My new studio toy....

[miroslav]

I picked up this little baby over the weekend, it's an Otari MX-80, 2" 24-track and the CB-124 remote.
It was only about an hour and half ride to NJ to get it. A bit of work loading it into my pickup, and then again unloading it was even a bit more of a challenge and getting into my studio...but my buddy and I managed it pretty good for an almost 300 lb deck.

The great thing is that the seller had JRF do a head re-lap and there is 75% life on both the Rec and Rep heads, and the Erase is listed as 100%. He also had the PSU's overhauled for both the deck and the controller. He only used it a couple of times after getting it done, so I won't need to worry about the heads any time soon.

The seller included a HUGE pile of extras...

Timeline MicroLynx sync unit with two remotes (will need to fabricate a cable to the deck, but not a big deal).

2-speed MRL tape, almost new.

28 used tapes - 16 Ampex 499, 10 Ampex 456, 1 3M 996, 1 EMTEC 911 - some will be SSS crap, I'm sure, but there should be at least a dozen or more good ones out of the bunch, so that will hold me awhile.

A couple of boxes full of spare parts (some new) - 4 channel cards, and various PCBs covering almost all that the MX-80 uses, including two spare transformers (they are massive, the size of small melons), and a bunch of harnesses, ribbon cables, a couple of VUs, and some extra panels and hardware...etc...even an Otari cooling fan unit (long, tubular fan)...though the MX-80 is a fan-less deck, but I think this is like an optional item. I'll have to see where it would go inside (maybe it's not for the MX-80).

A box of cabling, though some of it is for other recorders, like for the MTR 10/12 units, for hooking up NR systems (I'll probably unload them), but also cables for hooking up Dolby for the MX-80 (if I ever get any).

Extender card for calibration/service.

Complete factory MX-80 manual in hard cover binder covering operation, maintenance, alignment, parts list and schematics. It's like new...as though no one ever turned the pages...not a wrinkle, tear or mark.

He even included a brand new Handy Mag demagnetizer and a large bottle of 99.953% isopropyl alcohol.

All in all, it was a LOT of stuff...and it will take me awhile to sort it all out, but I'm glad I have all the spare parts. It will save me a lot of time hunting for replacements if anything ever goes bad.
The whole pile cost me $2200...not a bad deal.
I had the deck up and running today, tried out a few reels of tape...AFA as basics, everything seems to be working OK, but it will take me awhile to get the deck completely installed and hooked up for actual recording. Plus, I need to spend an entire weekend with it just going over everything and doing all the functionality checks. It's probably been sitting awhile, since the seller said he had hardly used it at all since he got it set up, so I'll let it sit idling for a day or two, and just run some tape on it just to "loosen" things up a bit...and hopefully there won't be anything bad popping up.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Congrats, Miro!

Looks like a nice deck! And the extra tapes and spare parts was a great deal for the price!

Shoot me some hi-res photos and I'll see if I can make a nice glamor/wallpaper shot of it for the gang here!

Cheers!

 

[miroslav]

When I have the whole thing set up in it's final resting spot I can send you better photos.

With all the "How many are 'Analog ONLY'" posts, I kinda figured there would be a few more people here excited about a 2" 24-track machine....but hey, I'm excited.
Once it's all set up, I may truly go back to an all-analog tracking/mixing SOP, as this deck will certainly make that a nice option for me.
Even though my 1/2" 16-track could cover it up to a point, I just wanted/needed more than 16 tracks, which is why I chose the hybrid setup with the DAW up to this point...but now, with 24 tracks, I may go "old-school" on some stuff and forgo the DAW portion altogether (though you can't beat a DAW for edits/comps).

 

[mshilarious]

$2.2K? Wow. What was that originally, like $80K?

You could get $100 of that back if you run some bench tests for me

 

[miroslav]

I would do your tests for you, but I don't think I can make your short deadline...it will take me awhile to go over the deck, then calibrate, and finally tie it all into my patchbays.
I have my 1/2" 16 track still up and running and all hooked up...but again, I'm going to be in knee deep with this deck for awhile and not sure I can meet your short deadline...though I may give it shot with the 1/2" 16-track if I get a chance this coming weekend.

I would like to know the purpose of your tests....what are you looking for or to prove?

 

[mdainsd]

Very cool! Everyone should have several 2" machines around, lol.

Some suggestions (take em for what they are worth)

Pitch the 456, doughnuts to dollars its allSS.

