Right to left play and record - sometimes fine with a slight speed variance, sometimes doesn’t play or has to be encouraged with an initial hand turn of the left spool. Fast forward / rewind - great in both directions. Slows as you get towards an empty spool but this is usual for this model. Output stereo left and right - perfect. Hearing it makes you realise just how much better the analogue sound quality and warmth of these wonderful old machines is compared to the modern digital compressed stuff. Loading roller - sometimes you need to press the loading button a few times before it decides to shoot up to its play position. Real time display counter lights up at 00.00.00 but doesn’t move when the tape is moving.
Bernie Grundman talking about cutting a new album from their modified Studer A80.
The earlier section has Ying Tan talking about the record He was the chap who appeared in a room I was doing at the RMAF a few years ago with a large bag of test pressings he wanted to listen to. A very entertaining hour or two where i didn’t have to choose any music! Eventually he left me with the nice Elvis ones a few here have heard at bake-offs.
Was this the record (of Zep covers) that someone was playing at the Settle bake-off on the Saturday night?
This is my A80RC, bought for £500 a decade ago. I then learned to read Studer manuals, found a good tech, recapped it, put in new ball races throughout, had the stand professionally repainted, fixed cosmetic problems, tore hair out etc etc. I’ve seen washing machines and fridges smaller than this thing. Portable it is not. But it is one of those pieces of audio engineering that leaves you in awe…
My aim now is get a Revox B77 HS up and running so I can move it about and play my tapes elsewhere, having recently sold a Revox four track which I didn’t use.
I particularly like the effect bouncing digital off tape, but it ain’t cheap!
