imagine someone nicking Pinks surround mixer?

As we are sharing Pink Floyd stories, the first time I saw this band (I am older then dirt) was in 1973 at the Spectrum Theater in Philadelphia. I was a big fan of Ummagumma at that time (fav's was Careful With That Axe Eugene and Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - Weird huh??) so my friend and I drove to Philadelphia a month in advance in a Chev. Vega (Haa!!) to buy tickets because Ticketmaster and the web were not available. Eventually the big day came, (I think the show was during the week) and we drove there fighting the evening traffic, but eventually made our way into the Spectrum.

The Spectrum was divided in half by a curtain and what I recall of the show, the place was not filled to capacity. When we first walked in, I was taken aback (remember this is a long time ago) by the band having speakers (large horn speakers) in every entrance to the arena, experiencing my first surround style event. An excerpt from the web site and the link. Surprised me it was even available.

Philadelphia Bulletin, March 1973
Concert Review - Philadelphia

March 16, 1973 - By William Mandel

THE YEAR IS 1969, the heaviest year on record.

A bunch of buddies are sitting around a dorm room, sitting on the floor between two stereo speakers.

"WOW," says one of them about the music - complex, soaring sounds that jump from speaker to speaker, "Pink Floyd is really something."

Now the year is 1973, the time is last night and the place is the Spectrum.

On stage, in front of 12,000 people in the shortened Spectrum Theater, is Pink Floyd.

This time, the enthusiastic audience is seated not between two speakers but six sets positioned around the perimeter of the concrete room.

AFTER THE BREAK, the band played two selections from its new Capital album, the second number being the album's title cut, "Dark Side of the Moon."

This 20-minute spellbinder so encaptured the audience, making such excellent use of the 360 degree sound system (example: a laugh was projected out from stage and circled the room) and the band's great instrumental ability that the group was already off stage when the audience recovered from its revery and started a wild ovation, asking for an encore.

http://www.hokafloyd.com/CDHOKA/D.S.O.P/DARK_SOUNDBOARD_OF_PHILADELPHIA.htm

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Chas_T/inn.jpg

I was also fortunate to experience this band in various settings on the East Coast. Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City where they played outdoors, Radio City Music Hall in NYC, "The Wall" shows at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island and another venue whose name escapes me.

The Pink Floyd shows that I retained through the years were these two at Nassau Coliseum:

http://www.pinkfloydz.com/nassau_part_1.htm

In a sense, it was surreal because when I purchased tickets for these shows, I ran into a guy at a party who had extra tickets for these shows and I bought 2 pairs for each night. Life is always full of surprises.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Chas_T/40RUN.jpg

Also, my most memorable show was the Radio City Music performance where "Floyd" began their show at midnight (it was not difficult to stay awake) and played until sunrise. I distinctly remember leaving the Radio City venue and dusk was just beginning to show itself.

The opening song they played was from the La Vallée film "Obscured by Clouds." The most exciting part of the opening was if you are familiar with the Radio City stage, a section of the stage has the ability to rise from below the stage level and create a floating appearance to center stage. The curtains were closed, they opened and all you could see was an empty stage with of course, the fog induced enviornment. The first notes of the song ""Obscured by Clouds" were heard and a large, glowing ball was seen, glowing different colors, surrounded by a cloud like vapor rising and spinning. The size of the structure the ball was afixed grew higher and higher as it rose from the basement of Radio City until the band was visible. Floyd then floated forward onto center stage, timing the crescendo of that tune exactly as the floating stage came to the forefront. Amazing theatrics for that time period, but into today's concert environments, probably a bit passe'.

I stopped going to live rock shows for some time during the M-80, bottle throwing era and seeing a "Who" Quadrophenia" show where some unknown decided to let his lunch lose around us from the second level. Good times of course and the "Pink Floyd's Azimuth Co-ordinator" device brought back those memories. Thanks.

As we are sharing Pink Floyd stories, the first time I saw this band (I am older then dirt) was in 1973 at the Spectrum Theater in Philadelphia. I was a big fan of Ummagumma at that time (fav's was Careful With That Axe Eugene and Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - Weird huh??) so my friend and I drove to Philadelphia a month in advance in a Chev. Vega (Haa!!) to buy tickets because Ticketmaster and the web were not available. Eventually the big day came, (I think the show was during the week) and we drove there fighting the evening traffic, but eventually made our way into the Spectrum.

