Thanks Fran. We are of a dying breed to remember this gear. Nice overview and good luck with parts. I hope you have access to a friend with a lathe, etc...
I know this is an old video, but Terry's Rubber Rollers is the way to go to get that pinch roller tire replaced. I had a customer bring in this exact model with a missing tire and Terry already knew what the dimensions were supposed to be. I sent off the old bearing, and about a week later it came back with new rubber on it.
Thanks for the memories. I recall repairing an Otari 5050 at a radio station I worked at as assistant engineer back in 1978. (Had to phase adjust 103 sets of tape heads every week.. which is what assistant engineers were mainly for.)
Oh,, FRAN! I remember using the MX-5050 in my university's Electronic Music Studio in the '70s! What a fantastic machine! No wow or flutter, crystal clear audio, easy-to-use track sync... Wanted one SO BADLY for my home studio! Never happened, but I later got to mess with 24-track machines. Thanks for the memories!
+Applied Science I think you're right - It does seem like overkill - I would not have expected such a heavy bus on a low voltage logic board, and they appear ceramic coated as well.
I love reel to reel recorders. I wish I had my fathers Wollensak 3M reel to reel he bought when I was a a junior in high school. Ahhh those were the days...Thanks for the video. Regards, Solomon
It was pretty much the last one, wasn't it... That one is my favorite 1/2" 8-track deck. It sounds incredible if you feed it great material. Thanks for a trip down memory lane..again ;)
Very kool Fran! I have several 1/4 inch r2r recorders and one quadraphonic TEAC. They can be a lot of maintenance, but the sound is so nice. I have a couple of MCI preamp rack recorders and some older hifi stuff. Just destroys digital sound. I don't mind running a cd player into a tube preamp or stereo. I've always wanted a vintage 2 inch tape machine. Great video, thanks!
The Otari rings a bell, but while volunteering in a community radio station (you peeps in the US call them public radio), we had a brilliant Otari 600D reel to reel, so easy to use and marry to air. Was such a breeze to record programs on too...no dramas using them and it never let us down...but then Otari have made some great equipment over the years.
That brought back some great memories. I got a job fresh out of high school at the Franklin Institute Science Museum just so I could get access to their synthesizer exhibit. Beside three Arp stnths they had a *_Tascam 1/2 inch 4 track_*, with a matching mixing board (no noise reduction though) and a Braun 2 track for mastering to 1/4 inch. Everything but the keyboards were mounted vertically behind me. The tape they made for demonstration only had a 10 minute scripted demo so I made my own. A local recording studio gave me a deal on a reel of tape that ended up with almost as much white leader as tape. Since I never did the same show twice it let me quickly cue up anything I felt like using without turning my back to the audience for more that a second or two.
The right hand tension arm is sticking. It shouldn't be in the upright position with no tape around it. This is a common problem, just needs a little lubrication so it will return to the rest position. Otherwise the drive won't shut off when the tape reaches the end. Cool video - thanks for creating it. I have one of these machines that I'm about to start restoring.
That is an impressive machine. FranTone Lab/Studio. It will happen. I hope the best for you with your moving situation. If I could, I would buy you a lab/studio. There are people that could get you that with "pocket change". I think there is a fan of yours out there that is seriously considering it. Just thinking. I think there is. You are so good at what you do and how the young people can learn in an easy and comfortable manner. Your delivery is conducive to "kick starting" minds, young and old, to the joys of creating/repairing electronic devices. So awesome.
Fran love your Otari MX5050. I have a Tascam 80-8 with the Dbx unit from 1980. I have since moved on to digital recording....But, I kept the 80-8 for play back of all the tapes I acquired through out the years.
That thing is bass@$$. Love reels. Such good quality analog. I had a Text used to master. It was a toy compared to what you have there but for me it was a gem. Great videos. Can't believe I haven't seen your stuff before now. Take care!
Great video Fran! Love those reel to reel recorders! I have some to not as nice as yours 😉 what kind of jukebox is standing there to the right? You have so much fun stuff!!!
These were a staple of radio stations in the 1980s. The station I worked forhad 3 stereo and 1 4 track. I aligned each unit during my time at the station. IIRC they head block on the stereo mahineshad4 positions, andI ut a full track mono head there to play back monaural agency tapes. At the time I never imagined that recording studios would master CDs from monaural tapes using stereo equipment, but they do it frequently.
Love this. I believe this was the model Jack Endino used to record Nirvana’s “Bleach” record (and possibly some In Utero instrumental demos yet to be released). I have the older MX5050 8SD with the separate preamps and giant cables that connect it to the R2R. Love these workhorses ♥️ 📼
When I think of all the analog years I spent with a splicing block, although I was really good at it, I don't miss it. Those machines ARE fun, however!
I remember using this reel to reel back in the 90 at the radio station I worked at. I had to replace the power supply filter cap. I think it was like 4700 uf 50 cap. There was 2 if I remember right. Nice video. These reel to reel back in the day were very expensive. I think that one was like $6000 back then new. And you have the remote which makes it a very nice set..
Wow I would have loved one of them back in the day, I still have my old Tascam 246 portastudio, I only use it now to remaster old band tracks. But wow what I could have done with one of these machines. :-)
Lovely video of a lovely machine :) A highly coveted asset for smaller studios back in its day, I guess because there were only so many Studers to go around... Record your material over multiple tracks for a rich, deep sound with lots of dynamic range, crank up the level for that extra dollop of sweet sweet tape saturation.
