0x136 - Archive Riffs: Valentine’s Day Commercials (A Semi-Romantic Tale)

February 14, 2019

We’re just a bunch of old softies…with a taste for bent story arcs.

0x137 - Archive Thrifting #6: Frostbite Falls

February 28, 2019

Will our scrappy hero escape the clutches of the snow monster? Find out in our next installment: “Frosty The Slowman, or, Snow Thanks to You”!

0x138 - Ben's Junk: Ronco Mr. Microphone

March 14, 2019

Tagline: Ben: Hey, good lookin’! How ‘bout I pick you up later? Attractive Lady: (smacks Ben so hard his fillings are rearranged) Ben: But it worked for the guy in the commercial…

0x139 - Ben's Junk: GAF Super 8 Sound Film Projector

March 28, 2019

Another fixer-upper? In Archiveland? Never!!!

0x140 - Ben's Junk: The Big Reel (Film Collector’s Magazine)

April 11, 2019

While researching the recent VHS Distributors episode, I kept running into references to a publication known as the “Big Reel”. Turns out, it’s most (in)famous of the old film collector publications—and it’s easy to see why.

0x141 - Discovision/Laserdisc Quirks (An Informal Discussion)

April 25, 2019

In a way, Laserdiscs never really outgrew their experimental phase. Here’s an informal, overview of SOME of the more idiosyncratic Laserdiscs out there (and/or their packaging).

0x142 - Discovision Dead Sides Vol. 2

May 9, 2019

DVD Easter Eggs? Nah, way too easy.

0x143 - Ben’s Junk: VGA Converters/Public Domain CD-ROMs

May 23, 2019

A double dose of turn-of-the-millennium PC goodness!

0x144 - Ben’s Junk: Innovative Technologies ITNS-500 Slide “Scanner”

June 13, 2019

After a long delay…well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news.

0x145 - Archive Riffs: Clutch Cargo (Big "X", Parts 4 & 5)

June 20, 2019

The Archive finally gets to “see the X”! Spoiler: It’s a rock.

0x146 - Mystery 8mm Films/The Ballad of Ben & 8mm (Commentary)

June 27, 2019

Let’s see if we can’t clear up some misconceptions about this episode…

0x147 - Archive Thrifting #7: Wii, Wii, All The Way Home

July 4, 2019

I was going a little stir crazy at the end of last season. So, naturally, I decided to add a little to my at-home clutter.

0x148 - Ben's Junk: Video Action Magazine (Issue #1: December, 1980)

August 1, 2019

Readin’ and dreamin’ ‘bout those Archivisms that’ll probably never happen.

0x149 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Laserdisc Collection (2019 Edition)

August 15, 2019

Uh, oh. Ben’s geeking out again. Get comfy.

0x150 - Fostex X-14 Cassette Multitracker/ Ben's Music "Career": The Gear

August 29, 2019

…or, how Ben unwittingly jumped on the “lo-fi” bandwagon.

0x151 - Ben's Junk: Whippany Rhythm Master (Circa 1972 Drum Machine)

September 12, 2019

Who says Ben’s got no rhythm? He’s got 10 of them!

0x152 - Ben's Junk: Burns Theremin

September 26, 2019

…or, The Space-Age Sounds of the Oddity Archive! (now available on vinyl and 3¾ips reel)

0x153 - Archive Thrifting #8: Break IT You Pay For IT

October 10, 2019

Featuring our very Special Guest: Zippy The Chimp!

0x154 - Haunted House (Halloween SFX Album Review)

October 24, 2019

Can your heart (or better yet, head) stand a trip through this haunted house? No, seriously, this is our most headache-inducing one yet.

0x155 - Ben's Junk: Realistic Concertmate (Moog) MG-1 Synthesizer

November 7, 2019

Whatdaya mean you forgot you had a Moog? Also, synth snobs need not apply.

0x156 - Ben's Junk: Sony DCR-TRV320 Digital8 Handycam (Video8 Addendum)

November 21, 2019

Since we were already talkin’ Video8, it only seemed right to cover the Archive’s first camcorder…not to mention, a piece of gear still (as of this episode, at least) in regular use around Archive HQ.

0x157 - Ben's Junk: Archer Video Processor/Stabilizer (Model 15-1272A)

December 5, 2019

Guaranteed to keep this (internet) video from rolling!

0x158 - Algorithmic Audio Mastering (CloudBounce Review)

December 9, 2019

Can online audio mastering render audio mastering engineers obsolete? The short answer: No. Having said that, it’s not as bad as you’d think.

0x159 - Archive Thrifting #9: Christmas Confidential

December 12, 2019

Just your standard, good, old-fashioned, combustible, unnerving, overpriced Country Christmas…

0x160 - Archive Riffs: Boxing Day Commercials (er, Adverts)

December 26, 2019

Celebrating the true meaning of Boxing Day… a whole lotta furniture and carpet sales.

