Topic: Beatles 1" four-track in pics? ... (Read 4318 times)

vernier · « **on:** November 08, 2005, 01:20:52 AM »

Seen quarter inch decks in their control room pics, but no 1" machine ...anybody seen it?

Brian Roth · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2005, 01:45:15 AM »

A few years ago, a client in Tulsa had a pair of J37's, but I never took any pictures. I found this via Google:

http://www.stefansen.org/music/studer/studer_j37.htm

Bri

vernier · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2005, 02:26:35 AM »

Thats nice!

Bob Olhsson · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2005, 10:46:09 AM »

I'm pretty sure I remember from my visit in '68 that there were machine rooms. (Remember that these studios had lathes for the first ten or fifteen years!) The quarter-inch machines were most likely being used for slap. When I was there they had just begin using ReVox A-77s for this.

Greg Youngman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2005, 11:36:51 AM »

Wouldn't they have been ½" 4-track? Track sheets from 1966 - 68 show reels of 811 ½" being used. I think they first used a 1" 8-track in late 68.

Barry Hufker · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2005, 12:59:04 PM »

No, it was indeed a 1" 4 track. Scully made one too.

Barry

Greg Youngman · « **Reply #6 on:** November 08, 2005, 01:21:48 PM »

Barry Hufker wrote on Tue, 08 November 2005 09:59

No, it was indeed a 1" 4 track. Scully made one too.

Barry

Maybe... probably an EMI BTR or Ferrograph?

What's still puzzling to me is that only ¼" and ½" tape stock show up on the track sheets up to late 68.

Greg Youngman · « **Reply #7 on:** November 08, 2005, 01:35:05 PM »

A quote from G Martin:

"Tape machines current to The Beatles first appearance at the studios were mono and stereo machines manufactured by EMI and called BTR's. The other tape machine used over this period was a Studer J37 4-track. Despite the presence of the 4-track, the band recorded their first two albums using BTR 2-track machines. Later, in 1968, 3M's 8-track tape machines were introduced into Studio 2."

Doesn't shed light as to if it was 1".

jwhynot · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2005, 02:52:03 PM »

I saw a 1" machine upstairs at Abbey Road in October '94 - I don't remember seeing meters.

I asked the fellow I was working with if that was one of the, you know, MACHINES THE BEATLES USED. He was evasive - I think the employees there had a very tight NDA on the subject.

Anyway it was neat.

JW

vernier · « **Reply #9 on:** November 08, 2005, 04:53:17 PM »

George Martin explains the one-inch four-tracks in his book "All You Need Is Ears". I'm looking at track sheets in the "Recording Sessions" right now, ...can't make heads or tails about whats scribbled down.

PRobb · « **Reply #10 on:** November 08, 2005, 05:50:32 PM »

When were flanges invented? I'm always amazed to see the tape just sitting there, all naked. I was scared to go without a top flange, but pictures from the 60s don't seem to show bottom flanges either!

compasspnt · « **Reply #11 on:** November 08, 2005, 09:50:02 PM »

In my experience, the flanges didn't keep the tape on the reel while it was working on the machine, only when you handled the tape OFF of the machine! You might only have a problem while using the tape in cases of extreme "mis-operation" of the RW/FF/Play/Stop buttons.

Brian Kehew · « **Reply #12 on:** November 08, 2005, 11:19:35 PM »

No meters? You have a good memory, sir!

Bob Olhsson · « **Reply #13 on:** November 08, 2005, 11:47:06 PM »

Most of Europe went from 1/2" 3 track to 1" 4 track around the same time the US moved to 1/2" 4 track. (around 1964)

bobkatz · « **Reply #14 on:** November 09, 2005, 07:19:06 AM »

compasspnt wrote on Tue, 08 November 2005 21:50

In my experience, the flanges didn't keep the tape on the reel while it was working on the machine, only when you handled the tape OFF of the machine! You might only have a problem while using the tape in cases of extreme "mis-operation" of the RW/FF/Play/Stop buttons.