I don’t know if you monitor comments on these old videos but I am curious if you used outboard noise reduction with this deck? It doesn’t appear to have it built in (as professional equipment wouldn’t) you would normally connect a Dolby 360 or similar NR unit.
When those first cassette 4 track home recorders came onto the market I bought one... had really a lot of fun with the one I bought but there were too many mechanical parts which made it easy to break...and finally did. These analog machines have a great sound but the digital machines of today have so much features and compared not that very expensive. You need (almost) to be a sound engineer to operate such machines like this Otari... Would very much like to have one tho...
I've a MX5050 MARKIII. I've made one recording with sub par success. Tracks 7 and 8 were garbled and unusable. I transfered the tracks to my VS2480 for editing and mixing. Fantastic audio quality. A deep and roomy result. Any suggestions on the problems with tracks 7and8? I may be willing to ship it to you. Your professional skills will be compensated. Cand the tracking boards be swapped to see if the problems are in the boards?
A quick tip on these RTR decks. After you get it perfectly aligned , make an 8ch tone tape for quick dirty checks . I used to have Alignment tapes for all multi track tape decks ,even 4trk cassette ..
Re: the urethane pinch roller... Same problem when I picked up a Sony 4-track about 10 years ago. I ended up turning a skateboard wheel on the lather to make a new tyre. Passed he machine on when I moved a few years ago as I never used it once it was tuned up. Still have the Ampex600, tough, and one day maybe I'll make it right. Been saying that for 30 years.....
Dear Fran, I´m glad to write you I have the same machine and I wat to ask you how you reduce the noises in 2017 ( in former times I have used a DBX system) today face the new ways of recording , what do you do ? My second question do you digitalize the recordings after tape compressionings ? who do you deal with that ? which interface do you prefer, does it make sens to record analog and after shop in the pc ?
Are the tracks on these kinds of machines mono or stereo? Suppose I want to put down a stereo drum mix on this machine - do I have to print it on two tracks, or can it just be printed on a single track?
Nice show & tell, Fran. For your p/r you might try soaking it in ORIGINAL Dawn dish detergent for 5-10 minutes then rinsing with warm water for a full 2-3 minutes. Allow to air dry. When you can get it re-man'd, try Terry's Rubber Rollers. He has redone my 5050 Bii 2 and a couple of TEAC 4300's and they are fantastic !! Anxious to get my BQ II up & rolling once again !! (dead ch. 4)
@Fran Blanche BTW, It’s pin 3 hot, Not pin 2! One of my friends has one of these from Steve Albini, (actually 2, because he has the 2 track 1/4 as well), It was reversed in the patchbay (outboard 96 point tt, also from Albini), so nobody else knew.....
The problem with tape is that storage in the long term tended to ghost magnetic images on the reel layers. As a teen I had an old Akai myself. Loved it, but that was decades before digital media.
We had this machine in my church. We sold it to buy the Fostex 16 track 1/2" machine with Dolby C to double the tracks we needed. What a mistake. At 7.5IPS, the 5050 MKIII blew away the Fostex sound quality wise. At 15IPS, the 5050 MKIII was indescribable. What ever you do Fran, do not part with this machine. I think Otari has it over Tascam as I've worked with both. I own a 5050 BII 1/4" 2 track machine. I have an extensive tape library most of which was recorded on Teac machines and can tell you I hear definition when playing these tapes on my Otari I never heard on my Teac machines which are consumer type where I see the 5050 series as semi-pro.
I played a 1/4" 2 track 15IPS tape recorded on an Otari 5050 BII on a comparable Tascam 2 track machine and vice versa. The tape recorded on the Otari did not sound as good when played on the Tascam and the tape recorded on the Tascam sounded better when played on the Otari. I didn't know anything about the prices of these 2 machines as I did not purchase them, but the proof was in listening
I can certainly believe that, but have you considered the possibility that the Tascam's playback head could have been misaligned? that would explain - at least partly - your experience.
Otari are far superior to Tascam or Fostex which are more 'pro-sumer' construction. The only problem these days is trying to keep these old machines in operation condition!
Very interesting machine! Amazing that they were still doing this analog in 2001 or so?? I thought the world had gone digital by then. I agree that those long things you referred to as resistors are not, they are power buss bars. I used to use them in 1970s -1980's designs I did.
Interesting stuff, as always. I lusted after a open real 10" machine when I was more into audio. I have always been curious about the upper end machines. Thanks for doing this and your other videos. I must say that after hearing you allude to the tune up and calibration I think that the computerized era has a lot to offer. I only wish that I could afford the tube stuff as the prices re out of reach for me. Oh well, thanks for satisfying my curiosity and hardware lust. ;-)
Wondering if you're sure/how to control the reproduction level (@ ~10 min., 40 sec. into video) w/those knobs (1-8) top front section below the VU meters? Thanks!!!
Hey Fran! Qucik question, do you know how I would allign the erase head to the record head? because my machine wont erase fully, it will still have tracks from the recording before!
