[Carey Carlan]

My 30 year old reel-to-reel recorder is in the shop. I hope it comes back
intact, but I can't depend on it. It's a Pioneer RT-2022 with 2- and 4-
track heads running at 7.5 and 15 ips.

I have inherited a half-dozen 10" reels that need to be in CD quality
digital by September. The first one is marked "dbx 2-track". I'm
assuming 15 ips, but it doesn't say.

If my recorder can't be repaired

1) I'll need someone to transfer these tapes to digital in August.
2) I'll need a playback only replacement for my recorder for the rest of
the storeroom full of tapes I own (somewhere between 100 and 200 tapes).

Who does good reel to digital transfer at a reasonable price?

What's a good solution to replace my recorder? 7.5 and 15 ips, 1/2 track
and 1/4 track stereo playback only (record not necessary).

I really loved this recorder for everything but its 60 db S/N ratio and 65
lb weight. Interchangeable heads, easily accessible calibration, built-in
oscillator, switchable NAB and IEC EQ, large knobs and analog meters.
Lots of cool widgets.

Sorry to see it go if it's not repairable.

[Paul Stamler]

"Carey Carlan" wrote in message
...

What's a good solution to replace my recorder? 7.5 and 15 ips, 1/2 track
and 1/4 track stereo playback only (record not necessary).

My first suggestion would be a pair of Revox A77s, one half-track and one
quarter-track, but finding a quarter-track machine that's 7.5/15 ips is
tough (most of the quarter-track units were 3.75/7.5 ips). How many
1/4-track 15 ips tapes are there in the collection?

Peace,
Paul

[Carey Carlan]

"Paul Stamler" wrote in
:

"Carey Carlan" wrote in message
...

What's a good solution to replace my recorder? 7.5 and 15 ips, 1/2
track and 1/4 track stereo playback only (record not necessary).

My first suggestion would be a pair of Revox A77s, one half-track and
one quarter-track, but finding a quarter-track machine that's 7.5/15
ips is tough (most of the quarter-track units were 3.75/7.5 ips). How
many 1/4-track 15 ips tapes are there in the collection?

Probably none. If I went to the tape expense of 15 ips, I would certainly
record half track.

I sometimes couldn't get to the machine to change tapes mid-concert, so I
often ran 7.5 ips.

For that matter, there may be a 3.75 ips tape in there somewhere as well.
It won't be a master, but it may contain something worth hearing.

The last time I saw a Revox was in music school in college (1976?). Is
there any advantage of an A77 over a B77?

[Scott Dorsey]

Carey Carlan wrote:

I have inherited a half-dozen 10" reels that need to be in CD quality
digital by September. The first one is marked "dbx 2-track". I'm
assuming 15 ips, but it doesn't say.

Which dbx is it? Knowing the speed is easy, and once you know the speed
you can make some assumptions about whether it's probably I or II.

If my recorder can't be repaired

1) I'll need someone to transfer these tapes to digital in August.

Send it over. I probably owe you a favor.

2) I'll need a playback only replacement for my recorder for the rest of
the storeroom full of tapes I own (somewhere between 100 and 200 tapes).

What format are those tapes in? I hate to say it, but I'm gonna recommend
the A77 as a good machine for the application. Or send a message to the
Ampex mailing list and ask who has a play-only machine to sell in your area.

Who does good reel to digital transfer at a reasonable price?

Steve Puntolillo.

What's a good solution to replace my recorder? 7.5 and 15 ips, 1/2 track
and 1/4 track stereo playback only (record not necessary).

I really loved this recorder for everything but its 60 db S/N ratio and 65
lb weight. Interchangeable heads, easily accessible calibration, built-in
oscillator, switchable NAB and IEC EQ, large knobs and analog meters.
Lots of cool widgets.

The problem is finding a nice machine with both quarter and half track heads.
Maybe one of the Technics isoloop machines?
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Steve Puntolillo]

Hi --

"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
...
Carey Carlan wrote:


Who does good reel to digital transfer at a reasonable price?

