Tape Project Forum

Tape Machines => Reel to Reel Tape Machines => Topic started by: Brian C. on September 19, 2009, 02:41:15 AM

Title: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: Brian C. on September 19, 2009, 02:41:15 AM
Hello. I have a well-used Lyrec FRED editor which I have purchased to enable the use of large spools with a Nagra IV. However, I wonder if anyone has had experience modifying such a Lyrec for high quality playback duties? I was thinking of perhaps taking signal from the head (it only has the one of course) to an external valve pre-amp such as the Bottlehead.
Advice would be appreciated by this "newbie" who last spun spools 47 years ago!
Thanks.

Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Brian on September 19, 2009, 09:37:31 AM
I also have a Fred for purposes similar to yours.  I believe you will find the primary problem you will confront in upgrading a Fred for high quality playback is in tape transport wow and flutter.  The Lyrec manual cautions that, while a Fred is fine for editing, it does not have the quality transport mechanism of the Frieda or other top-of-the-line Lyrec machines.  If you need a manual for your Fred, let me know.  Another Forum member emailed me a copy of his - and I'd be happy to help you also.  Here's the thread, which also had some other good info on Lyrecs.  Good luck with your project.
Brian D.

P.S. Welcome to the group!
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Brian C. on September 19, 2009, 10:35:16 AM
Thanks for the welcome Brian. I would very much like a copy of that manual. I'll PM you my email address.
I've just had a communication from Andrew Marshall who has sent me his short video of the FRED/Nagra lacing & operation and he confirms your observations re the transport's unsuitability for quality playback. I'll just have to hope that my friend will not be borrowing my Nagra for his live recordings for too long (that's what got me thinking about adapting the FRED).

Hmm, perhaps I should look out for a FRIDA....

Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Brian on September 19, 2009, 01:36:33 PM
I know the temptation on the Frida. There were a couple up on eBay earlier this month but I'm concerned about parts and service.  A year or so ago a group in Denmark put up a site promising to offer service, manuals, and parts for all the Lyrec machines - but over a year later they haven't done anything to the site and have failed to answer any of my emails.  At least with an Otari or Ampex or Studer or Nagra I know where I can get parts and service.  (I'm not sure whether that means I am a coward or just indicative of the number of "boat anchors" I already have lying around the basement!)
Have a good weekend.
Brian

P.S.  Just sent the manual as a reply to your email.
Title: Lyrec FRED as a transport
Post by: Topper on September 20, 2009, 02:09:24 PM
If the nail hasn't already been put in the Fred's proverbial coffin please allow me.  Some capstan-less designs are great.  Some...uh...aren't.  The Fred won't do it for you.  A Frida, on the other hand, could provide lots of pleasure.  I consider it to be smarter than I am.
Walter
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Brian C. on September 21, 2009, 02:16:07 AM
The Requiem has been played for FRED. Looking at other 2-track 15 ips options here in the UK since my Nagra will be going away for an indefinite period from Wednesday.

PDF received and appreciated Brian.


Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Peter C on September 22, 2009, 04:07:36 AM
Brian,

How long will the Nagra be away? I have a Teac X-1000M that I would be happy to lend out for a few months if you covered collection/postage both ways. Its not been used much since I received it last year - from Bulgaria or Hungary, I can't recall. If it did need new belts maybe that's something you could pickip in lieu of rental. PM me if you're interested.

Peter
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Brian C. on September 22, 2009, 11:11:23 AM
Thanks Peter, PM sent.

Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Brian C. on September 23, 2009, 09:56:01 AM
Just bought a minty Mark I PR99 repro/edit deck and will sell off the FRED and stop looking for a FRIDA.


Brian.

Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Brian C. on September 28, 2009, 01:17:48 PM
And what a delicious machine it is too. Oh that Swiss Precision is a joy to behold with its silent running...

(http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i83/mapleheds/PR99inhorizontalaction.jpg)

Now to make up a matchbox.
Title: Re: ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: High and Outside on September 28, 2009, 09:42:03 PM
That looks pretty much identical to the PR-99 repro-only that's doing playback duty in my living room. Mine started out as a low speed machine, but I had it converted by a local tech. He installed the high speed motor and the correct motor bracket mounting, so it works as well as a native high speed machine.

Do a search on the forum and you will find a lot of useful information. For sound quality, the most important advice is to use the Monitor outputs...they appear on the DIN connector. That will bypass a lot of poor sounding electronics that you probably don't need. Second, Arian Jansen has some DIY modifications to the repro board, and they open up the sound quite nicely, as well as converting it to the IEC curve. Third, Arian sells a modified repro board, which has a number of additional mods beyond his DIY article. I'm currently running a repro card from Arian, and at this point it's starting to be a pretty good sounding deck.

Anyone who's going to RMAF can hear some of our tapes played on such a machine in Philip O'Hanlon's Vivid loudspeakers room.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: Brian C. on September 29, 2009, 05:51:50 AM
Thanks for the tip about using the monitor output Paul. It's a 7 1/2 / 15 IEC machine (I'm in the UK).
I would like to mod to allow switched IEC/NAB eq since some of the tapes I will be playing will be from an Ampex 300.