Any help getting a Mkiii 8tr capstan motor fixed?? Tia OH ! and these decks are actually THREE SPEED!! There's a H/L switch on the transport board underneath to select ''range" (hi is 15 & 7.5 and Lo is 7.5 & 3.75ips)
I used to dream about such machines back in the '80s lol My friends had a band, and i got involved in making some demo tapes for them, and slowly we began planning a studio, starting with an Akai tapedeck and a small Boss mixer, but we had loftier goals, involving Tascam gear and such; however it never panned out due to different opinions et.c. ;) Anyway, one of the machines that i looked at was one of the Otaris, but i had NO idea they were THIS advanced 8) Anyway, i'd like to explain some of the differences between recording heads and playback heads:Recording heads have a wider gap between the magnetic poles in order to penetrate deeper into the magnetic coating of the tape, but thisn in turn makes them less desirable for playback, because the highest frequency that can be reproduced is inversely proportional to the gap; thus a separate PB head with a narrower gap is required to have optimal frequency response. Finally, a little tip for Fran: you may be able to restore the rubber on the pinch roller - at least partially - by sanding it with some very fine sandpaper; i have done so myself in the past when i still had a reel-to-reel machine.
Hey, Thanks for the great video! Would you ever consider selling this or recommend good places to look for one of these not too expensive? Thanks, Athuai
The squeaky sound reminds me of old ampex tape with de-laminated back coating, they also make that sound. But it is a quantegy gp9 and they should be fine. I have a Fostex G16/S frankenbuild. It's the Fostex G16S mechanics with the G16 dolby C R/P cards. People in general don't like the Fostex decks but still its my child and I love it.
I work on these things - and no, you really can't convert a 1/4" machine to 1/2". There are so many things that are different between the two it's not funny. To start with, the tape guides on a 1/4" machine are only wide enough to accept 1/4" tape. Then there's the pinch roller, again too small for 1/2" tape. The list goes on ...
Very nice! I have two trash-picked 1/4" 5050's but I haven't seen the 1/2" yet. The ones I have are 2 track and each track is wider so they can sound fantastic. I've tried to run quantegy 499 but the record bias amp actually isn't powerful enough... nor is the erase amp! But when tuned carefully 499 still works but it won't be recorded at full volume and cannot be completely erased by the machine. I've considered modding it but it's low priority. The problems both had were dirty switches relay contacts in audio and control relays. I thought it had more serious problems and I was about to break them down for parts for another project. But when I checked it one last time they started to come to life... then I discovered the hidden switch that makes it go to 15 ips! It sounded better with crappy tape then the consumer decks I'd tried, so I got some pro tape and the sound quality melted me into the floor! I completely abandoned the project I wanted the parts for and started using one of them many times a week for years. Just got more tape and if it's any good I plan on becoming obsessed with it again.
Should the playback head be placed before the recording head? By adding some delay to the reproduced audio this would write at the same position (on the tape) when recording a track while playing others back.
I have a Samsung oven/stove that has a dehydrate feature that can be used on tapes. I'm wondering if she's ever seen a two inch reel to reel quadruplex video deck or even a one inch,usually Type C reel to reel video deck at all on You Tube. I don't know as of now the main brands of such equipment that I mention,other than RCA,Ampex & Sony.
Great video, these are such clean machines to work with, yes, they take time and effort, but they produce a sound that you just can't get on a computer recorder. Nice to see another one still up and running.
hi fran did you know this it can run at 15ips 7 1/2 3 3/4 ips there a button on the capstan logic this is the first time i have service my unit there's been a bad burn on on the transport logic all the high power side is ok beware the on line plans are up side down
Thanks again, Fran for the great video! I managed to get one of these along w/a 2-track (I believe an mx5050 biii). Do you know what the "SEL-REP" setting on the front panel is for? Do you know what the "SRL" buttons below the VU meters do? Are you planning to do another demo. on this w/an amp & recording sometime soon? Thanks & hope so...Thanks again...
THE SEL-REP ARE FOR OVER-DUBBING. In SEL-REP, the REC head is used for MONITORING playback on the selected track so the artist hears & records in sync with the existing track(s). The SRL sw. is for STANDARD REFERENCE LEVEL. When correctly calibrated, it is what give you " Zero = Zero" I/O. With it off one can adjust the output w/the OUTPUT pots. Hope this helps.
SEL-REP is Selective Reproduction. Any channel engaged in SEL-REP plays back the audio through the record head rather than the playback head. It's used to keep the audio in sync while adding audio to another track, such as adding vocals to an instrumental bed. SRL is used for calibrating the deck to the tape you intend to use.
oh my gosh, you just dated yourself with the term “kilocycle”! absolutely love it! i got a boring old 2” 24 track ‘Sorny’ laying at waste in my old audio machine room. Neither of these (Otari or Sorny) can beat the sexiness of the Nagra 1/4”. That was l, at least, until I found out about the “Nagra-D”. (i just threw up in my mouth a little typing that!!)
I don't believe it's the idler wheel squeaking, it's the tape. Ampex 456 and Quantegy tapes have the tendency to go sticky due to the synthetic lubricant used, it's called "sticky shed syndrome" or "sticky tape syndrome". Most or all my Ampex and Quantegy reels have the squeaks, to make them playable again, the reels have to be baked in a convection oven at 125 degrees for 2 - 6 hours depending on the with of the tape.,
I've baked quite a few tapes and have not come across ANY Quantegy as being 'SSS'. AMPEX 400 series however, was THE poster child for it - esp. the 456 (unfortunately). PLEASE DO NOT SUGGEST USING CONVECTION OVEN!!! They are not very well controlled - temp-wise. We have been using food dehydrators for ~ 7-8 yrs. with 100% success on studio recordings. Usually 130-135F (search "If I knew you were coming I would have baked you a tape"
I was told a convection oven since it blows hot air around, I'm guessing there's now different methods. Tom Dowd used to come to the store I managed in North Miami, he told me about "using talcum powder" for SSS. I never tried it but the man himself told me "it works."
search & read "If I knew you were coming I would have baked you a tape". SSS is well documented as being caused by the binder (glue if you will) that holds the coatings (front &/or back) to the plastic becoming hydroscopic and turning to goo, nothing to do with synth lubes.
