Thesoundhouse,
why is it a crazy question? If you meet someone asking where to buy the best ever built R2R machine for high quality recording & playback do you think the ones you mentioned will win the race? :-)
best & fun only |
Bifwynne,
I have no experience with the Crowns. Tandbergs you find on ebay or here on Audiogon. I would recommend going for a 1/2" if you looking for quality recording & playback.
best @ fun only |
the ATR is a Mastering Machine.
I read: The Ampex ATR-102 tends to work best on rock, metal and hip hop styles, and even folk or acoustic-based music that needs warming up. Where it doesnt work well is when a mix is already quite compressed, dull or heavy in the low frequencies in these cases the tape only tends to exaggerate these areas.
best & fun only |
Bifwynne,
you may look for sources at Audio Kharma ( reel to reel ). there are many sources mentioned where you can buy tapes. Master Tape dubs you may get e.g. from the Tape Project or AAA in Germany.
I know some audiophiles in the States, Switzerland, Germany who build up their tape collection right now. It looks to me like a small but exclusive renaissance of the R2R which you may also follow on systems displayed on Audiogon - but a small one!
best & fun only |
Mike,
your A820 looks like it is in a very good condition. It is of course the crown of all modern Studer machines with five motors and its build quality is from another world. It is also a very rare type you have. You are very priviliged to work with such a machine. I was told the weak point may be the computerized design. new parts a not easy to get but I do think this counts for all Studers exept of the A810.
Oh yes the Nagras. What about the Sonys and MCIs?
best & fun only |
Dear all,
thanks for contributing so far. I know about the Studer machines but there are so many other nice machines out there. I recently saw a vintage Sony prototype on ebay in very good condition, only a little overprized.
Sam, oh yes you are a lucky owner of a A820. May I ask you and Mike if are using the A820 at 30 ips?
Besides of the A820 which machine really has "best of all time status" or which one would you recommend going for?
best & fun only |
My new machine has arrived today, hopefully you regard it as appropriate. I was happy that it matched the car's space - but no more milimeters left. I needed help to bring it into my room and it got dark very early at my place So tomorrow I will shoot a picture and post it here.
best @ fun only |
Thesoundhouse,
you`re absolutely right. Being a connoisseur of R2Rs as I learn from your history you know about "your treasures" quite well. I regard the Revox machines as very good ones too. Nevertheless I experienced that the professionnel studio machines offer some advantages we as home audio guys did not know before.
In my youth I started with Grundig and Philipps R2Rs. When I rediscovered Tapes in the 90ies I first bought a TEAC X2000 and later picked up a Studer A810 in Switzerland but had to calibrate the machine. This one was a true friend for about six years. When I was confronted with one of the best restored Studer C37 R2R I have ever seen I added the C37 and from now on enjoy the tube sound of a studio tape recorder.
I also compared the sound of the C37 with the A820 being able reproducing over 15.000 Hz. The A820 is from my point of view technically the superior unit but musically I prefer a little the C37. This is today`s situation, but who knows...
best & fun only |
Hello Sam,
We did not talk about the Nagras and the MCIs so far.
I have also not seen any comments about the big Sony machines.
when the big DASH machines were introduced they did quite some good recordings, e.g. for the ECM label. The problem seems to be that the digital sources are getting rare.
best @ fun only |
Atmasphere,
you are describing deep experiences with R2Rs. I share your assessments you made so far and it shows that looking on master tape machines needs a more detailed approach and comes to different results than the repair facility which Mike mentioned believes.
And of course it us all about recording quality and the transistor/tube output of the mastering deck. One may ask if we do need the technical options of a big studio machine but when you operate one of the giants, let's say the A820, it is a lot of fun and a very nice haptic feeling you have.
This is also part of the story. You have this with the C37 as well whenever the transport mechanism is not as soft as with the A820 and maybe the Ampex. |
Dear Lewm,
this is a true story I am sure. Many people got rid of their vinyl collection too. And today? Some really lucky ones still have a collection, others are building it up cause there is so much vinyl out there, and in Jazz and Classics records are usually in a good condition.
In tapes we have a few sources getting second or third master dubs, even of modern Rock and Jazz productions. Nevertheless I am still waiting for a guy like your former boss reading these lines considering to make himself a little lighter...
best @ fun only |
Neumanns, especially the tube-mikes are great for recording. I also have good experiences with the Studer mixers, if they are checked and in a good condition.
Recording on Tapes is wonderful, even at home!
best @ fun only |
Sam, here it is, hope you like my choice:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-6ZG7zbaj-VDbPnGDmMPmn3JU4W64WoH6aKPcEXA3ds?feat=directlink
best @ fun only |
I don't think it is difficult to get into the Tape Business again. You are able to buy excellent master dubs on the market (e.g. Tape Project). If you have some friends sharing this specific adventure you might be able to make copies for your personal use and also exchange ideas about new sources (search under The Audio Archive).
Don't start with a feeling of limitation, regard it as an exclusive window in your audiophile chain. Whenever you are listening to well recorded tapes you migh agree that this is setting the standard in your system. Also for comparing to vinyl or certain cartrigdes. And don't forget the haptic feeling when you are operating a tape machine. We could ask Mike, Albert or Sam if they stay cool when being in contact with their R2Rs...
best @ fun only
|
Sam, I just saw this funny dialog. You may like it...
Hello everyone
I just bought an A820 and i try to figure out how calibrate it us i am new in tape.
Does auto alignement means that i don't have to use MRL?
Can anybody discribe me the alignement procedure?
I've downloaded the manual but i don't want to make something that will hurt the machine.
Thanks in advance
Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:45 am
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yeeeaaaaahhhhhhhh..........
everything you're saying is all wrong. i think you may have already damaged this machine. you'll need to crate it up and have it shipped to me right away. i'll have a look and see what i can do. it will take some years, though.
man, you're lucky i saw this.
Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:31 am
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That is so kind of you but it only solves half of my problems as i have two of them
Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:19 am
best @ fun only |
The week after next week my new machine will be finished. I had to build a special stand etc. I will then definitely post an image here. Maybe someone has seen that kind of unit somewhere before...
best @ fun only |
Sam,
I am using the Studer A779 which is the smallest Pro-Unit they had.
you may use three unit inputs (tapes or turntables / or mikes).
If you need more info on that the image I will post in one week will also contain the Mixing Solution.
best @ fun only |
Joenies,
Do you mean the big Nagra, the one Bottlehead is using too?
Best @ Fun Only |
some impression from RMAF 2011:
Tape Decks
This was more than a bit surprising. I've always known that a good deck crushes the sound of vinyl providing you have source tapes that are fairly close to the masters. I was amazed to see so many top shelf decks in so many rooms at the show. Best part was, everybody was using them. I saw everything from studio decks to a little portable Stellavox 3 1/2" deck that will blow your mind. Good sounding open reel decks aren't exactly inexpensive, neither are the source tapes, but boy does it sound good. One of these days I'll get back into this. Like vinyl, I've kept all of my open reel tapes. |
Transaudio,
my studio at home producing the " Bavarian Tapes"
best @ fun only |
