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In Reply to: RE: Tape recorder mini museum in Madison posted by sleeper on May 20, 2023 at 19:29:07
enn tee
all the best,
mrh
Follow Ups:
Not to be cynical, but 24 track recorders had some sound quality limitations. 16 tracks was more reasonable.
Although, several decades ago, John Stephens once took me to a studio where they had one of his 40 track (yes, forty!) closed-loop recorders. I want to say it was The Producer's Workshop, but I don't remember for sure. In any case, I was duly impressed, even with the tiny track width.
But, in my opinion, the creme-de-la-creme was/is a 4 track Studer using 1-inch tape, with custom electronics by John Curl. THAT is the tits.
I've always lusted over the absolutely excellent engineering of the A80 series transport and control. And, their FF and rewind speed was scary fast.
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We are inclusive and diverse, but dissent will not be tolerated.
enn tee
all the best,
mrh
Then, get one, ASAP. You only have one life to live! Live it!
I've lusted after an A80 quarter-inch two track for decades. The Ampex ATR-102 would also be the tits, but the A80 is an icon and is my dream girl.
*********
We are inclusive and diverse, but dissent will not be tolerated.
I too lusted for it since seeing its promo material for the first time - its dual-roller tension sensors are way sexy.Of course I had to have one, and I bought the R version, with no bridge, because I prefer not to have any junk in signal path.
It is a pleasant machine to use, but I can't say it is ideal. Its most serious flaw is, in my view, its lack of reduced speed spooling - I prefer to never use full speed rewind, if I can. So to me it is big deal.
It also doesn't take 14" reels.
Another issue is its sound... it is unremarkable. In fact, all Studers sound unremarkable to various degree - the later ones, such as the A810, A807, A820 are particularly bad because their signal paths are overloaded with digital components, put there in order to make their calibration easier. But even the fully analog one like A80 still produce a closed-in sound.
Part of the reason is their obsession with "butterfly" heads. These give you a couple more dB's of SNR, but they damage the channel separation. It is clear that the studios and audio fanatics have different objectives.
Overall I am not thinking of parting with mine, even though I rarely use it. When I do it plays through one of my head preamps - it gets better that way.
Edits: 05/31/23 05/31/23
I think when somebody says "Swiss precision", they were talking about Nagra, Stellavox and Studer. :)
My friend John Curl commented a long time ago that the Studer electronics weren't as good as their mechanical engineering. He's not impressed, which is one reason why he designed new circuitry for a couple of them.
Still, it'd be nice to have an A80 just for fun - even though I really don't have a place to put it! (The living room doesn't count!)
*********
We are inclusive and diverse, but dissent will not be tolerated.
I have some of each, and I enjoy them all. :) There definitely is that fine quality to them.Although I would not put Sony far behind. :) Their TC-510 is also a gem.
Regarding the space - don't you have some unused place in your home? I built my room in our large walk-out basement.
Edits: 05/31/23
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