Yesterday I inherited a REVOX A-77 from my grandfather......
Archive · 200821 old posts
From the original SynthMaker forum (2004–2014), with its members’ names and dates.
aliasant ·
With the Tape recorder there was 3 bags full of tapes... full of classical music..everyone with its own number, description and even my grandfathers comments. Its like a treasure...
He has actually been dead for 20 years but this stuff was forgotten in a dark cool and dry place for all this time.
Its pretty cool but Im not sure were to start.
Just now I winded up a few of the tapes to see if it worked. It did. sort of.
I think the REVOX need some serious attention.
So. Now the question.
Anyone here knows anything about these Tape recorders?
I had some basic training at SAE years back but I dont have a demagnetizer or anything else I might need. I did however have some electronic cleaner that I used on the pots. The main volume pot sounded crappy. Some of the tapes did also sound bad. Especially the right channel. All the tapes are recorded between 1976 and 78
Nu Audio Science ·
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
1 Theres loads of info online
2 Ebay has all the kit you will need very cheap
3 Don't record over the classical get new reels
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
NAS
aliasant ·
Nu Audio Science wrote: You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
1 Theres loads of info online
2 Ebay has all the kit you will need very cheap
3 Don't record over the classical get new reels
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
NAS
LOL.
Am I that lucky?? I think I missing something here........?
All I see is a shitload of work..... I had the idea that I should take all this music and digitalize it. Save my grandfathers work sort of.
Nu Audio Science ·
Dude i've been trying to get an analogue reel to reel for years because i missed my old 8 track for so long
OK try this
1 Loop a drum beat
2 Record it to the Revox
You can hear a slight difference right ?
Now try this
1 Loop a drum beat
2 Record it to the Revox but way way too loud 🙂
Now listen to the way the beat has been compressed onto the tape 🙂
No digital distortion here just upnecking crazy ass bad analogue compressed phat as phuckness
I miss being able to do this and i'm a despearte to be able to do it again soon
NAS
Edited because some people do not like slang
aliasant ·
Aah.
This I have planned to experiment on. Both for mastering and simple phattening up of tracks.
First I got to get it all working. Also need to find a place for it in the studio.
Need to make some new cables as well.
Once we get IR in SM I might sample it to use as Color in effects or something. Not sure how well that would work but its worth a test.
Need to get some new tapes as you said. Wondering if thats expensive?
Different qualities I guess. Anyone knows anything about that?
Its 1/4" tapes.
Nu Audio Science ·
You will find lots of 1/4" tapes unused on ebay and quality is a relative thing
Buy all different kinds you will get different sound off of each type
Oh man you are gonna have so much fun hahahahahahaah
cleaning pots
I'm sure you were careful when you sprayed those pots, but you shouldn't use contact cleaner on old pots. Contact cleaner contains a de-greasing agent .. and pots kinda need that grease. The right stuff will say that it has some lubricant in it to replace the old stuff.
cleaning pots
I'm sure you were careful when you sprayed those pots, but you shouldn't use contact cleaner on old pots. Contact cleaner contains a de-greasing agent .. and pots kinda need that grease. The right stuff will say that it has some lubricant in it to replace the old stuff.
ouch.
I used what I always use. CRC Electronic Cleaner. It says it is for switches, taperecorders, cd players and stuff like that.
I just test recorded some DepecheMode. Overdriven as much as my nerves would let me. Am about to record it back. Ill post a link to the audio when Im done.
Gonna check Thomann too.
Found a nice image of it. There are several models out there but mine has Dolby and that seems to be a bit rare.
Made some test recordings but I need to fix some better cables and also clean record a tape. I can hear the other side on the tape leaking thru =)
But first impression is that it sounds fantastic.
electrogear ·
Nu Audio Science wrote: No digital distortion here just upnecking crazy ass bad analogue compressed phat as fuckness
Ahem... dude aren't you supposed to be a moderator on here? Setting a good example and all that....? :P
Anyways, the Revox looks sweeeeeeeet 😀 You've made me think about getting one now... 😕
infuzion ·
electrogear wrote:
Nu Audio Science wrote: No digital distortion here just upnecking crazy *ss bad analogue compressed phat as f**kness
Ahem... dude aren't you supposed to be a moderator on here? Setting a good example and all that....?
Yea, NAS almost seems like a different person than a few years ago...
Nu Audio Science ·
What you on about ?
Oh sorry i swore i'll edit that 🙁
Different person from years ago ermmmmmmmm yes of course i am
If you don't move on as a person and grow with age why the hell is it worth living ?
I sucked a dummy (Pacifier) once and dribbled and i hope not to do that again for another thirty years or so
NAS
Acrobat ·
infuzion wrote: Yea, NAS almost seems like a different person than a few years ago...
