Whats your favourite manufacturer of Reel to Reel Machine

[Beck]

Here's a few more pro manufacturers:

Brenell (mini-8 - the first 'portable' 1" 8-track machine)

Ah... that's the one. It was right on the tip of my brain but I couldn't remember. I was thinkin' Bertinelli. Whenever I try to think of a name anywhere near that all I can remember is Valerie. She looked so much like one of my old girlfriends at the time it was freaky... had the same first name too. I still haven’t gotten over it. ‘Shame about her and Eddie.

 

[ausrock]

Well considering that this is HOMERECORDING . com, quite a few of the machines suggested would fall well outside the scope of most people here...............................anyways, rather than vote for some esoteric vintage "object d'recording" or high end lump of electro-mechanical wizardry, I chose to vote for the brand I'm most familiar with..........

 

[Tim Gillett]

I liked the really small Nagra (The almost Pocket sized one).

But one thing i was told that it used an unusual tape width dunno if it is true or not.

Would love to get hold of one

Any portable machine suits me as long as it has 2 or more speeds and good reel size support.

Keith

I think the really small one was the SN model. The tapes were cassette width as I recall but on special open reels. Yes these go for a packet on Ebay. Maybe part of the attraction is the spy associations.
Speaking of reel size, the standard Nagras had an incredible accessory of a 10.5" reel adapter which screwed onto the back of the machine. It had, I think, extra motors in it driving the big reel tables. Just this accessory alone goes for a fortune these days.

I have a Report mono version. Good little machine. Very compact. The four speeds made it very versatile.

Cheers Tim

 

[krhall]

I am after the Uher setero machine but mono would be just as good

Still waiting on the Delivery of my second Revox Machine (Revox A77)

Cant wait to try it out

Keith

 

[dementedchord]

most people dont realize tape machines for missionaries is where crown got it's start.... would love to have a nagra... or uher... my first was a roberts (akai) cant remember the # but said something about crossfield on it... also had a revox A77... and a teac 3340s..

 

[A Reel Person]

As I understand it,...

the very first tape machines were pioneered in Germany by a team of scientists intent on developing a recording machine to properly capture Hitler's oratory. They achieved just that, and were miles ahead of the Allies at the time.

 

[krhall]

Yep with this machine

The Tonschreiber was the best tape recorder at the time and was very successful, itwas used during the second world war to broadcast martial music and propaganda speeches.

Keith

 

[Tim Gillett]

the very first tape machines were pioneered in Germany by a team of scientists intent on developing a recording machine to properly capture Hitler's oratory. They achieved just that, and were miles ahead of the Allies at the time.

I read somewhere it was good enough that radio listeners could no longer tell if it was live to air or a recording.
Hitler speaking at all hours of the day. What stamina. What a hero!

Tim.

 

[MCI2424]

I read somewhere it was good enough that radio listeners could no longer tell if it was live to air or a recording.
Hitler speaking at all hours of the day. What stamina. What a hero!

Tim.

In context, it was good enough with the narrow bandwidth of radio in it's day. Radio back then had no low or hi- freq content (centered around the famous 1K region) and had tons of hiss.

 

[Tim Gillett]

In context, it was good enough with the narrow bandwidth of radio in it's day. Radio back then had no low or hi- freq content (centered around the famous 1K region) and had tons of hiss.

Sure. That's understood. The article wasnt trying to say the new tape recordings were indistinguishable from live in an absolute sense, just when listened to on radio of the day.

cheers Tim

 

[elly-d]

mine is fostex. wait wait... leave me alone. i am very fond of the little guys i am on my third fostex now, and being a low-fi admirer i guess i prefer it not to sound so pro.

1. X-26 i think it was.
2. FD-4 which i just gave away to my friend, who moved to bristol.
3. E-16 which i am hoping will be just as fun to use, when i get it sorted and serviced that is.

also just bought my first mixing desk its a behringer eurodesk mx 8000. yes yes i knoww another low end make. but hey i think its great.

 

[A Reel Person]

... but hey i think its great.

That's really all that counts.