Yes, I agree - almost certainly the tape sticking on non-moving parts. This is a real problem. Now, so much has been written about the tape being hydroscopic - however, many of us stored our tapes in sealed boxed within sealed or at least folded over plastic bags. So no real amount of water could get to the tape especially the tape that is wound further into the reel. I read it everywhere that it is due to the hydroscopic nature of the tape but see no evidence for that fact at all. I don't know much about the chemistry of the baking but I bet, when it works, there is something rather more 'chemical' going on - not just water removal. What do you think?
Nice show and tell. Don't re-align the heads if your scope shows the record/play heads are in phase. The wear I see would make the test tape (if you can afford one) ride up on the head wear grooves. Get them lapped first. I would leave them alone as you don't need 90 degrees absolute alignment if you are not sending tapes to other studios. I hope the tape squeal I hear is not due to the major problem of binder migrating through to the oxide of the tape. I built a chamber to bake my r-r tapes and xfered them to digital. It would be fruitless to bake blank tapes for any long term use, as it will recur. Lube your capstan shaft and other tlc. I prided myself over my lifetime of being an eggspurt in magnetic media, just today restoring a couple Sony mini-disc players for a community radio station. Repair Studer Revox Otari Tascam, etc Now media and I am obsolete. I started in 1962 or so with a Wollensak t-1500 luggable tape recorder in grammer school. I am glad youtubers are playing with old toys otherwise, I'd be hoarding stuff to re live the old times. Gives me time for makerspaces, arduinos, pi, etc. OOPS! gotta go, my TI-59 printer is spewing paper. JH
Dear Nerdful1 when I was a student I listened into my Eletrical Engineering friends talking. Reading the dialog between you and Fran brings back very fond memories
+david duffy thanks for the kind comment. I embrace the latest digital audio tech, but I miss the art of what I was an eggspurt in. You needed the "knack" to tweak in high quality gear. I would now tell someone like Fran not to dwell in the past but how for example get analog from a mic direct to digital in best quality. example, plug your vintage or new guitar pickup into a fran box that outputs into a 192 audio in a clasd whatever. I mean, her box would take an instrument or +4db and put out something like an m-box or pro tools into linux.
I love these old multi-track Reel to Reel machines. I while ago I had a 1/4" 2-track Otari, but this machine blows it away. Love, love, love it!
Thanks Fran. We are of a dying breed to remember this gear. Nice overview and good luck with parts. I hope you have access to a friend with a lathe, etc...
p.s. if you ever want to do a maintenance (cleaning, alignment, demagnitize etc.) video, too, that would be great! Thanks again...
I know this is an old video, but Terry's Rubber Rollers is the way to go to get that pinch roller tire replaced. I had a customer bring in this exact model with a missing tire and Terry already knew what the dimensions were supposed to be. I sent off the old bearing, and about a week later it came back with new rubber on it.
Thanks for the memories. I recall repairing an Otari 5050 at a radio station I worked at as assistant engineer back in 1978. (Had to phase adjust 103 sets of tape heads every week.. which is what assistant engineers were mainly for.)
Thanks for the video Fran, multitrack recorder, a blast from the past, I remember it well. You are a luv bringing me down memory lane. Cheers.
Fran, your a genius! I love watching your Vids. Your a precious gem hidden under a beguiling moderate manner. Fran for Prime Minister!
Come for the soothing voice, stay for the Electrical Engineering! :)
Oh,, FRAN! I remember using the MX-5050 in my university's Electronic Music Studio in the '70s! What a fantastic machine! No wow or flutter, crystal clear audio, easy-to-use track sync... Wanted one SO BADLY for my home studio! Never happened, but I later got to mess with 24-track machines. Thanks for the memories!
I miss that machine. I NEED that machine!
Thing of beauty! Makes my Tascam 34 look like something you get free with a happy meal.
Beautiful piece of equipment; Good to see it still in use.
Nice video! I think the bus bars also function as mechanical stiffeners, which are useful for large PCBs that are edge-supported.
+Applied Science I think you're right - It does seem like overkill - I would not have expected such a heavy bus on a low voltage logic board, and they appear ceramic coated as well.
+Fran Blanche Very Interesting Machine There, Fran
+Fran Blanche That's the kind recording studios once used
These are coming back in demand . would love Fran to visit us at American-Recording-studio.com Memphis TN.
Wow impressive and nice machine, I kind of envy you turning all these pots...
I love reel to reel recorders. I wish I had my fathers Wollensak 3M reel to reel he bought when I was a a junior in high school. Ahhh those were the days...Thanks for the video. Regards, Solomon
It was pretty much the last one, wasn't it... That one is my favorite 1/2" 8-track deck. It sounds incredible if you feed it great material. Thanks for a trip down memory lane..again ;)
I enjoy watching your videos!
It's gorgeous. Thanks for posting.
Very kool Fran!
I have several 1/4 inch r2r recorders and one quadraphonic TEAC.
