Studer B77 MKII

[MyPal]

Originally Posted by Myles B. Astor

The pro machines require a bit more dedication--not to mention space--to operate and maintain. Forget the heads--they you can replace them with some extended response heads from John French--but you have to have the expertise or someone around who can align and maintain head azimuth. That's not to mention all the other functions that need maintenance. One of the better people for fixing/answering Studer questions (and other decks like Nagra, Ampex) is Ki Choi (who has a R2R museum in his home too ). Ki hangs out at thetapeproject.com or whatsbestforum.com.

And many think that by modding a Technics deck (it does have an excellent transport eg. the same hefty motors used in their top turntables), changing the heads, etc. that there's little difference between the pro machines and pro-sumer machines for PB purposes (for instance, Opus 3 uses a modded Technics for making their new tapes).

Myles...Yes I love the smaller footprint of the Technics & the prospect that it can be specked up to around that of a pro machine. Exceptional playback & record is what i will care for most but I am curious as to what level of playback control they came out with....I believe that there is a remote control option? (I wonder if Jeff could do a 5v/12v trigger jack as part of the customization...) I'm not sure about memory counter queuing on the Technics? Am I correct in saying that it has no or just basic queuing features only? I suspect it doesn't have a light sensor/rewind slow either like a Studer has?

[Myles B. Astor]

Originally Posted by MyPal

Myles...Yes I love the smaller footprint of the Technics & the prospect that it can be specked up to around that of a pro machine. Exceptional playback & record is what i will care for most but I am curious as to what level of playback control they came out with....I believe that there is a remote control option? (I wonder if Jeff could do a 5v/12v trigger jack as part of the customization...)

Yes but they're rare and will run a couple of hundred dollars on eBay. But didn't Jeff say on his website that he's building a remote control for the decks too?

I'm not sure about memory counter queuing on the Technics? Am I correct in saying that it has no or just basic queuing features only? I suspect it doesn't have a light sensor/rewind slow either like a Studer has?

Mine doesn't in part because disconnected the memory counter. And mine doesn't have auto rewind either. The only Technics that I know of that has auto rewind is the 1700 and that's 4 track only, unlike the 1500 (and 1800?) where you can playback 2 and 4 track tapes.

[MyPal]

Originally Posted by Myles B. Astor

Yes but they're rare and will run a couple of hundred dollars on eBay. But didn't Jeff say on his website that he's building a remote control for the decks too?

Mine doesn't in part because disconnected the memory counter. And mine doesn't have auto rewind either. The only Technics that I know of that has auto rewind is the 1700 and that's 4 track only, unlike the 1500 (and 1800?) where you can playback 2 and 4 track tapes.

Myles...Jeff has quoted his wireless remote option. I await his email on some other customization can do's. There is currently an original Technics RS-070 wireless remote for sale on e-bay for $750 that is claimed to work with the 1500, 1506, 1520, 1700, 10A02, 777, and 1800. :curious:

Unfortunately, the RS-1520 is US 120v only. Wish it had switchable power. I'm hoping perhaps he could arrange a 240v retrofit instead of providing an external step down transformer which he has already offered. I'm not that keen on having to use step down.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by MyPal

Myles...Jeff has quoted his wireless remote option. I await his email on some other customization can do's. There is currently an original Technics RS-070 wireless remote for sale on e-bay for $750 that is claimed to work with the 1500, 1506, 1520, 1700, 10A02, 777, and 1800. :curious:

Unfortunately, the RS-1520 is US 120v only. Wish it had switchable power. I'm hoping perhaps he could arrange a 240v retrofit instead of providing an external step down transformer which he has already offered. I'm not that keen on having to use step down.

Steve.......Whether the step down power transformer is external or internal, the function is the same.

[JDCheek]

Hello everyone, just getting back into this crazy hobby. It’s actually the R2R resurgence that has me excited, but it almost appears that the R2R comeback is over. Not many threads related to R2R, and it’s seems that j-corder is slowing down and even some here have gotten away from it. Am I seeing this correct? Just purchased a Revox PR-99 mkiii that has been completely redone. It’s a special version built by a gentleman in Switzerland. Not inexpensive, but meets my needs and is cosmetically perfect. Any recent updates on where to source pre-recorded tape?

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by JDCheek

Hello everyone, just getting back into this crazy hobby. It’s actually the R2R resurgence that has me excited, but it almost appears that the R2R comeback is over. Not many threads related to R2R, and it’s seems that j-corder is slowing down and even some here have gotten away from it. Am I seeing this correct? Just purchased a Revox PR-99 mkiii that has been completely redone. It’s a special version built by a gentleman in Switzerland. Not inexpensive, but meets my needs and is cosmetically perfect. Any recent updates on where to source pre-recorded tape?

Congrats on the new deck! I don't think tape has hit the proverbial wall so to speak. It's always been an extreme niche market and continues to be so. I think you'll know it's over when the specialty tape studios stop producing high quality titles in the 15ips IEC format.

Post a picture of the Revox when you get a second. I think there is a "show us your tape deck" thread somewhere around here.

[Mack]

Originally Posted by JDCheek

Hello everyone, just getting back into this crazy hobby. It’s actually the R2R resurgence that has me excited, but it almost appears that the R2R comeback is over. Not many threads related to R2R, and it’s seems that j-corder is slowing down and even some here have gotten away from it. Am I seeing this correct? Just purchased a Revox PR-99 mkiii that has been completely redone. It’s a special version built by a gentleman in Switzerland. Not inexpensive, but meets my needs and is cosmetically perfect. Any recent updates on where to source pre-recorded tape?

You can get prerecorded R2R at Acoustic Sounds, The Tape Project (I have bought from them) to name a few. Do an Internet search.

[Mack]

reel-1.jpg

[JDCheek]

Originally Posted by FreddieFerric

Congrats on the new deck! I don't think tape has hit the proverbial wall so to speak. It's always been an extreme niche market and continues to be so. I think you'll know it's over when the specialty tape studios stop producing high quality titles in the 15ips IEC format.

Post a picture of the Revox when you get a second. I think there is a "show us your tape deck" thread somewhere around here.

Here you go. Still getting to know her.

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by JDCheek

Here you go. Still getting to know her.

Responded to your post in the pictures thread.

Are you planning on recording any home made tapes? The ATR Magnetics stock is very good tape. They have very nice colored reels as well.