...too much frog-lickin'? 😉
aliasant ·
Acrobat wrote:
infuzion wrote: Yea, NAS almost seems like a different person than a few years ago...
...too much frog-lickin'? 😉
LOL
Right on spot.
NAS the froglicker....
infuzion ·
aliasant wrote:
Acrobat wrote:
infuzion wrote: Yea, NAS almost seems like a different person than a few years ago...
...too much frog-lickin'? 😉
LOL Right on spot.
😀 NAS = froglicker
ronto ·
does it have 1/2 track or 1/4 track heads on it ?
You're gonna need [or should get] an alignment tape, demager,
97% rubbing alcohol for head cleaning, and a volt-meter to cal it.
Track down a service manual for the alignment procedure.
aliasant ·
1/4 track heads.
I recorded the first of my grandfathers recordings onto my mac today.
In the beginning of the tape hes talking into a mono microphone.
But the sound "wobbles" a bit between R and L.
This is only audible in the beginning of the tape. Would the alignment tape help in this or is it just that the recording is very old?.
This was recorded 1966.
Another thing is that the 2 VUs seems to show differently.
The left one I think is ok but the r one shows a lot less. The machine has a built in calibrator test osc and when calibrated with that the VUs shows the same but not when recorded. Indicates to me that the azimuth is off ?
infuzion ·
You need to speak w/PeterV; he's the tape expert.
ronto ·
hmm ... also need to know ...
is it a 2 or 3 head system. That is:
erase, record, playback heads
or just
erase, rec/play heads ??
As for alignment tape. This will help you calibrate to the NAB standard
to cal your azimuth, eq playback response, and 0dB reference level ...
along with establishing tones for meter cal.
You mentioned 'bleed thru'. This could be coming from mis-aligned
heads.
Being that it is 1/4 trk. Side 'A' is playing tracks 1 & 3 ... then when you
flip the tape, it'll play trks 2 & 4 [if that makes sense].
Adjustments for tape tension is another factor to consider. For that
you would need a tentilometer. [maybe you could borrow that].
You really need a service manual to illustrate the order and settings of
the adjustment. Each deck seems to have their ways.
Other things ... you mention hearing something at the beginning ...
Hard to say exactly, but a possibility is that you are hearing what is called
'print through' or pre-echo.
This comes about when a tape is NOT stored 'Tails OUT' [which is the only
way you want to store tape. It does not prevent this phenomena ... it just
'moves' it to after the start. Just one of the 'features' of analogue tape.
The wobbling may be due to a worn 'pinch roller', or one that is very
dirty. Due to the age of it ... best bet is to find a replacement. Once they
get old, they get very dry and hard. The tape will not track correctly, and
there is not much you can do to revive them ... just replace with the
exact part.
Another consideration is the 'braking' system [also could be a 'drag' function].
This can provide the supply-side tension.
Again the Service manual is good to have.
Hope some of this was helpful 🙂
aliasant ·
Amazing ronto !!
Thanx.
Its a 3 head system with dolby.
I mailed Studer support and got a link from them to an ftp server with all the manuals and stuff. I downloaded it but havnt had time to read it yet. Besides. I suck at reading manuals but I will try when I have more knowledge.
If anyone wants the manuals I can put them up and provide a link.
NAB ? North American Broadcasting?
I just realized that the first tape I picked up from 50 other tapes must have been an exception. I thought all tapes was recorded between 1976 and 78 but this tape is recorded 1966. So that would be on another machine. I dont even think this one existed 1966.
I will make another test recording using a tape recorded sometime 1977.
But I will put up a 14 minute long piece of this first early recording so that if anyone is interested can snatch it and have a listen. Its amazingly well kep I think. Fidelity is pretty good. Its recorded from an old record ( I guess it was new 1966 ) to tape. When I recorded the tape to my daw I used my MOTU Traveler at 96kHz 24Bit. The audiofile Im putting up is downdithered to 16 44 and then made an mp3 of. I think that should be sufficient. I have also used some noise removing. The Wave Arts MR Noise at 96kHz. I also balanced up this first piece since it was leaning a lot to the right. In the beginning it is quite easy to hear some artifacts.
But it seems to be mostly in the beginning. At least audible.
That link is for all the manuals and 2 audiofiles.
erixoff ·
Nu Audio Science wrote: You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
1 Theres loads of info online
2 Ebay has all the kit you will need very cheap
3 Don't record over the classical get new reels
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
You lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky lucky barstard hahahahah
NAS
Manuel GOTTSCHING recorded his seminal "sounds like electronic" Inventions for Electric Guitar with just analogue tape machines and a big clock, no seuencers, no synths, ... and it was a great LP 🙂
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