How Kansas Made Sure They Sounded Great On Crappy Radios

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[@impalaman9707]

This reminds me of something I heard Todd Rundgren do. When he finished mixing a recording, he would immediately run out to his car as listen to the playback on a car stereo. He reasoned that if it sounded good on a car stereo, it would sound good anywhere!

[@cattnipp]

Seen Kansas many time - my all time favorite though was at the Catholic Church carnival in St. Augustine on a hot saturday afternoon. The band came out and started crankin' a kick ass version of Fight Fire with Fire. A minute in, the stage went silent, Steve Walsh was instantly frustrated because the electric breaker tripped. Road crew couldn't figure it out. Finally, about 45 minutes later, they ran one of those huge carnival electric cables from the Tilt-a-Whirl and got the show back up. Unforgettable. Rich stayed after to talk with fans - I've got photos with all the band.

[@kevanpatten7996]

The crappy speakers used in the 70's to check your mix for crappy stereos were called Auratones. Little 3 or 4 inch speakers, with no tweeter. The other method used was to record your mix to a cassette, and play it in your car to check crappy system compatibility. Audio systems have improved so much since then, the Auratones are not needed as much, but still worth using to check. In the 80's and beyond we started using Yamaha NS10s as our crappy, midrange heavy speaker system checker. Make your mix sound great on them and you're good to go.

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

These videos are so interesting and serve as a comfirmation of what you thought about Kansas.

[@beidup]

I was QA Manager for a major Record Company in the 90s and saw a pair or NS 10s in every recording studio for checking how it was going to sound to most people.

[@stevefix5800]

Always been a Kansas fan from the beginning to the current lineup love their music have seen them 3 times over the years and would go back and see them again and again. Have even introduced them to my youngest daughter who enjoys listening to them as well.

[@bluesman3232]

Got their first six albums on cd's. Their first album with john Brown on the cover was a great debut album...."brigin' it back from Mexico"!

[@amecocoa3829]

The band from the heartland, made sure that their music could be heard by those without snob level sound systems. They stayed true to their heartland roots in so many aspects of their music.

[@bassguitarpracticebackingt7928]

Hey Rich! I think those old studio speakers you're thinking of were called Auratones. They were in almost every studio, and for exactly the purpose you're talking about. Thanks for all of the music!

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

Being from Kansas myself, I really enjoy his perspective... just because we are old doesnt mean we are going to play old music...

[@ralphmarrone3130]

These Rich Williams interviews are great!

[@TechGently]

I've been listening to Mono all of my life (deaf in one ear) lol. I like that Kansas didn't go crazy with the stereo prior to the days when you can just switch to "mono" on a device.

[@chriscosby2459]

There was an album before Song for America -- the album with John Brown on the cover. That is still my favorite Kansas album.

[@wesboundmusic]

So cool, and yes, brings back sweet youthful memories as far as the technology available back then and how all these great people who were truly committed to what they were doing made sure to get the best out of whatever was available at the time, aw man! Thank you for another sweet trip down memory lane!

[@mdturnerinoz]

I play all their albums on my Apple Home Pods, and they STILL SOUND GREAT THERE TOO!

[@technoforever888]

Sir, you did exactly what you set out to do...you fill a remakable spot in Rock history. Two for the Show was the first album I ever bought. I heard Kansas on the radio and I had to have their album. I didn't realize it was a live album, but it didn't matter, I fell in love with every song. The radio versions felt off to me. lol

[@antondial5326]

Hi ! I think those little speakers were Auratones. Kansas is America's great prog rock band. Rich, whatever the challenges Kansas faced, the music was always the BEST. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@lauriehammers4686]

Thank you for doing this. I have been really enjoying these interview bites.😊

[@snobnax]

Rich is my hero...He's the reason I practice. I just love his attack and the way he plays like nobody else. KANSAS fan since first ALBUM! #RICHARDWILLIAMS #MEATWALL

[@fiddlix]

Aurotone speakers are what they are. You always have great content. Kudos and thank you.

[@MissingMars]

Elvis did that in the early 50's -they pressed an acetate of one of his first singles and he then proceeded to run off with it. They later found him in the bathroom stall listening to it on a kids portable record player. They said what are you doing? He said this is what the kids are gonna listen to the record on - wanted to make sure it still sounded good!

[@craigtittsworth9440]

My ALL TIME Favorite band!

[@peterkraus2249]

They sound great because they are the epitome of starting out as a garage/house rock band. If I would have lived around their neighborhood and heard the music they were making I would have stopped and listened for more.

[@shanesthief]

That was great looking forward to the next part.

[@briankay5384]

Love these interviews !!!

[@michaelgalea5148]

Hi John fantastic interview 😊

[@arkybeagle6159]

Chances are the little speaker was an Auratone, aka the Horrortone :) . Later, the Yamaha NS10 took on that role.

[@robert2948]

Love this content. Love Kansas, thanks

[@sp1068]

Comes across as a very thoughtful person, with great recall of events. Similar in that regard to Lukather.

[@MuzixMaker]

Auratones or NS10 speakers were and in many cases still are used to check the mix.

[@JonathanHiller]

Those small speakers were called Auratone monitors. I have a set of them.... they sound pretty terrible, but they translate well...

[@devinjeffrey275]

Rich is such a fabulous artist, AND person! Beyond underrated 👊🏻😎

[@Twinkie1960]

all garate segmentz with rich 👏🏼

[@jymihawk2740]

Good stuff

[@mtdusmc9437]

This has been a great series of interviews. Rich is a great guy.

[@kc0lif]

i like journey from mariabronn. they're music always sound good.

[@DarylBark]

Rich was referring to the JBL One.

[@JPTyler]

So when do we get the full interview?

[@groovejunki1]

Could you talk about why Kansas is Not in the R,R, hall of fame . Rich may not care but as a life long Kansas fan I would be interested in his thoughts thx

[@timwhite5647]

Hey John, I've seen several interviews now of you and Richard Williams, which are real interesting, but I'm wondering why he's doing these interviews from his bed. Have you asked him if he is ill? I don't think I've ever seen anyone interviewed from his bed...except maybe John and Yoko in their hotel suite in Toronto. So, if Kansas is planning a 50th anniversary tour, shouldn't he be up and about. I know he used to be a lot heavier than he is now, is he having health issues?

[@jefftipton2470]

Aura tone speakers

[@bruceoysterculp526]

Magnum Opus

[@jimhardiman3836]

Auratone speakers

[@geraldinevenzke5970]

Always perfectionist the band was anything but mediocre That’s why we came to their concerts I absolutely loved every concert and every record