Totally. It was stuff like this which drew my attention to the design of electronics and how it "talked" or "conveyed" things to the end user when I was young.
I love how they look, but they are also a big let down cause I just bought a used AV receiver from like 2009/2010 and the display is much dimmer than new and with burn-in marks sadly...
The pro voiceover sound and tight script, the clean editing, the original score, and of course, the beautiful camerawork. Posy you are a renaissance man
I'd totally love to see that as an (expensive) piece of modern art in a museum. A bunch of VFD displays, with camera trained on them, focus controlled (and choreographier) by motors, with the close-ups displayed around the on large screens around the VDF centerpieces. The "random" texts and symbol fading in and out of view offer room for interpretation, turning this into true art. A cheaper version could use pre-recorded macro shots, with the VFDs synchronized to the video display. So the cameras could be fake. The whole installation could get as large as _De Nachtwacht_ from that other Netherlands artist, playing out the difference in sizes between the immensely magnified close-up shots on the displays and the (comparatively) tiny VFDs. Sad that VFDs have limited lifespans and are no longer easily replaceable.
I don’t know if there are well defined eras of TH-cam, but your videos definitely feels like we’ve entered a new era. Shockingly original, fantastic, a joy to watch.
It is interesting to know how engineers worked around the cost and technology to create the aesthetic they wanted in the old days. Nice contents as always and thanks for the new music.
great video mate! Some of the displays you've shown are not VFD's at all, but backlit LCD's - just wanted to point that out... the designers made them look like VFD's - especially in the 2000's era this type of LCD's were popular... they imitated the high end look of the devices from the 90's 🙂
@@evoelias6035 Sometimes they go at great lengths to make sure displays match, especially when different suppliers are involved. I had a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP (Supercharged 3.8L), and much like Audi of the same era, all of the dashboard lights are red. All of the digital displays were backlit reverse LCD (and so they were red segments) except the HVAC, which was clearly a standard bluish-green VFD. This was because 1998 was the first year of the new design, and only the GTP had digital HVAC, so they must have not specified correctly. However, the 1999 GTP had a matching red HVAC display. I found one in a junkyard, but the buttons were worn, so I disassembled it to use my buttons and was shocked to find a red filter over the same VFD! I was sure it was an LCD lol. I later learned about the filter and how common it was used, like in mirrors with a compass and/or outside temperature display in different cars... All the Gentex mirrors use a greenish blue VFD and Audi/BMW put a red filter and certain other cars made them yellow (I can't remember who... Cadillac?).
@@davidkane4300 very interesting indeed... most european cars from that era used unreliable backlit LCD technoogy. I remember that Audi and Volkswagen had often issues with dead pixels... VFD's seem to be rather uncommon there... I really like the sharpness of bright blue VFD's. I remember getting my first CASIO G-Shock back in the day. I think It used that VFD tehcnnology as backlight for the LCD - or am I wrong there?
One of my strongest lasting memories from my childhood in the 80s was sitting in front of a hi-fi system watching the VFD EQ while Metallica and Guns n Roses played in the dark.
In the modern era where displays on most devices are so sharp and colorful, it's wonderful to see these displays of the past, especially in such detail that most people back then wouldn't have even noticed.
As a native German speaker, I was confused at first since the element phosphorous is called Phosphor in German, while the English word phosphor, as it turns out, can be used for any phosphorescent OR fluorescent substance, so that's something I learned on top of the contents of this beautifully made piece! Apparently the commonly used phosphor for VFD was zinc oxide.
I would absolutely love a longer form collection of several minutes each of all those macro shots. They're absolutely beautiful watching the pulsing patterns, 100% relaxing. Thank you!!
VFDs have a special place in my heart. That turquoise glow (And i will die on that hill with you) with splashes of other colors for different elements will always be an aesthetic that remains unmatched by today's LCD and OLED displays.
It is rare these days to find content of this quality. The camerawork, the music, the passion with which you talk about the topic. All truly fantastic stuff. I look forward to seeing more in the future!
That's so intricately beautiful. VFD display is really a lost art, the shear amount of engineering that goes into creating these display are remarkable. Nowadays its replace with LCD/LEDs which yes is more efficient, but it just doesn't look and feel the same.
I actually bought a new stereo system recent, which initially I though it has a VFD display. On closer inspection, I discovered it’s really just a LED display with a color filter, but it looks very convincing from afar. If I haven’t discovered it was a LED display, I would not give a second though but now it just feel abit… weird that it looks like VFD but it isn’t!
Though modern lcd and oled displays are starting to have enough pixel density that you could emulate a very convincing VFD with them, and get the best of both worlds.
I really love the animated messages that the Japanese units would say when you powered on or off. It was quite charming when my CD player told me “SEE YOU!” I miss that little touch when using the iPhone music app. That gear looks gorgeous, BTW.
I didn’t know how much I love VFD until now XD It’s amazing how much character some of these display designs had an we toke it for granted. So nostalgic!
I cringe to say it, but the Akai Yellow-Orange VFD reminds me so much of the Bladerunner movies, especially 2049. That retro-futuristic style where LEDs were uncommon, and VFDs were the way to make a beautiful user interface for anything, especially anything futuristic, I love it so much. It's such a shame that LED fake VFDs aren't used more for aesthetic things. Could give the customer different filters to customize the color palate, rather than using RGB LEDs and a convoluted programming system.
