Hello everyone. Im new to the board.
Anyway I'd thought I'd ask here since many people on this site are knowledgeable on reel to reel decks.
Im wondering if anyone could list off all the 1/2" 2 track (1/2 track) reel to reel decks they are aware of. The one I know of is a Tascam ATR60 1/2" 2 track, but I've heard less then stellar things on those decks. So my search continues. Are there any 1/2" decks that stand upright like most 1/4" reel to reel decks and are as compact as such? I don't really want a deck that needs its own stand to use, lays on its back, and has above the deck level VU meters. I'd rather have a configuration of like an Otari MX 5050 type deck, but 1/2". Is there such an animal or am I out of luck in this case?
Doing searches on 1/2" r2r decks doesn't seem to turn up much. Most searches lead to 1/4" decks only, or 8 track r2r decks.
hello Braxus,
first; welcome to the forum. others here can likely answer your question better than myself; but i will share what i (think i) know.
most 'upright' RTR machines are either lower level consumer machines or 'prosumer' machines designed for the broadcast industry. these machines were not commonly used for studio recording and mastering. as far as i know; the only machines that were made for switching the tape-path to a 1/2" (or higher) configuration are 'master' recorders. these machines have motors and mechanicals designed for larger, heavier reels and are designed with the precision to handle the wider tape properly. along with a 1/2" head stack every other part of the tape path must change also.....and the machine must be designed so that is easily done. this would add cost to the lower priced consumer and prosumer decks which was not likely economnical.
if you look around you will find quite a few 'master recorders' that are set up for 1/2". i have not seen any vertical 'prosumer' RTR machines advertised as set up for 1/2".
according to the tech that refurbished my Studer A-820; from a strictly mechanical perspective an RTR deck works the best when completely horizontal. there is the least stress on the motors and bearings in that position. vertical puts the most stress on motors.
why do you desire 1/2" capability? do you have a collection of 1/2" master tapes?
i own an Ampex ATR-102 with 1/4" and i also have the complete 1/2" head stack and all the pieces to switch to 1/2". over the last year i have not seen any 1/2" software to purchase. i paid an additional $3k for the 1/2" capability and i wish now i had not done that.
i know that there are master recorders that work upright; but from what i recall these are very large beasts. my Studer A-820 can rotate to vertical and still work but i'm not sure it could be mounted vertically.