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Messages - Kenkirk

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16
Tape Project Albums - general / Re: 2nd series titles
« on: January 11, 2009, 10:48:09 AM »
Yes, A little warning would have been nice. I personally was expecting a price increase. But I figured it would be 10% or less so that attrition would be minimal. There are allot of software products competing for our money these days. BluRay is a big hit at my house. The audio is far better than I expected. Tons of new vinyl reissues from the master tapes. And many of us have less discretionary income dollars to spend do to the economy. So it is a bit of a shock to me to see such a large increase in cost of the TP tapes. I am not saying they are not worth the money. I am not saying the do not deserve every penny they are asking for. I am just saying it might result in more attrition to the project than they are expecting.  I hope not. But that might be in their calculation of their new business model.

Ken

17
Tape Project Albums - general / Re: 2nd series titles
« on: January 11, 2009, 09:19:42 AM »
I suspect the 45's are not the 45's I think of when I think of records.
The one thing I *know* is the source for TP tapes, is it not edited to sound
good, or fix problems. That I can't say of other music productions, that some how
don't have a real master tape to copy from.



You are correct, they are not the little 45's we bought for a buck in the past. These are full size vinyl records, 180 or 200 gram weight cut directly from the master tape. They are reissues just like the TP tapes. They usually have 3 to 4 records per title. The increased speed and spacing of the grooves gives the cutting engineer more space to cut the record hot for better dynamics. They can sound incredible, but are pricey at around 50.00 dollars a title. But in my system, they are the next best thing to a TP tape, and not far behind. But tape rules.... but the price.... must think about this.

18
Tape Project Albums - general / Re: 2nd series titles
« on: January 10, 2009, 11:51:54 PM »
In my opinion that is a pretty good jump in price, especially for those of us who took the leap of faith to start with. Further more we are talking series two tapes, and I still need three more tape from series one!!!

Jay

I agree, it might be too big a jump too soon. Tough economy too. Everyone has to make a profit. I understand. I run a business myself. But you also have to consider the competition. I my opinion, it is new 45 rpm vinyl. Some of us have big buck vinyl rigs that can boogie. Maybe not quiet as good as the TP tapes, but when you can get 6 new 45's for the price of one TP tape title, it is getting harder to justify the expense. Don't get me wrong, the TP tapes have set the bar in my audio room, but it is about the music. It might just be getting out of what I consider rational for feeding my analog habit. I will be thinking hard about this....

Ken

19
Tape Project Albums - general / Re: 2nd series titles
« on: January 10, 2009, 07:53:37 PM »
So I am still a little confused, has the price gone up for series two tapes from the $200 price on series one tapes? Plus shipping?

Jay

I am confused too. I can't imagine they would not offer original charter subscribers a chance to buy a charter series II for the same price as series one within the 2 month timeframe especially since we still have not received the last two series one charter tapes. 

Ken

20
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Otari MX 5050BIII questions
« on: January 10, 2009, 07:22:44 PM »
Thanks Bob!  I downloaded them and put all of them in a folder. Thanks very much for taking the trouble to post these for us! Very helpful.

Ken

21
Tape Project Albums - general / Re: 2nd series titles
« on: January 08, 2009, 09:15:17 PM »
Hmm, I still can't find the new titles listed anywhere. The link you put up takes me to the series one catalog??

Ken

22
Tape Project Albums - general / Re: 2nd series titles
« on: January 08, 2009, 05:47:55 PM »
I hope they post some pictures of the sacrificed Otari!  But they really need to practice modifying these beasts! It is like when an artist burns his first 100 paintings, and is now ready to start.  :-)

Now lets see if they can get a laptop connected and give us the scoop on the new titles!!

Ken

23
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Otari MX 5050BIII questions
« on: January 08, 2009, 04:30:06 PM »
Thanks Bob!  That is the first schematic I have seen for the deck. Where did you find it???

Ken

24
Tape Project Albums - general / Re: 2nd series titles
« on: January 08, 2009, 04:20:10 PM »
I have been checking in all day.... salivating.... I think I just need to heat up the tubes and grab a beer. This is too much like Christmas....

