Otari MTR 90

[nickynicknick]

Otari MTR 90 Mk II....any thoughts...will be tracking on one in the near future...is this a decent deck....FYI the search function on this site is shit, so apologies if there is a ton of info....I can't seem to find it...tracking beds...rock n' roll, three piece...any suggestions of tape stock, aligninment, NR (I want to track 15ips no NR)...anything else welcome....Memphis if you're there, I know you'd have some good info. Thanks.

Nick

[Steffmo]

IMHOP....one of the better ones. Handles tape well, punches well. Sounds good.

Should be fine at 15 no n/r, especially for rock at high levels.

[1radicalron]

I have been the proud owner of a MTR90 Mark II for many years. I actually bought 3 of them from Fantasy Studios a few years ago. They are excellent machines! I have been using mine frequently without any major repairs since then. I am running mostly GP9 and have calibrated them to + 8. I dont use Noise reduction.
Sound wise the MTR 90 is consistant. They dont have the Low end oomph of a Ampex 1200, They sound somewhat reminiscent of a Studer A800 without the necessary maintenance that most Studers have. Overall a very solid machine that should give you years of trouble free service.

[dan alexander]

as long as the roller guides are in good shape, and its properly aligned, the mtr 90 mk 2 is an excellent machine. tape handling is excellent, sound is very acceptable. the remote is easy to use and the locate functions are very good. punching is wonderful.....align it at +3 to +6; no higher.

[nickynicknick]

thanks everybody....good stuff

Nick

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by Steffmo

IMHOP....one of the better ones. Handles tape well, punches well. Sounds good.

Should be fine at 15 no n/r, especially for rock at high levels.

Amen

[The Reel Thing]

for 15 ips., i recommend using the CCIR equalization curve instead of NAB, if you can get hold of a reference tape. it sounds quite a bit better.

tom

analoghaus :: studio label verlag - home

[kats]

+1 above. I switched over from NAB to CCIR last month and am very pleased with the results. You can do the calibration from a NAB MRL as well. Leave the bass calibration on auto (IE OFF) on the OTARI and do your 10K eq at -2.5dB if your using a NAB MRL.

Also you have to switch the machine over to the CCIR curve/time constraints on one of the cards. I can't remember the card name, but do remember it is pin 1 and pin 3 that need to be "flicked".

The machine sounds better set for +6/185 if using +9/185 tape at 15ips CCIR. Wonderful low end, with real smooth top. I'm using 3M996 but have heard very good things about ATR's tape.

I've had no tape hiss issues at all set up like this - believe it or not, even a solo acoustic guitar wasn't bothered by hiss. Basically with a CCIR curve your hitting the top end a lot hotter than with an NAB eq and it is a really noticeable improvement in the "hiss" department. The bottom end is flatter than with NAB, but it is still great (I prefer it actually).

As far as the machine itself is concerned - it's a tank, requires little maintenance, and is real easy on tape (no pinch rollers). Very simple operation.

[nickynicknick]

thanks again guys

Nick

[matskull]

What is a good price for a MTR-90 MKII?

I saw one for what I think is a good price (if it's in good shape) and it got me thinking about making the move...

[kats]

Well last year they had been selling for $2500 average, but there has been a price creep and some have sold upwards to $5k. I have one on ebay for 3k BIN 4k which is pretty average.

I was really pissed about the 16 track Otari that sold a couple of weeks ago - he listed it at $6k and I was like, man that's almost Studer price - so that's what I did, bought a A827 e. Then he blows it out at $4K...

Man, I would have bought it instead.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by kats

Well last year they had been selling for $2500 average, but there has been a price creep and some have sold upwards to $5k. I have one on ebay for 3k BIN 4k which is pretty average.

I was really pissed about the 16 track Otari that sold a couple of weeks ago - he listed it at $6k and I was like, man that's almost Studer price - so that's what I did, bought a A827 e. Then he blows it out at $4K...

Man, I would have bought it instead.

5K is too much imo.
I saw one locally for 2K CAD, it used to work, but it has been in storage for the last 10 years so it might need work...
Not sure if that's a good deal or not.

There's also a MX80, ever heard them?

[NoFalsetto]

I've always been a fan of 30ips no NR. Smack it hard whilst recording!
To quote Todd Rundgren:
Made loud to be played loud. (Grand funk album. Of course that was referring to monitor level. He wanted everyones ears to flatten out)

[kats]

Originally Posted by matskull

5K is too much imo.
I saw one locally for 2K CAD, it used to work, but it has been in storage for the last 10 years so it might need work...
Not sure if that's a good deal or not.

There's also a MX80, ever heard them?

2k is a good price. But you'd probably have to factor in new rollers ($400) and it will depend on the head condition. One thing to watch out for is that there are many remotes that do not have the auto locator. They are separate units housed together. You definitely WANT the auto locator.

