Has anyone added a 4 track head to their Studer A810 2 track deck to have the ability to play 4 track tapes and 2 track tapes like the Otari 5050 B2?
Jay
Jay
Has anyone added a 4 track head to their Studer A810 2 track deck to have the ability to play 4 track tapes and 2 track tapes like the Otari 5050 B2?
Jay
Hi Jay,
I have never seen one and that's not saying it can't be done. There would have to be the room to mount the extra playback head and also have the ability to switch between the two.
I think it's rare to find a suitably designed head stack in a studio quality deck. I find that my ability to play both 2 & 4 on my Ampex 440 is a blessing ,especially when so much classical music was recorded using the 4 track format.
Ki is the one that can probably shed some light on the subject.
p.s. if the A810 is only a 3 position head stack you could do it if it was playback only,but then the switching ability still remains and also you would lose record capability.
Hi Roger,
Thanks for your reply I spoke to John at JFR, he said it was possible but alot of work. Also would be better to just use another headblock setup for 4 track, I didn't care about recording just playback. Anyway I was just trying to find out if anyone here had ever done it. Reason is I am thinking about downsizeing my decks to make room for other things.
Jay
Hi Jay, it's going to be expensive but it might be best to have John fit a 4 track playback head in place of the record head,if the switching can be done with out to much redesign.
I would imagine your Studer has the best sound of your decks and the Studer's tape handling is also a factor.
Hi Roger,
Thanks for your reply I spoke to John at JFR, he said it was possible but alot of work. Also would be better to just use another headblock setup for 4 track, I didn't care about recording just playback. Anyway I was just trying to find out if anyone here had ever done it. Reason is I am thinking about downsizeing my decks to make room for other things.
Jay
don't mess with your A810 Jay
Yeah, I think you would be much better off getting a MX5050 with 2 and 4trk capability instead.
Bruce,
There is the problem I already have an MX5050 setup that way, I am thinking about downsizeing and may move it. I would still like to be able to play my 4 tracks.
Jay
Can't comment on the A810, but John added a Flux ME 1/4-TK repro head to my A80 headblock, installed in lieu of the record head. Playback head is selected by a switch installed on the top of the head assembly. The combination of the gentle tape handling afforded by the Studer and the excellent playback characteristics of the Flux head takes 1/4-TK listening to a whole new level. Probably one of the best mods I've done to any of my machines.
Tom
Hey Tom,Can't comment on the A810, but John added a Flux ME 1/4-TK repro head to my A80 headblock, installed in lieu of the record head. Playback head is selected by a switch installed on the top of the head assembly. The combination of the gentle tape handling afforded by the Studer and the excellent playback characteristics of the Flux head takes 1/4-TK listening to a whole new level. Probably one of the best mods I've done to any of my machines.
Tom
You are correct about all the cramed in space in the A810 I managed to route my direct head out wires to the rear of the deck without any real problems. I didn't know it could be done the way yours is done, something else to think about.If I may add a few comments based on my own experience:
The A 810 must be one of the,if not the most unfriendly machines to add extra wiring or direct head outputs. There is so much digital hash flying around that Studer took some serious steps to avoid it i.e the amp in the headblock ,filters everywhere. I would be very worried about adding low level cabling and switches in this machine. The older A67,B67 machines are of similar size and are so friendly in this aspect,with acres of space and no hash. In my A67 we merely disconnected the shielded wires from the headblock at the card cage and brought them to 4 sockets on the front panel (1/4 track now in rec head position)I would personally rather switch cables than have such low level signals run through a 50 cents toggle switch.
I am suprised that so many owners have adopted this switch arrangement. Most likely they would never, ever consider adding a switch between phono cart and phono amp but are quite happy to do so with the similar low level signals in the tape circuit.
I’m in progress of fitting B77 4-track head to my Studer B67. There is almost no information for doing it. This is already 12 years old post but only piece of info for doing it I have found so far.If I may add a few comments based on my own experience:
The A 810 must be one of the,if not the most unfriendly machines to add extra wiring or direct head outputs. There is so much digital hash flying around that Studer took some serious steps to avoid it i.e the amp in the headblock ,filters everywhere. I would be very worried about adding low level cabling and switches in this machine. The older A67,B67 machines are of similar size and are so friendly in this aspect,with acres of space and no hash. In my A67 we merely disconnected the shielded wires from the headblock at the card cage and brought them to 4 sockets on the front panel (1/4 track now in rec head position)I would personally rather switch cables than have such low level signals run through a 50 cents toggle switch.
I am suprised that so many owners have adopted this switch arrangement. Most likely they would never, ever consider adding a switch between phono cart and phono amp but are quite happy to do so with the similar low level signals in the tape circuit.
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