Otari MTR 12 Open Reel

[Lodgesound]

Just for Beechy (and any other open reel lovers) here's the Otari MTR12 installed in my studio bought from The Eurythmics...



http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/MTR12_1.jpg








http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/MTR12_4.jpg







http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/MTR12_2.jpg







http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/MTR12_3.jpg

[synsei]

Very, very nice Stewart, and excellent photos as well... ;)

[Lodgesound]

Thankyou Dave...

[John]

Its a real beast: bet it sounds great.
Thanks for sharing Stewart

[Rare Bird]

loverly

[DSJR]

So, did the Eurythmics mix down to that particular machine?

[Lodgesound]

Yes indeed they did so it's got quite a history attached to it..

[DSJR]

Did the various artistes use similar monitors back then, as so many LP's of that period have such life and "air" to them, that seemed to disappear later on - and wasn't always there in the mid 70's either. I always put it down to over-mixing in the mid 70's (too much Dolby A) and early expressionless digital in the 90's, but I'm sure I'm totally wrong on all counts here. I think some huge JBL's started to be used a lot in studios and I believe Tannoy substantially upgraded all their proper studio monitors in the early 80's too. Any thoughts please???

[Beechwoods]

Oh I like that! I'd be interested to know how you've got it plumbed into the rest of your system - I assume you have it looped into your PC? Lovely piece of equipment.

[Lodgesound]

Hi Nick;

I have it wired to the jackfield in one of the equipment bays......I'll upload some pics in a bit...

[Lodgesound]

http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/Studio2.jpg










http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/Studio1.jpg




http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/Studio3.jpg

[Reid Malenfant]

Seen some of this gorgeous kit before, still doesn't stop this kind of reaction though :stalks: :stalks:

Very nice reel to reel you have there :) Not forgetting the two pictured later either!

[Wakefield Turntables]

that is one serious piece of equipment I dont think I could get that one by the missus :lol:

[Lodgesound]

Did the various artistes use similar monitors back then, as so many LP's of that period have such life and "air" to them, that seemed to disappear later on - and wasn't always there in the mid 70's either. I always put it down to over-mixing in the mid 70's (too much Dolby A) and early expressionless digital in the 90's, but I'm sure I'm totally wrong on all counts here. I think some huge JBL's started to be used a lot in studios and I believe Tannoy substantially upgraded all their proper studio monitors in the early 80's too. Any thoughts please???

I'm not sure which monitors were "in vogue" as it were although many studios had B&W 802's, Urei's and yes indeed some very large JBL series monitors.

I have a pair of JBL 4412's in the studio which are extremely clear and revealing which is of course what you need - getting a balance on them mastering-wise is a fairly easy too once you know what to listen for.

Dolby A (and latterly Dolby SR), both of which I have in circuit with my tape machine was always a necessary part of tape mastering - the hiss levels are just to intrusive without it even with careful bias setting for each and every tape used. Dolby is almost transparent however level setting through the system is absolutely critical hence the comprehensive and accurate metering present on any Dolby unit - this is particularly crucial where SR is concerned.

When set properly on a thoroughly aligned tape machine SR sounds extremely good with a noise floor of around -86dB even at 7.5 ips!

[Marco]

Awesome stuff, Stewart! :respect:

Can you make the Scalford show next year? If so, we'd love you to be part of the AoS room, and to bring some of that georgeous kit. I'm sure that Beechy, in particular, would love you to be there! :cool:

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

Just don't leave that Surrey/SIFAM twin peak meter unit alone :eyebrows:

[Lodgesound]

Hi Marco...................now there's an offer I'm very tempted towards....

Was thinking of Scalford and actually exhibiting with a friend - car problems scuppered me from doing so last year but this gives me a slightly easier option perhaps....

[Beechwoods]

Definitely give it some serious thought Stewart. It would be fab to have you and some of your gear hooked into the AOS system. People were really interested in my Nagra IV-S last year, they'd definitely be interested in whatever machine you chose to bring. I know I will!

[Tarzan]

Did any hear the open reel machine in the Music First room at Whittlebury? My oh my what a sound that was, absolutely stunning, incredible sound.

[The Black Adder]

YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alex_UK]

Stunning - sweet dreams are made of this? ;)

[DSJR]

..And who am I to disagree.... :lol:

[Rare Bird]

I'd like one but they didnt make em in 1969 so thats that..

[Arcamnut]

Iv,e travelled the world and the seven seas,everybody is looking for something:lol:

[WOStantonCS100]

How's the transport noise on the Otari?

I've often thought of getting a beast for the listening room :eek:; but, most of the studios I've recorded in have had the machines in a closet or off in a separate room behind sliding glass doors, so as it keep the noise out of the control room. That worry has made me stick with "prosumer" decks, at the house.

[Lodgesound]

Thanks for all the comments guys....

Biff......it is almost completely and I mean completely silent - there are no cooling fans or anything in the PSU so when running at normal speed you hear virtually no sound at all - this is true of most studio grade recorders form this period.

[WOStantonCS100]

It is a sweet machine, indeed. And, at least for now, Otari is still making decks (5050). I would imagine they might have spare parts for some of these other machines, if needed?

Unfortunately, for my better half, your answer just eliminated the last reason I could think of to pass up on large format machines. She's not gonna like that.

[DSJR]

Decca's old mastering rooms used to keep the Studer (A80's?) in the room, but the 10" digital recorder/players were housed in stout wooden boxes out on the corridors, since the hideous racket they made, even in the boxes, was far too loud... A bit like sewing machines on steriods, going flat out.....

[Lodgesound]

They used IVC open reel video transports which were indeed extremely noisy - I think one forum member actually has one of those Decca digital recorders...

[Beechwoods]

You're right Stewart, Thermionic has one. He wrote an article about it in The Library.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8500

[Lodgesound]

At my workplace we have something like 10 or 15 of those IVC machines in storage most of which still actually work..