Analog Tape Primer

rll · 27th January 2003, 10:36 AM

Having just gotten an Otari 2" that is finally about to be up and running, I'm looking for somewhere on the web to get a basic analog tape machine education. It's been over 10 years since I worked regularily on an analog machine, and while I remember a fair amount, I thought I'd go back to square one and really fill in all the gaps. Eventually I'd like to be able to do my own repairs--at least some of them. So any tips on web sites, or perhaps even a good book that concentrates on analog machines? (They still have those, er, books, right?) yuktyy

Thanks for any help

rll

Fletcher · 27th January 2003, 06:44 PM

R.T.F.M.

Jay Kahrs · 27th January 2003, 07:58 PM

Well, what exactly do you need to know? What do you remember and what's cloudy?

rll · 27th January 2003, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fletcher
R.T.F.M.

Didn't follow you there, Fletcher, and as far as the gaps, I'm really looking for something comprehensive-- everything from adjusting azimuth, to how analog tape works, in a little more user friendly mode than my Otari manual...

Thanks,

rll

Gone Fission · 27th January 2003, 10:03 PM

I'll give you three of the letters: Read The Manual. If you didn't get it when you bought the deck, Otari Tech Support can hook you up for a fee. They also tend to be pretty helpful when you need info, as well, though you might try their patience if you're asking them for a walkthrough on aligning a second hand machine.

Bear

rll · 27th January 2003, 11:46 PM

yeah, got it, read the ****ing manual. Yeah we have one, thanks. Ever read an Otari manual? Makes a pro tools manual seem like a ****ing hallmark card. Part of what we're doing at my studio is bringing in younger engineers and musicians who want to get general info about analog machines-- I'd like to be able to point them to a basic guide. (As some of you seasoned pros might forget, there is a generation of people who never had a turntable, let alone a 4 track machine-- all they've known are cheap DAWS.) At the same time, I can use some brushing up myself in general, since it's been a long time since I've worked regularly on an old Studer A800... If anyone else has other info please feel free to post.

rll

Gone Fission · 28th January 2003, 12:03 AM

I've got two Otari decks, and yes, I've read the manuals. They read like phone books, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good way to learn to run the machines. I can't imagine there's anything in print half as useful on that score. Maybe you should look for something out of print? I've heard good things about BBC engineers' training manuals, if you can find them.

Bear

mdbeh · 28th January 2003, 12:11 AM

The Otari manual is tedious, I agree, but it's pretty comprehensive, probably as a good a source as anything.

sonic dogg · 28th January 2003, 12:15 AM

Bear, you did mean ORIENTAL phone book????hummmm...:eek:

rll · 28th January 2003, 02:06 AM

Erik--thanks for a great suggestion, makes a lot of sense.

rll

Fletcher · 28th January 2003, 05:19 PM

What's with all the cussing... I thought R.T.F.M. stood for "Read The Furnished Materials"... sheesh.

Erik's suggestion is also an excellent path...

Carry on.

bjornson · 28th January 2003, 07:22 PM

If only Richard Seagul still worked at Otari. He really knew his shit about all the old machines. I won't even give my opinion of their current "tech support". I have sporatic error codes appearing on my mx-80 remote, and they have been ZERO help. they had it for 6 months and did nothing but disassemble it and ship it back in pieces...... pitiful. But hey maybe this is the place to ask for help!:)

mplancke · 28th January 2003, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fletcher
What's with all the cussing... I thought R.T.F.M. stood for "Read The Furnished Materials"... sheesh.

Nope, not to me at least.

Here's another from the tech support trenches...

U.B.F.

Mark

rll · 28th January 2003, 08:43 PM

Hey Fletcher,

I like your take on replacing '****ING' with 'FURNISHED'. Next time I'm on a session and the assistant is no where to be found

, I can yell out, "Where's the furnished moron?!"

rll

Han · 29th January 2003, 12:02 AM

http://www.flash.net/~mrltapes/headheight.pdf

http://www.bilver.com/tape.html

BTW which Otari do you have? MTR or MX?

