Famous Swiss Tape Recorder Brand To Re-introduce Reel-to-Reel Analog Recorder!

[Ki Choi]

(like the Sonorus deck, which is based on the B77).

Big question is who is the biggest potential market for a new deck? Audiophiles or recording studios?

I believe Sonorus is based on PR99 MkII or IIIs instead of B77 when I talked to Arian at the CES few years back.

It would be Audiophile market if they are thinking any kind of volume.

 

[stellavox]

During a visit to John French (JRF Magnetics), he mentioned that Studer's tape head manufacturing location burned down in the early 2000's. Wonder if they retained a stock of heads; rebuilt the operation or are using some other heads

Pics are of John in Receiving and in his Relapping Area. His wife, Cookie owns the company and handles the business end. Sweethearts both!

Charles

 

[MylesBAstor]

I believe Sonorus is based on PR99 MkII or IIIs instead of B77 when I talked to Arian at the CES few years back.

It would be Audiophile market if they are thinking any kind of volume.

Ki's correct as always.

 

[MylesBAstor]

If true, I think a re-issue of the PR-99 model may have more potential buyers: Both audiophiles and low-budget studios. It would need transport improvements, however. Both the B77 and PR99 had unregulated tape tension, which is a serious short-coming. Either quasi-regulated reel tension (like the Sonorus deck, which is based on the B77) or servo tape-tension would need to be implemented.

Big question is who is the biggest potential market for a new deck? Audiophiles or recording studios?

Ask Greg Beron. He can't keep up with orders for his machines.

It would also seem important to me that anyone now entering the R2R market also becomes involved in the software effort too.

 

[c1ferrari]

During a visit to John French (JRF Magnetics), he mentioned that Studer's tape head manufacturing location burned down in the early 2000's. Wonder if they retained a stock of heads; rebuilt the operation or are using some other heads View attachment 15756 View attachment 15757

Pics are of John in Receiving and in his Relapping Area. His wife, Cookie owns the company and handles the business end. Sweethearts both!

Charles

Thanks for sharing the pics

 

[jdza]

It is said no one is irreplaceable but between John French, Greg Orton and Jay McKnight they come very close!

 

[Greg Beron / UHA]

Here you have it, picture from Munich...






Also new tape sources from Munich. The movement is growing.

http://www.hemioliarecords.com/Hemiolia_Records/index_frame.html

http://www.analogplanet.com/content...-brand-re-introduce-reel-reel-analog-recorder

http://analog-audio.eu/en

 

[rockitman]

Here you have it, picture from Munich...



View attachment 15762


Also new tape sources from Munich. The movement is growing.

http://www.hemioliarecords.com/Hemiolia_Records/index_frame.html

http://www.analogplanet.com/content...-brand-re-introduce-reel-reel-analog-recorder

http://analog-audio.eu/en

That is the newly manufactured Nagra Greg ? Nice and portable if that floats your boat. I'm glad I went in the direction I did.

 

[Tapetech]

I believe Sonorus is based on PR99 MkII or IIIs instead of B77 when I talked to Arian at the CES few years back.

It would be Audiophile market if they are thinking any kind of volume.

Both the B77 and PR99 have the same transports. The PR99 adds balanced in/out and a few other items like auto-location. Sonorus guts the electronics, so all that left is the transport (motors, frame and headblock). They install all new audio playback electronics, new power supplies and new reel motor drive circuitry (converting the deck from unregulated tape tension to quasi-regulated tape tension).

Re demand for a new deck: The Audiophile market may have have more volume but recording studios would have much higher budgets.

 

[c1ferrari]

Tapetech,

Would you have any experience or opinion on Mara Machines?

http://www.maramachines.com/Machines/Machines.html

 

[Bruce B]

Re demand for a new deck: The Audiophile market may have have more volume but recording studios would have much higher budgets.

I'll have to disagree with this statement. Studios and Labels have NO budget for tape machines. I have major labels now squawking at my transfer prices. I've talked to other mastering engineers and most have tape machines that sit idle for months at a time!
The audiophiles are the only market for these machines.

 

[Tapetech]

Tapetech,

Would you have any experience or opinion on Mara Machines?

http://www.maramachines.com/Machines/Machines.html

Sorry, but I have no experience repairing or using those particular decks.

 

[Tapetech]

I'll have to disagree with this statement. Studios and Labels have NO budget for tape machines.

Recording studios (not mastering studios) don't have budgets for analog tapes decks simply because they no longer use tape decks. However, if they really wanted to go back to "pure analog" recording, they would have to budget and purchase analog multi-track decks and 2-track mix-down decks (1/2" or 1"). Preferably new decks with new electronics if they want reliability and SOTA performance. Recording studios used to have budgets for new analog decks, so they could, in theory, go back to that if they so desired. In practice, most would want to stay with the convince and low-cost of digital recording, however.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Recording studios (not mastering studios) don't have budgets for analog tapes decks simply because they no longer use tape decks. However, if they really wanted to go back to "pure analog" recording, they would have to budget and purchase analog multi-track decks and 2-track mix-down decks (1/2" or 1"). Preferably new decks with new electronics if they want reliability and SOTA performance. Recording studios used to have budgets for new analog decks, so they could, in theory, go back to that if they so desired. In practice, most would want to stay with the convince and low-cost of digital recording, however.

At this point, it has little to do with sound and more with convenience. No one wants to edit in analog any more.

 

[Bruce B]

At this point, it has little to do with sound and more with convenience. No one wants to edit in analog any more.

Or have the skills or money to pay them.

 

[mep]

Let's not kid ourselves that it's all about the money. If the major record labels see a potential to make big money from going back to recording in analog and selling tapes commercially, they would jump in the market post haste. Tape does seem to be growing some legs and hopefully it will continue. Most of the major labels have gone back to issuing vinyl recordings because it represents enough money for them to be involved. CDs are practically dead and they aren't making crap from single song downloads. Their world has been turned upside down since digital came out. Instead of digital being the savior for the record companies, it has put them on life support.

I think the technology is there to make analog tape machines better than they ever were and the new tape formulations are extremely low-noise.

 

[Ki Choi]

Just heard back from Nagra. No plans to resurrect old analog tape machines.

So that leaves, Revox or as a long shot, Andreas Khun in Swiss who acquired all Studer drawings.

Ki

 

[HDVS]

Post #215...pics 5-6
http://www.my-hiend.com/vbb/showthread.php?7827-2014%E5%B9%B4%E5%BE%B7%E5%9C%8B%E6%85%95%E5%B0%BC%E9%BB%91High-End%E9%9F%B3%E9%9F%BF%E5%B1%95%E5%AF%A6%E6%B3%81%E5%A0%B1%E5%B0%8E-Munich-High-End-Show/page22

If someone is interested in the history of that particular A80, something more can be found here:

http://avaudiovintage.forumfree.it/?t=68509180

Text is in Italian, just copy the URL anf put in the Google translator.

 

[R2R]

Thanks Ki, Maybe a new ReVox C-270?

 

[Tapetech]

Thanks Ki, Maybe a new ReVox C-270?

That's good guess. Would have a broad customer base because it's a fully professional deck (with servo-controlled tape tension...something the B77/PR99 transport did not have), yet it can also appeal to the audiophile customer due to it's compact size and 1/4" format. Any guesses as to a price for a C-270 if it were to be resurrected?

http://www.reeltoreel.de/worldwide/C270-E.htm