We provide high-quality transfers/copies
even from hard-to-play tapes.

Our studio as of August 2007

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• Studer A80: 7.5 and 15 in/s; we have a new 15/30 in/s capstan motor and intend to make one a high-speed machine shortly. These currently play 1/4-inch tapes only.
  
  We have the following head assemblies for these machines:
  • Full track mono
  • DIN stereo
  • NAB stereo, play only with external calibrated azimuth adjustment
  
  
  
• Sony APR 5003-V: 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 in/s (i.p.s.). It can also be coerced to run at 1.875 in/s. For 1/4 and 1/2-inch tape.
  
  We have the following head assemblies for these machines. Note, the two side-by-side machines are used for 3- and 4-channel reproduction. Head assemblies are for 1/4" tape unless otherwise noted.
  • Full track mono - a portion of the guides have been widened for 6.5mm German tape.
  • 0.200-inch wide, centered mono (for paper tapes)
  • DIN Stereo
  • Wideface Applied Magnetics NAB Stereo
  • Standard NAB Stereo (Woelke) assemblies with timecode (4+)
  • Quarter and Eight track stereo assembly (play only)
  • 3-channel NAB cartridge format and 3-channel Pacific Recorders TomCat MaxTrax cartridge format assembly (play only)
  • 4-track, 4-channel (play only)
  • 8-track, 4-channel (play only with special elevator height adjustment that maintains azimuth while permitting reproduction of any 21-mil track anywhere on the surface of the tape).
  • 1/2-inch 2-track (2)
  • 1/2-inch 3- and 4-track assembly (play only)
  
  
  
• Studer A810: 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 in/s (i.p.s.). For 1/4-inch tape
  
  We have the following head assemblies for these machines. All are for 1/4-inch tape
  • Full Track Mono (2)
  • DIN Stereo (Butterfly)
  • NAB Stereo, one with external, calibrated azimuth adjustment, both with timecode
  • Full track mono with Neopilot head
  
  
  
• Sony APR-16: 15, and 30 in/s (i.p.s.). It can be coerced to run at 7.5 in/s. For 1/2 and 1-inch tape.
  
  We have the following head assemblies for this machine.
  • 16-track 1-inch
  • 8-track 1-inch
  • 8-track 1/2-inch
  • 4-track 1/2-inch
  • 16-track 1/2-inch
  
  
  
• Dictaphone 20-track 1/2-inch and 40-track 1-inch logging tape reproducer.
  
  
• Studer A807: 3.75, 7.5, and 15 in/s (i.p.s.).
  
  Used with a 4-channel play head and switching as a tape preparation station.
  

• Honeywell 101 wideband instrumentation tape recorder (3). These machines run at 15/16, 1-7/8, 3-3/4, 7-1/2, 15, 30, 60, and 120 in/s.
  
  We have the following configurations on these machines:
  • 7-track 1/2-inch IRIG
  • 14-track 1-inch IRIG
  • 28-track 1-inch IRIG
  
  These machines will work with Intermediate Band, Wideband I, and Wideband II tapes, although we are not fully equipped with all FM filter options. For Intermediate Band and Wideband I from 15/16 to 60 in/s we can use the Racal Store machines for FM demodulation. These machines take tapes with up to 15" reels.
  
  We would be happy to discuss your specific needs in this regard.



• Racal Store series of instrumentation recorders. These highly portable machines only take 8" reels but have a variable filter system so without options they can demodulate Intermediate Band and Wideband I FM recordings. They can be used in conjunction with the Honeywell recorders for handling larger tapes within their capabilities.These machines run at 15/16, 1-7/8, 3-3/4, 7-1/2, 15, 30, and 60 in/s.
  
  We have the following configurations on these machines:
  • 4-track 1/4-inch
  • 7-track 1/2-inch IRIG
  • 14-track 1/2-inch IRIG
  
  

• Nakamichi Dragon cassette decks for the ultimate in cassette reproduction
  
  
• Nakamichi MR-1 cassette deck when variable-speed cassette reproduction is required
  
  
• Tascam Syncaset 238 8-channel cassette deck and 234 4-channel cassette deck when four- or eight-channel cassette reproduction is required. This has built-in dbx processing.
  
  
• DATATAPE CMS 1044 4-channel cassette logging recorders
  
  
• Sony PCM-3202 (2) and PCM-3402 (2) DASH stereo reel-to-reel recorders
  
  
• Sony PCM-601ES and PCM-F1 (2) Digital Audio Processors to recover this format from VHS, BetaMax or U-Matic (3/4") tape.
  
  
• dbx-700 (2) Digital Audio Processors to recover this format from VHS, BetaMax or U-Matic (3/4") tape.
  