Fletcher · 29th January 2003, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rll
I like your take on replacing '****ING' with 'FURNISHED'. Next time I'm on a session and the assistant is no where to be found , I can yell out, "Where's the furnished moron?!"

Geez... I usually yell: "oh pissboy" [only the good ones 'wait for the shake'].

7rojo7 · 29th January 2003, 04:02 PM

Hold on there!!!
I assisted Fletcher once and it was really entertaining, I can't go into details but he never called me pissboy (to my face). Although I think we all pissed in our pants.
I learned how to allign machines on my first pissboy job. There are many ways to allign a tape machine (peak bias vs. over bias etc...), once you learn, bicycle.
To me this is the most unbelievable aspect of the current state of things. No humiliation, no respect and no knowledge of anything from acoustics on up about AUDIO. Assistants run off at the mouth without any idea of what they're saying.
If you're really opening a place to show the youngans what to do, you have to show them the way (TAO). Keep your mouth shut, help everyone all the time for any reason (know every aspect of how the studio you work in functions and use this knowledge to assist your clients), don't take physical notes but have an infinitely increasing mental checklist that you follow to the letter (or you get furnished), The Artist(S) and the service furnished to them is why you're in business and can never be compromised. Aligning a tape deck could be part of this, it would be nice. But make sure you're opening a school instead of a museum. Maybe someone needs to write a book, The TAO of AE.

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27th January 2003, 10:36 AM	#1
rll Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 166	Analog Tape Primer Having just gotten an Otari 2" that is finally about to be up and running, I'm looking for somewhere on the web to get a basic analog tape machine education. It's been over 10 years since I worked regularily on an analog machine, and while I remember a fair amount, I thought I'd go back to square one and really fill in all the gaps. Eventually I'd like to be able to do my own repairs--at least some of them. So any tips on web sites, or perhaps even a good book that concentrates on analog machines? (They still have those, er, books, right?) yuktyy Thanks for any help rll

27th January 2003, 06:44 PM	#2
Fletcher 3 + infractions, membership under review with GS admin Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Foxboro, MA USA Posts: 5,783	R.T.F.M. __________________ [COLOR="White"][/COLOR] [SIZE="2"][b]Fletcher[/b][/SIZE] If you have a question please email me at [email]Fletcher@mercenary.com[/email] instead of using the PM system... I very rarely check that system and it could take a while to get a response. I can also be found at either address below: [size=2][url=http://recforums.prosoundweb.com][b]R/E/P[/b][/url][/size] the [b]R[/b]ecording [b]E[/b]ngineer and [b]P[/b]roducer forums [url=http://www.mercenary.com][b]Mercenary Audio[/b][/url] [size=1][b]mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33[/b] We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid [b][url=http://www.ericambel.com/index.htm]Roscoe[/url] Ambel once said[/b]: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light[/size]

27th January 2003, 10:03 PM	#5
Gone Fission Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Terra Incognita Posts: 492	I'll give you three of the letters: Read The Manual. If you didn't get it when you bought the deck, Otari Tech Support can hook you up for a fee. They also tend to be pretty helpful when you need info, as well, though you might try their patience if you're asking them for a walkthrough on aligning a second hand machine. Bear __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

28th January 2003, 12:03 AM	#7
Gone Fission Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Terra Incognita Posts: 492	I've got two Otari decks, and yes, I've read the manuals. They read like phone books, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good way to learn to run the machines. I can't imagine there's anything in print half as useful on that score. Maybe you should look for something out of print? I've heard good things about BBC engineers' training manuals, if you can find them. Bear __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

27th January 2003, 11:46 PM	#6
rll Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 166	yeah, got it, read the **ing manual. Yeah we have one, thanks. Ever read an Otari manual? Makes a pro tools manual seem like a **ing hallmark card. Part of what we're doing at my studio is bringing in younger engineers and musicians who want to get general info about analog machines-- I'd like to be able to point them to a basic guide. (As some of you seasoned pros might forget, there is a generation of people who never had a turntable, let alone a 4 track machine-- all they've known are cheap DAWS.) At the same time, I can use some brushing up myself in general, since it's been a long time since I've worked regularly on an old Studer A800... If anyone else has other info please feel free to post. rll

28th January 2003, 12:11 AM	#8
mdbeh Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 433	The Otari manual is tedious, I agree, but it's pretty comprehensive, probably as a good a source as anything.