I have never personally used an MTR80, but they are supposed to be very good sounding machines albeit "spartan" in features.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by kats

2k is a good price. But you'd probably have to factor in new rollers ($400) and it will depend on the head condition. One thing to watch out for is that there are many remotes that do not have the auto locator. They are separate units housed together. You definitely WANT the auto locator.

I have never personally used an MTR80, but they are supposed to be very good sounding machines albeit "spartan" in features.

Ok I didn't know about the remote, good to know, thanks.
I think I'll be looking around for a deal on a tape machine.

It might not happen today but I think I'd like to get one someday, maybe this year...

[matskull]

Another question, which tape machines are quiet enough to have in the control room?

[The Reel Thing]

Originally Posted by matskull

Another question, which tape machines are quiet enough to have in the control room?

most of them, because most people don't have a machine room.

tom

analoghaus :: studio label verlag - home

[matskull]

Originally Posted by The Reel Thing

most of them, because most people don't have a machine room.

tom

analoghaus :: studio label verlag - home

Good to know.
I've been asking those question in another thread and got pretty good answers but I'd like different opinions.

Here's what I saw locally:
Otari MTR 90 MKII
Otari MTR 100 (I don't knw if it's MKII too or just mtr 100...)
Otari MX80
MCI JH16
Ampex MM1000

Some are expansive, some are great deals...I don't know all their condition yet and I'm not in a rush to buy anyway (even though I'd love one)

From what I understand the Otari are very solid but don't sound that much impressive.
The MCI and Ampex are the shit tone wise for rock music, they are only 16 tracks though, 24 would be ideal.

The MCI and Ampex wouldn't be as solid as the Otari but they would cost less to repair.

How do these Otari compare with each others?
I won't be making any money with those machine, I'd like one for my personnal use only pretty much, realibility and sound are still requirements though.

If you were to get a tape machine, which one would it be?
I'm talking about something reasonable, not a 20K machine.

thanks

[analogtodd]

Originally Posted by matskull

Good to know.
I've been asking those question in another thread and got pretty good answers but I'd like different opinions.

Here's what I saw locally:
Otari MTR 90 MKII
Otari MTR 100 (I don't knw if it's MKII too or just mtr 100...)
Otari MX80
MCI JH16
Ampex MM1000

Some are expansive, some are great deals...I don't know all their condition yet and I'm not in a rush to buy anyway (even though I'd love one)

From what I understand the Otari are very solid but don't sound that much impressive.
The MCI and Ampex are the shit tone wise for rock music, they are only 16 tracks though, 24 would be ideal.

The MCI and Ampex wouldn't be as solid as the Otari but they would cost less to repair.

How do these Otari compare with each others?
I won't be making any money with those machine, I'd like one for my personnal use only pretty much, realibility and sound are still requirements though.

If you were to get a tape machine, which one would it be?
I'm talking about something reasonable, not a 20K machine.

thanks

Why no Studer on that list!????

[The Reel Thing]

if it's in good shape, i'd go for the MTR-90II.
i'm sure it will be the most reliable and most easily maintained and easiest-to-work-with machine among the ones you mentioned.

Things people say about the sound of other tape machines being better is really a matter of taste. I've been working for quite a couple of years now years now on an MTR-90II, an MCI JH-24 and a Studer A80 MkIV. they're all great.
the differences in sound are quite subliminal if you compare the sound of tape to digital.
it's like, is this gourmet dinner better than that one? hell, you'll take any gourmet dinner anyday if McDonalds is the alternative...

tom

analoghaus :: studio label verlag - home

[kats]

I agree with the above. I have a Studer 827 side by side with an Otari MTR90 II. I have no preference to the sound of either TBH. I love the Studer for it's features. But as far as the "sound" of a machine, the condition is 9/10ths of it, where brand name is only 10%.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by kats

I agree with the above. I have a Studer 827 side by side with an Otari MTR90 II. I have no preference to the sound of either TBH. I love the Studer for it's features. But as far as the "sound" of a machine, the condition is 9/10ths of it, where brand name is only 10%.

Even if one has transformers on its i/o and the other doesn't?

[analogtodd]

I'd be more concerned with finding a tape machine that has a reliable head report (hopefully with lots of life left) and second a rock solid tape path.

The rest is just blah blah blah talk and tire kicking. Buy the most well kept/maintained unit you can afford... doesn't matter if its a Studer, MCI or an Otari.

Don't buy a headache, its not worth the go round for a first machine.

I did LOADS of stuff back in the day on Otari... I'd think they would be harder to get parts for than Studer/MCI nowadays.

I'd pass on anything 3M or Ampex simply because they are getting so old.

