The in-flight audio player (updated)
Added 2023-10-28 06:40:49 +0000 UTCDid you ever wonder what device was responsible for playing the music heard through headphones plugged into the armrest of an aeroplane?
Probably not - but nevertheless here’s a look at one of the possibilities.
EXTRA: Is your name unexpectedly missing from the credits?
If you were expecting to see your name in the credits at the end of this video but it’s vanished - please watch this extra video where I talk about some Patreon changes that might be responsible. https://youtu.be/zFYY8CVeboY If after watching this you think there’s been an error - let me know and if necessary I’ll raise the issue with Patreon.
It’s good to be back and I hope you’re all well. Have a great weekend.
UPDATED VIDEO
From the feedback received on the pre-release version of this video it appears it was lacking clarity in places. In addition there were a few new nuggets of information worth adding in that had come from suggestions in the comments. As a result I’ve gone through and re-edited the video. There are quite a few tiny snips - but the main changes are a replacement section which occurs at around six minutes in and a new recap at approximately thirteen minutes. Hopefully these changes improve the whole video. Thanks for all the feedback, corrections and suggestions.
UPDATE RE NAMES IN CREDITS
I've found a number of names that weren't showing in any Patreon category, but clearly should be on the list - so I've done a quick re-edit and added them in. The video embedded and linked above includes these additional credits. If you are still missing, please let me know and I'll investigate further.
Comments
I stand corrected (by my further curiousity) that connector does seems to carry the 400Hz 125V supply. But I still can't see it being used inside - probably immediately transformed.
Alistair Boyer
2023-11-05 21:00:12 +0000 UTCIt's really my least favourite time - it's watching something I put all my time into, crash and burn in 24-48 hours. (Very) occasionally it's not like this - so gotta stay positive.
Techmoan
2023-11-04 22:39:07 +0000 UTCI think it's not that surprising when you think that every part inside down to each resistor would have needed certification and sign off x 1000, that the inertia to overcome making a fancy digital one would be huge, despite the obvious weight, space, power and time savings.
Alistair Boyer
2023-11-04 17:11:01 +0000 UTCAwesome video! Worth a quick comment to point out that although aircrafts generate 400Hz (or thereabouts) 125VAC (for efficiency and giving rise to that distinctive hum), in many cases this is transformed and rectified to 28VDC. Therefore something like this with no major power / motors might take 28VDC, which is much easier to get from a bench power supply. Even though the equipment is rather dated, the connectors are often still in use. BUT as avionics specific quality you're often looking at >£100 a pop. I have gotten into old avionics recently and it's quite enjoyable to trace the function to the pins but clearly a huge job with this much going on inside the unit.
Alistair Boyer
2023-11-04 17:08:41 +0000 UTCHave I mentioned before how much I enjoy when the videos go live to the public? I sometimes read the comments when I'm delirious and unoccupied. 😋
Grace Robbins
2023-11-04 16:57:44 +0000 UTC...that was quite interesting. Hard to believe, that in the mid 2000's the entertainment came from a machinery like that, given the fact, that in aviation low weight of every "flying component" is one of the main goals...
Uwe Samlenski
2023-11-03 21:43:54 +0000 UTCThanks for the screenshot - I didn’t think it would work like that. I do have the option to send out a new notification whenever I do a re-edit. I worry about spamming too many of these though.
Techmoan
2023-11-02 21:46:14 +0000 UTCThanks for this interesting video Mat. Talking of lack of updates, when you first published it, I got the usual Patreon notification about it but by the time I tried to view it, it had been removed - you were presumably updating it - however, I never received another notification that it had been re-uploaded, so only found it by coming here to see if it had been finalised. Do you or Patreon send the updates out? Or if you just re-do it, maybe there is no automatic notification sent? EDIT: The notifications list still show the video as unavailable, so other subscribers might be unaware that you've changed it: Screen grab of list: https://imageshack.com/i/poavaW8hp
Chas Large
2023-11-02 19:59:18 +0000 UTCInteresting - it seems to back up my first thoughts that it was used on the ground to record air traffic control voice rather than in an aircraft - but so many people in the comments were adamant that it was definitely a cockpit voice recorder, I made the mistake of listening to them.