Oh, the technics and devices of this era is so incomparably beautiful, stylish, intriguing! So much more than modern ones. Can't express how much I miss it all, those little screens, colours, buttons! And VFD screens, of course - LED can't substitude that vibe. Beautiful video)
VFDs are my favorite displays. i remember as a kid closely watching them for what must have been houres. I loved the fine detail and the slightly uneven glow
You know this kind of reminds me of Vsauce and Technology Connections in the way you take joy in everything. I love these more explorative videos where you mess with and analyze interesting machines, but not in a more analytical manner, just enjoying the process of opening these gadgets up. And the sound design and music is of course a revolution. The whole series you have here is the most artistic stuff I’ve seen in years.
He's answering questions I never asked about topics I quite frankly don't care about. But the way he presents it makes me want to explore more and more of these weird technological oddities and curiosities.
I have listened to your album Flourescent almost nonstop since you published this video. I absolutely LOVE the songs. I don't have the words to explain how much I enjoy them.
Started watching this video as a curiosity. I grew up with these displays and thought they were all some form of LCD. Brilliant explanations into the world of VFD displays. Loved the narration, the editing, the shots and the music.
I actually could always tell the difference from an LCD and both my dad and I thought they were LEDs until I realized I never saw LED elements as tiny as VFD pixels so I figured it was something different when I got older
Your content is like absolutely nothing else. The music, the crystal clean audio and video. The phenomenal macro shots. Thank you for making such amazing works of visual artistry!
still think these are sooooo cool. Grew up with these VFDs on EVERYTHING lol. Stereos, VCRs, DVD Players, Automobiles, Microwaves, Stoves. Everywhere. I still have a 1994 Honda Prelude w/ a VFD Tach/Speedo/Fuel/Temp Gauges. I still think it looks awesome. And still, even 30yrs later it still works (most of the time :)
Thank you for allowing me to dive back into my childhood! Back then, a long time ago, I simply drowned in the pleasure of looking at a display like that of an old Soviet cassette player. It was a whole world to me, and I still love the different displays, dashboards, etc. Your content is an emerald in this day and age where the crazier the content, the better.
I love, no, I LOVE VFDs. They are so beautiful... I consider them the most beautiful type of display along with Nixie Tubes. I love them so much that I gradually try to replace as many other displays as possible with VFDs in my home. When I saw that you released a video about them, I quit everything, turned on the speakers and enjoyed the relaxation. Thank you for the video.
This feels like seeing a segment of Sesame Street but for grown ups. Really love it. I'm just discovering this channel yet and I'm a total fan already. Thank you Posy
Thanks for the work that you put into this! Back in the day I used to fantasize about surrounding myself in some kind of pod with VFD-equipped stereo equipment to just look at the displays - they seemed so high-tech back then!
My first into to VFD’s was building a clock from an Adafruit kit that used an old Soviet tube. I’ve probably spent hours just looking at all the connections and the shapes of the phosphors. Truly incredible technology.
This is great. I have recently used two VFD displays in one of my videos; the look of those displays is impossible to replicate with modern LCDs and OLED displays. They are just beautiful.
And there's these car parking system's VFD HUD. I think wonderful things can be made out of these but I don't know anything about electronics. Can't even find this VFD as spare parts. There are some uncommon chiptune cartridges that brought displays as features and I honestly think that this VFD could be more than a feature.
I agree LCDs can't replace their look but I actually think with some adjustments OLEDs could look a lot like them. In 1999, Pioneer began releasing car stereos with displays known as OEL, which were basically early OLED displays, and let me tell you, many of them looked amazing. It's about implementation. OLEDs that don't look like how VFDs are don't have the glass-like covers VFDs often use in multiple layers and may not even have the same neutral density filters. Improvements in the outer design of OLEDs I think could potentially improve their looks a lot more
Always amazed of his works. I stumbled upon this channel with the video why he created his own mouse pointer. Who knew that he does stuff like this. Really an amazing content creator.
Man, you are the one. Combining such an art sensibility, such a capacity to blend what you want to comunicate in the way you do it, developing the visuals and the music... This blow my mind. Congratulations.
You are an incredible videographer, musician and educator. I don't care about displays at all but I love learning about them if you talk about them. You make the topics interesting to listen to and especially watch, it's a pure bliss! Thank you for your work!
the editing on these videos is insane! the music is great too, and the fact that posy made it himself is even better! I love seeing all of the intricacies of the different components in older technology and how they work, it's really fascinating to me. I personally think that there's something quite nice about how older technology and older displays operate, even though we have all these crazy modern technologies like mini LED, OLED, foldable OLED, transparent OLED, etc. Makes me appreciate older technology more :D
7:20, try'na decipher what the electro-voice is singing. "VFD - Vacuum Fluorescent Display _(Don't you think we're lucky that)_ they're still working today" Ahh, I couldn't quite figure out what the center parts are; feel free to chime in. This has been quite mesmerizing for me. It's a sin for me for not having subscribed to you since the time I watched your Segmented Displays video. Thanks so much!
VFD screens are one of my favourite aesthetics, they work in pretty much every setting, retro, modern, cyberpunk etc. Speaking of aesthetical displays, Nixie Tubes are pretty cool, have you ever had one? I think they're quite unique.
I remember in like 1998, my friend in elementary school found an abandoned stereo system on the street that worked perfectly, and had an full display like at the beginning of the video with EQ peaks and other stuff. His parents also had a car with a digital spedometer. I was enamored with both of those things--back before beautiful bright color displays entered all of our pockets, any kind of glowing digital display drew me like a moth to flame.
