Studer a 807

[zhou]

i'm use tascam atr 60/16,and gona record our band.it's just begin. we swear NO COMPUTERand now i thinking the mastering gear.and i saw a STUDER A 807 @$1300.i haven't test it,but it looks ok.the price i think will low down a little when i want buy.
it's the good machine to mixdown all the track to it?i know A810 is good one.but i can't find one i can offer.
another machine is OTARI MX55,it's really cheap...

 

[jpmorris]

One major difference with the A807 and A810 is that the A810 has all the circuitry split into small cards. The A807 has one single card for all transport functions, plus daughter cards for the audio systems. However, the A807 MK2 was the last model off the production line around 2001, so it may possibly be in very good condition if it's one of the later ones.

Do you know if it's a Mk1 or Mk2? You might also ask the seller what the display says when the machine is first powered on - it shows the date of the system software. Mine is an early model and the OS reads "30:88" which I believe is mid July 1988.

A nice feature is that they can be calibrated electronically, and you can jot down the original calibration values and re-enter them if you mess up.

All in all, they are nice machines but some people say the A810 sounds better as well as being more modular. The A807 is not much fun if it needs maintenance. I've had to re-cap the audio boards on mine, but it's now finally working properly.

Things to be aware of:
* It uses balanced XLR. No RCA/phono cables.
* Not all models have meters. Mine was designed to be plugged into a mixing desk so I had to rig my own meters for it.
* There is also a playback-only version - avoid that if you want to use it for recording.

 

[zhou]

thanks jpmorris .

i don't know Mk1 or Mk2,but it's have meters.and have record function.the price is $1200,and i search in ebay,their price is high...
for the mastering,we think is serious thing.so we become nervous...and a friend talk about a OTARI MTR-15,for $2000,we just confusion about the A compare B...

 

[jpmorris]

If it has the meters and has recently been serviced, it might just about be worth it, especially if it's a Mk2.
But I wouldn't pay that much for any old machine. Mine was about £450 in July 2008, which at the exchange rate at the time was about $900 USD. The condition was a little disappointing for the money.

 

[sweetbeats]

I remember when you got that Studer...or at least I remember when you put up a thread regarding building up a meter array for it...it was dizzying to me. Very nice substantial machine though.

Zhou I don't know what the prices are like in general for mastering machines in your part of the world...the MTR-15 and both the Studer machines are all very nice machines, but the prices are more than I would pay, especially for the otari...

 

[zhou]

Yes,studer is like a dream to meactually no one use tape machines for mastering here.all digital!i'm the crazy guy.so we don't have the price in general.Traded only between the audio fancier,and they irrational when talk about STUDER...
Sweetbeats,what the price in general you would pay?

Another point of view: if it is professional enough to do things,i'll pay for it,we don't have a lot of choice.

 

[sweetbeats]

zhou it is dangerous to compare what I would pay because the markets are so different. I paid $350 for my Tascam BR-20T. Its not the same class exactly as a Studer or Otari MTR machine, but it is a fine, fine machine...nothing more is needed for quality mastering as far as I'm concerned.

I wouldn't pay more than $700 for a good mastering machine, but that doesn't mean they aren't selling for more than that, I just wouldn't feel right paying more than that.

 

[zhou]

yes,you are right.different.like car,a mini cooper(basic) here is $50,000,crazy.
thanks,i will not pay $1200 for that i think.who know.