I've got print-outs of all the Arian Jansen stuff and will be looking to tweak the replay amp.

How easy is it to remove the rack-mounting brackets? I have yet to open it up and it looks like the screws might be tricky to get to.

Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck.
Post by: Brian on September 29, 2009, 09:46:36 PM
A year or so ago a group in Denmark put up a site promising to offer service, manuals, and parts for all the Lyrec machines - but over a year later they haven't done anything to the site and have failed to answer any of my emails. 

Oops - spoke too soon.  I just noticed they have changed the Lyrec website and added:

"Repair shops etc. can now acquire direct links to service manuals and parts lists.  Contact us on [email protected]"

Maybe there is still hope?

Brian

Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: tapepath on September 30, 2009, 10:11:18 AM
Hello Brian,
Thanks for posting the PR99 deck photo! To remove the rack brackets, take off the back enclosure and that give you access to the bracket bolts.
Cheers, Ken
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: Brian C. on September 30, 2009, 10:43:20 AM
Thanks Ken, the chap who sold it told me how easy it is. Took less than 5 minutes :o)


Does anybody else think the multicolour BASF spool rather ghastly?

Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: tapepath on September 30, 2009, 10:59:29 AM
No problem, Brian.
Well, it's certainly colorful, probably a graphic artist thought it looked like it was moving even when standing still. Kind of like paint stripes on a car. The TP reel is a good looking example. Also, the reels that came with Tandberg decks look pretty good.
Ken
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: Brian C. on September 30, 2009, 12:36:07 PM
I much prefer the plain vanilla take-up spool. Cool & conservative.

BTW, this wonderful old war horse has just been delivered to the studio. Beautiful resto job.

(http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i83/mapleheds/300-01.jpg)

Hence the need for a IEC/NAB switch on the PR99.

Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: ironbut on September 30, 2009, 12:47:28 PM
Wow, nice Brian!
Well, you can't just post a picture like that and not give us some details!
Is looks like it might be a "B" wind machines?
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: Brian C. on September 30, 2009, 01:09:51 PM
Well, my studio-owner pal was here today picking up the Nagra and admitted he had only just put in the valves but hadn't yet fired it up. Working up the courage! Shouldn't be be any problems, it was well crated for its journey across the pond.

It's an early Fifties Ampex 300 full-track, 15 & 30 ips. Many great hits and jazz classics were mastered on these 'bathtubs'.
It takes it's place alongside a 3M M79 and Studer A80, the latter will be out on its ear when a long-awaited C37 materialises.
The studio is small but quite nicely equipped with vintage gear including Telefunken mic amps, Universal Audio compressors, EMT plate reverb, AKG C12, Neumann KM56 & U67 (nice long body U47 currently with Peter Gefehl in Germany for fettling), Schoeps 221 and Coles 4038 mics. Looking for a good Neumann M49 and (we can dream!) an undamaged Altec 639 birdcage.

Early days yet but the ball is rolling with 1st album recorded there getting good reviews in the press.
Wish I was younger and fitter to be more actively involved than I am :(

Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: Brian C. on October 03, 2009, 04:26:55 AM
Now and again I will be playing tapes from the Ampex on the IEC PR99. I could fiddle about and perhaps convert the Interface Connector to take a dongle (anyone done this?) but since the need will be, at the very most, once a week or so maybe I could procure a 7.5/15 NAB repro board and simply swap as needed. So if anyone's got one gathering dust..... ;o)


Now here's a funny thing, the machine is 7.5/15 IEC but the chassis says...

(http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i83/mapleheds/ReproBoard.jpg)

Brian.
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: steveidosound on October 03, 2009, 10:29:04 AM
No problem, Brian.
Well, it's certainly colorful, probably a graphic artist thought it looked like it was moving even when standing still. Kind of like paint stripes on a car. The TP reel is a good looking example. Also, the reels that came with Tandberg decks look pretty good.
Ken

I started another topic under general discussion -
"favorite take up reels"
Title: Re: Lyrec FRED portable editing deck - now ReVox PR99 player.
Post by: hticheno on October 05, 2009, 06:04:18 PM
Hi. There were at least two models of the FRED.  The RB-02 and RB-04.  (One might wonder if there was also an RB-01 and RB-03). In any case it's important to get the right manual for the right model.  Lyrec manuals often do not have schematics as they seem to have been kept in separate files.  This is true of the FRIDAS as well.  There was a Frida I, that seems to have gone through two minor iterations but are quite similar. Around 1993 there was a major reworking of the machine resulting in the FRIDA II.  Most mechanical parts are interchangeable, but there were major changes in the electronics with the addition of quite a few new features. So noting the right model is important to get the right manual and schematics.  Anyone in a jam should feel free to contact me. I have some spare parts and most literature for the FRIDAS.

I've had eight of the FRIDAS and have found them fairly easy to work on.  The boards are unique to the machines but most of the mechanical workings are stock industrial parts.  I too noticed that the company in Denmark using the lyrec.dk name has updated its website and is offering parts and manuals. I contacted them recently and am waiting to hear back.

Harold Tichenor