a review by Tom Piper
Nostalgia is so heart-warming . . . reflecting back on the bygone era of 8-track players, skate keys, Kodachrome film, ducktails, and . . . oh, my gosh, talking about dating myself into primitive times! Yet, these selective memories seem more carefree and happier than the obligations and responsibilities of today. I’ve found a couple of apps that bring that wistfulness back to overlay some of our modern technology.
First is Instant Vintage Video iSupr8, the most advanced mobile Super 8 film filter in the world. You can rediscover the beauty of authentic vintage Super 8 film through this video recorder which grades each pixel based on exposure adding old school effects. The resulting film becomes a unique and retro masterpiece.
This company is all about keeping the 8mm movement alive. iSupr8 is not just a fun novelty app, but instead an effort to revive and increase awareness of a commercially dying format to a new generation, as well as a production tool for filmmakers seeking an authentic, vintage look.
Second is AutoValve which adds retro analog love to your digital library. You can bring back the glory days of tube analog to the palm of your hand with real-time vinyl, reel-to-reel and 8-track effects. It is fun to hear the needle drop, and listen to the snap, crackle and pop of your musical library. Plug in your iPod and watch classic VU Meters bounce and reels spin with vintage glory.
AutoValve allows you to choose from multiple vinyl samples and mix it to your liking, or select an analog reel-to-reel to access that beautiful hiss you grew up on. You can take a trip to the drive-in and enjoy the ambience of that big metal mono speaker in your car window along with the sounds of summer. And, even better, you can choose a 1960′s or 1970′s skin to transport you back to your favorite classic decade. The glowing tubes, bouncing meters, cool knobs and reminiscent switches bring back the memories we all know and love. Its all done in real time with real music.
I’ve had a lot of fun with these apps, applying scratches and pops to modern renditions of various music. It puts a smile on my face to peer through the window of my iPhone at spinning vinyl (or swipe it to the rolling hissing reels, or pulsing 8-track, or flickering drive-in speaker, complete with people in the background), all fully adjustable according to my mood. It was also a delight to convert some of my videos to old 12/18/24 fps film with Tru8 100D filmstock (or any of 7 more film stocks at 99¢ each) yielding a quivering yellowish clip that could well have been taken 50 years ago (you can do the same with a live recording in either regular or zoom mode). It brings back a warm fuzzy feeling to new recordings.
In order to purchase either iSupr8 or AutoValve ($1.99 each), just go to the App Store or use http://itunes.apple.com/app/isupr8/id413566476?mt=8 or http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autovalve/id461183638?ls=1&mt=8. To learn more about MEA Mobile (Auckland, New Zealand, and New Haven, Connecticut) and their full range of products, go to http://www.meamobile.com/sample-page/. Even with our modern iPhones and iPod touches, we can still bring back the sentimentality of our cool sights and sounds from years gone by.
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