Great video! I always thoroughly enjoy your content. The macro shots were fantastic. I love VFDs, they have fabulous contrast and a analogue look that can't be replicated. I miss seeing them instead of the bland LCDs we have now. Fun fact: VFDs are effectively triodes.
They seem to be triodes in a bit of a nonstandard configuration. Instead of varying the grid voltage to control the transconductance, they're varying the plate voltage. Essentially they're using the filament and the grid of a triode as an electron gun, and each of the fluorescent segments is turned on by applying a high positive voltage to attract those electrons. Pretty cool, I see now how closely related VFDs are to CRT displays.
Very interesting, in Canada it's always been warm lighting until cold LEDs and CFLs became available so I've always known the VFDs to be light blue as well, never knew they were actually white!
absolutely wonderful episode - the photography is great and I share your passion for these display technologies. If people liked this, definitely check out Posy's episode on 7-segment displays!
The sheer hard work and dedication in these videos is above and beyond anything else that I have ever seen. Every single video has a perfect combination of educational content, entertainment and absolutely beautiful b-roll shots. You manage to capture palpable feelings, emotions and somehow a sense of euphoria in your videos, I don't know how to describe it, but it's pure magic!
I get so exited every time you upload. Love listening to your music and watch your content! If there's only one youtuber I would be forced to watch for the rest of my life, this would be the one!
@@hypenheimer ??? That account has a 16 year old video, this comment is also completely normal, not trying to sell anything, i highly doubt that would be a bot, i fact you sound more like a bot, how ironic would that be, a bot going around calling random people a bot
The thing I love about this channel is the sheer production value. From the wonderful composition to the expert cinematography to the incredible music, every video I've seen of yours has been a treat.
The macro-videography segment at 7:00, and the “VFD” song from your Fluorescent album, is an AMAZING combination. I listen to this song daily. And you created a passion in me (wanting to model VFDs using your videos as reference)! I am such a fan of this video, and of this song. Going to support you on Patreon too!
Once every few years the TH-cam algorithm manages to outdo itself and shows me something wonderful and magical. This is exactly the channel I realised I was craving the second it was served to me.
In fact, VFDs have a timeless charm, to be quite honest, I have a Kenwood A7 myself, with just the main module and EQ (Needs repair unfortunately), and being quite honest? These old stereos have very good sound quality, even by today's terms. I think the only problem with this channel is the fact that it encourages me to want to buy these devices knowing that I'll have difficulties finding repair parts, that Dual MN-8010 for that matter, in addition to not being able to find it here on Brazil, if I import one, but if it breaks down, I don't think I'll be able to find parts
"even by today's terms" ESPECIALLY by today's terms. Everything on the market now is trying to beat physics with DSP. When you bought a stereo in the 80s or 90s, its size and gauge of wires were all an honest declaration of what it was capable of. DSP is nearly magic, but it will never, ever hold a candle to a device that can just do the thing.
These videos really do satisfy my urge to take something apart to see how it works, the amount of effort you put into these videos always makes the experience otherworldly.
Posy stating at the start of every video that he doesn't use any stock footage has the same vibe of pride as how Queen always printed on their labels they didn't use synthesizers on their albums (until the 80s of course)
🎉 Hello to all watchers of the Dave's Garage channel who came here to see Posy's video of VFD displays. If you liked this video don't forget to watch the one about segmented displays too, and subscribe to this and the Lazy Posy channel while you're at it. Thank you!
I don’t know if you know, but your videos are so goddamn interesting and cool. Never in my life have I ever been interested in anything you have covered, until I watched your videos. You are so, so interesting.
Your content is always some of the highest quality stuff on this site. The fact that you use no stock footage is absolutely astonishing, and shows you're passionate about this.
It’s amazing, I’ve always been into audio technology being a sound engineer and all, but it’s wonderful how I always learn something new whenever I watch your videos:). Thanks
The light in VFDs is produced by phosphors, which come in different colors. The usual one is the bluish-white one (I think it's P40 or P41) that's chosen to produce good light output and long lifetime at the low voltages at which VFDs operate. However, the red and orange displays are different phosphors instead of color filters. Sometimes a green phosphor is used as well. Since the light generated by phosphors is generally fairly wideband (unlike, say, LEDs), you can change it with filters, so some will be filtered to look more blue or green or (as in the one with the glowing filament) pink or red.
Why do fluorescent tubes exhibit a narrowband emission, while modern phosphor LEDs have a broadband emission covering the entire visible range? Just time and research? Why did these VFDs use color filters when they could upconvert from UV or blue? Contrast? They could've just used a black mask.
Amazing video, amazing talent and passion you put in it. Thank you so much for sharing this to us, I bet most of our childhood/teenage years were marked by those fantastic looking devices.
Some people already articulated this below. But these videos make me feel like a 6 year old watching a Seasme Street segment. It's fascinating, and informative, and fun. I love it. And that feeling is so extremely rare at my age. Way to go, Posy. Love this stuff
I really love your videos, the footages, the narration, the edition. Each video is a great job, you can tell that you spends a lot of time and dedication! I love old machines, in particular the digital 80s-2000s machines, decks, calculators, etc.
The music was amazing for this! i love how unique your video style is. It honestly makes me feel so nostalgic, like these VFD displays were so futuristic and forward facing at one point of time, and the music transports me back to that feeling :)
this is the first video of yours I've seen, and I absolutely love the atmosphere you create. I never realized the beauty of VFDs until now and I thank you for giving me a newfound appreciation for them.