They can be a lot of maintenance, but the sound is so nice. I have a couple of MCI preamp rack recorders and some older hifi stuff. Just destroys digital sound. I don't mind running a cd player into a tube preamp or stereo.
I've always wanted a vintage 2 inch tape machine.
Great video, thanks!
The Otari rings a bell, but while volunteering in a community radio station (you peeps in the US call them public radio), we had a brilliant Otari 600D reel to reel, so easy to use and marry to air. Was such a breeze to record programs on too...no dramas using them and it never let us down...but then Otari have made some great equipment over the years.
That brought back some great memories. I got a job fresh out of high school at the Franklin Institute Science Museum just so I could get access to their synthesizer exhibit. Beside three Arp stnths they had a *_Tascam 1/2 inch 4 track_*, with a matching mixing board (no noise reduction though) and a Braun 2 track for mastering to 1/4 inch. Everything but the keyboards were mounted vertically behind me. The tape they made for demonstration only had a 10 minute scripted demo so I made my own. A local recording studio gave me a deal on a reel of tape that ended up with almost as much white leader as tape. Since I never did the same show twice it let me quickly cue up anything I felt like using without turning my back to the audience for more that a second or two.
Beautiful piece of kit Fran. I’m a fairly new subscriber to your channel, and I’m loving your videos. You’re so easy to listen to.
The right hand tension arm is sticking. It shouldn't be in the upright position with no tape around it. This is a common problem, just needs a little lubrication so it will return to the rest position. Otherwise the drive won't shut off when the tape reaches the end. Cool video - thanks for creating it. I have one of these machines that I'm about to start restoring.
That is an impressive machine. FranTone Lab/Studio. It will happen. I hope the best for you with your moving situation. If I could, I would buy you a lab/studio. There are people that could get you that with "pocket change". I think there is a fan of yours out there that is seriously considering it. Just thinking. I think there is. You are so good at what you do and how the young people can learn in an easy and comfortable manner. Your delivery is conducive to "kick starting" minds, young and old, to the joys of creating/repairing electronic devices. So awesome.
I used a 5050B 2 track and an MX80 16 track 1" in the 80's...Exciting times!!!
Now that's what I call a proper tape recorder, lovely piece of engineering. They don't make 'em like that any more... 😞 Thanks for sharing...
How cool that you have your own 8-track deck - I'm jealous!
You didn't mention that those hub thingies are called "NAB adapters".
Great video, can't wait to see more of this machine!
+Jac Goudsmit Damned National Association of Broadcasters! (NAB) :-)
Fran love your Otari MX5050. I have a Tascam 80-8 with the Dbx unit from 1980. I have since moved on to digital recording....But, I kept the 80-8 for play back of all the tapes I acquired through out the years.
That thing is bass@$$. Love reels. Such good quality analog. I had a Text used to master. It was a toy compared to what you have there but for me it was a gem. Great videos. Can't believe I haven't seen your stuff before now. Take care!
Great video Fran! Love those reel to reel recorders! I have some to not as nice as yours 😉 what kind of jukebox is standing there to the right? You have so much fun stuff!!!
These were a staple of radio stations in the 1980s. The station I worked forhad 3 stereo and 1 4 track. I aligned each unit during my time at the station. IIRC they head block on the stereo mahineshad4 positions, andI ut a full track mono head there to play back monaural agency tapes. At the time I never imagined that recording studios would master CDs from monaural tapes using stereo equipment, but they do it frequently.
Love this. I believe this was the model Jack Endino used to record Nirvana’s “Bleach” record (and possibly some In Utero instrumental demos yet to be released). I have the older MX5050 8SD with the separate preamps and giant cables that connect it to the R2R. Love these workhorses ♥️ 📼
When I think of all the analog years I spent with a splicing block, although I was really good at it, I don't miss it. Those machines ARE fun, however!
I remember using this reel to reel back in the 90 at the radio station I worked at. I had to replace the power supply filter cap. I think it was like 4700 uf 50 cap. There was 2 if I remember right. Nice video. These reel to reel back in the day were very expensive. I think that one was like $6000 back then new. And you have the remote which makes it a very nice set..
Wow I would have loved one of them back in the day, I still have my old Tascam 246 portastudio, I only use it now to remaster old band tracks. But wow what I could have done with one of these machines. :-)
Wow! I wish I could find one like this for my recording studio. They were very expensive back then. They must be hard to find now.
I bought one of these models 10yrs ago. $600 with a few issues. I'm sure it's technical adjustments that I'm not qualified to make.
Thanks Fran. I used to use this deck with a shadow synchronizer to do mono mixes for a TV show I used to online edit.
Looks good, so many VU meters!
Lovely video of a lovely machine :) A highly coveted asset for smaller studios back in its day, I guess because there were only so many Studers to go around... Record your material over multiple tracks for a rich, deep sound with lots of dynamic range, crank up the level for that extra dollop of sweet sweet tape saturation.
Great piece. Those Otaris were real workhorses.
Do you run any Noise Reduction at 15ips?
Repaired many of those over the years. Very nice unit.
Oh, how fabulous. I remember doing the azimuth adjustment on one of these in 1993(?). The alignment tape was crazy expensive.
Holy Moly..... I had recording wet dreams about the MX5050......
I don’t know if you monitor comments on these old videos but I am curious if you used outboard noise reduction with this deck? It doesn’t appear to have it built in (as professional equipment wouldn’t) you would normally connect a Dolby 360 or similar NR unit.