0x161 - MovieCD

January 9, 2020

A would-be full-fledged video format episode…which got curtailed by (amazingly enough) a lack of computer stuff at Archive HQ.

0x162 - Ben's Junk: Cult VHS (& A Few DVD's) (2020 Edition)

January 23, 2020

An informal stroll few some cherry-picked titles from Ben’s (somewhat unintentional) collection of B-Movies and Cult Classics.

0x163 - Ben's Junk: Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD Audio Interface

February 6, 2020

…or, what happens when ol’ Benny-boy decides he needs more than 2 microphone inputs.

0x164 - Ben's Junk: Behringer neutron (analog, Monophonic) Synthesizer

February 20, 2020

Yes, I bought another synth. Yes, I swatted myself on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper over my lack of self-control.

0x165 - Ben's Junk: Industrial Laserdiscs/ Anderic (Reproduction) Service Remote

March 5, 2020

Lookin’ under the hood of Ben’s laserdisc player (quite appropriately) with some General Motors discs.

0x166 - Ben's Music "Career", Vol. 4.5: Greetings From Elderbush Gulch Multitracks (An Addendum)

March 19, 2020

Benny-boy’s (non-accredited) Audio School is now in session!

0x167 - Enhanced CD's (& other multimedia CD's) (an informal chat)

April 2, 2020

Please note that this episode may not run correctly unless your monitor is running at a minimum of 256 colors and your system has at least 12MB of available RAM.

0x168 - The OA (Semi-)Supercomputer/ The OA Recording Studio Redux

April 16, 2020

Well, my last attempt at a semi-regular home audio recording rig failed…and my regular laptop is on its last legs. Here’s my attempt at solving both issues at once.

0x169 - Ben's Junk: Sony SLO-325 Industrial Betamax

April 30, 2020

Time to take a bet(t)a look at the Archive’s first Betamax—from before the Archive even existed (in every sense).

0x170 - Ben's Junk: 1953 & 1956 Hoffman Television Catalogs

May 14, 2020

A genuine televisual feast.

0x171 - Ben's Junk: Tiger Quiz Wiz

May 28, 2020

Question #196.5: What is the Quiz Wiz lacking? Multiple Choice: A. An objective B. A reward C. Entertainment value D. All of the above

0x172 - Ben's Junk: First Alert FTR-960R Time-Lapse VCR (+ Time-Lapse Tape)

June 18, 2020

The Archive gets secure...or just paranoid.

0x173 - Archive Riffs: Moving Up To Amateur Radio

June 25, 2020

OA calling CQ, hopefully DX, lookin’ for the QT on the DL while TCB.

0x174 - Archive Thrifting #10: Before We Were SO Rudely Interrupted

July 2, 2020

Archive Thrifting is a magical tool of last resort…Why? Because it NEVER fails!

0x175 - Ben's Junk: Sony U-Matic & Industrial Betamax Wired Remotes

July 9, 2020

…or, Ben’s weirdest pet-project to date! (kerchunk)

0x176 - Archive Thrifting #11: This Can Not Be The Right Price Deal

July 23, 2020

0x177 - Ben's Junk: Pioneer RH-65 8-Track Deck

August 6, 2020

Meet the Archive’s new (to us) 8-track deck…

0x178 - Ben's Junk: Denon UD-M30 CD Receiver

August 13, 2020

A rare, intimate, bedroom edition of Ben’s Junk…

0x179 - Episode 200 Rebuttal & Deleted Scenes

August 27, 2020

Ok, time for my side of the story...

0x180 - Ben's Junk: JVC HR-S7600U S-VHS ET VCR (REVISITED)

September 24, 2020

Since I had S-VHS and VCR’s on the brain already (moreso than usual), it seemed like the right time to revisit one of the early, ultra-wonky Ben’s Junk topics.

0x181 - Ben's Junk: Buster Keaton Video Collection

October 8, 2020

October 4, 2020 marked the 125th anniversary of comedian/filmmaker Buster Keaton’s birth. Consider this the Archive’s (slightly belated and rambling) tribute to one of the greats…

0x182 - Archive Thrifting #12: (Not-So) Scary Deals

October 22, 2020

It’s the first Archive Thrifting Spooktacular! Strangely enough, it’s probably one of the least scary Thrifting episodes to date.

0x183 - Ben's Junk: (New) Polaroid 600 Film (& old camera(s))

November 5, 2020

You can keep your fancy digital cameras, thank you very much.

0x184 - Ben's Junk: (Some of) Ben's Audiocassette Collection

November 19, 2020

A slow-speed ramble for a slow-speed format.

0x185 - Ben's Junk: (New) Dubreq Stylophone

December 3, 2020

We be stylin’…stylus(in’), that is…y’all.

