16
General Discussion / Re: Nice Studio,but,..
« on: January 08, 2011, 04:09:30 PM »
Everyone asks about my user name.....been there, did it all, named the cat, dog, first born after that spectacular place...
Tj
Tj
Can you believe it? Tape Project is ten years old! Thanks to everyone who has supported us in introducing studio quality tape reproduction to the audiophile community!
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17
General Discussion / Re: The Sound and The Story
« on: November 25, 2010, 10:44:53 PM »
The machines in the first segment are portable versions of the Ampex 300-2 with 7.5/15 IPS capstans. The duplicating system later in the video is a typical configuration of an Ampex S3200 tape duplicator:
http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ampex_tape_recorder_duplicator.html
Technical documents for the 3200 are still up on the Ampex site and perhaps they might give some insight into the duplicating process. In my quest to find parts for my 300 machines, I often turn up 3200 parts which have little in common with other Ampex recorders of that era.
TJ
http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ampex_tape_recorder_duplicator.html
Technical documents for the 3200 are still up on the Ampex site and perhaps they might give some insight into the duplicating process. In my quest to find parts for my 300 machines, I often turn up 3200 parts which have little in common with other Ampex recorders of that era.
TJ
19
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Ampex 350 playback only question....
« on: November 19, 2010, 08:38:17 AM »
There was an un-finished discussion on one of the pro recording forums...probably Gearslutz if I recall...concerning the 350 preamps and whether or not all of the tubes in the circuit had to be present for proper operation. Many of those guys are ripping apart 350/351 units for mic preamps and the question was raised about needing all of it to work.
Like many tube designs from days ago, the unregulated supply (B+) is intertwined amongst the various stages and removing some of it could change the operating point of the rest of the circuit. That's just a guess; I've recapped a few units but have never taken the time to fully understand how it is all laid out.
Rgs,
Tj
Like many tube designs from days ago, the unregulated supply (B+) is intertwined amongst the various stages and removing some of it could change the operating point of the rest of the circuit. That's just a guess; I've recapped a few units but have never taken the time to fully understand how it is all laid out.
Rgs,
Tj
20
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Ampex 350 playback only question....
« on: November 18, 2010, 06:51:02 PM »
This is a tough one, but I'll ask anyway. I am putting together a 300 'playback only' rig with 350 (tube) electronics....headstack is original Ampex with one repro head and one dummy head. Does it matter to the tube electronics whether or not the record/erase heads are present?
At one time someone mentioned that you can pull the unused tubes in the 350 record/bias sections if playback only, but apparently this is not a good idea, and looking at the schematic it makes sense to leave them in. But I am not sure what effect the absence of the heads would have in the same circuit.
Tj
At one time someone mentioned that you can pull the unused tubes in the 350 record/bias sections if playback only, but apparently this is not a good idea, and looking at the schematic it makes sense to leave them in. But I am not sure what effect the absence of the heads would have in the same circuit.
Tj
21
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Storing tapes under (Studer) tape deck OK?
« on: September 22, 2010, 08:38:56 PM »
Thanks, Steve. I stared at the deck some more tonight and had basically the same thoughts. The A80 cabinet is fully enclosed on the sides which is another reason that area seems useful for storage; unlike the other models which have 'framework' stands, the A80 cabinet hides anything that is under it.
I wonder if Ki has any opinions on this....he's usually pretty good when it comes to anything Studer.
tj
I wonder if Ki has any opinions on this....he's usually pretty good when it comes to anything Studer.
tj
22
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Storing tapes under (Studer) tape deck OK?
« on: September 22, 2010, 10:38:45 AM »
My A80VU roll-around cart has two cross braces at almost floor level; at first glance it looks like it would be easy to fabricate a shelf that could sit on the braces and allow storage for perhaps a dozen or more NAB reels in boxes. The reels would wind up sitting a few inches from the mechanicals on the underside of the transport. I'm not sure if this is a good/bad idea or not an issue at all....thinking in terms of any possible magnetic energy that could harm the tapes. I see people put tapes on top of the bridge assembly all of the time, never seen any under the transport. All of that storage area is appealing in my tight audio room. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Tj
Thanks,
Tj
23
General Discussion / For all Stellavox/Nagra fans....
« on: September 05, 2010, 03:49:56 PM »
Pretty interesting, not sure if its been mentioned here before, the Art of Recording with Georges Quellet:
http://www.reel2reel.tv/transformer/recordings_intro.htm
Tj
http://www.reel2reel.tv/transformer/recordings_intro.htm
Tj
24
General Discussion / Re: Tons of New Members!
« on: August 05, 2010, 06:13:07 PM »
July/Aug are typically not big traffic months for user groups so I suspect Doc is correct. If you belong to any Yahoo groups, check the activity chart at the group homepage and you will see numbers that reflect this. All of the various groups I belong to are super-slow at the moment; very little, if any, traffic the past two months. November starts the heavy posts.
The Tape Op message board has some sort of a way to weed out the spam posts....something about a 'secret handshake' or something. I've never posted over there and am not sure exactly what they are doing, but apparently it's worked for them.
Tj
The Tape Op message board has some sort of a way to weed out the spam posts....something about a 'secret handshake' or something. I've never posted over there and am not sure exactly what they are doing, but apparently it's worked for them.