Techmoan
2023-10-31 15:07:23 +0000 UTCMat - regarding your prior video about the RCA cartridge flight control recorder; you may remember I emailed the NTSB inquiring if they can refer me to flight engineers that may know how these were used. I finally got a response - very formal on NTSB letterhead, impressively: https://ibb.co/0ySPsjK Suffice to say that nobody remembers these devices. 😛
Grace Robbins
2023-10-31 14:12:36 +0000 UTCHonestly, this kind of video is why I love this channel. Thank you for this fascinating look into the IFE systems I only vaguely remember about from my childhood!
Kit Whittaker
2023-10-30 22:54:01 +0000 UTCMaut-shoosh-tuh https://youtu.be/kluQaK4-C7g&t=0m8s
Grace Robbins
2023-10-30 17:10:19 +0000 UTCI always said it how it looks Mat-Sue-Sheet-Uh so what is the correct pronunciation?
AzoriusMage
2023-10-30 16:04:03 +0000 UTCWhen a new Airbus A320 costs $101 Million people aren't going to quibble if the in flight entertainment system costs £500000.
Duncan
2023-10-29 22:46:24 +0000 UTCFord were still selling cars with cassette players in 2008. I guess the difference was that while the extra to get a more up to date system in a car (Ka to be precise) might have been £500, in an aircraft it could be £100000.
Duncan
2023-10-29 22:41:11 +0000 UTCExcellent video! I really appreciate the terrific historic breakdown of the companies involved and seamless editing of footage. As you intimated near the end, surprising that they were persisting with analog tape as of 2006. In or around 2002 I was working for DMX (the satellite radio provider, not the late rapper) and the standard sets we'd send to clients could hold vast amounts of music with the satellite hookup being necessary for updates. As a tech, I got to take one home and even without a sat link I'd still have the equivalent of hundreds of hours of music. But the problem was, and I think this may account for the tape players' in-flight longevity, these computers-for-storing-and-playing-music were forever needing rebooting and firmware updates. A required "test" I had to run on my home unit was to keep it on for 6 hours and monitor playback. I did this a few times over the time I worked there and the thing never went more than a few hours hours without crashing or glitching. So, despite it not being state of the art, I can see the analog option being preferable to the more incipient digital option. Having an entry level crew member cleaning the capstans every few weeks vs babysitting a firmware update and power cycling was I'm sure the better option at the time.
David Fulton
2023-10-29 21:16:01 +0000 UTCI remember in de mid 00s visiting some telephone exchange. All their software was on a floppy disc. My university also had a supercomputer from...god knows when with a green phosphorus screen. In a way what I worked with in 2010 is now ancient technology. I do enjoy this gems, a look behind the curtain sort to say
Raul Ramos
2023-10-29 18:46:02 +0000 UTCI was initially surprised with a couple of the questions, but then I had to remember that due to my age I’ve used things like this in situ while many people here won’t have. Clearly I wasn’t doing a good job of explaining it to those without first hand experience..so it needed a recap. I was a bit worried it could come across as talking down, or ‘teaching your grandma to suck eggs.’ - hopefully not.
Techmoan
2023-10-29 18:44:16 +0000 UTCThis is the first time I’ve learned the name for this connector but I think I’ve already done the final edit on this one now - got to move on to the next project. Thanks for the info though - it might come in useful in the future.
Techmoan
2023-10-29 18:39:28 +0000 UTCIt might be worth pointing out that the unit and connector all adhere to the ARINC standard which defines dimensions and connectors for aircraft. Swapping this unit out for another of the same type would take less time than changing the tapes. However, as far as I know, there isn't a standard for wiring so switching to a newer unit might have required a major rewiring job on the aircraft. p.s. If you want one of those connectors they are several £hundreds.