Steve Puntolillo.

Thank you, Scott.

Hey, my newsgroup access was broken for around six months and I finally made
it a priority to get Comcast to fix it today. So, I get logged on and what's
the first thing that pops up? This thread. Can you believe it?

Scott, I'm really lucky to have you "out here".

Carey, please take a look at www.sonicraft.com/a2dx/a2dx_tech.html

I'm sending you straight to the fun stuff -- our tech info page. Lots of
pictures and details on the transfer lab. Let me know if you need my help --
with transfers, to talk shop, whatever.

Unfortunately, I'm not always able to check the newgroup every day.
(Especially if Comcast changes everything about how to access it without
notice or followup.) g

If you want to email me, it's better to access my work email at:

http://www.sonicraft.com/contact.html

I check that one at least three times a day.

Best,

-- Steve

PS. Scott, have you seen the new MR70s on the site?

=================================================
Steve Puntolillo
Sonicraft A2DX Lab
Ultimate Multitrack Analog-to-Digital Transfers
http://www.sonicraft.com/a2dx
=================================================

[Carey Carlan]

(Scott Dorsey) wrote in
:

Carey Carlan wrote:

I have inherited a half-dozen 10" reels that need to be in CD quality
digital by September. The first one is marked "dbx 2-track". I'm
assuming 15 ips, but it doesn't say.

Which dbx is it? Knowing the speed is easy, and once you know the
speed you can make some assumptions about whether it's probably I or
II.

I read you what's on the box. That's all I know. These aren't my
recordings.

If my recorder can't be repaired

1) I'll need someone to transfer these tapes to digital in August.

Send it over. I probably owe you a favor.

2) I'll need a playback only replacement for my recorder for the rest
of the storeroom full of tapes I own (somewhere between 100 and 200
tapes).

What format are those tapes in? I hate to say it, but I'm gonna
recommend the A77 as a good machine for the application. Or send a
message to the Ampex mailing list and ask who has a play-only machine
to sell in your area.

ISTR that there were A77's and B77's. How are they different?

Are there any Ampexes (Ampices?) smaller than a washing machine?

Who does good reel to digital transfer at a reasonable price?

Steve Puntolillo.

What's a good solution to replace my recorder? 7.5 and 15 ips, 1/2
track and 1/4 track stereo playback only (record not necessary).

I really loved this recorder for everything but its 60 db S/N ratio
and 65 lb weight. Interchangeable heads, easily accessible
calibration, built-in oscillator, switchable NAB and IEC EQ, large
knobs and analog meters. Lots of cool widgets.

The problem is finding a nice machine with both quarter and half track
heads. Maybe one of the Technics isoloop machines?
--scott

[Carey Carlan]

"Steve Puntolillo" wrote in
:

Who does good reel to digital transfer at a reasonable price?

Steve Puntolillo.

Thank you, Scott.

Hey, my newsgroup access was broken for around six months and I
finally made it a priority to get Comcast to fix it today. So, I get
logged on and what's the first thing that pops up? This thread. Can
you believe it?

Scott, I'm really lucky to have you "out here".

Carey, please take a look at www.sonicraft.com/a2dx/a2dx_tech.html

Thank you, Steve. This is all contingent on whether or not my recorder
can be repaired. I'll know in "up to 20 working days", but I'm not
optimistic.

[Carey Carlan]

"Steve Puntolillo" wrote in
:

Carey, please take a look at www.sonicraft.com/a2dx/a2dx_tech.html

Dammit, now I've got to wipe the drool off the keyboard.

[Carey Carlan]

Carey Carlan wrote in news:Xns97FBEB383D5E8h2atroak@
140.99.99.130:

(Scott Dorsey) wrote in
:

Carey Carlan wrote:

I have inherited a half-dozen 10" reels that need to be in CD quality
digital by September. The first one is marked "dbx 2-track". I'm
assuming 15 ips, but it doesn't say.

Which dbx is it? Knowing the speed is easy, and once you know the
speed you can make some assumptions about whether it's probably I or
II.