Here in the U.S. where, historically (in my own 35-year experience of life that is), warm light has been ubiquitous. However, in recent years it seems people (especially city managers) are turning over to cool light. In the last decade, every street lamp surrounding and including those on my own street, have slowly been changed to cool light; the town’s Christmas lights are now on that end of the spectrum; and otherwise friendly neighbors seem intent to remove every square inch of shadow unmolested by the local street lamps with these infernal, bluish bulbs. I know it seems mundane and inconsequential, but it’s a thing that bothers me endlessly. I have an aversion to these lights, like a Vampire to the Sun, and I’m desperate to know why this is happening. Are the cold, emotionless lights that used to furnish every local meth lab suddenly cheaper than those offering a comforting glow? Or is there some deeper reason? I will say, however, that these changes make coming home to a spectrum that actually cares about me, my eyes, and my feelings all the more rewarding. At least there’s that. Okay, sorry, I’ll go watch the other 8 minutes and 40 seconds of the video now.
I just bought a CDP-CX210 recently, and now I really want to get behind that front panel to see if its white display is actually blue!! I've loved VFD displays ever since I was a kid, so this video was a delight :)
The Animal-planet lightning. About animal-land we're not allowed to say anything, but we can tell about the lightning. HOW THE LIGHTNING HAPPENS. There is electricity in the air. That's OK. But not if... (end of page) It's something from my childhood. I have no idea why I took the time to translate that 😂
If you don't mind, what is the silver player on the right at 6:17 called? It looks like a vertical cd player and MD combo deck, very interesting (incredible video also)
"The strings need the springs because the strings stretch and the springs fetch the stretch of the strings" - just wonderful!
2:23
worthy of Princess Caroline
as a non-native speaker i'm not going to attempt saying that
i found this line to be at least inspired with Alec's Technology Connections, as he also likes to put some fantastic tongue twisters between his lines
That was a winner rap battle rhyme from the 90s. 😂
VFDs are basically the peak of 80's and 90's aesthetics. Fun to see these lit up on every Hi-Fi audio receiver system in the electronic shops.
Totally. It was stuff like this which drew my attention to the design of electronics and how it "talked" or "conveyed" things to the end user when I was young.
2000s too.
I love how they look, but they are also a big let down cause I just bought a used AV receiver from like 2009/2010 and the display is much dimmer than new and with burn-in marks sadly...
You should buy a pioneer cdj1000 mk3 or cdj800 if you love fvd
The green ones (or blue with filters?) were used in a radio and odometer in Ford Mustangs 05-09 :)
Watching a Posy video feels like looking into a different world, one that seems nicer to live in.
Video has this childlike admiration and curiosity for the world
It reminds me of being really young, and being really young was really nice.
i think thats just scandinavia
@@legodbrez4202 he lives in the Netherlands though
It is called living in the first world. So yeah, you're right hes from other world
The pro voiceover sound and tight script, the clean editing, the original score, and of course, the beautiful camerawork. Posy you are a renaissance man
“Renaissance man”. That is exactly what springs to mind when i watch Posy.
He has the same voice of @destinyspace
The extreme macro shots were unreal, your art is appreciated as always!
Thank you!! :)
I'd totally love to see that as an (expensive) piece of modern art in a museum. A bunch of VFD displays, with camera trained on them, focus controlled (and choreographier) by motors, with the close-ups displayed around the on large screens around the VDF centerpieces. The "random" texts and symbol fading in and out of view offer room for interpretation, turning this into true art.
A cheaper version could use pre-recorded macro shots, with the VFDs synchronized to the video display. So the cameras could be fake.
The whole installation could get as large as _De Nachtwacht_ from that other Netherlands artist, playing out the difference in sizes between the immensely magnified close-up shots on the displays and the (comparatively) tiny VFDs. Sad that VFDs have limited lifespans and are no longer easily replaceable.
its beautiful in 4K
this!!! i was floored, beautiful
@@klausstock8020 You know, maybe *you* could be the one to do this, internet stranger.
I don’t know if there are well defined eras of TH-cam, but your videos definitely feels like we’ve entered a new era. Shockingly original, fantastic, a joy to watch.
between posy nerdirotica and others
it really feels like a different take on the XboxAhoy style of vids.
@@ut2k4wikichici nerderotic is just right-wing propaganda masquerading as film critique
@@ThinkAboutViche so reminds me of AHOY
And not in a bad or cringy way, a truly interesting one.
It is interesting to know how engineers worked around the cost and technology to create the aesthetic they wanted in the old days. Nice contents as always and thanks for the new music.
Thank you!! :-)
as someone who designs interfaces, it makes me appreciate how easy we have it today lol. but also it would be really cool to work with these displays
great video mate! Some of the displays you've shown are not VFD's at all, but backlit LCD's - just wanted to point that out... the designers made them look like VFD's - especially in the 2000's era this type of LCD's were popular... they imitated the high end look of the devices from the 90's 🙂
@@evoelias6035 Sometimes they go at great lengths to make sure displays match, especially when different suppliers are involved. I had a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP (Supercharged 3.8L), and much like Audi of the same era, all of the dashboard lights are red. All of the digital displays were backlit reverse LCD (and so they were red segments) except the HVAC, which was clearly a standard bluish-green VFD. This was because 1998 was the first year of the new design, and only the GTP had digital HVAC, so they must have not specified correctly. However, the 1999 GTP had a matching red HVAC display. I found one in a junkyard, but the buttons were worn, so I disassembled it to use my buttons and was shocked to find a red filter over the same VFD! I was sure it was an LCD lol. I later learned about the filter and how common it was used, like in mirrors with a compass and/or outside temperature display in different cars... All the Gentex mirrors use a greenish blue VFD and Audi/BMW put a red filter and certain other cars made them yellow (I can't remember who... Cadillac?).