I cannot stress this enough, buy a machine with a KNOWN history and have a tech go through it with you... then pay that tech to maintain it, you'll learn as you go and everybody will be happy.

If you buy a basket case machine just because you think it'll be "cool" you'll more than likely end up frustrated and spending more $$$ than if you'd gone the other route....

[dick swifter]

Originally Posted by matskull

Good to know.
I've been asking those question in another thread and got pretty good answers but I'd like different opinions.

Here's what I saw locally:
Otari MTR 90 MKII
Otari MTR 100 (I don't knw if it's MKII too or just mtr 100...)
Otari MX80
MCI JH16
Ampex MM1000

Some are expansive, some are great deals...I don't know all their condition yet and I'm not in a rush to buy anyway (even though I'd love one)

From what I understand the Otari are very solid but don't sound that much impressive.
The MCI and Ampex are the shit tone wise for rock music, they are only 16 tracks though, 24 would be ideal.

The MCI and Ampex wouldn't be as solid as the Otari but they would cost less to repair.

How do these Otari compare with each others?
I won't be making any money with those machine, I'd like one for my personnal use only pretty much, realibility and sound are still requirements though.

If you were to get a tape machine, which one would it be?
I'm talking about something reasonable, not a 20K machine.

thanks

As stupid as it may sound, I never felt comfortable with the Ampex MM1000's auto locator. Otari's and Studer's are just smoother to "drive" IMHO, which to me, helps with session "flow".
Good luck!


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[matskull]

Originally Posted by monkeyt

I'd be more concerned with finding a tape machine that has a reliable head report (hopefully with lots of life left) and second a rock solid tape path.

The rest is just blah blah blah talk and tire kicking. Buy the most well kept/maintained unit you can afford... doesn't matter if its a Studer, MCI or an Otari.

Don't buy a headache, its not worth the go round for a first machine.

I did LOADS of stuff back in the day on Otari... I'd think they would be harder to get parts for than Studer/MCI nowadays.

I'd pass on anything 3M or Ampex simply because they are getting so old.

I cannot stress this enough, buy a machine with a KNOWN history and have a tech go through it with you... then pay that tech to maintain it, you'll learn as you go and everybody will be happy.

If you buy a basket case machine just because you think it'll be "cool" you'll more than likely end up frustrated and spending more $$$ than if you'd gone the other route....

Thanks for the tips, I know what you mean and pretty much feel the same.
I,m just looking around, I won't be buying right now anyway but if I find a good deal or somthing then I'll be allready informed about what to look for.
thanks

[edvdr76]

Bought mine about 5 years ago and it's a great machine. 15 ips is ideal for anything rock on this deck. Punching is flawless on it as well.......

[Chris11]

Definately a nice machine, I had a chance to buy one with SR at a rediculous price a few years ago although didn't pull the trigger on it as I thought my JH-16 would suffice. On the topic of CCIR, I just had my machine modified to use this curve, it may just be me although I think the highs are too bright and forward, is there a way to attenuate these while still remaining within the CCIR curve?

[lenzeppelin]

what had to be done as far as mods to get you MCI JH 16 to do the CCIR curve?

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by monkeyt

I'd be more concerned with finding a tape machine that has a reliable head report (hopefully with lots of life left) and second a rock solid tape path.

The rest is just blah blah blah talk and tire kicking. Buy the most well kept/maintained unit you can afford... doesn't matter if its a Studer, MCI or an Otari.

Don't buy a headache, its not worth the go round for a first machine.

I did LOADS of stuff back in the day on Otari... I'd think they would be harder to get parts for than Studer/MCI nowadays.

I'd pass on anything 3M or Ampex simply because they are getting so old.

I cannot stress this enough, buy a machine with a KNOWN history and have a tech go through it with you... then pay that tech to maintain it, you'll learn as you go and everybody will be happy.

If you buy a basket case machine just because you think it'll be "cool" you'll more than likely end up frustrated and spending more $$$ than if you'd gone the other route....

Fantastic post!

[Steffmo]

The notion that Otaris don't sound good is nonsense.

Back in the late 80's Mike Chapman brought his MTR 90 tomy place and we locked it to my Studer A80 Mk4 for a Lita Ford record and some other projects. It was a nice combination because of the differing strengths of the two machines.

He in particular liked to do vocals on the Otari because of its superior punching. But the sound of the machine was certainly competitive.

Now...someone mentioned a JH16 sixteen track. If you have never cut 16 track 2 inch, the improved sound over 24 track is immense. Particularly in an environent where you are probably going to track then dump it into a DAW, 16 track is really the optimum solution.

I wish I could say that the MCIs were as reliable the the Otaris or Studers...

One very interesting point. Back in the 80's if you had had an MCI most people looked down their nose at you.......times change.