Knowing the speed is hard when you have no player.

I read you what's on the box. That's all I know. These aren't my
recordings.

I should have read further. On the next box it says "dbx 150" and the
next says "dbx I". All appear to be 7.5 ips.

There are 6 10" reels each about 2/3 full, and 1 7" reel packed full.
Ampex 373 ("20:20+", 1 mil) and two mystery Ampex boxes which could be
373, 407, or 457. All backcoated and of "baking" vintage.

[Scott Dorsey]

Carey Carlan wrote:

I read you what's on the box. That's all I know. These aren't my
recordings.

I should have read further. On the next box it says "dbx 150" and the
next says "dbx I". All appear to be 7.5 ips.

Uh-oh. Type I dbx at 7.5 ips is a bad thing. You can do it, but there
are invariably modulation problems. For transcription, you want to use
tape heads with the lowest frequency head bump possible, which probably
means long pole pieces. You want the flattest possible low end.

What you need is a dbx 150 or similar decoder. Hopefully one that has
been aligned and maintained, unlike my old 4-channel one in the attic.

There are 6 10" reels each about 2/3 full, and 1 7" reel packed full.
Ampex 373 ("20:20+", 1 mil) and two mystery Ampex boxes which could be
373, 407, or 457. All backcoated and of "baking" vintage.

373 is rebadged Ampex 407 for consumer use. You can safely assume it's all
407.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

Carey Carlan wrote:

ISTR that there were A77's and B77's. How are they different?

The B77 is a much newer machine. You're more apt to find one in good shape,
but they have some interesting failure problems. Record quality on the B77
is better than on the A77. Both machines have a lot of surface area in
contact with the head so they will tolerate squealy tape poorly. There is
also the PR99 which is the professional version of the B77. It has balanced
I/O and an elapsed time indicator, and almost all of them are beat to hell
by radio production guys. There are play-only versions of all of these
machines which sell for less.

Are there any Ampexes (Ampices?) smaller than a washing machine?

Only the consumer machines, which aren't so good. On the other hand, you
can probably find a 440 with play-only electronics for cheap, and get a
quarter-track headstack for it on the side. The 440 playback electronics
aren't as good as the A77 playback electronics to my ear, but the record
quality is a whole lot better.

Likewise, the Technics iso-loop machines have amazing transports with
very low flutter, quarter and half track heads, but sort of doubtful
electronics. There are folks out there who make a business of adding
retrofit electronics (often Ampex) to Technics consumer transports,'
though.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

Steve Puntolillo wrote:

PS. Scott, have you seen the new MR70s on the site?

I just did. Have you considered seeing a doctor about this problem?
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Carey Carlan]

(Scott Dorsey) wrote in
:

I should have read further. On the next box it says "dbx 150" and the
next says "dbx I". All appear to be 7.5 ips.

Uh-oh. Type I dbx at 7.5 ips is a bad thing. You can do it, but
there are invariably modulation problems. For transcription, you
want to use tape heads with the lowest frequency head bump possible,
which probably means long pole pieces. You want the flattest possible
low end.

What you need is a dbx 150 or similar decoder. Hopefully one that
has been aligned and maintained, unlike my old 4-channel one in the
attic.

As is often the case, my world expands as I read RAP.

I wasn't aware that dbx came in flavors. My only dbx unit (not the one
used with these tapes) is the one that came with my TEAC cassette
recorder. The manual describes it as type II.

I used it a couple of times on R2R and was dissatified with the pumping.

So if my recorder returns intact, I'll need to buy a dbx 150. Ebay
completed auctions show them running $19 to $35 plus shipping.

There's another large box of tapes coming from this same source, I
wonder how many are dbx I?

What can you tell me about aligning a dbx decoder unit to an unknown
encoder.

[Mike Rivers]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

What you need is a dbx 150 or similar decoder. Hopefully one that has
been aligned and maintained, unlike my old 4-channel one in the attic.