Tj
25
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Studer A80 tape spooling in FF and REW mode
« on: July 11, 2010, 07:06:40 AM »
When I said 'scream' it was not in the audible sense; merely describing how fast it winds tape compared to my other machines.
Tj
Tj
26
General Discussion / Re: A nice visit with Sonicraft
« on: June 26, 2010, 04:03:44 PM »
There is an article on his site about the rebuild of Phatzilla, and it was in the studio as well. Its BIG! Like all of the other machines it is in unbelievably great condition. And being an Ampex guy, I had to ogle the MR-70.
I mentioned having tape path difficulties with my Studer A80, so Steve had one of his engineers spool up a reel on their unit for a demo of how to do it easier. Its one thing for someone to tell you how to do something, but getting a live demonstration is priceless.
Those guys are a class act.....
Tj
I mentioned having tape path difficulties with my Studer A80, so Steve had one of his engineers spool up a reel on their unit for a demo of how to do it easier. Its one thing for someone to tell you how to do something, but getting a live demonstration is priceless.
Those guys are a class act.....
Tj
27
General Discussion / A nice visit with Sonicraft
« on: June 26, 2010, 09:37:40 AM »
Last week I had the opportunity to spend a few hours over at Steve Puntolillo's Sonicraft A2DX lab. Well-known in the professional music industry, Sonicraft specializes in transferring multitrack analog formats to digital. As their shop is just across town, I dropped Steve a note and asked if a visit would be possible.
My main interest was seeing their 440 machines. An Ampex 440B is my primary two-track playback machine, and while I consider it a decent deck, the guys at Sonicraft have come up with a few mods that take performance to a new level. After seeing theirs in action, I hope to replicate at least a few of those mods on my Ampex's.
Many of their machines are, in fact, extensively modified to provide the best transfer possible. Maintaining all of that gear must be no small task, especially when you consider the array of equipment necessary to support all of the possible tape formats that have been in use. I was amazed by the effort they put out to keep all of their machines impeccably clean, ready to go to work.
Steve was nice enough to take a few hours out of his busy schedule to show me around; you couldn't ask to meet a nicer fellow, especially one who is so knowledgeable about audio tape. I learned quite a bit in that short time, but of course there's always more to cover and I hope to make it back some time.
Anyone who is a big fan of tape will find a wealth of technical info at their site.
http://www.sonicraft.com/
Tj
My main interest was seeing their 440 machines. An Ampex 440B is my primary two-track playback machine, and while I consider it a decent deck, the guys at Sonicraft have come up with a few mods that take performance to a new level. After seeing theirs in action, I hope to replicate at least a few of those mods on my Ampex's.
Many of their machines are, in fact, extensively modified to provide the best transfer possible. Maintaining all of that gear must be no small task, especially when you consider the array of equipment necessary to support all of the possible tape formats that have been in use. I was amazed by the effort they put out to keep all of their machines impeccably clean, ready to go to work.
Steve was nice enough to take a few hours out of his busy schedule to show me around; you couldn't ask to meet a nicer fellow, especially one who is so knowledgeable about audio tape. I learned quite a bit in that short time, but of course there's always more to cover and I hope to make it back some time.
Anyone who is a big fan of tape will find a wealth of technical info at their site.
http://www.sonicraft.com/
Tj
28
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Studer A80 tape spooling in FF and REW mode
« on: June 10, 2010, 08:41:21 PM »
Like yours, my A80VU packs tape nicely at play speeds but only marginally in FF or REW. Like Steve said, it might be reel-dependent as some do it better than others. The pack is not terrible, just not as good as what you get when running slower.
Its amazing how fast the A80 spools tape in FF, isn't it? Mine screams compared to other machines but still seems to be quite gentle on the tape.
Tj
Its amazing how fast the A80 spools tape in FF, isn't it? Mine screams compared to other machines but still seems to be quite gentle on the tape.
Tj
29
General Discussion / Re: Improving Room Acoustics
« on: May 24, 2010, 03:56:07 AM »
Green Glue is popular with the home theater crowd; these guys go to great lengths to decouple their rooms from the rest of the structure and have all sorts of tricks.....glue, special clips, etc. Check out 'Dedicated Theater Design and Construction' threads over at AVS Forum.
Tj
Tj
30
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Decks with that 'old equipment' smell
« on: May 20, 2010, 10:40:29 AM »
My wife kept asking me what the odd or musty smell in the basement was, oddly enough I spend so much time down there that is goes unnoticed by me. She pointed out, and is correct, that my older Ampex decks, 350's and 440's, have an unusual smell to them, which I attribute to the motors and/or transport parts.
I had wanted to put my Ampex's in a rack and move them to our upstairs audio room which is adjacent to the bedroom, but now I dont think that will work, given the wife's comments.
The decks work fine and nothing is overheating or burning; they just have that funky old electronics smell. I really cant pinpoint it let alone try to remove it. Any suggestions?
Tj
I had wanted to put my Ampex's in a rack and move them to our upstairs audio room which is adjacent to the bedroom, but now I dont think that will work, given the wife's comments.
The decks work fine and nothing is overheating or burning; they just have that funky old electronics smell. I really cant pinpoint it let alone try to remove it. Any suggestions?
Tj