Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Revox/DarkLabs hub O ring

« on: May 24, 2010, 07:30:57 AM »

Sure, Jeri, you are right, Vaseline is made from mineral oil.

But you can?t compare this with oils are used as lubricant. I?m not so deep in chemistry, but far as I know the properties of i.e. motor oil or Vaseline depend on the molecular structures. So lubricants contain mostly aromatic hydrocarbons, which are more or less aggressive or toxic. Vaseline, especially the white, on the other hand doesn?t contain such stuff and is neutral against any material.

Most creams and skin- care products, even for babies, are made with Vaseline. If a product doesn?t harm a baby butt, you can be sure it will not attack anything else.   

Frank

2

General Discussion / Re: Revox/DarkLabs hub O ring

« on: May 23, 2010, 06:44:49 AM »

...The Revox/DarkLabs hubs have an O ring that is crushed each time you tighten the hub down against the reel. After a while, these get too smashed and/or brittle and the hub adapters don't hold the reel quite as securely. There's a few guys on eBay that have them for just a couple of bucks...

Well, in the past ? or better with old O- rings ? there are problems with worn or brittle rings. In the old days the rings was made from rubber, but today a kind of synthetic rubber is used. This material should be more reliable compared with ordinary rubber, says the manufacturer. But who know what will happen in thirty years?

This O- rings are of course not made for the adapters only, but as joints for hydraulic systems. So, if you ever need a replacement ring, ask in an industry supply store, you?ll find them there very probably even cheaper as in any bay. Since the rings are used as joints, which come in contact with oil etc., lubricants like WD40 should do no harm. Those who want to be 100% sure should use Vaseline instead of mineral oil based products.

Inside of the adapters are three curve segments, which push the pucks out to press the ring to the inner diameter of the NAB- hub and lower the upper part to hold the reel. Never try to disassemble the darklab or Revox adapters, they are welded with ultrasound and you never can re- assemble them. For the moment I have no photo ready, but if anybody is interested on a view of the internal he should me send e-mail. fb  at darklab dot de

3

Raw Tape / Re: Revox 621 Mastering Tape

« on: January 03, 2010, 10:38:52 AM »

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The Revox 621 tape was originally made by 3M / Scotch. I don?t know what type it was, but it is similar to the Scotch 207.

Later, Revox distributed the Scotch Classic tape as Revox 631, this was a disaster ? after a short time the tapes suffered on the sticky shed syndrome so Revox changed them. Than Revox switched to the Ampex 457 tape. This material lasted longer, but most of the Ampex tapes ?Revox named them  641- became sticky after some years.   


Frank

4

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: NAB hub adapter question

« on: January 03, 2010, 10:19:46 AM »

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Hi @ all

To bring some light into the dark: the plastic darklab- adapters are made from the original moulds of the former supplier of Studer / Revox I found in Switzerland. So the plastic parts are absolutely identical.

The aluminium tops are improved in design. Instead of screwing them to the bottom part like in the past it is possible due to most modern CAD / CNC manufacturing to make the tolerances so tight, that a assembly without screws is possible. This ensures a very good equilibration so there are no vibrations, not even on fast winding. That's a reason why the screwless design is protected at the German Patent office.

In opposite to some low cost (and still screw- on) tops, darklab metal parts are not only machined but also hand- polished. That's the reason why darklab metal tops have a smooth glossy appearance and it?s a good feeling if one holds them in his hands.  It was never my intention to make the cheapest product, but the best. Since a couple of years, Revox in Germany purchases darklab adapter to sell them under the ReVox brand. I guess this is a proof for quality.

But, you can?t compare Studer adapters with darklab. For some models like A807 or A810 with standard trident reel take- up  the darklab?s (or any other brand) fit as well, but for some Studer devices a special adaptor is needed because these adapters are part oft the recorders motor / spindle plate. These two systems are absolutely incompatible. In the high time of R2R recorder, in Europe?s pro scene reels was not often used, but tapes just wound on the so called AEG hub or bobby. So it was very seldom necessary to change the take up for hub or reel and the price was lower and less bothering these days.

I hope this helped along for some things, if there are some grammatical bugs ? I have not very often occasions to keep my English up to date.  I?ll be not very often here, so if any questions don?t hesitate to contact me or Jeff directly.



Frank

5

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: RS-15xx alternative hubs

« on: July 27, 2008, 02:22:35 AM »

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Hi Ironbut,

it makes me proud every time I hear people are satisfied with darklab products.

A couple of years ago when I thought I was the only one who use old fashioned stuff like a tape recorder I bought some tapes in eBay. Some was good, some was ?sorry for a harsh word- sh?!

I tried to make it better, started with tapes from closed studio archives, people asked for reels, than for NAB adaptors. The adaptors are no longer made, so I started manufacturing again, added the aluminum tops in some colors. Later came more and tape related items So darklab grew from a fun project to a brand. And as long there is demand for unavailable products I'll try to make them available again. 

Probably for the industry the market for tape accessories is no longer interesting since the total sales decreased since the 80s, but if one produces more like a craftsman it's  still ok. And by the way, I'm not only a seller, but also en enthusiast of analog recording. And to record means not to copy a LP or CD to tape, no I go to where the music is and record on stage or rehearsal rooms. I own some Studer and Revox, for mobile recordings or locations with little space for equipment four Nagra, a 8- track Otari, and some Telefunken. The Telefunkens are probably not well known in the US, but in Germany still quiet popular because the German Radio and many recording studios had thousands of them. It's a great machine, both in sound and dimensions.     

Frank

6

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: RS-15xx alternative hubs

« on: July 26, 2008, 09:25:51 AM »

?
Hi folks,

yes, Jeff Jacobs sells my products in the US and Canada. You?ll reach him at
[email protected]

The guy from Bologna, Cesare Marchesini, do the same job over there in Italy.

Regardless of currency exchange rates a purchase directly from the distributor in the US makes you sure that there are no high shipping costs or custom fees added to the price. Due to the appointment to Jeff Jacobs darklab will no longer ship to the USA.  Please remember that the prices given in the darklab web shop contain 19% German VAT / sales tax. If merchandise is shipped to destination outside the European Union in a parcel with export declaration the 19% tax are left off. 

Nice to read that darklab products are well known so far from Germany.

Frank