You have one of those, too? I have a 177 down in my basement. I bought
it at a hamfest for $5 figuring that it was worth it for the box and
connectors. It works, but I have no idea if it's right. I tried to get
a manual from Hall, but he didn't have it, and apparently nobody else
does either.

[hank alrich]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

Steve Puntolillo wrote:

PS. Scott, have you seen the new MR70s on the site?

I just did. Have you considered seeing a doctor about this problem?

I think Steve's using an abrasive on them and will eventually wear them
away completely.

--
ha

[Scott Dorsey]

Mike Rivers wrote:
Scott Dorsey wrote:

What you need is a dbx 150 or similar decoder. Hopefully one that has
been aligned and maintained, unlike my old 4-channel one in the attic.

You have one of those, too? I have a 177 down in my basement. I bought
it at a hamfest for $5 figuring that it was worth it for the box and
connectors. It works, but I have no idea if it's right. I tried to get
a manual from Hall, but he didn't have it, and apparently nobody else
does either.

I think I have a service manual for it. It came free with my ATR-104
when I bought it from a three-letter agency. If I can find it in the
process of unpacking, I'll make you a copy.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Steve Maki]

On 9 Jul 2006 18:39:48 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

The problem is finding a nice machine with both quarter and half track heads.
Maybe one of the Technics isoloop machines?

Otari MX5050

Steve Maki

[Scott Dorsey]

Carey Carlan wrote:

I wasn't aware that dbx came in flavors. My only dbx unit (not the one
used with these tapes) is the one that came with my TEAC cassette
recorder. The manual describes it as type II.

Right. This is the "consumer" flavour and it is designed to deal with
the issues that result from using Type I dbx on a machine without very
flat low frequency response.

I used it a couple of times on R2R and was dissatified with the pumping.

Did you match levels?

So if my recorder returns intact, I'll need to buy a dbx 150. Ebay
completed auctions show them running $19 to $35 plus shipping.

Plus figure four or five hours to recap it and verify that it really does
meet specifications. But there is really no market at all for used dbx
gear, so the equipment itself sells for cheap.

tHere's another large box of tapes coming from this same source, I
wonder how many are dbx I?

What can you tell me about aligning a dbx decoder unit to an unknown
encoder.

If the original recordist put tones down, everything is fine. You set
everything according to the tone reference and go. The manual for the
dbx box has directions.

Some folks would just put down a 1 KC tone rather than a full tone ladder.
This is enough to match the dbx levels, but if the frequency response is
off, it will still have some weirdness. Best case, they left a full tone
ladder and you can adjust the playback azimuth and EQ to match everything
perfectly. Worst case they didn't leave anything at all and you're in big
trouble trying to match it all by ear.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Carey Carlan]

(Scott Dorsey) wrote in
:

I used it a couple of times on R2R and was dissatified with the
pumping.

Did you match levels?

I did. I guess I'm hypersensitive to noise. That's why I went digital
so early. I traded off noise for distortion.

So if my recorder returns intact, I'll need to buy a dbx 150. Ebay
completed auctions show them running $19 to $35 plus shipping.

Plus figure four or five hours to recap it and verify that it really
does meet specifications. But there is really no market at all for
used dbx gear, so the equipment itself sells for cheap.

The first good news in this thread.

There's another large box of tapes coming from this same source, I
wonder how many are dbx I?

What can you tell me about aligning a dbx decoder unit to an unknown
encoder?

If the original recordist put tones down, everything is fine. You set
everything according to the tone reference and go. The manual for the
dbx box has directions.

Some folks would just put down a 1 KC tone rather than a full tone
ladder. This is enough to match the dbx levels, but if the frequency
response is off, it will still have some weirdness. Best case, they
left a full tone ladder and you can adjust the playback azimuth and EQ
to match everything perfectly. Worst case they didn't leave anything
at all and you're in big trouble trying to match it all by ear.

I doubt I'll find any tones. In the few sessions where he and I worked
together, the recorder (a Crown 800, I think) landed on the table, he
threaded a tape and started recording without any calibration or tones.