Duncan
2023-10-29 18:12:19 +0000 UTCMono across the board certainly sounds accurate for this stuff - not least because there usually weren't any smarts in the passenger armrest, just a multicore cable, a switch and a volume control. Plus a headphone socket that was invariably wobbly, crackly or needed you to wrap the headphone cord around the armrest to keep the plug in a position when it would work. On one of my first long haul flights which must have been in about 1989 they hadn't even got as far as headphones -- instead you got a stethoscope-like contraption which you plugged into holes in the armrest. Once the in-flight movie came on (cue the thunk of bloody great CRT monitors dropping from the ceiling) you'd be informed that movie sound was on channel 1 (or 2) and then you'd be able to enjoy a grainy VHS of a five year old movie played on a machine with bad tracking and dirty heads along with barely audible dialogue. I'm not a big fan of nostalgia.
Mike Knell
2023-10-29 17:10:28 +0000 UTCNice updates, Mat. Good idea to explain there were multiple 'channels' to pick based on genre and that they run continuously. I took that as obvious because of my flight familiarity. I also liked the Matsushita bit.
Grace Robbins
2023-10-29 16:54:52 +0000 UTCI used to programme hold music at an insurance company - my aim was to keep people hanging on - the genre was semi-trendy, yet innocuous blandness that sounded OK down a phone at limited bit-rate.
Techmoan
2023-10-29 15:44:54 +0000 UTCI believe it's been renamed as something else - but no one can find it. Perhaps it should be called Atlantis, or E lDorado now.
Techmoan
2023-10-29 15:40:03 +0000 UTCI wonder what it was like to choose and acquire the content for those in-flight entertainment systems. By the time personal electronics made them irrelevant, I bet there were people who'd reduced it to a science. Optimizing the content for a reaction of "OK, this'll do, I guess" amongst the most people possible, rather than actual enthusiasm but a smaller percentage.
Andy Ihnatko
2023-10-29 15:31:21 +0000 UTCI'm not sure I'll make a video about the DJI - I'll likely just use it to make other videos. I don't get out and about enough any more to make an interesting camera review - and there are so many more channels now doing far better jobs than I could.
Techmoan
2023-10-29 15:28:34 +0000 UTCI enjoyed the video, thank you! This is off-topic, but has the community section gone on the new Patreon? I can't find it now.
Rob H
2023-10-29 14:22:31 +0000 UTCNope; I got it. 😉 It reminded me of the public computers in my college's student lounge that were sponsored by Gateway (circa 1999). Incidentally, I'm native to the region where Gateway, Inc originated. 😉
Grace Robbins
2023-10-29 12:35:22 +0000 UTCI didn't lose my name from the credits, so I never bothered clicking the video link you referenced. I wrongly assumed it was a Patreon company video so I didn't bother. But I was pleasantly surprised when I did click it. Good to know that it'll be much easier now for you to accurately create the credits list in the future by essentially copying the tier list. I look forward to your video about the new DJI camera as I presume you're making one - based on your feedback DJI seem to be great little cameras. I even liked the 'Alpacas' camera from a while back, can't be bothered to confirm model name. 😉
Grace Robbins
2023-10-29 12:22:51 +0000 UTCNo stereo for the Classical channel?! That's not right. Great video, btw. Maybe they kept using tape because the airline owners were analog buffs...? :)
MM
2023-10-29 12:06:01 +0000 UTC18.04 lbs - it's not light.
Techmoan
2023-10-29 10:56:31 +0000 UTCYes I do have a unit in there - I've only ever used it with DBX records though.
Techmoan
2023-10-29 10:55:10 +0000 UTCI hadn't noticed the name Airtours had vanished, if I'm honest. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some shopping at Gateway to do. (Joke possibly lost on anyone not British.)
Brad Jones
2023-10-29 08:52:39 +0000 UTCThat was a load of fun to watch! Thank you!
John Johnson
2023-10-29 03:57:03 +0000 UTCGrat video, very nostalgic, I wonder how are IFE systems now.. Just a small linux web server with mp4 for audio and avi for videos plus a web GUI?
Chris
2023-10-28 21:09:01 +0000 UTCIn one of the linked videos (the one about the in-flight announcements) I can see a dbx noise reduction system in your stack.
Rick Parsons
2023-10-28 20:55:16 +0000 UTCThanks for this video, so interesting to know how it worked behind the scenes
CheeseParis
2023-10-28 19:43:35 +0000 UTC5:14 Congratulations, you win two content matches at the same time!
CheeseParis
2023-10-28 19:42:54 +0000 UTCHow much does it weigh? Airlines/airplanes really care about every ounce of weight.
