BROADCAST STUDIO WITH TAPEDECK PROFESSIONAL

BROADCAST STUDIO WITH TAPEDECK PROFESSIONAL

I purposely avoided ex-studio/broadcast machines, heavy-duty professional gear like 800-Series Studers, because they are either scarily expensive, often worn-out because of true workhorse usage during their lifetimes, or both. The provisos – with one or two exceptions, which I've noted – are that all the machines are of ¼-track format, not ½-track professional stuff.Īll of these will play 3¾ips and 7½ips pre-recorded tapes, all can handle 7in spools (or 10in spools if so indicated) and all are domestic or at their most elevated, part of the grey area we call 'semi-pro', like the Otari MX5050. Here, then, in alphabetical order, are my 'Top 10 Used Open-Reel Tape Decks'. I've also been fielding questions from many of you about what used reel-to-reel deck to buy and – unless you have Ballfinger money – the choices are all secondhand.ĭefault decks soon emerge, because the world is awash with Akais and Sonys at affordable prices, but I realised that you lot are more ambitious. In that case, it was inspired by a show about a guy who buys cars cheap and then flips them after a rebuild. Recently, I've also taken to making imaginary lists, triggered by something external, eg, which ten vintage cars would I buy if I won the Lotto. Either that, or you finally built your Lego Millennium Falcon. Raise your hands, all of you who thought, 'What the heck, let's A/B some Toslink cables'. I imagine all of you are finding yourselves with more time to exploit the joys that our sound systems were created to provide, and to indulge in tweaking and experimenting. Indeed, I pride myself in not being unaware of the components which 99.99% of hi-fi users own.Įven more of an opportunity to get back to my reel-to-reel roots has presented itself through the current self-isolation situation. We examine our fair share of reasonably-priced kit at HFN, if not quite rock-bottom items like £99-per-pair speakers. It's not as if I am totally divorced from 'real world' gear. A slap upside my head came from reviewing the Quad Vena II Play amplifier, EAT's B-Sharp turntable, the MoFi phono stage, and other affordable products this year they proved to be a much-needed reality-check. Having lost myself in open-reel, I was losing touch. There are no current decks being produced besides the Ballfinger at £15,000+, brand new pre-recorded tapes start at £200, blanks ain't cheap for those who want to record their own music, and buying vintage pre-recorded tapes requires a sort of fortitude akin to driving in the London-to-Brighton veteran automobile rally. While it's true I am obsessed with open-reel tape, I am constantly reminded – not least via our postbag – that 'getting back into tape' is costly for both hardware and software. Ken Kessler brings you his guide to the best secondhand buys.

Broadcast studio with tapedeck