The Spectrum was divided in half by a curtain and what I recall of the show, the place was not filled to capacity. When we first walked in, I was taken aback (remember this is a long time ago) by the band having speakers (large horn speakers) in every entrance to the arena, experiencing my first surround style event. An excerpt from the web site and the link. Surprised me it was even available.



http://www.hokafloyd.com/CDHOKA/D.S.O.P/DARK_SOUNDBOARD_OF_PHILADELPHIA.htm

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Chas_T/inn.jpg

I was also fortunate to experience this band in various settings on the East Coast. Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City where they played outdoors, Radio City Music Hall in NYC, "The Wall" shows at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island and another venue whose name escapes me.

The Pink Floyd shows that I retained through the years were these two at Nassau Coliseum:

http://www.pinkfloydz.com/nassau_part_1.htm

In a sense, it was surreal because when I purchased tickets for these shows, I ran into a guy at a party who had extra tickets for these shows and I bought 2 pairs for each night. Life is always full of surprises.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Chas_T/40RUN.jpg

Also, my most memorable show was the Radio City Music performance where "Floyd" began their show at midnight (it was not difficult to stay awake) and played until sunrise. I distinctly remember leaving the Radio City venue and dusk was just beginning to show itself.

The opening song they played was from the La Vallée film "Obscured by Clouds." The most exciting part of the opening was if you are familiar with the Radio City stage, a section of the stage has the ability to rise from below the stage level and create a floating appearance to center stage. The curtains were closed, they opened and all you could see was an empty stage with of course, the fog induced enviornment. The first notes of the song ""Obscured by Clouds" were heard and a large, glowing ball was seen, glowing different colors, surrounded by a cloud like vapor rising and spinning. The size of the structure the ball was afixed grew higher and higher as it rose from the basement of Radio City until the band was visible. Floyd then floated forward onto center stage, timing the crescendo of that tune exactly as the floating stage came to the forefront. Amazing theatrics for that time period, but into today's concert environments, probably a bit passe'.

I stopped going to live rock shows for some time during the M-80, bottle throwing era and seeing a "Who" Quadrophenia" show where some unknown decided to let his lunch lose around us from the second level. Good times of course and the "Pink Floyd's Azimuth Co-ordinator" device brought back those memories. Thanks.

I caught Pink Floyd performing "The Wall" at Nassau Coliseum. Remember all the security guards lined up along the stage when the show ended to stop people from trying to get a piece of the wall????

Pink Floyd's Azimuth Co-ordinatorI wonder how many brain cells that thing is responsible for blowing. :D

I caught Pink Floyd performing "The Wall" at Nassau Coliseum. Remember all the security guards lined up along the stage when the show ended to stop people from trying to get a piece of the wall????

I don't know, I was really drunk at the time! :)

Actually, I somewhat recall that moment along with a few others, but so much time has passed since that event. A few items that always stuck with me from that show was when they were building "The Wall" and Water's was signing before the the intermission when his face was the only part visible behind the wall and they stuck that last brick to complete the build. The solo by Gilmore on "Comfortably Numb" when he was standing on top of the wall and Water was below looking up at him and when Waters sang "I Wanna Go Home" as he was lounging in his stage created living room.

One thing that's irritated me for years and years is that I either purchased or they gave a program booklet like the one below and I have never been able to locate it. I had two of these if I recall and gave one to someone when I returned from the concert. One of those things you lose in your life and just irritates the hell out of you. Mine was not signed of course.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Chas_T/wallreplica.jpg

That time period was full of fun, frolic and idealistic. However, I would not trade those experiences for anything. Glad you too were able to experience a small part of 70's rock history. Back to the thread as this is probably boring for most.

Cheers,
Charles

I started the post because

a. I thought it was a great piece of trivia and
b. because I am a huge PF Fan.

I too have seen PF many times. Living in LA and SF provided me with every tour since my first experience in 72.

Saw them perform DSOTM at the LA Sports arena 1975
Anaheim in 1977 for Animals/WYWH
LA Sports Arena 1980 The Wall

David G. Greek Theater Berkeley 1984
RW Oakland Arena PACOH 1985 (i think)
RW Oakland Arena Radio Kaos 1987
PF Oakland Coliseum DSOT tour 1987
PF Division Bell Oakland Coliseum 1994
RW Live 2000 Mountain View

And now I rely on DVD's because I moved to Idaho and were lucky if we get someone in Boise. Usually have to drive to Salt Lake or fly to Seattle

I'm glad to have awoken the dream in ebveryone. Many of us here have fond memories of what this band provided. PF was and still is Incredible Musically, Technically Brilliant