I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition. Circa 1985. Low hrs.

What would it's current value, as is, be?

What would the cost be to convert it to an audio mastering deck? (I
assume 1/2 inch would be best). From what I understand it would need
new guides, heads, and motor.

Thanks for any advice.

Matt Talbott

PS: I will have a pair of Tannoy FSMs for sale soon if anyone is
interested. $1900. Excellent condition. These are the big 2x15
monitors with the 15" sub and 15" duel concentric.

matt t. wrote:
I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition.

9.5 IPS?

Maybe 9.5 cm/sec which is 3.75 IPS, not a very popular speed for professional music work.

matt t. wrote:
I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition.

9.5 IPS?

Maybe 9.5 cm/sec which is 3.75 IPS, not a very popular speed for professional music work.

matt t. wrote:
I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition. Circa 1985. Low hrs.

What would it's current value, as is, be?

Zero.

What would the cost be to convert it to an audio mastering deck? (I
assume 1/2 inch would be best). From what I understand it would need
new guides, heads, and motor.

You _might_ be able to keep the motor, but the electronics time constants
will have to be changed too. Call JRF; they probably still have a kit
for the machine. It's almost certainly going to be more money than an
A-80 is worth.

You may be able to find 1/4" guides and heads for a reasonable price from
someone who has converted to 1/2". You will not find them cheap in 1/2"
format.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

matt t. wrote:
I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition. Circa 1985. Low hrs.

What would it's current value, as is, be?

Zero.

What would the cost be to convert it to an audio mastering deck? (I
assume 1/2 inch would be best). From what I understand it would need
new guides, heads, and motor.

You _might_ be able to keep the motor, but the electronics time constants
will have to be changed too. Call JRF; they probably still have a kit
for the machine. It's almost certainly going to be more money than an
A-80 is worth.

You may be able to find 1/4" guides and heads for a reasonable price from
someone who has converted to 1/2". You will not find them cheap in 1/2"
format.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Kurt Albershardt wrote:
matt t. wrote:
I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition.

9.5 IPS?

Maybe 9.5 cm/sec which is 3.75 IPS, not a very popular speed for professional music work.

Yes, it runs 3.75 ips since that is the speed Type C videotape runs at.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Kurt Albershardt wrote:
matt t. wrote:
I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition.

9.5 IPS?

Maybe 9.5 cm/sec which is 3.75 IPS, not a very popular speed for professional music work.

Yes, it runs 3.75 ips since that is the speed Type C videotape runs at.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

In article , (Scott Dorsey)
wrote:

9.5 IPS?

Maybe 9.5 cm/sec which is 3.75 IPS, not a very popular speed for
professional music work.

Yes, it runs 3.75 ips since that is the speed Type C videotape runs at.


If I am not mistaken, as I have even sold a few of these layback machines, the C
format tape speed is 9.5 ips.

2-inch quad runs at 15 ips.
--
Regards,

Klay Anderson
http://www.klay.com
1-800-FOR-KLAY

In article , (Scott Dorsey)
wrote:

9.5 IPS?

Maybe 9.5 cm/sec which is 3.75 IPS, not a very popular speed for
professional music work.

Yes, it runs 3.75 ips since that is the speed Type C videotape runs at.


If I am not mistaken, as I have even sold a few of these layback machines, the C
format tape speed is 9.5 ips.

2-inch quad runs at 15 ips.
--
Regards,

Klay Anderson
http://www.klay.com
1-800-FOR-KLAY

The A80, in either the VU or RC version, really has little value today
in the digital world, as the noise floor is really too high. Especially
in the VU version, the wiring from the heads travels a fairly long
distance, and feeds a single ended preamp.

The transport, on the other hand, is lovely and gentle. With 1/2" mods,
and newer electronics, you would have a similar machine to that used by
several mastering facilities. But we're talking about a pretty expensive
set of issues, so my recommendation would be no, unless you're really
enamored of the idea, and have a few bucks to spend.

matt t. wrote:
I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition. Circa 1985. Low hrs.

What would it's current value, as is, be?

What would the cost be to convert it to an audio mastering deck? (I
assume 1/2 inch would be best). From what I understand it would need
new guides, heads, and motor.

Thanks for any advice.

Matt Talbott

PS: I will have a pair of Tannoy FSMs for sale soon if anyone is
interested. $1900. Excellent condition. These are the big 2x15
monitors with the 15" sub and 15" duel concentric.

--
Stephen Anderson

~At the end of the day, it's all about
the music

The A80, in either the VU or RC version, really has little value today
in the digital world, as the noise floor is really too high. Especially
in the VU version, the wiring from the heads travels a fairly long
distance, and feeds a single ended preamp.

The transport, on the other hand, is lovely and gentle. With 1/2" mods,
and newer electronics, you would have a similar machine to that used by
several mastering facilities. But we're talking about a pretty expensive
set of issues, so my recommendation would be no, unless you're really
enamored of the idea, and have a few bucks to spend.

matt t. wrote:
I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition. Circa 1985. Low hrs.

What would it's current value, as is, be?

What would the cost be to convert it to an audio mastering deck? (I
assume 1/2 inch would be best). From what I understand it would need
new guides, heads, and motor.

Thanks for any advice.

Matt Talbott

PS: I will have a pair of Tannoy FSMs for sale soon if anyone is
interested. $1900. Excellent condition. These are the big 2x15
monitors with the 15" sub and 15" duel concentric.

