I have been slowly getting an old early 1970s Revox A77 fully restored. It is the 1972 Mk 3 two track model. It is now all ship shape and recording
beautifully thanks to a gentleman in Suffolk, UK, who is a wonderful engineer with this vintage gear. He was not cheap, mind! Here is a picture of the
machine, but unfortunately my camera is broken so I had to "borrow" a picture from the internet,
The big problem with using a reel to reel tape deck is the cost of repairs and servicing, the tape itself, the hassle of it all to set up, storage and
scarcity of people who know how to fix them. That makes it necessary to use a courier now as there is nobody in my area I can trust. They weigh 33lbs
so that is also an expense issue and anxiety ridden whether or not it may get broken in transit.
The pros are that you get lush analogue sound. There is no way any digital technology can produce this natural saturation. The stereo image goes out
like a mist rather than spikes. It spreads wonderfully. The difference is in fact subtle. I was not able up until yesterday when I got the unit back
to appreciate just how good the quality of sound is. I am dumbfounded that something from the early 1970s could sound so good when hooked up to a
digital studio. The instant glue effect smooths the sounds out so well. It really is music to my ears.
I bought the unit second hand over a year ago, but it has taken a long time to get it back on the road. It has cost me almost £700.00 ($900.00 or
€800.00). I was very hesitant as this is always going to be an expensive thing, now they are a museum piece. It will require continual servicing and
we all know how machines break (that is what inspired us to evolve digitally, in part). I will only use it as a mastering method so it will be running
to record no more than four tracks a month (that is my usual composition time line). With such light use it should be realistic financially as the
servicing will only be required every few years, using it so sparingly.
I feel like I have self actualized with my music. It has taken me from 1990s until yesterday to fulfill my mission in total. That is to be able to
make my music, master it and have an analogue recording all by myself. The journey has been long and fascinating. I have learned so much about
computing, world cultures (exposure to a huge variety of music and cultural influences), deep emotional experience and expression that led into poetry
too, technology in general, many and varied musical instrument skills, so many skills and so much knowledge. What a great way to spend a life. It is
very innocent too as this pass time hurts nobody. It is a gentle and delicate life.
I have put this experiment on Soundcloud for anyone who may be interested. See what you think between the two different masters? The first is analogue
(the tape) and the second is a straight digital master using UAD plugins etc. I am totally in love with the analogue sound,
soundcloud.com...
Lol, I called it "House of Common" after those lot up in Westminster!
This has been worth every penny. I have totally fallen head over heels in love with the tape. I will be looking to keep this in my musical life from
now on, even though it is very expensive. These days I do not bother much with sharing my music. My interests are much more introvert and studio
based. I like my quiet life living by the ocean composing. I am particularly enjoying making these analogue Deep House beats at the moment. It is very
minimalist and stress free. That makes it very enjoyable to make.
When I was very little I was obsessed with reel to reel tape recorders. All through my life I have been obsessed with tapes, recording and ended up
with my own studio. Even when I was three years old I was at it. My mother singing those sixties "chick" songs did it to me. I equated her vanished
voice with the tape recorder and the beautiful women singing the songs she used to sing to me. Unfortunately I was not able to spend my childhood with
her or my natural dad. In adult life we have become closer and I live just down the road from her now. My real dad is just about to come into my life
as I am going up to meet him later this month, but that is for another thread. It is amazing that the early experiences of childhood have such
profound influences on us as adults. Deep in our unconsciousness those experiences reside. That is why child abuse is such a terrible crime. it messes
people up so deeply.
edit on 8-2-2019 by Malak777 because: (no reason given)