@@davidkane4300 very interesting indeed... most european cars from that era used unreliable backlit LCD technoogy. I remember that Audi and Volkswagen had often issues with dead pixels... VFD's seem to be rather uncommon there... I really like the sharpness of bright blue VFD's. I remember getting my first CASIO G-Shock back in the day. I think It used that VFD tehcnnology as backlight for the LCD - or am I wrong there?
never realized how much I appreciate the aesthetic of these displays
Huh I thought I scheduled this for Sunday... 😅
Oh no. At least we get to watch this banger early :)
Yea another perfect video from an awesome guy
Too late, already watching...
lol
lol this is a win us subscribers
One of my strongest lasting memories from my childhood in the 80s was sitting in front of a hi-fi system watching the VFD EQ while Metallica and Guns n Roses played in the dark.
In the modern era where displays on most devices are so sharp and colorful, it's wonderful to see these displays of the past, especially in such detail that most people back then wouldn't have even noticed.
“That’s No Good”
As a native German speaker, I was confused at first since the element phosphorous is called Phosphor in German, while the English word phosphor, as it turns out, can be used for any phosphorescent OR fluorescent substance, so that's something I learned on top of the contents of this beautifully made piece! Apparently the commonly used phosphor for VFD was zinc oxide.
Just to add to the confusion, “Phosphorus” was the ancient Greek name for Venus as the Morning Star.
I would absolutely love a longer form collection of several minutes each of all those macro shots. They're absolutely beautiful watching the pulsing patterns, 100% relaxing. Thank you!!
Totally. I'd put on a hour long supercut for background!
Yeah, there was some beautiful stuff there.
Would make a really nice screensaver too.
@@PhilRennie Yes!! Posy upload something like these macro shots onto wall paper engine!!
@@Vacated204 awesome. Thanks for the heads up.
@@PhilRennie oh sorry I was agreeing with you and suggesting posy make some wallpapers! he hasn’t uploaded any yet haha sorry
VFDs have a special place in my heart. That turquoise glow (And i will die on that hill with you) with splashes of other colors for different elements will always be an aesthetic that remains unmatched by today's LCD and OLED displays.
It is rare these days to find content of this quality. The camerawork, the music, the passion with which you talk about the topic. All truly fantastic stuff. I look forward to seeing more in the future!
Thank you! :)
You’re such a cool dude, love your videos and attention to detail. ☺️
@Kajan.
Your videos feel like a calming journey to an earlier, better time - great as always and a gem on TH-cam.
That's so intricately beautiful.
VFD display is really a lost art, the shear amount of engineering that goes into creating these display are remarkable.
Nowadays its replace with LCD/LEDs which yes is more efficient, but it just doesn't look and feel the same.
It's strange, LCD and LEDs if anything are more of brilliant technology, but they just don't feel the same.
I actually bought a new stereo system recent, which initially I though it has a VFD display.
On closer inspection, I discovered it’s really just a LED display with a color filter, but it looks very convincing from afar.
If I haven’t discovered it was a LED display, I would not give a second though but now it just feel abit… weird that it looks like VFD but it isn’t!
Man, I miss VFD. I absolutely love that aesthetic. Things with LED / LCD displays just look low-budget compared to proper VF displays.
Though modern lcd and oled displays are starting to have enough pixel density that you could emulate a very convincing VFD with them, and get the best of both worlds.
My new stereo receiver still has a VFD. They're disappearing but aren't gone yet!
I really love the animated messages that the Japanese units would say when you powered on or off. It was quite charming when my CD player told me “SEE YOU!” I miss that little touch when using the iPhone music app.
That gear looks gorgeous, BTW.
YAAS little things like those greetings in the most artistic VFDs are seemingly such a lost art nowadays
I’m always in awe of the atmosphere you manage to create, incredible work as always
I didn’t know how much I love VFD until now XD It’s amazing how much character some of these display designs had an we toke it for granted. So nostalgic!
I cringe to say it, but the Akai Yellow-Orange VFD reminds me so much of the Bladerunner movies, especially 2049. That retro-futuristic style where LEDs were uncommon, and VFDs were the way to make a beautiful user interface for anything, especially anything futuristic, I love it so much. It's such a shame that LED fake VFDs aren't used more for aesthetic things. Could give the customer different filters to customize the color palate, rather than using RGB LEDs and a convoluted programming system.
That's what I thought!!!
The switch between neon turquoise and yellow-orange was like switching between Tron: Legacy and BR2049.
Man thats exactly what it came to my mind, it feels great finding people that have same interest in thing.
Oh, the technics and devices of this era is so incomparably beautiful, stylish, intriguing! So much more than modern ones. Can't express how much I miss it all, those little screens, colours, buttons! And VFD screens, of course - LED can't substitude that vibe.
Beautiful video)
I really hope VFD displays gain the popularity that nixie tubes have. They deserve to live on :)
Basically the same idea, just a different form factor
If they do, their prices will skyrocket, just like nixies did
@@TheRailroad99 Nah, one is a Cold-cathode indicator with a gas filling, the other is more like a flood CRT with a hard vacuum. Not the same.
@@Puuuszzku They are still being made so maybe in a couple of years
Probably hasn't happened yet because they're still fairly common.