Ken

25
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Otari MX 5050BIII questions
« on: January 07, 2009, 08:21:50 PM »
Hi Ken, I hope you weren't insulted by my comments?

Absolutely not! I understand you just fine! And I agree with you. We learn to tweak our turntables, tube amps, etc... why not learn some basic reel to reel alignment! It is fun and not hard. Best to start off with some old beat up Teac found in a garage sale, download a service manual, order a belt and pinch roller and dive in. Big fun. BTW, Taka at Otari told me today there is no service manual for the MX5050 BIII. Whats up with that!!!

I agree about the Otari's. There is a nice supply of them from the broadcast duty days, and they are much easier to work on than the consumer decks. And it is nice to know you can buy a new one also! I am very interested in seeing what Doc has come up with to mod the Otari's. I think they are a very nice robust platform to start from. Mine is stock and it sounds excellent. And it packs tape with a mirror surface! When it is clean anyway...

Ken

26
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Otari MX 5050BIII questions
« on: January 07, 2009, 05:00:48 PM »
Oh I agree Steve! I have been playing with electronics since I was a kid. Neighbors would drop off stuff for me to try to fix before they threw it in the trash. I would pull the tubes, go test them, clean up everything, look for burnt wires, broken solder joints etc. I was surprised that I could fix about half of the stuff this way. The rest hit the trash. So I have confidence, but I always get a little nervous if the gear looks new. So easy to scratch things when you reach for a beer...  :-)  But anyway, I have worked over a handful of reel to reels. I even completely recapped my Teac X2000r. But I do this for fun. But this Otari on the bench is getting ready for new TP tapes! And it looks sweet! So I have to be careful and not crack the VU meter covers! The rest is done except for the final alignment. I have a MRL tape, but keep hoping my TP alignment tape will show up soon! I need it! My MRL tape is cut at 7.5 ips. I want to dial in these beasts with a 15ips tape.

Also I might add, after working on the Teacs and Pioneers, and Nak cassettes, these Otari's are a treat! They way they open up for service is wonderful!

Ken

27
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Otari MX 5050BIII questions
« on: January 07, 2009, 01:43:40 PM »
Thanks Ki!

I was hoping I could do it this way. I had the audio section open, but before I started to pry on the plasic, I wanted to make sure!

Ken

28
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Otari MX 5050BIII questions
« on: January 07, 2009, 07:33:49 AM »
Yea I noticed that too. I did get a email reply from Taka and I placed the order. Now to find out the easiest approach to replace the lamps!

29
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Otari MX 5050BIII questions
« on: January 06, 2009, 12:28:27 PM »
Happy New Year everybody!

I have a minty Otari MX5050BIII on my bench. It is a buddies that has just subcribed as a charter member after hearing my tapes! Anyway, I am just about done with its tuneup but have hit a snag. Each VU meter needs one bulb. I can't seem to find a quick way to get to these bulbs. Anyone replaced these bulbs?

I also need to place a parts order with Otari, but things seem to have changed since I placed an order a few months ago. I was not able to reach a human, so I sent an email. Anyone order parts recently?

Thanks!!

Ken

30
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: MX-5050B2HD on the bench today.
« on: November 08, 2008, 08:43:29 AM »
I acquired a well used MX-5050 this week, which brings the total to four sitting on the shelf.




I am glad to see you doing this! I would also like to see you get hold of a  new or just about new MX5050 B III and run it through its paces. I too love the older machines and I am really fond of my Teac X2000r, but I still think there is something to be said for a new machine. I would like to see friction reducing tape path mods become available for the Otari's. I don't know if a fully modded Otari MX 5050BIII would be better than what you have done with the Technics, but it would open up more options in affordable reel to reels. It is nice to be able to pick up the phone and order parts from Otari. They are very nice to deal with. But later when I have my paws on 40 or 50 Tape Project albums, I will hunt down a Studer and pay the big bucks.

Thanks again for what you are doing!!!

Ken

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