--
Stephen Anderson

~At the end of the day, it's all about
the music

Klay Anderson wrote:
In article , (Scott Dorsey)
wrote:

9.5 IPS?

Maybe 9.5 cm/sec which is 3.75 IPS, not a very popular speed for
professional music work.

Yes, it runs 3.75 ips since that is the speed Type C videotape runs at.


If I am not mistaken, as I have even sold a few of these layback machines, the C
format tape speed is 9.5 ips.

2-inch quad runs at 15 ips.

Argh. You're right. And 1/2" EIAJ runs at 7.5 ips. What's the one that runs
at 3 3/4?
--scott


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

Klay Anderson wrote:
In article , (Scott Dorsey)
wrote:

9.5 IPS?

Maybe 9.5 cm/sec which is 3.75 IPS, not a very popular speed for
professional music work.

Yes, it runs 3.75 ips since that is the speed Type C videotape runs at.


If I am not mistaken, as I have even sold a few of these layback machines, the C
format tape speed is 9.5 ips.

2-inch quad runs at 15 ips.

Argh. You're right. And 1/2" EIAJ runs at 7.5 ips. What's the one that runs
at 3 3/4?
--scott


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

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 12:56:48 -0700, matt t. wrote:

I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition. Circa 1985. Low hrs.

What would it's current value, as is, be?

What would the cost be to convert it to an audio mastering deck? (I
assume 1/2 inch would be best). From what I understand it would need
new guides, heads, and motor.

Thanks for any advice.

Matt Talbott

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a layback deck? A little googling shows
it to be something to do with transferring sound to video, but I'm none
the wiser.

What's the difference between a layback deck and a reqular one, and why is
a specialised machine required?

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 12:56:48 -0700, matt t. wrote:

I have some questions about a 1" Studer A80 layback deck. It is an 8
channel chassis loaded with 3 channels of electronics. It runs at 9.5
ips and is in very good condition. Circa 1985. Low hrs.

What would it's current value, as is, be?

What would the cost be to convert it to an audio mastering deck? (I
assume 1/2 inch would be best). From what I understand it would need
new guides, heads, and motor.

Thanks for any advice.

Matt Talbott

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a layback deck? A little googling shows
it to be something to do with transferring sound to video, but I'm none
the wiser.

What's the difference between a layback deck and a reqular one, and why is
a specialised machine required?

philicorda wrote:

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a layback deck? A little googling shows
it to be something to do with transferring sound to video, but I'm none
the wiser.

A layback deck is used to put the final audio mix onto a videotape, or sometimes to prelay the audio track for something like a music video which is edited to the audio track.



What's the difference between a layback deck and a reqular one, and why is
a specialised machine required?

It's recording on videotape, not audiotape. Weird speeds, weird track widths, weird bias.

philicorda wrote:

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a layback deck? A little googling shows
it to be something to do with transferring sound to video, but I'm none
the wiser.

A layback deck is used to put the final audio mix onto a videotape, or sometimes to prelay the audio track for something like a music video which is edited to the audio track.



What's the difference between a layback deck and a reqular one, and why is
a specialised machine required?

It's recording on videotape, not audiotape. Weird speeds, weird track widths, weird bias.

philicorda wrote in message Excuse my ignorance, but what is a layback deck? A little googling shows
it to be something to do with transferring sound to video, but I'm none
the wiser.

What's the difference between a layback deck and a reqular one, and why is
a specialised machine required?

Back in those days (early to mid/end 80s) when one mixed to video, via
SMPTE time-code, Q-Locks (eg.), multi-track machines and Nagra-T
(another eg.), we used a video reference of the 1"C edited picture,
most often on cheaper U-Matic (yet another eg.).

One the mix was said and done, it somehow had to be transferred back
to the original video tape, in this instance 1"C. Some manufacturers
made 1"C "layback" machines (I personally used an MCI with great
delight, which still runs fine today if I can find the power cord)
that had all the audio electronics required for the sound part of the
1"C format, but none of the video. This made for big, huge, humomguous
savings on the investent and was much gentler with the tape. Also, you
didn't have to go through a video editing course to know how to enter
an In point (as compared to an Ampex VPR-2, eg.).

A side effect was that the audio quality of the circuitry was usually
better than that found on the video machines.

Enough writing, I've got to run back to the museum for my round...

philicorda wrote in message Excuse my ignorance, but what is a layback deck? A little googling shows
it to be something to do with transferring sound to video, but I'm none
the wiser.

What's the difference between a layback deck and a reqular one, and why is
a specialised machine required?

Back in those days (early to mid/end 80s) when one mixed to video, via
SMPTE time-code, Q-Locks (eg.), multi-track machines and Nagra-T
(another eg.), we used a video reference of the 1"C edited picture,
most often on cheaper U-Matic (yet another eg.).

One the mix was said and done, it somehow had to be transferred back
to the original video tape, in this instance 1"C. Some manufacturers
made 1"C "layback" machines (I personally used an MCI with great
delight, which still runs fine today if I can find the power cord)
that had all the audio electronics required for the sound part of the
1"C format, but none of the video. This made for big, huge, humomguous
savings on the investent and was much gentler with the tape. Also, you
didn't have to go through a video editing course to know how to enter
an In point (as compared to an Ampex VPR-2, eg.).

A side effect was that the audio quality of the circuitry was usually
better than that found on the video machines.

Enough writing, I've got to run back to the museum for my round...