VFDs are my favorite displays. i remember as a kid closely watching them for what must have been houres. I loved the fine detail and the slightly uneven glow
I think everyone can agree that we could all use more macro photography of vintage displays in our lives set to the tune of your brilliant music!
You know this kind of reminds me of Vsauce and Technology Connections in the way you take joy in everything. I love these more explorative videos where you mess with and analyze interesting machines, but not in a more analytical manner, just enjoying the process of opening these gadgets up. And the sound design and music is of course a revolution. The whole series you have here is the most artistic stuff I’ve seen in years.
He's answering questions I never asked about topics I quite frankly don't care about. But the way he presents it makes me want to explore more and more of these weird technological oddities and curiosities.
@@jassie138 Very well said. I'm in the same boat.
2:24 "The strings need the springs because the strings stretch and the spring fetch the stretch of the springs" - Posy 2023
I thought it was gonna go on until the end of the video lol
I have listened to your album Flourescent almost nonstop since you published this video. I absolutely LOVE the songs. I don't have the words to explain how much I enjoy them.
His voice and amazing visuals combine to make an amazing atmosphere in his videos that’s calming and wonderful
Started watching this video as a curiosity. I grew up with these displays and thought they were all some form of LCD. Brilliant explanations into the world of VFD displays. Loved the narration, the editing, the shots and the music.
I actually could always tell the difference from an LCD and both my dad and I thought they were LEDs until I realized I never saw LED elements as tiny as VFD pixels so I figured it was something different when I got older
Your content is like absolutely nothing else. The music, the crystal clean audio and video. The phenomenal macro shots. Thank you for making such amazing works of visual artistry!
still think these are sooooo cool. Grew up with these VFDs on EVERYTHING lol. Stereos, VCRs, DVD Players, Automobiles, Microwaves, Stoves. Everywhere. I still have a 1994 Honda Prelude w/ a VFD Tach/Speedo/Fuel/Temp Gauges. I still think it looks awesome. And still, even 30yrs later it still works (most of the time :)
If TH-cam had an art gallery... a whole wing would be dedicated to Posy.
Love the visual style dude. And the music in this one exceptionally groovy!
Thank you for allowing me to dive back into my childhood! Back then, a long time ago, I simply drowned in the pleasure of looking at a display like that of an old Soviet cassette player. It was a whole world to me, and I still love the different displays, dashboards, etc. Your content is an emerald in this day and age where the crazier the content, the better.
I love, no, I LOVE VFDs. They are so beautiful... I consider them the most beautiful type of display along with Nixie Tubes. I love them so much that I gradually try to replace as many other displays as possible with VFDs in my home. When I saw that you released a video about them, I quit everything, turned on the speakers and enjoyed the relaxation. Thank you for the video.
This feels like seeing a segment of Sesame Street but for grown ups. Really love it. I'm just discovering this channel yet and I'm a total fan already. Thank you Posy
This channel is just so authentic, while keeping high quality. Also exudes a giant wave of positive energy.
Как же это прекрасно!
Так жаль, что ушла эпоха таких дисплеев.
There is something great about the era where you could visually dissect things and see how they worked, teachings the mind to interrogate the world
Ничо, Тёма Кашканов воскресит :)
Please, never stop showing us the fascinating world of electronic displays
Thanks for the work that you put into this! Back in the day I used to fantasize about surrounding myself in some kind of pod with VFD-equipped stereo equipment to just look at the displays - they seemed so high-tech back then!
Stores back in the day were just beautiful with all those VFDs of home, car, and shelf stereos all in DEMO mode. Your fantasies weren't far off
My first into to VFD’s was building a clock from an Adafruit kit that used an old Soviet tube. I’ve probably spent hours just looking at all the connections and the shapes of the phosphors. Truly incredible technology.
This is great. I have recently used two VFD displays in one of my videos; the look of those displays is impossible to replicate with modern LCDs and OLED displays. They are just beautiful.
And there's these car parking system's VFD HUD. I think wonderful things can be made out of these but I don't know anything about electronics. Can't even find this VFD as spare parts. There are some uncommon chiptune cartridges that brought displays as features and I honestly think that this VFD could be more than a feature.
I agree LCDs can't replace their look but I actually think with some adjustments OLEDs could look a lot like them. In 1999, Pioneer began releasing car stereos with displays known as OEL, which were basically early OLED displays, and let me tell you, many of them looked amazing. It's about implementation. OLEDs that don't look like how VFDs are don't have the glass-like covers VFDs often use in multiple layers and may not even have the same neutral density filters. Improvements in the outer design of OLEDs I think could potentially improve their looks a lot more
Always amazed of his works. I stumbled upon this channel with the video why he created his own mouse pointer. Who knew that he does stuff like this. Really an amazing content creator.
Definitely go through his other videos, they're fantastic. Especially 7 segment displays and all sound is sine.
@@jceggbert5 already watched it! It's really awesome.
Man, you are the one. Combining such an art sensibility, such a capacity to blend what you want to comunicate in the way you do it, developing the visuals and the music...
This blow my mind. Congratulations.
You are an incredible videographer, musician and educator. I don't care about displays at all but I love learning about them if you talk about them. You make the topics interesting to listen to and especially watch, it's a pure bliss! Thank you for your work!
Thank almighty youtube algorithm for leading me to this channel. Just the perfect blend of visual perfectionism, asmr audio and geek content.
the editing on these videos is insane! the music is great too, and the fact that posy made it himself is even better! I love seeing all of the intricacies of the different components in older technology and how they work, it's really fascinating to me. I personally think that there's something quite nice about how older technology and older displays operate, even though we have all these crazy modern technologies like mini LED, OLED, foldable OLED, transparent OLED, etc. Makes me appreciate older technology more :D
This is an amazingly stylish and informative channel, I'm happy that I got it recommended by the algorithm, subscribed!