Get the deck cover off and address all the pivot or rotating points for state of lubrication. The old grease has proably gotten to the consistency of tar. The main offenders in my experience are the tape lift pivot poins and pinch roller pivots, especially on Otari equipment.

Good price too. Especially knowing the condition of the heads.

That Otari is one of the smaller 2" machines. You cant run 14" reels on it IIRC, but its "only" three hundred pouns or so as opposed to upwards of 600 pounds for some of the larger ones.

Congratulation!

 

[mshilarious]

I would like to know the purpose of your tests....what are you looking for or to prove?

For that deck I'll wait until you are ready.

Just interested in the basics of performance, especially WRT ultrasound which is often posited but I think should be explored. Also, the spec methodology for flutter seems odd to me, it emphasizes some things and deemphasizes others which I'm not sure actually reflect the effect on listeners so I don't know what to make of the spec, I would like to see it in detail instead. Finally curious about intermodulation distortion as that is not usually speced.

 

[miroslav]

Get the deck cover off and address all the pivot or rotating points for state of lubrication. The old grease has proably gotten to the consistency of tar. The main offenders in my experience are the tape lift pivot poins and pinch roller pivots, especially on Otari equipment.

Yeah, the mechanical stuff is first on my list, though everything seemed to run pretty smooth yesterday.
Then after that, I'll check the overall electronics, and then finally do the actual calibration.
The guy I got it from is bit of a techno-geek, so he overhauled the deck when he got it, but it's probably not seen much use for 2-3 years since. He got it in mid-2007, had the heads re-lapped and rebuilt the PSU's in early 2008...maybe used it a few times right after that, and then it's been sitting since.
When I ran some tapes on it yesterday, the mechanics were pretty smooth....though I did at one point hear some intermittent "clicking/buzz" a couple of times coming from the rear where the Transport PCB is located (might be a relay), but when I opened it up and left it like that for awhile and worked some more tape, it was fine.
Will need to let it run for a longer period to see if anything sticks out.

Yeah, the 456 stuff will probably all be garbage, so at most, I'll have plenty of empty take-up reels....but I'm going to go through every reel and see what I got. I need to rig up a way to do a tape cleaning pass with each reel, but where the tape is not touching the main head-block (I might use the head cover in some way). I think a lot of this tape has been sitting for a long time, so it's going to be a bit "rough" for a couple of passes, but I think many of the reels just need a good cleaning and some "exercise". I'm going to place some kind of cotton/paper pad across the head cover, and then let the tape run across that one a couple of time, as I hate getting the heads/guides all gunked up with every reel, and then needing to clean it. I figure a pad of some sort can be just changed between reels and all the gunk will go with the pad. The 2" tape is too wide for me to just hold it in a ball of cotton between my fingers.....

For that deck I'll wait until you are ready.

OK...when I get it set up I can do tests with both the 1/2" and 2" deck for you.

 

[jpmorris]

Ooh, you lucky duck. That's about the only upgrade left to me, and I know I'd never get one up the stairs :3

 

[Beck]

You dog you! Sure is purtty... looks really well taken care of.

This is the best deal I've seen come along in recent memory. You made out like a bandamndit. Another great machine rescued and in good hands!

All that Ampex 499 will be good as far as sticky goes. It never had it. It must feel like Christmas morning with all those new toys over there about now.

 

[miroslav]

Ooh, you lucky duck. That's about the only upgrade left to me, and I know I'd never get one up the stairs :3

Oh man...I busted my ass first hauling it UP a flight of steep stairs and then DOWN a flight at my place. It was supposed to be at ground level for the load-in, but he couldn't get it up the steps alone....I have no idea what he was thinking.
I was sore yesterday, but it worked out OK. I knew two guys could do it, I can still carry some weight when needed...but I was mostly worried about the deck getting away from us and crashing.

You dog you! Sure is purtty... looks really well taken care of.

This is the best deal I've seen come along in recent memory. You made out like a bandamndit. Another great machine rescued and in good hands!

All that Ampex 499 will be good as far as sticky goes. It never had it. It must feel like Christmas morning with all those new toys over there about now.

Yeah, I think so too.
I may need to clean each of the reels of tape just from age/oxidation/dirt, but I should end up with more than half of the 28 reels for healthy use. I'll probbaly lose all the Ampex 456, though a couple of the "Quantegy" 456 reels look pretty decent.
Hey weren't you the one using some sort of makeup pads to clean your heads/guides? The Q-tip is easy with the smaller 1/2" heads/guides...but a bit silly with the large 2", so I may go with the pads, though I don't recall which ones you said were good to use....?

