ALLEN WRENCH wrote on Wed, 22 June 2005 01:42 |
If you were going to suggest a 2" analog tape machine for someone with zero tech ability... which would it be? |
Quote: |
Hey Ted, I've got a tech friend of mine helping me a bit... The big point is that I'm lucky he has the time to come by and help me out. |
arconaut wrote on Wed, 22 June 2005 17:09 |
Brian... a Stephens? Aren't those machines really difficult to maintain? noah |
arconaut wrote on Thu, 23 June 2005 07:20 |
>John is still around, apparently in SoCal as I recall. > >http://www.stephenselectronics.com/home.htm I was excited to see this website, until I discovered that nothing works on it! I had no idea he was still at it, amazing the things you learn on this board. |
vernier wrote on Sat, 25 June 2005 01:36 |
Radar is digital right? |
vernier wrote on Sat, 25 June 2005 15:20 |
Doesn't matter that it ends up on CD ..analog recordings still sound much different (as proven by outstanding reissues of late). Digital has some specs (low noise floor, whatever), but still sounds weird, I think it's the dynamics, the way the sound comes at you ..much different than with analog. |
thedoc wrote on Wed, 22 June 2005 18:56 |
I will also say that I agree with Brian that if you buy an Ampex MM1200, be SURE that it has the constant tension board (many do not). Otherwise you will spend your life normalizing reel servos and adjusting holdback tension. A Tentelometer will be your friend. |
thedoc wrote on Fri, 01 July 2005 17:33 |
Having said all that, they do sound good and are easy to fix if you have parts. I don't know about head availability today...anybody out there have a handle on that? |
thedoc wrote on Fri, 01 July 2005 15:33 |
At Heiders we had probably 20 MM1200s and some 1100's...working without the constant tension card can and did work, but I would not buy a machine without that card today. The machine really got squirrly when using 5000' loads. In the remote trucks, engineers would have to tweek while recording when it got near the end of the reels...not fun. |
Les Ismore wrote on Sun, 03 July 2005 19:41 |
I still have one of these (a modified MM1100 with a syncronizer) and have been using it since the late 80's without a tension kit. It's built like a tank. |