7:20, try'na decipher what the electro-voice is singing.
"VFD - Vacuum Fluorescent Display
_(Don't you think we're lucky that)_ they're still working today"
Ahh, I couldn't quite figure out what the center parts are; feel free to chime in.
This has been quite mesmerizing for me. It's a sin for me for not having subscribed to you since the time I watched your Segmented Displays video.
Thanks so much!
I had to search for this comment after listening to the soundtrack XD, your guess sounds likely to me
His Bandcamp has the lyrics
@@Antiblue643 Oh. Oohh, silly me, I didn't notice the clickable "lyrics" link beside its track title in Bandcamp before.
Thank you!
"VFD - Vacuum Fluorescent Display
It's old technology that is still working today"
2:43 We have to appreciate how the sound emanating from the hardware harmonizes with the bgm. Posy's videos thrive on the subtle details.
VFD screens are one of my favourite aesthetics, they work in pretty much every setting, retro, modern, cyberpunk etc.
Speaking of aesthetical displays, Nixie Tubes are pretty cool, have you ever had one? I think they're quite unique.
I remember in like 1998, my friend in elementary school found an abandoned stereo system on the street that worked perfectly, and had an full display like at the beginning of the video with EQ peaks and other stuff. His parents also had a car with a digital spedometer. I was enamored with both of those things--back before beautiful bright color displays entered all of our pockets, any kind of glowing digital display drew me like a moth to flame.
I love your videos, please never stop making them
Watching this makes me want to listen to tracker music and synthwave all night while watching the calming glow of the lights dance
Great video! I always thoroughly enjoy your content. The macro shots were fantastic. I love VFDs, they have fabulous contrast and a analogue look that can't be replicated. I miss seeing them instead of the bland LCDs we have now. Fun fact: VFDs are effectively triodes.
They seem to be triodes in a bit of a nonstandard configuration. Instead of varying the grid voltage to control the transconductance, they're varying the plate voltage. Essentially they're using the filament and the grid of a triode as an electron gun, and each of the fluorescent segments is turned on by applying a high positive voltage to attract those electrons. Pretty cool, I see now how closely related VFDs are to CRT displays.
Very interesting, in Canada it's always been warm lighting until cold LEDs and CFLs became available so I've always known the VFDs to be light blue as well, never knew they were actually white!
absolutely wonderful episode - the photography is great and I share your passion for these display technologies. If people liked this, definitely check out Posy's episode on 7-segment displays!
Your closeup shots are so nice to look at. You can see all the details in such high quality, I wish I had a 4k display
The topics, the music, the visuals, the narration. It al fits together incredibly well! Never change!
The sheer hard work and dedication in these videos is above and beyond anything else that I have ever seen. Every single video has a perfect combination of educational content, entertainment and absolutely beautiful b-roll shots. You manage to capture palpable feelings, emotions and somehow a sense of euphoria in your videos, I don't know how to describe it, but it's pure magic!
I absolutely love the amount of obsession in every single video on this channel.
You could make any topic fascinating, wonderful stuff as always!
I get so exited every time you upload. Love listening to your music and watch your content! If there's only one youtuber I would be forced to watch for the rest of my life, this would be the one!
The intro montage really has me _yearning_ with nostalgia for the tactility of physical buttons
Also your style is COOL!!
The amount of effort you put in is insane.
Bot
@@hypenheimer ??? That account has a 16 year old video, this comment is also completely normal, not trying to sell anything, i highly doubt that would be a bot, i fact you sound more like a bot, how ironic would that be, a bot going around calling random people a bot
@@MrTurbo_ Yeah, I get the stupid bot replys all the time, I have no idea why as I am not a bot. It is ridiclous.
@@MrTurbo_ They commented this only 1 minute after the video was uploaded
I saw my first VFD when I was about 11 years old. I have loved them ever since.
The thing I love about this channel is the sheer production value. From the wonderful composition to the expert cinematography to the incredible music, every video I've seen of yours has been a treat.
The macro-videography segment at 7:00, and the “VFD” song from your Fluorescent album, is an AMAZING combination.
I listen to this song daily. And you created a passion in me (wanting to model VFDs using your videos as reference)!
I am such a fan of this video, and of this song. Going to support you on Patreon too!
Thank you!! ❤️
Posy has mastered the art of B-roll footage. It is beyond pleasing to just look at the pretty pictures he takes, especially the up close PCB ones
Once every few years the TH-cam algorithm manages to outdo itself and shows me something wonderful and magical. This is exactly the channel I realised I was craving the second it was served to me.
In fact, VFDs have a timeless charm, to be quite honest, I have a Kenwood A7 myself, with just the main module and EQ (Needs repair unfortunately), and being quite honest? These old stereos have very good sound quality, even by today's terms.
I think the only problem with this channel is the fact that it encourages me to want to buy these devices knowing that I'll have difficulties finding repair parts, that Dual MN-8010 for that matter, in addition to not being able to find it here on Brazil, if I import one, but if it breaks down, I don't think I'll be able to find parts
"even by today's terms"
ESPECIALLY by today's terms. Everything on the market now is trying to beat physics with DSP. When you bought a stereo in the 80s or 90s, its size and gauge of wires were all an honest declaration of what it was capable of. DSP is nearly magic, but it will never, ever hold a candle to a device that can just do the thing.