0x187 - Ben's Junk: (some of) Ben's Vinyl Collection Vol. 2

January 28, 2021

Time to get back in the groove! (dodges tsunami of rotten produce)

0x188 - Ben's Junk: Sega Genesis Mini

February 11, 2021

Finishing up the trilogy of belatedly-acquired, nostalgically-motivated miniature video game consoles…

0x189 - Home Video Recording, 1972-Style (or, Ben's Complete U-Matic Rig)

February 25, 2021

Only about seven years in the making… With the occasional small liberty, a recreation of the first, commercially-available home videotape recording setup in North America. Depending on your perspective, it’s either hardcore or half-baked.

0x190 - Ben's Junk: Toshiba 20AF43 CRT TV

March 11, 2021

No one should ever get this excited over something this mundane… Or, this CRT is 20 AF…y’all.

0x191 - Archive Thrifting #14: (Non-)Luck of the (Non-)Irish

March 18, 2021

You’ll be green with envy over these finds…or not.

0x192 - Phonies (Answering Machine Greetings)

April 1, 2021

Just when you thought the Archive couldn’t get any more phake…

0x193 - Archive Riffs: A Taxing Set of Commercials (Tax Day Special)

April 15, 2021

It’s time to get down to business in Archiveland!

0x194 - Ben's Junk: GPX Digital TV Tuner + Recorder

April 29, 2021

Can a (relative) cheapie from Menard’s drag the Archive’s off-air recording capabilities (kicking and screaming) into the 21st century? Sort of…

0x195 - A Geeky Evening With Benny-Boy

May 13, 2021

A late-night, low-light, romantic fishing expedition with everybody’s favorite Oddity Archivist…fishing for ArchiveAnnex material, that is.

0x196 - Ben's Junk: ClonerAlliance Box Pro (Video Capture Device)

May 27, 2021

Could it be I’ve finally stumbled onto the rightful heir of the VCR? Looks like it…

0x197 - Ben's Junk: JVC HM-DH30000U & Mitsubishi HD-HS2000u D-VHS VCR's

June 10, 2021

A double-(4)-header of D-VHS (when possible) goodness!

0x198 - Episode 200 (Behind The Box) (Commentary)

June 17, 2021

If ever an OA episode needed a commentary track, it’s this one…

0x199 - Archive Thrifting #15: Out Of This World Deals

June 24, 2021

Featuring deals so far outta sight, they’re outta mind!

0x200 - Ben's Junk: Akai GX-220 Reel-To-Reel Audiotape Deck

July 8, 2021

Of course, I had to pick up a rare and unusual deck for a tape cleaning rig. Also, not to be confused with the Akai GX-220D.

0x201 - Ben's Casino Travelogue (Deleted Segment From How I Spent My Summer VIII)

July 29, 2021

The Archive delivers its first real travelogue…granted, it was all of a half-hour away from home, but still.

0x202 - Archive Thrifting #16: La Cage Aux Thrifting

August 5, 2021

Thrifting can be a real drag…but not when Ben’s around!

0x203 - VCR Cleaning (A Public Service Video)

August 19, 2021

A bit of VHSMR for everyone…

0x204 - Channel Update (9/2021) (Sony AV-2600 Update, Sencore VA62, etc.)

September 2, 2021

There’s plenty in the OA oven right now, just none of it is rising.

0x205 - VCR Rabbit Revisited

September 9, 2021

I got things just a hare wrong the first time around, so let’s hop to another round of tests…

0x206 - Ben's Junk: Video Store Regulars (& Memories)

September 23, 2021

Most people would rent a video once…Benny-boy was just insane enough to rent the same tapes over and over…then eventually buy them.

0x207 - Ben’s Junk: Wolverine Moviemaker Pro 8mm & Super8 Film Scanner

October 7, 2021

A half-hour Ben’s Junk? You might say the machine caused it to run reely long.

0x208 - Archive Thrifting #17: Spooktacular Savings

October 21, 2021

Get a witches shawl on and find a broomstick you can crawl on…and go thrifting with Benny-boy! (snap, snap)

0x209 - Ben's Junk: Sony Digital Mavica (Model MVC-FD73) (Floppy Disk Digital Camera from 1999)

November 4, 2021

Finally getting into this newfangled digital camera stuff…whatdaya mean you can’t get 3.5” floppies anymore?!?

0x210 - Ben's Junk: Coolmusic Ring Modulator (& other FX) ("Max Headroom" Hijacker Voice)

November 18, 2021

Does Ben really think he’s better than Chuck Swirsky? That freakin’ liberal…

0x211 - Ben's Junk: Christmas TV VHS & DVD's

December 2, 2021

‘Tis the season…for holiday specials. Here’s some of my favorites…

0x212 - Archive Thrifting #18: Shortwave Santa

December 16, 2021

Run, run Rudolph…towards another pile of junk!

