Introduction
This is an experiment. I hope more people who worked in radio will take the time to educate the rest of us on how it all worked. This article is going to be similar to a Blog. It will be in parts and is Allan's reminiscences of his working life which started in radio. You will see how his radio experience then led to other related work. You have the opportunity to send in questions to Allan via the contact page, about the people he worked with, the shows he worked on or the equipment he used. I will then post the questions and the replies. Occasionally, Allan will consult with colleagues or other experts, so please do not expect instant replies.
I have also added a Contact Form after the latest Chapter in Allan's Reminiscences.
I have also added a Contact Form after the latest Chapter in Allan's Reminiscences.
ALLAN BLACK
Sydney producer engineer author Allan Black, started recording radio programs as a trainee in 1956 and sold his company and semi-retired in 2001. Here's his fascinating story.
All or part of any written material, including graphics and photographs, submitted by Allan Black and contained in any of these ‘Parts’ is strictly copyright. © Allan Black 2016 - 2026.
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All rights reserved. Nothing may be stored in a retrieval device for later use. Sight impaired visitors, please visit the home page first.
All or part of any written material, including graphics and photographs, submitted by Allan Black and contained in any of these ‘Parts’ is strictly copyright. © Allan Black 2016 - 2026.
All other material appearing in these 'Parts' (such as externally sourced photographs, artwork, advertisements, reprints etc.) are copyright their respective copyright owners, and are reproduced here on this website, under the "Fair dealing for purposes of criticism or review" provisions of the Copyright Act, 1968. (Australia)
All rights reserved. Nothing may be stored in a retrieval device for later use. Sight impaired visitors, please visit the home page first.
Allan Black Part 86 Pt 01 - Journalist Mike Willesee Starts a New Business Venture
In 1974 at ATA studios, clients start requesting audio cassette copies of their studio productions. Today in 2026, it seems like the audio cassette has been around forever, but in fact it was invented by Lou Ottens and his team at the Dutch company Philips, and the compact cassette was introduced in August 1963.
At ATA I’m using a Sony cassette deck to produce single copies from the master tape, but soon that isn’t fast enough, so I buy a Wollensak unit to make 3 copies from a cassette master at a higher speed. Then that isn’t fast enough so I buy this Telex 235 unit that copies direct from the master tape to 3 copies at a higher speed. At this time there must have been close to a 100 cassette brands on the market, but the best new tapes I find are the Japanese TDK-AD C30, C60 and C90.
One reason is, back at Natec Sound Studios in Bligh St. in the city, we had a great business relationship with Convoy Int. the TDK importers at Woolloomooloo Sydney, so now I’m able to buy TDK cassettes with a good discount, but I have to buy the minimum dealers quantity with each order.
One reason is, back at Natec Sound Studios in Bligh St. in the city, we had a great business relationship with Convoy Int. the TDK importers at Woolloomooloo Sydney, so now I’m able to buy TDK cassettes with a good discount, but I have to buy the minimum dealers quantity with each order.
Mike Willesee.
At ATA one morning, I receive a phone call from Channel 9 TV personality Mike Willesee’s secretary. She wants to book a 1hour studio session for Mike to come and record some narration, so we agree on the time. When I put the phone down, I realise why Mike is coming to record with Black Inc. here in Glebe. It’s because of his long time association with Natec Studios back in Bligh St. Back then not only did we record TCNs weekly music for the ‘Bandstand’ but I recorded program inserts for Mike’s Channel 9 program A Current Affair, including newcomer Paul Hogans poetry segments. They were great sessions to work on.
On the day when Mike arrives at ATA for this session, he first explains what this booking is for, he’s started a new business altogether, totally separate from his Transmedia television company. It involves selling background music to major hotels in cities throughout the East, diversifying Mike’s business interests.
On the day when Mike arrives at ATA for this session, he first explains what this booking is for, he’s started a new business altogether, totally separate from his Transmedia television company. It involves selling background music to major hotels in cities throughout the East, diversifying Mike’s business interests.
Each hotel will have an auto reverse cassette deck set up at reception. From there it will play continuous background music into all the hotels guest rooms.. Every few minutes, there will be a spoken commercial advertising various local stores. This advertising is Mike’s new business, and he plans to increase it.
Mike then surprises me with, he’s already got salesmen out in the East selling this new hotel business and store advertising, and today he wants to record the first commercials. After we complete this he asks me to forward a quote with prices for an hour of instrumental background music with his commercials, regularly dubbed to a quantity of C60 audio cassettes, sent to his Sydney office. From there, they will be forwarded to the Eastern hotels.
By now dear reader I’ve learned to not suddenly react, not say anything negative or stupid, but today we are getting ahead of ourselves so I ask questions, and the first 2 are, “Interesting Mike, when do you want these cassettes and how many do you want?”
Mike then surprises me with, he’s already got salesmen out in the East selling this new hotel business and store advertising, and today he wants to record the first commercials. After we complete this he asks me to forward a quote with prices for an hour of instrumental background music with his commercials, regularly dubbed to a quantity of C60 audio cassettes, sent to his Sydney office. From there, they will be forwarded to the Eastern hotels.
By now dear reader I’ve learned to not suddenly react, not say anything negative or stupid, but today we are getting ahead of ourselves so I ask questions, and the first 2 are, “Interesting Mike, when do you want these cassettes and how many do you want?”