This was great, I like the combination of aesthetics and tech that you discuss as well as the extreme macro shots of everything.
These videos really do satisfy my urge to take something apart to see how it works, the amount of effort you put into these videos always makes the experience otherworldly.
Posy stating at the start of every video that he doesn't use any stock footage has the same vibe of pride as how Queen always printed on their labels they didn't use synthesizers on their albums (until the 80s of course)
Another masterpiece. The macro slider shot at 7:50 is something to be proud of!
Loved it! Those displays were gorgeous. It was fascinating seeing how different filters changed the displays.
🎉 Hello to all watchers of the Dave's Garage channel who came here to see Posy's video of VFD displays.
If you liked this video don't forget to watch the one about segmented displays too, and subscribe to this and the Lazy Posy channel while you're at it. Thank you!
Ngl... I sleep when I watch Dave's video
I don’t know if you know, but your videos are so goddamn interesting and cool. Never in my life have I ever been interested in anything you have covered, until I watched your videos. You are so, so interesting.
Your content is always some of the highest quality stuff on this site. The fact that you use no stock footage is absolutely astonishing, and shows you're passionate about this.
It’s amazing, I’ve always been into audio technology being a sound engineer and all, but it’s wonderful how I always learn something new whenever I watch your videos:). Thanks
The light in VFDs is produced by phosphors, which come in different colors. The usual one is the bluish-white one (I think it's P40 or P41) that's chosen to produce good light output and long lifetime at the low voltages at which VFDs operate. However, the red and orange displays are different phosphors instead of color filters. Sometimes a green phosphor is used as well. Since the light generated by phosphors is generally fairly wideband (unlike, say, LEDs), you can change it with filters, so some will be filtered to look more blue or green or (as in the one with the glowing filament) pink or red.
Why do fluorescent tubes exhibit a narrowband emission, while modern phosphor LEDs have a broadband emission covering the entire visible range? Just time and research?
Why did these VFDs use color filters when they could upconvert from UV or blue? Contrast? They could've just used a black mask.
Amazing video, amazing talent and passion you put in it. Thank you so much for sharing this to us, I bet most of our childhood/teenage years were marked by those fantastic looking devices.
Some people already articulated this below. But these videos make me feel like a 6 year old watching a Seasme Street segment. It's fascinating, and informative, and fun. I love it. And that feeling is so extremely rare at my age. Way to go, Posy. Love this stuff
I really love your videos, the footages, the narration, the edition. Each video is a great job, you can tell that you spends a lot of time and dedication!
I love old machines, in particular the digital 80s-2000s machines, decks, calculators, etc.
The display at 0:57 gives strong evangelion vibes.
I watch lots of retro audio electronics footage but this is the first one to really show how old gear gives so much comfort.
The music was amazing for this! i love how unique your video style is. It honestly makes me feel so nostalgic, like these VFD displays were so futuristic and forward facing at one point of time, and the music transports me back to that feeling :)
Great video. Everything about it is fantastic, in fact, but I am absolutely loving those close-up shots of the displays.
this is the first video of yours I've seen, and I absolutely love the atmosphere you create. I never realized the beauty of VFDs until now and I thank you for giving me a newfound appreciation for them.
That was absolutely fascinating. I used to (still do) love VF displays, so cool for what they are. Also loved the vocoder 'intermezzo'! Many thanks.
I love these older tech videos. THe production quality is amazing. It's so interesting to see these things taken apart to show how they work
This felt like watching a nature documentary, thank you.
Here in the U.S. where, historically (in my own 35-year experience of life that is), warm light has been ubiquitous. However, in recent years it seems people (especially city managers) are turning over to cool light. In the last decade, every street lamp surrounding and including those on my own street, have slowly been changed to cool light; the town’s Christmas lights are now on that end of the spectrum; and otherwise friendly neighbors seem intent to remove every square inch of shadow unmolested by the local street lamps with these infernal, bluish bulbs. I know it seems mundane and inconsequential, but it’s a thing that bothers me endlessly. I have an aversion to these lights, like a Vampire to the Sun, and I’m desperate to know why this is happening. Are the cold, emotionless lights that used to furnish every local meth lab suddenly cheaper than those offering a comforting glow? Or is there some deeper reason? I will say, however, that these changes make coming home to a spectrum that actually cares about me, my eyes, and my feelings all the more rewarding. At least there’s that.
Okay, sorry, I’ll go watch the other 8 minutes and 40 seconds of the video now.
I love these things. Most common color in America in my very limited experience was amber, probably as a call back to nixies.
What camera/lens you use to film the extreme macro shots of the VFD? It looks crazy good! The shot at 8:09 felt like it was through a microscope.
I just bought a CDP-CX210 recently, and now I really want to get behind that front panel to see if its white display is actually blue!! I've loved VFD displays ever since I was a kid, so this video was a delight :)
1:50 Please translate that page in your book, Posy 🥺
The Animal-planet lightning. About animal-land we're not allowed to say anything, but we can tell about the lightning. HOW THE LIGHTNING HAPPENS. There is electricity in the air. That's OK. But not if... (end of page)
It's something from my childhood. I have no idea why I took the time to translate that 😂
this video came in the right time. you don't know how obsessed i am with old displays. thank you posy.
If you don't mind, what is the silver player on the right at 6:17 called? It looks like a vertical cd player and MD combo deck, very interesting (incredible video also)
I grew up playing Little Big Planet 2 and this video/soundtrack scratched that part of my brain again. Thanks.