Cool machine! - One note, that long thingy is probably not a resistor network but a power-busbar.
+zaprodk Ah!
+zaprodk Yes, back in the '80s we used those to avoid the cost of doing 4-layer boards. With the bars, you could do it in 2 layers.
When those first cassette 4 track home recorders came onto the market I bought one... had really a lot of fun with the one I bought but there were too many mechanical parts which made it easy to break...and finally did. These analog machines have a great sound but the digital machines of today have so much features and compared not that very expensive. You need (almost) to be a sound engineer to operate such machines like this Otari... Would very much like to have one tho...
Very good presentation.
trippy that rtr is at the foot of my bed right now
I've a MX5050 MARKIII. I've made one recording with sub par success. Tracks 7 and 8 were garbled and unusable. I transfered the tracks to my VS2480 for editing and mixing. Fantastic audio quality. A deep and roomy result. Any suggestions on the problems with tracks 7and8? I may be willing to ship it to you. Your professional skills will be compensated. Cand the tracking boards be swapped to see if the problems are in the boards?
A quick tip on these RTR decks. After you get it perfectly aligned , make an 8ch tone tape for quick dirty checks . I used to have Alignment tapes for all multi track tape decks ,even 4trk cassette ..
Hi Fran, nice video! Which cables do you use to record with this machine? Do you use a mixer or plug directly into the unbalanced inputs?
Re: the urethane pinch roller... Same problem when I picked up a Sony 4-track about 10 years ago. I ended up turning a skateboard wheel on the lather to make a new tyre. Passed he machine on when I moved a few years ago as I never used it once it was tuned up. Still have the Ampex600, tough, and one day maybe I'll make it right. Been saying that for 30 years.....
Wow that's cool. I'd love to record on one of those again!
Hey Fran, I know this is an old video but wanted to ask why you don't have a splice block on the front?
Thanks for sharing, Fran. I love your videos :)
Was "I Know What Boys Like" or "The Devil Glitch" recorded on that beauty? 🙄
Great video! Wonderful information! Thank you!
Dear Fran, I´m glad to write you I have the same machine and I wat to ask you how you reduce the noises in 2017 ( in former times I have used a DBX system) today face the new ways of recording , what do you do ? My second question do you digitalize the recordings after tape compressionings ? who do you deal with that ? which interface do you prefer, does it make sens to record analog and after shop in the pc ?
Are the tracks on these kinds of machines mono or stereo? Suppose I want to put down a stereo drum mix on this machine - do I have to print it on two tracks, or can it just be printed on a single track?
Nice show & tell, Fran. For your p/r you might try soaking it in ORIGINAL Dawn dish detergent for 5-10 minutes then rinsing with warm water for a full 2-3 minutes. Allow to air dry. When you can get it re-man'd, try Terry's Rubber Rollers. He has redone my 5050 Bii 2 and a couple of TEAC 4300's and they are fantastic !! Anxious to get my BQ II up & rolling once again !! (dead ch. 4)
@Fran Blanche
BTW, It’s pin 3 hot,
Not pin 2!
One of my friends has one of these from Steve Albini, (actually 2, because he has the 2 track 1/4 as well),
It was reversed in the patchbay (outboard 96 point tt, also from Albini),
so nobody else knew.....
At the time, there wasn’t a “pin 2 Hot” standard...
As well, I have a AKG D12e, and the “e” means that it’s an XLR....
Hoboken! I went to college in Hoboken. It's changed tremendously since then, like technology.
The problem with tape is that storage in the long term tended to ghost magnetic images on the reel layers. As a teen I had an old Akai myself. Loved it, but that was decades before digital media.
We had this machine in my church. We sold it to buy the Fostex 16 track 1/2" machine with Dolby C to double the tracks we needed. What a mistake. At 7.5IPS, the 5050 MKIII blew away the Fostex sound quality wise. At 15IPS, the 5050 MKIII was indescribable. What ever you do Fran, do not part with this machine. I think Otari has it over Tascam as I've worked with both. I own a 5050 BII 1/4" 2 track machine. I have an extensive tape library most of which was recorded on Teac machines and can tell you I hear definition when playing these tapes on my Otari I never heard on my Teac machines which are consumer type where I see the 5050 series as semi-pro.
I agree that Otari decks are probably better that Tascam ones, and it showed in their price tags ;)
I played a 1/4" 2 track 15IPS tape recorded on an Otari 5050 BII on a comparable Tascam 2 track machine and vice versa. The tape recorded on the Otari did not sound as good when played on the Tascam and the tape recorded on the Tascam sounded better when played on the Otari. I didn't know anything about the prices of these 2 machines as I did not purchase them, but the proof was in listening
I can certainly believe that, but have you considered the possibility that the Tascam's playback head could have been misaligned? that would explain - at least partly - your experience.
Otari are far superior to Tascam or Fostex which are more 'pro-sumer' construction. The only problem these days is trying to keep these old machines in operation condition!
It sounds like that tape may have sticky tape syndrome, too. That is a very nice machine, though.
Love you Fran. Please take my hand.
When you’re all moved in to FS 3.0, would be great to a demo of this unit working 🤞🏻 🎸
Very interesting machine! Amazing that they were still doing this analog in 2001 or so?? I thought the world had gone digital by then. I agree that those long things you referred to as resistors are not, they are power buss bars. I used to use them
in 1970s -1980's designs I did.