  
• Mitsubishi X-86 (2) Stereo digital reel-to-reel recorders (not ready for use)
  
  
• Sony TCD-5M cassette recorder for contaminated and problem tapes
  
  
• Akai CR-80D-SS 4-channel 8-track (Lear cartridge) recorder/player
  
  
• Sony CDRW33 CD Recorders
  An exceptionally good-sounding CD recorder.
  
  
• Panasonic SV-3800 DAT recorders for making DAT copies and digitizing the signal for the computer. This unit came highly recommended by some "golden-eared" friends after I rejected the sound of one or two other DAT machines as being intrusive.
  
  
• Sony DTC 670 DAT recorder (plays some tapes the SV-3800's won't)
  
  
• Sony MDS JE-530 Minidisc recorder
  
  
• Philips 900 Digital Compact Cassette (DCC) recorder/player
  
  
• Alesis ADAT XT-20 8-track digital audio recorder, 20 bits.
  
  
• Tascam DA-38 8-track digital audio recorder, with Light Pipe Interface
  
  
• Technics SL-1200A Turntable with RTS 405 Preamp and Stanton 681 series cartridge
  
  

• Dolby 16-channel Noise Reduction Frame
  
  Noise Reduction Cards:
  • Dolby A (Cat 22) (16)
  • Dolby SR (Cat 280) (4)
  • dbx I (K9-22) (2)
  • Telcom C4d (8)
    
    
• Dolby 422 four channels of Dolby B, C, and S (2 for a total of 8 channels)
  
  
• dbx Type I Noise Reduction (16 channels total)
  
  
• dbx Type II Noise Reduction Unit (10 channels total,4 installed)
  
  
• We will be installing a dedicated 2-channel Telcom C4 frame to
  better handle our continuing Telcom C4 work.
  
  
• Nakamichi High Com II Noise Reduction Unit (2 channels)
  
  
• Sanyo Super D Noise Reduction (4 channels, two Plus N55 units)
  
  

• Monitoring is on five Mackie HR-824 High-resolution monitors and AKG K-240DF headphones.
  
  
• Analog audio is routed through dbx PB-48 balanced patch bays
  
  
• Digital audio is routed electronically via a MidiMan DigiPatch 12x6 routing switcher
  
  
• Two RME Multiface (8x 24/96 analog I/O, ADAT I/O, and SPDIF I/O) hosted by a 3.0 GHz Dell 8300 computer with 1370G of hard drives and 1.0G of RAM.
  
  
• A second, similar computer (with 410 GB of hard drives) is the studio utility computer.
  
  
• MOTU 828 MK II audio interface for studio utility computer to do additional copying as a background task. We found that its companion, the 8Pre was less acceptable and have sold it. While this is an interesting interface, we probably would not purchase it again. We are happier with our RME equipment.
  
  
• Samplitude 10 Pro with the audio restoration suite digital audio editing software
  
  
• Algorithmix NoiseFree Pro and the complete Sound Laundry Suite
  
  
• Diamond Cut 6 Live/Forensics
  
  We find that we are doing almost all the cleanup work in Samplitude and Algorithmix.
  
  
• Audio work-in-process and short-term client archive is on a pair of Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ with 4x500 GB drives installed in each. One of these is located off-site with a fibre-optic link. Running X-RAID, these hold about 1500 GB of data.
  
  
• Our other storage needs are handled by triple-redundant hard drives attached to two LaCie Ethernet discs (one also off-site) and several workstations. This provides an additional 1250 GB of storage for a total of 2750 GB of protected storage. We do not archive client projects long-term.
  
  

• Amber 3501 Audio Test Set
  
  
• HpW-Works Pro FFT-based Measurement System
  
  
• Woelke ME110E Wow and Flutter meter
  
  
• 3M/Mincom 8300A-W Wow and Flutter meter
  
  
• Tektronix 485 Oscilloscope
  
  
• Tektronix 466 Analog Storage Oscilloscope
  
  
• Hewlett-Packard 3312A Function Generator
  
  
• Hewlett-Packard 5314A Universal Counter
  
  
• GenRad 1988 Sound Level Meter / Octave Analyzer (and calibrator)
  
  
• Wavetek 27XT Digital Multi-Meter
  
  
• To keep machines running, spares are important. In addition to the fully working machines listed above and some parts boxes, I have the following major spares:
  
  
  • Various Sony APR-5000 (15)
    
    
  • Studer A810 (2)
    
    
  • NOS Nakamichi Dragon mechanism, including heads
    
    
• Please also note the large manual and reference library as well. I have service documentation for almost all of the machines.
  
  
• Central station alarm system for fire and burglary--the local fire and police respond very quickly.