Randall Jennings
2023-10-28 19:05:29 +0000 UTCSeat rows?
Randall Jennings
2023-10-28 18:29:55 +0000 UTCThese aviation audio episodes are a special treat. I hope you get curious about the "black box."
Joseph Dougherty
2023-10-28 17:42:08 +0000 UTCLove flight audio/media tech stuff like this. It's funny how long the old tech stuck around. I remember as a kid being excited when they introduced electronic headphones on flights that replaced the air tube system. Those air tube headsets made great toy stethoscopes though...
Buckaroo Bunny Slippers
2023-10-28 17:15:08 +0000 UTCEverything is playing at once and you would turn a knob to choose what you want to listen to. A bit like listening to a radio - all the radio stations are always broadcasting - you're just selecting the one you like.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 16:02:39 +0000 UTCDon't know if I missed something, but you mentioned the passengers could control what track to listen to. That would suggest that there were one IFE system per passenger, which seems to be a lot of expensive players for an entire A320. If not, I assume the tracks were pre selected by the crew? And welcome back home!
Micael Ebbmar
2023-10-28 15:38:17 +0000 UTCYep - ten channels, so A tapes play to the end, then it switched to the B tapes while the A rewinds and so on.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 15:11:05 +0000 UTCThat creates more questions. There's 1B,2B,3B - so weren't there more like 20 channels? And if they were all playing at once wouldn't they all rewind at the same time? That would be annoying for passengers. Or were there 10 channels and the system played 1A then 1B for a total of 1½ hours of music?
Big Car
2023-10-28 15:06:08 +0000 UTCI'll keep that in mind - I just wanted to help Anders out as he has recently sent me some 8-tracks of his music, but I haven't had the opportunity to show them being played in anything.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 13:23:36 +0000 UTCI like it that you use Anders’ tape, as example, but I always prefer it if you use some of your fabulous 80s hiphop tapes!
Michiel Beijen
2023-10-28 13:18:01 +0000 UTCYou'd get 90 minutes on one programme (spread across the two tapes) before it repeated. Most likely used on short journeys though. It'd get a bit repetitious on a transatlantic.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 13:17:10 +0000 UTCI thought for sure they would be sequential - I guess the flight was about 45 minutes?
David E. Blankenship
2023-10-28 13:07:35 +0000 UTCIn a world full of chaos and despair, it sure is good to wake up on a Saturday morning with a Techmoan patreon notification. In other words: All is right in the world, once again! I was curious and Googled Matsushita Avionics, and came up with an interesting Panasonic Avionics website that gave some history. Panasonic obviously had some serious investment into this technology. But the webpage said they first offered on-demand video in 1998. So, this was obviously a hold-over system that was probably used for shorter regional flights, just a guess. In the 80s I used to fly a bit, and I remembered having headphones offered with a rotary knob where you could select a number of different channels. I've got to think that this was a similar technology, though probably cruder. Excellent video.
CrimsonPig808
2023-10-28 12:40:32 +0000 UTCSounds good to me - I didn’t quite feel the Stones/Coldplay connection either. One day I should copy the lot across and find out for sure.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 11:49:29 +0000 UTCThat would have been an expensive device to build in the first place, but anything that goes near an aircraft will instantly double in price. Hate to think what it cost.
Phil Collins
2023-10-28 11:35:33 +0000 UTCWelcome back! With the programs... if I were to hazard a guess as to the formats: 1 - Jazz 2 - Dance 3 - Childrens 4 - '70s 5 - Chill (chillout music was huge in the '00s) 6 - '80s 7 - Rock (though whether Coldplay counts as "rock" is debatable) 8 - Adult contemporary 9 - Current pop/Top 40 10 - Classical
OzRetrocomp
2023-10-28 11:29:34 +0000 UTCHock up with mentour pilot 🧑🏻✈️ Guess he can tell what some of these nice tape players usage 👍🏻 And just thought of all of those chips could be rare and wanted. Guessing old aircraft stocks isn’t what an audio technician first go to looking for parts https://youtube.com/@MentourPilot?si=tMccI0eEWJu_cgUy
Jørn Rosengren
2023-10-28 10:36:26 +0000 UTCWelcome back and thanks for the new content!