You'd be surprised how many people are still on analog to this day. It's simply a superior sound quality
Interesting stuff, as always. I lusted after a open real 10" machine when I was more into audio. I have always been curious about the upper end machines. Thanks for doing this and your other videos. I must say that after hearing you allude to the tune up and calibration I think that the computerized era has a lot to offer. I only wish that I could afford the tube stuff as the prices re out of reach for me. Oh well, thanks for satisfying my curiosity and hardware lust. ;-)
Wondering if you're sure/how to control the reproduction level (@ ~10 min., 40 sec. into video) w/those knobs (1-8) top front section below the VU meters? Thanks!!!
I had the Otari MX5050 MKI in the 80's which had less features but Xlnt s/n and great sound.
Hey Fran! Qucik question, do you know how I would allign the erase head to the record head? because my machine wont erase fully, it will still have tracks from the recording before!
Quick fix is to use a table bulk eraser.
and it might be an osc. going out - not an alignment issue.
Love you Fran!
Beautiful
Any help getting a Mkiii 8tr capstan motor fixed?? Tia
OH ! and these decks are actually THREE SPEED!! There's a H/L switch on the transport board underneath to select
''range" (hi is 15 & 7.5 and Lo is 7.5 & 3.75ips)
those are great machines!
I used to dream about such machines back in the '80s lol
My friends had a band, and i got involved in making some demo tapes for them, and slowly we began planning a studio, starting with an Akai tapedeck and a small Boss mixer, but we had loftier goals, involving Tascam gear and such; however it never panned out due to different opinions et.c. ;)
Anyway, one of the machines that i looked at was one of the Otaris, but i had NO idea they were THIS advanced 8)
Anyway, i'd like to explain some of the differences between recording heads and playback heads:Recording heads have a wider gap between the magnetic poles in order to penetrate deeper into the magnetic coating of the tape, but thisn in turn makes them less desirable for playback, because the highest frequency that can be reproduced is inversely proportional to the gap; thus a separate PB head with a narrower gap is required to have optimal frequency response.
Finally, a little tip for Fran: you may be able to restore the rubber on the pinch roller - at least partially - by sanding it with some very fine sandpaper; i have done so myself in the past when i still had a reel-to-reel machine.
Hey, Thanks for the great video! Would you ever consider selling this or recommend good places to look for one of these not too expensive? Thanks, Athuai
The squeaky sound reminds me of old ampex tape with de-laminated back coating, they also make that sound. But it is a quantegy gp9 and they should be fine. I have a Fostex G16/S frankenbuild. It's the Fostex G16S mechanics with the G16 dolby C R/P cards. People in general don't like the Fostex decks but still its my child and I love it.
Hi, I learned some things there thanks, do you do work on these, and can I convert a 1/4 inch 2 track 5050 Mkiii-2 to a 1/2 " 4 track?
I work on these things - and no, you really can't convert a 1/4" machine to 1/2". There are so many things that are different between the two it's not funny. To start with, the tape guides on a 1/4" machine are only wide enough to accept 1/4" tape. Then there's the pinch roller, again too small for 1/2" tape. The list goes on ...
Very nice! I have two trash-picked 1/4" 5050's but I haven't seen the 1/2" yet. The ones I have are 2 track and each track is wider so they can sound fantastic. I've tried to run quantegy 499 but the record bias amp actually isn't powerful enough... nor is the erase amp! But when tuned carefully 499 still works but it won't be recorded at full volume and cannot be completely erased by the machine. I've considered modding it but it's low priority.
The problems both had were dirty switches relay contacts in audio and control relays. I thought it had more serious problems and I was about to break them down for parts for another project. But when I checked it one last time they started to come to life... then I discovered the hidden switch that makes it go to 15 ips! It sounded better with crappy tape then the consumer decks I'd tried, so I got some pro tape and the sound quality melted me into the floor! I completely abandoned the project I wanted the parts for and started using one of them many times a week for years. Just got more tape and if it's any good I plan on becoming obsessed with it again.
Should the playback head be placed before the recording head? By adding some delay to the reproduced audio this would write at the same position (on the tape) when recording a track while playing others back.
I have a factory fresh 5050 mk3-8 with remote, any idea on value?
Thanks Frank, I love analog reel to reel recorders. It s something romantic on music industry. How many could cost one of this babes today?
Jose Torres A pawn shop wouldn't take one for free!
Does this machine have noise reduction? I wonder how this compares with the Tascam 80-8.
I think Fran and Robert Crumb might get on well. They both appreciate old time machines which were built to last.
Neato.
I used to have a Tascam 688
Compact casette : ) How the world have changed.
I have a Samsung oven/stove that has a dehydrate feature that can be used on tapes. I'm wondering if she's ever seen a two inch reel to reel quadruplex video deck or even a one inch,usually Type C reel to reel video deck at all on You Tube. I don't know as of now the main brands of such equipment that I mention,other than RCA,Ampex & Sony.
Great video, these are such clean machines to work with, yes, they take time and effort, but they produce a sound that you just can't get on a computer recorder. Nice to see another one still up and running.
Nice video! Where did you get the rack holding the tape machine?? Would appreciate any info
lookslike the orig. one from factory. The 5050 B2 II at WMPG has the exact same1
hi fran did you know this it can run at 15ips 7 1/2 3 3/4 ips there a button on the capstan logic this is the first time i have service my unit
there's been a bad burn on on the transport logic all the high power side is ok beware the on line plans are up side down
Fran......awesome....