I want to thank Beck, sweetbeats and briank... ....I had a few PMs' with them before I made the final decision, just to bounce some opinions around, and all three gave me the green light based on the deck info and what I was getting in the deal.

 

[Beck]

That was Daniel (cjacek) that mentioned the makeup pads and it’s a great idea. When I was a lad working in a commercial studio on the big machines we used chamois strips and lent-free cloth as well as long wooden-stick Q-tips made for the task.

I never used makeup pads before, but I do now. I got mine form Walgreens drug store. The ones I got are called Perfection Textured Cotton Rounds... soft, gentile, textured and strong. I got all giggly when I was in line buying them. A girl behind me pinched me in the ass so I hit her with my purse. (Just kidding about that last part… I didn’t have a purse)

You're welcome. Glad you were able to score such a nice machine.

 

[Victory Pete]

That looks like a great score. I am in the market for a 2" 24 track. My 1" MSR24 has been great for 17 years but I think it is time for 2".

VP

 

[miroslav]

I never used makeup pads before, but I do now. I got mine form Walgreens drug store. The ones I got are called Perfection Textured Cotton Rounds... soft, gentile, textured and strong. I got all giggly when I was in line buying them. A girl behind me pinched me in the ass....

I'm heading to Walgreens....I'm going to wear some loose fitting jeans....

That looks like a great score. I am in the market for a 2" 24 track. My 1" MSR24 has been great for 17 years but I think it is time for 2".

While my 1/2" G-16 is still in tip-top shape (and I now have a second, parts machine)...I just felt it might not last forever, and mostly, I wanted to take it up a notch to 2" tape while it was still not too hard to do. If you are going to go for a 2", I'll suggest that you get busy looking and just wait...wait for the right deck, in your area (so it doesn't have to be shipped), and then grab it up when you find one.
I spend a lot of time on eBay, and I have noticed that the number of used decks in good condition is starting to drop off. Let's face it, they're getting old and nothing new is being made. Most any 2" you find is going to be at least 15-18 years old, maybe over 20 or even well over 20.
Ideally, the great ones are those owned by some private guy, who only used it for his own projects and bought it brand new and babied the crap out of it....but, those are far and few between.

 

[SteveM]

You sure you can handle all that?

 

[mdainsd]

Or keep hunting for an nos machine...

I bought my tascam from a srudio that bought it new and never even set it up. The tools were still tiewrapped to the transport.

Best part was they threw in a box of "analog stuff" . In the box was a brand new studer a820 head block that i promptly sold for more than i paid for the whole mess.

 

[miroslav]

Or keep hunting for an nos machine...

I bought my tascam from a srudio that bought it new and never even set it up.

My Otari 5050 BIII was kinda like that...came from a radio station that had it as a spare, probably never used it once, it came in the original box with manual that wasn't even cracked open and the pinch roller not a mark on it or anywhere else on the deck...
...though I don't know what kind of odds anyone would have finding a large format NOS deck.

 

[mdainsd]

Maybe just another part of the whole analog thing for me, add in the hunt!

Now to find that elusive Fairchild 760 compressor.......

 

[Victory Pete]

I got 2 NOS Tascam TSR8's 3 years ago, I will keep hunting!

Good luck with that baby!

VP

 

[ofajen]

For that deck I'll wait until you are ready.

Just interested in the basics of performance, especially WRT ultrasound which is often posited but I think should be explored. Also, the spec methodology for flutter seems odd to me, it emphasizes some things and deemphasizes others which I'm not sure actually reflect the effect on listeners so I don't know what to make of the spec, I would like to see it in detail instead. Finally curious about intermodulation distortion as that is not usually speced.

Another good point. Perhaps the main reason that 3M Isoloop machines were the best sounding machines in the late 60s when they first came out was because of the superior tape to head contact and minimal unsupported tape path and few fixed elements (other than heads) in the tape path. The reason this is all critical to good sound is because it reduces scrape flutter in the audio band (as opposed to just looking at low frequency flutter). Audio band flutter is easy to hear and very annoying. The 3M factory spec actually details maximum flutter with values rated including specific audio band components, not just some mysterious percentage. Dale Manquen is a real expert in terms of how those measurements were and are done and had a significant historical role in the development of some of the 3M machines.

Cheers,

Otto