I'm just as guilty. My recorder has an oscillator and I didn't record
tones. Then again, I didn't expect to be going back to the tapes 25
years later.

[Carey Carlan]

Steve Maki wrote in
:

On 9 Jul 2006 18:39:48 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

The problem is finding a nice machine with both quarter and half track
heads. Maybe one of the Technics isoloop machines?

Otari MX5050

Steve Maki

That's the MX 5050 BIII-P, according to Otari. Google finds other
mentions only in Japan.

How does it compare in performance/popularity with the Technics?

[Scott Dorsey]

Carey Carlan wrote:
Steve Maki wrote in
:

On 9 Jul 2006 18:39:48 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

The problem is finding a nice machine with both quarter and half track
heads. Maybe one of the Technics isoloop machines?

Otari MX5050

Steve Maki

That's the MX 5050 BIII-P, according to Otari. Google finds other
mentions only in Japan.

That's the most recent version. But there are actually dozens of
different machines all called the MX5050. None of them are bad.

How does it compare in performance/popularity with the Technics?

The transport flutter is higher but for the most part the electronics
are better. On the other hand, if you're going to use up so much floor
space you might as well get an Ampex.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Steve Maki]

On Mon, 10 Jul 2006 16:58:18 GMT, Carey Carlan wrote:

The problem is finding a nice machine with both quarter and half track
heads. Maybe one of the Technics isoloop machines?

Otari MX5050

That's the MX 5050 BIII-P, according to Otari. Google finds other
mentions only in Japan.

How does it compare in performance/popularity with the Technics?

I'm no tape recorder expert, but the 5050s were workhorses of the
broadcast market and are considered to be excellent machines, both
mechanically and electrically - I dare say a cut above Revox and
Technics.

They were available in lot's of configurations including 1/2" versions,
but on ebay you will find lot's of them in the config that you want.

I bought mine a few years ago for $400. I think it's a BII something
or other - made just before they switched from mechanical tape counter
to digital LED counter. I've used it to digitize loads of both quarter
track and half track tapes and I couldn't be happier with a tape machine.

Steve Maki

[Steve Maki]

On 10 Jul 2006 13:12:36 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

On the other hand, if you're going to use up so much floor
space you might as well get an Ampex.

Well, I don't think he wants the split chassis floor model...

The single chassis units are no bigger than most other 10"
RTRs, and seem to be the more common Otari's on EBay.

Steve Maki

[Mike Rivers]

Steve Maki wrote:

I'm no tape recorder expert, but the 5050s were workhorses of the
broadcast market and are considered to be excellent machines, both
mechanically and electrically - I dare say a cut above Revox and
Technics.

That's what the marketing literature called it - "The workhorse." Revox
and the occasional Technics recorders could be found in college and
small community radio stations but they were never designed for the
broadcast market. The 5050 was.

[Harry Lavo]

"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
...
Carey Carlan wrote:
Steve Maki wrote in
m:

On 9 Jul 2006 18:39:48 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

The problem is finding a nice machine with both quarter and half track
heads. Maybe one of the Technics isoloop machines?

Otari MX5050

Steve Maki

That's the MX 5050 BIII-P, according to Otari. Google finds other
mentions only in Japan.

That's the most recent version. But there are actually dozens of
different machines all called the MX5050. None of them are bad.

How does it compare in performance/popularity with the Technics?

The transport flutter is higher but for the most part the electronics
are better. On the other hand, if you're going to use up so much floor
space you might as well get an Ampex.
--scott

Teac 7030 or 7030SL handle 15ips, 10" reels, and have 1/2-track record/play,
1/4-track play. Electronics are its week spot; mechanically built like the
proverbial brick s*** house.

[FeistyFox]

I'm not sure where to sell my used Otari MX 5050 biii-2- it is in great condition, and is mounted on a stand. I am hopeful you may have some insight on how best to relocate this piece of equipment. I am located in the LA area, and would love some suggestions I have priced this unit on eBay, where it last sold for about $700 without a stand; I am open to negotiations. . . Please feel free to contact me