Maybe O/T, but I think the Fostex FD-4 is a fine machine, as is the FD-8. I think it they stomp the newcomers in the 4-tracker/8-tracker field with their analog mixer section. Though the built-in mixer's not top of the line in features, it's enough to get the job done and sounds great! Note that the FD-4/8 are better with the optional internal hard disc. The external disc setup is just so-so in convenience, rendering the FD-4/8 no longer as a self-contained unit. The other achilles heel of the FD-4/8 [IMO] is the limited # of simul-record tracks, with another workaround that's less convenient, (FD-4: S/P-Dif; FD-8:ADAT-I/O]. That's my 2¢, anyway. 'Nuff said.

... Back to your previously scheduled topic!

Okay, I like Fostex reel-decks as a second favorite behind Tascam. The Fostex units were always a bit more homey, scaled down & lighter, while the Tascams of the same era were built heavy duty. YMMV.

I'm not into anything exotic. Just give me more Tascams and Fostexes.

 

[krhall]

There is going to be a revised poll soon with more manufacturers to choose from

Comming soon.....

Keith

 

[Cosmic]

...Studer 807, 1/4-inch half-track. 7.5/15/30Ips. Gp9 at 30 inches....to quote Jerry Lee Lewis: If God made anything better, he kept it for himself...

Best,
CC.

 

[niklasthedolphi]

I use Lyrec Frida.

"dolph"

 

[jedblue]

Haven't gone wrong with my old Revox PR99 1/4" yet.

 

[niklasthedolphi]

Lyrec PTR-1 Frida

Let me just go into details about the Lyrec PTR-1 Frida

What you are looking at is one of the best ever R2R................if not the best.

This had a price tag from new at Dkr. 76.000,-
Today currency exchange ~ us$ 16.000,-

This machine took over from Nagra T and Stellavox SP9 in studios in Switzerland, the homeland of Nagra and Stellavox.

It is modular built with insert cads and is really a piece of engineering art.
Specs is next to none.
The machine is portable.

Unfortunately the factory closed down in the spring this year.
Spares will be scarce from now on.

These machines ar impossible to operate without reading and understanding the manual.
They look as if they are up to nothing but under the hood a world of allignments and option are hidden.

Rec level and Eq are adjustable for each channel, for each speed for PB and for Rec and Bias is adjustable for each channel and for each speed.

Runs at three speeds: 3,75 ips; 7,5 ips; 15ips
But with fully adjustable pitch control it also plays 30 ips. Actually up to 48 ips.
But what machine records at that speed?
Display switchable between timer and speed. Shows also pitch speed.

Has a dump-tape option.

Takes 11,8 inch/30 cm reels.

Real time counter w/two flags and goto, HX-Pro, ICIR(IEC)/NAB EQ, calibration in/out, fader start, editing board, remote controlled etc.
Remote control pin code in manual. So you can build you own very advanced remote.

Sound Quality of recording and playback is equal to or better than B67, A80, A810 or any other Studer, Nagra T, Stellavox SP9, any Otari, any Tascam, any Teac, any Revox, any Fostex, any Technics, any Ampex, any Pioneer, any Sony, any Mitshubishi, any Samsung, Ferrograph..............any deck.
Next to no other R2R.

There is more to it............a lot more.
But I'm not going to make a compendium about the subject.

It's amazing they are obtainable at these low prices today.
That is how it is with all R2R.
To our advantage.
General appreciation of the best source ever is way to low but maybe rising again........... slowly.

The analog sources and analog gear in general deserves a revival and are getting it!

"dolph"

 

[dodgeaspen]

I love my 38 but I'd love to get my hands on an Otari
or Studer. Maybe someday.

 

[SteveM]

Of all the decks I've had, which aren't many, Teac, Fostex and Tascam, I like my TEAC decks best.

 

[sweetbeats]

I originally voted Tascam...I still like Tascam but I've converted to being an Ampex fanatic, so if I were to vote again I'd vote Ampex, but then I see I'd be up a creek as Ampex wasn't even one of the options...woe to me.