I've worked with the whole range of Ampex machines, including the
ATRs, Scullys, Studers big and little, and a whole host of machines
that I can't even remember at the moment. By far the gentlest tape
handlers were well maintained MCIs. These were maintainance
nightmares, but when properly adjusted, nothing could beat them for
tape handling.
Not having an in house maintenance person, except myself, around, I
got rid of my MCIs and now have only a lowly and lonely Otari.
Bob
>What about the argument against metal rolling lifters due to their
>propensity for inducing pressure magnetization that is difficult to
>deGauss? I have read that the stock ATR lifters, although
>stationary, self-sacrifice by being soft enough that normal tape
>travel in FF and RW should eat them up more than damaging the
>tape... ? I have jumpered my transport for 60 in/sec FF/RW,
>but there's nothing like the Studer A 80 edit knob for slo mo
>spooling. Like so?
>
>http://www.serifsound.com/NAB-Spooling.jpg
>
>Indeed, the tension arms can go wild on an ATR if everything isn't
>precisely held down and the starting tension not set 100% (every
>once in great long while it seems it might be in lock-up mode when
>in fact it is partially not quite yet locked up, so pressing play
>can make half of the two-reel circuit disengage and the other half
>more fully engage, whence the tension arm spasticity that can snag
>or even snap a tape or its leader (hopefully), which the Studer's
>just don't have. Otherwise, the large pinch-roller-less capstan
>design is brilliant, as is the optical tachometer speed control. )
>
>
>Andrew Hamilton
>
>On Apr 23, 2011, at 5:16 PM, Shai Drori wrote:
>
>>I got around that by taking the rubber pieces off the back of the
>>switches. It snaps really soft. I agree that bad splices do not go
>>well through the transport. Mine, however just stops the tape
>>travel. I got around that by placing 1/2" guide on the takeup side.
>>Never had a problem since. About tension, mine is set at 100 grams
>>so it's the lightest of all other machines in the studio. The other
>>goody is that the tension is constant, it does not change when the
>>tape stops or starts or FF or rewind. Where did you find bearings
>>small enough to replace the fixed guides? Do you mean the guides
>>that move out when in FF or rewind?
>>Shai
>>
>>On 23/04/2011 20:06, Lou Judson wrote:
>>>Not if you make it snap when it is getting into its tension loop.
>>>I have destroyed more than one master back in the analog days.
>>>Once it is tensioned it is nice but still puts a lot of tension on
>>>the tape!
>>>
>>><L>
>>>Lou Judson
>>>Intuitive Audio
>>>415-883-2689
>>>
>>>On Apr 23, 2011, at 8:21 AM, Shai Drori wrote:
>>>
>>>>I beg to differ. I have both the a80 (well had actually) and the
>>>>Ampex atr-100 and the atr is much gentler on tape and paper than
>>>>the A-80 or any other machine I ever came across or used IMHO.
>>>>Shai Drori
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