28th January 2003, 12:15 AM	#9
sonic dogg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: pacific northwest Posts: 481	Bear, you did mean ORIENTAL phone book????hummmm...:eek: __________________ the clubhouse studio....home of drool'n dogg rekords

28th January 2003, 02:06 AM	#10
rll Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 166	Erik--thanks for a great suggestion, makes a lot of sense. rll

28th January 2003, 05:19 PM	#11
Fletcher 3 + infractions, membership under review with GS admin Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Foxboro, MA USA Posts: 5,783	What's with all the cussing... I thought R.T.F.M. stood for "Read The Furnished Materials"... sheesh. Erik's suggestion is also an excellent path... Carry on. __________________ [COLOR="White"][/COLOR] [SIZE="2"][b]Fletcher[/b][/SIZE] If you have a question please email me at [email]Fletcher@mercenary.com[/email] instead of using the PM system... I very rarely check that system and it could take a while to get a response. I can also be found at either address below: [size=2][url=http://recforums.prosoundweb.com][b]R/E/P[/b][/url][/size] the [b]R[/b]ecording [b]E[/b]ngineer and [b]P[/b]roducer forums [url=http://www.mercenary.com][b]Mercenary Audio[/b][/url] [size=1][b]mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33[/b] We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid [b][url=http://www.ericambel.com/index.htm]Roscoe[/url] Ambel once said[/b]: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light[/size]

28th January 2003, 07:22 PM	#12
bjornson Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Pa Posts: 533	If only Richard Seagul still worked at Otari. He really knew his shit about all the old machines. I won't even give my opinion of their current "tech support". I have sporatic error codes appearing on my mx-80 remote, and they have been ZERO help. they had it for 6 months and did nothing but disassemble it and ship it back in pieces...... pitiful. But hey maybe this is the place to ask for help!:)

28th January 2003, 08:43 PM	#14
rll Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 166	Hey Fletcher, I like your take on replacing '****ING' with 'FURNISHED'. Next time I'm on a session and the assistant is no where to be found , I can yell out, "Where's the furnished moron?!" rll

29th January 2003, 12:02 AM	#15
Han Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Netherlands Posts: 836	http://www.flash.net/~mrltapes/headheight.pdf http://www.bilver.com/tape.html BTW which Otari do you have? MTR or MX?

29th January 2003, 04:02 PM	#17
7rojo7 urumita Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Spoleto, Italy Posts: 1,284	Hold on there!!! I assisted Fletcher once and it was really entertaining, I can't go into details but he never called me pissboy (to my face). Although I think we all pissed in our pants. I learned how to allign machines on my first pissboy job. There are many ways to allign a tape machine (peak bias vs. over bias etc...), once you learn, bicycle. To me this is the most unbelievable aspect of the current state of things. No humiliation, no respect and no knowledge of anything from acoustics on up about AUDIO. Assistants run off at the mouth without any idea of what they're saying. If you're really opening a place to show the youngans what to do, you have to show them the way (TAO). Keep your mouth shut, help everyone all the time for any reason (know every aspect of how the studio you work in functions and use this knowledge to assist your clients), don't take physical notes but have an infinitely increasing mental checklist that you follow to the letter (or you get furnished), The Artist(S) and the service furnished to them is why you're in business and can never be compromised. Aligning a tape deck could be part of this, it would be nice. But make sure you're opening a school instead of a museum. Maybe someone needs to write a book, The TAO of AE. __________________ love and light

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