0x213 - Ben's Junk: Keyfax Update/Pioneer GGF1381 Laserdisc Service Remote/Discovision Dead Sides Vol. 3

January 6, 2022

Going down a mental rabbit hole…in the most Archivian way possible.

0x214 - Ben's Junk: VuPoint Digital Video Converter (or, the circa 2010 YouTube video device)

January 20, 2022

Feeling nostalgic for those early YouTube potato video captures? I’ve got just the scratch for that itch…

0x215 - Ben's Junk: The Clapper

February 3, 2022

At long last, Ben’s Junk gets the clap…per.

0x216 - Laserdisc Laser Rot

February 17, 2022

A little mythbusting (and philosophizing)…OA style.

0x217 - Ben's Junk: Magnus Chord Organ

March 3, 2022

After last week’s video, I had to seek a 600-second miracle of my own. It seems to involve turning into a less-charming Daniel Johnston.

0x218 - Ben's Junk: Blonder-Tongue BTX-111 "Ultraverter" (& ONTV Pay TV Box Update)

March 17, 2022

An addendum to the “Prehistoric UHF” episode…and the “ONTV/Pay TV Vol. 2” episode—about three years too late.

0x219 - Ben's Junk: Prog & Metal VHS, Beta & Laserdiscs

March 31, 2022

For those about to rock (in 11/4 time), we salute you…

0x220 - Ben's Junk: Newtek Calibar (A Pen-Sized Test Pattern Generator)

April 14, 2022

Ben recreates the best TV program of all time—the color bars!

0x221 - Ben's Junk: Hotronic AP41 (Frame Synchronizer & Time Base Corrector)

April 28, 2022

It takes a lot to keep Ben’s Junk together…‘cause Ben’s Junk ain’t no good when it’s distorted and out-of-sync.

0x222 - CD Frustrations & Easter Eggs

May 12, 2022

A casual chat…if only because the prospect of the sixth “Ben’s Junk” in a row was too much to bear.

0x223 - Ben's Junk: Sony CVM-51UW & Panasonic WV-BM990 CRT Monitors

June 2, 2022

CRT’s are for squares…which we proudly are.

0x224 - The Eraser Laserdisc Experiment

June 23, 2022

Tackling one of the great urban legends of the Laserdisc format. Are there any “good” copies of Eraser? And, no, I’m not referring to the film itself.

0x225 - Archive Thrifting #19: Radios, Radios

June 30, 2022

Got a new phone (not by choice)…which means a new camera…which means…test drive time!

0x226 - Archive Riffs: Hey, Stop That!

July 7, 2022

It’s a(n apparent) fine line between deep expressionism and wonky student film.

0x227 - Ben's Junk: Midland WR400 NOAA Weather Radio (& other Radio Ramblings)

July 14, 2022

Mother Nature: (throws flash floods, tornadoes, derechos and blizzards at Archive HQ) Ben: I get the hint already! Geez…

0x228 - Ben's Junk: Sony SRF-A100 AM/AM Stereo/FM Portable Radio

July 20, 2022

A truly nice little radio (especially on the AM front)…and a nice little prelude to the OA 10th Anniversary episode.

0x229 - Archive Thrifting #20: Fair(mont) (St.) Clouds over Mankato

July 28, 2022

Taken while shooting the AM Stereo episode. If nothing else, it was the least sticker-shock-intensive part of the trip.

0x230 - Ben Repairs: Radio Shack Executive Stress Eliminator

August 4, 2022

Testing out a potential, new occasionally recurring thing in which I undertake minor repairs on some item…and, as always, mock it a bit.

0x231 - Sony Videocorders Update (CV-2100 & AV-3600) (8/2022)

August 18, 2022

…and the single most challenging project I’ve ever taken on…continues to kick my butt. Share in the frustration, won’t you?

0x232 - Ben's Junk: Tyler Portable TV (model TTV701-7)

September 1, 2022

Hope you like fussy, fidgety, unintuitive setups…and 45-minute Ben’s Junks.

0x233 - Ben's Junk: Sears Whisper-Matic IV (& Victorian-Era Theater Slides)

September 15, 2022

Hey Buddy, wanna see some early 20th century movie theater slides? Didn’t think so.

0x234 - Ben's Junk: Ben's Blackhawk Films Collection (minus the videotapes)

September 22, 2022

…or, Ben gets nostalgic for other people’s nostalgia.

0x235 - Ben's Junk: Sony Trinitron PVM-1343MD (Professional Video Monitor)

October 6, 2022

A rather unprofessional look at a truly professional piece of gear. Such is the Archive… And, yes, “Junk” is used in the loosest way possible here.

0x236 - Archive Thrifting #21: We Already Have Halloween At Home

October 20, 2022

Mom, can we buy some Halloween? (see title for answer)