Thanks again, Fran for the great video! I managed to get one of these along w/a 2-track (I believe an mx5050 biii). Do you know what the "SEL-REP" setting on the front panel is for? Do you know what the "SRL" buttons below the VU meters do? Are you planning to do another demo. on this w/an amp & recording sometime soon? Thanks & hope so...Thanks again...
THE SEL-REP ARE FOR OVER-DUBBING. In SEL-REP, the REC head is used for MONITORING playback on the selected track so the artist hears & records in sync with the existing track(s). The SRL sw. is for STANDARD REFERENCE LEVEL. When correctly calibrated, it is what give you " Zero = Zero" I/O. With it off one can adjust the output w/the OUTPUT pots. Hope this helps.
SEL-REP is Selective Reproduction. Any channel engaged in SEL-REP plays back the audio through the record head rather than the playback head. It's used to keep the audio in sync while adding audio to another track, such as adding vocals to an instrumental bed. SRL is used for calibrating the deck to the tape you intend to use.
Thank You!
I think the reel spindle adapter is called a “N. A. B. Adapter”
oh my gosh, you just dated yourself with the term “kilocycle”! absolutely love it! i got a boring old 2” 24 track ‘Sorny’ laying at waste in my old audio machine room. Neither of these (Otari or Sorny) can beat the sexiness of the Nagra 1/4”. That was l, at least, until I found out about the “Nagra-D”. (i just threw up in my mouth a little typing that!!)
I don't believe it's the idler wheel squeaking, it's the tape.
Ampex 456 and Quantegy tapes have the tendency to go sticky due to the synthetic lubricant used, it's called "sticky shed syndrome" or "sticky tape syndrome". Most or all my Ampex and Quantegy reels have the squeaks, to make them playable again, the reels have to be baked in a convection oven at 125 degrees for 2 - 6 hours depending on the with of the tape.,
I've baked quite a few tapes and have not come across ANY Quantegy as being 'SSS'. AMPEX 400 series however, was THE poster child for it - esp. the 456 (unfortunately). PLEASE DO NOT SUGGEST USING CONVECTION OVEN!!! They are not very well controlled - temp-wise. We have been using food dehydrators for ~ 7-8 yrs. with 100% success on studio recordings.
Usually 130-135F (search "If I knew you were coming I would have baked you a tape"
I was told a convection oven since it blows hot air around, I'm guessing there's now different methods. Tom Dowd used to come to the store I managed in North Miami, he told me about "using talcum powder" for SSS. I never tried it but the man himself told me "it works."
search & read "If I knew you were coming I would have baked you a tape". SSS is well documented as being caused by the binder (glue if you will) that holds the coatings (front &/or back) to the plastic becoming hydroscopic and turning to goo, nothing to do with synth lubes.
Yes, I agree - almost certainly the tape sticking on non-moving parts. This is a real problem. Now, so much has been written about the tape being hydroscopic - however, many of us stored our tapes in sealed boxed within sealed or at least folded over plastic bags. So no real amount of water could get to the tape especially the tape that is wound further into the reel. I read it everywhere that it is due to the hydroscopic nature of the tape but see no evidence for that fact at all. I don't know much about the chemistry of the baking but I bet, when it works, there is something rather more 'chemical' going on - not just water removal. What do you think?
How much did you pay for that ? The 60' & 70's Vintage stuff is fantastic !
one track of mine is stuck in record, moving the safe switch has no effect, anyone know what to look for?
Nice show and tell.
Don't re-align the heads if your scope shows the record/play heads are in phase.
The wear I see would make the test tape (if you can afford one) ride up on the head wear grooves. Get them lapped first.
I would leave them alone as you don't need 90 degrees absolute alignment if you are not sending tapes to other studios.
I hope the tape squeal I hear is not due to the major problem of binder migrating through to the oxide of the tape.
I built a chamber to bake my r-r tapes and xfered them to digital.
It would be fruitless to bake blank tapes for any long term use, as it will recur.
Lube your capstan shaft and other tlc.
I prided myself over my lifetime of being an eggspurt in magnetic media, just today restoring a couple Sony mini-disc players for a community radio station.
Repair Studer Revox Otari Tascam, etc
Now media and I am obsolete.
I started in 1962 or so with a Wollensak t-1500 luggable tape recorder in grammer school.
I am glad youtubers are playing with old toys otherwise, I'd be hoarding stuff to re live the old times.
Gives me time for makerspaces, arduinos, pi, etc.
OOPS! gotta go, my TI-59 printer is spewing paper.
JH
+nerdful1 Good advice- I will have to check the tape as well as give the works a good cleaning.
Dear Nerdful1 when I was a student I listened into my Eletrical Engineering friends talking. Reading the dialog between you and Fran brings back very fond memories
+david duffy
thanks for the kind comment. I embrace the latest digital audio tech,
but I miss the art of what I was an eggspurt in.
You needed the "knack" to tweak in high quality gear.
I would now tell someone like Fran not to dwell in the past but how for example get analog from a mic direct to digital in best quality.
example, plug your vintage or new guitar pickup into a fran box that outputs into a 192 audio in a clasd whatever.
I mean, her box would take an instrument or +4db and put out something like an m-box or pro tools into linux.
Fran your brilliant!