I used to work tape in a New York City commercial studio environment without a top flange routinely. We developed a technique of fast forwarding while touching the top of the tape as it was winding onto the takeup reel. In fast-moving commercial environments in expensive NYC, speed and efficiency counted a lot.

But the reeeeeeel key to working without a top flange would be to use properly slitted tape. Agfa, followed by BASF, was the best slit tape in the world. It would wind flat innately, and it should follow academically that this means better tape to head contact and better sonic performance. Ampex and Scotch NEVER had the slit quality of the best European tapes. Reportedly, if you were to unwind a reel of 2" tape in a hall, rolling it on the floor, Agfa would roll straight, Ampex would slowly bias towards one wall or the other. Triumph of marketing over performance?

BK

Bob Olhsson · « **Reply #15 on:** November 09, 2005, 10:31:32 AM »

Older Studers never had meters, you were expected to use the ones on the console. EMI Studios had 3-track Ampex 300s and the mono and 2 track Ampexes had been replaced the the better BTRs. They probably didn't have sel-sync and just used the 3-tracks for session backups.

Barry Hufker · « **Reply #16 on:** November 09, 2005, 04:30:59 PM »

Click this link for a gander at a Studer 1" 4 track, now owned by Puk Studios.

http://www.larkingslist.com/default2.asp?active_page_id=198#

Barry

compasspnt · « **Reply #17 on:** November 09, 2005, 05:23:35 PM »

Yeah, Steely Dan came along and really smoked those Beatles!

vernier · « **Reply #18 on:** November 09, 2005, 05:40:06 PM »

Please, not the Steely thing again ...I like bands that play and sing *in tune* thank you. Anyway, I think Bob answered my question ...the multi-track was in a different room. Thanx Bob.

RMoore · « **Reply #19 on:** November 09, 2005, 08:01:37 PM »

Kool pics

I think I know who that Puck is - it has to be the same Puck Leek I bought some studio bits like V72 & SM69 from up in Amsterdam, he had found success hunting Euro mics when there were still scores to be found cheep & built up a crazy collection with something like 5 M-50's for a Decca tree and an ELA M251 which he demonstrated on Jazz drumkit (the 251), pretty awesome,
He didn't have the 4 track when I was there ('97) but did have one of the Studer J 1/4 inch machines..

vernier · « **Reply #20 on:** November 09, 2005, 10:22:27 PM »

I tried to find one years ago but there was none ..seems there'd be more than one or two still in existence.

Brian Kehew · « **Reply #21 on:** November 11, 2005, 11:51:58 AM »

I'm trying not to over-hype it, but there WILL be a book with a sick amount of detail on the Beatles tape machines. History, use, mods, photos inside and out. Better to wait for it than to speculate on some things that may seem incorrect in the future? We are hoping for late Dec./mid Jan on the book. Very close now.

BTW - I believe you have seen the 4-track in photos, just not clearly. Or you haven't seen enough photos... it's there (sometimes).

vernier · « **Reply #22 on:** November 11, 2005, 05:46:18 PM »

I can't wait! ...get that book out!!!

maxdimario · « **Reply #23 on:** November 11, 2005, 06:03:40 PM »

the nice thing to consider is that you don't need a J37.

modifying a studer 2" with an 8 track head and tube electronics would give better results, if you invested enough money into it, for example.

Han S. · « **Reply #24 on:** November 11, 2005, 06:36:18 PM »

Ryan Moore wrote on Thu, 10 November 2005 01:01

Kool pics

I think I know who that Puck is - it has to be the same Puck Leek I bought some studio bits like V72 & SM69 from up in Amsterdam, he had found success hunting Euro mics when there were still scores to be found cheep & built up a crazy collection with something like 5 M-50's for a Decca tree and an ELA M251 which he demonstrated on Jazz drumkit (the 251), pretty awesome,
He didn't have the 4 track when I was there ('97) but did have one of the Studer J 1/4 inch machines..

Ryan, you are absolutely right, I know this guy since he was a young kiddo. His first name is Puck indeed, an odd name for a dutch guy. He rents classics like U47, ELA M251 and M50's, nice guy.

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Author Topic: Beatles 1" four-track in pics? ... (Read 4318 times)