Vicky FU
2023-10-28 09:38:28 +0000 UTCIt was always just a ‘perk’ for the highest tier - but the list of names had become ‘unreliable’ over the years due to the sheer incompetence of one man who should never have been left in charge of a spreadsheet.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 08:44:37 +0000 UTCDid the $1 or more tier ever get your name in the credits? Because I was one of your very early Patrons, and I swear that back then, every Patron got into the credits. I've been in the credits ever since, even though at some point I upgraded to the 333 club. I never even realized that there was a "Name in the credits" tier, I swear I've never even noticed it before, but it does explain why I've suddenly vanished from the credits.
David Glover-Aoki
2023-10-28 08:39:07 +0000 UTCFascinating, makes sense though that old tech hang on for longer in an aircraft, if it still works it works. I remember seeing a Super Nintendo built in to the in flight entertainment system on a flight in 2003, and when flying trans-pacific in 2008 I watched the inflight movie being cued up on a vhs tape.
Brian Condron
2023-10-28 08:09:34 +0000 UTCCassettes! In 2006! That is a surprise! But given the low quality of headphones provided in-flight, I would've been none the wiser. 🎧📼😉
Craig Lemon
2023-10-28 08:04:10 +0000 UTCIt's good to have you back! Strange to think that cassettes were still being used so recently. And my name hasn't fallen out of the credits, a good day!
David Peaker
2023-10-28 07:57:27 +0000 UTCAlways cool, such behind-the-scenes... I'm wondering now what they used on the ICE trains in Germany, as I have travelled a lot with them! I even remember watching stuff on LCD screens that were mounted in the back of the seat in front. I guess the last ICE-3M sets still have the earphones receptacle in the seats, I used it in the past to listen to music, even bought an album after hearing it there, they put the information about the music you would hear in the information leaflet in the trains. As those ICE-3M train sets were from about 2000, I guess they did not use cassettes anymore.
MrHammond
2023-10-28 07:51:13 +0000 UTCI was wondering about the pinout on the device. I made guess of what it might be. Take a look https://ibb.co/PY5SvSV
Lehel Bernad
2023-10-28 07:49:45 +0000 UTCI just know when I look at the ‘engagement’ stats - that segment will be the one that will show as a peak due to rewatches. I thought it would be fun just to add it with no explanation/acknowledgment…but the information is there if anyone wants it.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 07:43:53 +0000 UTCNicely done. The little bits and visual inserts you've added really set this apart from a typical take-apart show 'n' tell. I enjoyed learning the history as well; that MyTravel advertisement sure is something, isn't it? I get the urge to climb onto something in the ceiling and swing/kick people too. 😅 I will be a number in the camp that's surprised that in 2006 airplanes were still using cassettes. Those labels look 20 years old... um. 😯 With all these airplane items you could have at least invested in a DC-10! (lame joke) I was trying to get some sleep and wide awake, and this was a nice calming video; I appreciate you, thank you, and take care. 🤍 Edited - that is an advertisement, yes? Looks dangerous for even stunt professionals.
Grace Robbins
2023-10-28 07:21:17 +0000 UTCThat sounds delightful.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 07:20:43 +0000 UTCInteresting video. As you well know, aviation was still using Hi8 for movies on some legacy airliners till 2017!. Was once on a flight in the mid 90’s from Glasgow to Benbecula on a tiny BA plane and the safety annoucements (with it’s screeching bagpipes due to the tape being very worn) were done via a cassette in a very old car stereo the solitary cabin crew member had in the overhead bin at the back of the plane. 😂
Mark Wayt
2023-10-28 07:12:08 +0000 UTCThat always seemed to me like it would be a very tough job.
Techmoan
2023-10-28 06:47:15 +0000 UTCWelcome back! 🙌
AUXILIAM
2023-10-28 06:46:01 +0000 UTCI've changed careers to be s flight attendant now and it's all digital now obviously. We have a touchscreen control panel that plays AIFF (!) audio for our announcements if we don't want to use the tannoy.
Funkmon
2023-10-28 06:43:19 +0000 UTC
