Studio SoundSynthesizers Behind the 80s SoundThe 1980s are known for their signature sound: bright, bell-like textures, punchy basslines, and lush pads. But where did this sonic palette come from? The most widely documented culprit is…
80s VJs: MTV history, 80s music and retro tech
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The VJsThe Original MTV VJs After MTV- ProfileMartha Quinn
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MTV HistoryWhen MTV Stopped Playing VideosMTV did not stop playing music videos on a specific date. Instead, the cable channel's shift away from video broadcasting was a gradual process. To understand this transition, let's look at…
Retro Tech
Retro TechBetamax vs VHS: Why VHS Won- Retro TechCassette Player Eating Tapes? Fixes
- Retro TechType I vs Type II Cassettes
- Retro TechWhat a Walkman Cost in the 80s
- Retro TechDolby B vs Dolby C
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All storiesStudio SoundSynthesizers Behind the 80s Sound
Studio SoundHow to Get Gated Reverb DrumsThe sound is a one-of-a-kind combination of powerful reverb and a noise gate that abruptly cuts off the reverb tail, creating a unique, chopped drum hit with a distinct tail.
MTV HistoryMTV's Specialty Shows ExplainedMTV owed something to fans of metal, alternative rock, and hip-hop. The upstart channel had emerged in the early 1980s as the force driving a pop-music video wave. For a time, MTV did seem…
80s MusicNew Wave vs Synth-PopWhen exploring the bumper crop of post-punk bands from the late 70s and 80s, you'll see "new wave" and "synth-pop" often given as genre labels. But what's the difference between the two?
80s MusicWhy Albums Got Parental Advisory StickersHave you ever wondered why some music industry packaging includes a "Parental Advisory: Explicit Content" label? The black-and-white sticker is now a familiar feature on albums and movies…
80s MusicVideo Killed the Radio Star: MeaningThe bugbear of "Video Killed the Radio Star" for most casual listeners is its title and chorus. Is this a real deprivation of radio? A celebration of the rising tide of video? A warning…
80s Music
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80s MusicHair Metal vs Glam MetalRock fans are often confused about the different labels for hard rock and metal that emerged in the 1970s and 80s: "hair metal", "glam metal", and "heavy metal". Are these just three…
80s Music12-Inch Single vs Extended MixA 12-inch single is a record format, while "extended mix," "dub mix," and "remix" are version labels that tell you how a track was changed for club play.
From the 2011 archive of this site: behind-the-scenes photos, readers' MTV memories and the anniversary press clippings.
About 80s VJs
80s VJs started life in 2011 as a home page for the first five MTV video jockeys. Today it is an independent magazine about music television and the culture around it: the hosts, the shows, the records and the machines people played them on.
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