Revox A77 - a well deserved icon of the analogue tape era

Here's my Revox A77 - for years (from 1967), this was a mainstay in the high-end hi-fi world. This one is the high speed model, modified from its original configuration (but done properly, unlike many such conversions).
Swiss/German design and manufacturing comes to the fore here. It's the Mercedes of tape recorders. Even the chassis is solid steel.
Hear the crunch of analogue tape and enjoy the tactile nature of it.
Having an analogue machine is a real plus for anyone in the retro pop industry - from reggae to soul to funk to blues, this gives it an extra dimension. Forget expensive plugins that stop working if the wind changes - get yourself a bargain!
The B77 was the successor, and the PR99 was the ultimate Revox workhorse. All share the same brief with slightly different mechanicals. Beware the heads though - ALWAYS, ALWAYS ask for a close up photo of the surface of the heads if buying - a new set is a lot of dosh. Any refusal on this, or massive wear - just walk away. There'll be a band of wear across the middle of the record and play heads - any more than 3mm wide and they've had it. Many machines have had the life of old diesel taxis - a huge amount of use. Motors and electronics are tough, however.
Mine though, even though it's 45 years' old, shows no sign of giving up just yet. Mine's had new heads.
Enjoy and subscribe to my channel!

[@JeffersonDD]

Probably the best and most robust of the Revox machines (at least recapped). The HS version is the one to have. Great video!

[@martinpetrov708]

My father has this model of Revox- it's a big pleasure to listen Rolling Stones on it.

[@Mandyindiana]

This video is precisely what I needed. Thanks a million!

[@Mrj3n5]

Super vid, thanks mate, just what is was looking for. Ill look for high speed now and only two track head for my upcoming reel2reel :)

[@yubarecordingstudio7578]

Really nice machines :-)

[@RapidFlow_Shop]

Great demo track!!!

[@harveysvintageaudio]

Excellent !

[@chiparooo]

Very interesting!

[@4130aykut]

great dude, i allways wondered, how i can use my machine in the studio. i got two, mk1 and mk4. both are in the repair. I let you know how they will sound when they are back;-)

[@AleMarasso]

Hello, I leave a question, maybe you can help me. Does the sound of a revox a77 depend 100% on its heads (head)? I'm seeing if I buy Revox a77 that apparently has changed heads and I have my doubts. Thank you!

[@kevin93402]

Hello! I also have a question if you don't mind. I have about 4 revox a77 tape recorders, different mk. All have changed all electrolytic capacitors, all tantalum capacitors and all semi-adjustable. When I listen to music, should it also be heard when I switch the selector to stereo? I can't hear any tape recorder on the stereo, even on ch1 or ch2. I have one more question. Does the volume meter work with any of the revox a77 models when listening to music? As for me, it only works on the rec vometers. Any advice is welcome. Thank you very much. A good evening.

[@vectragt2310]

Great video! Reminds me on Blackmore and his AIWA :D So you record all tracks on this, or just doing a "mastering" with digital recorded tracks?

[@miss.wright3035]

Your opinion please: If an A77 owner has several types of tape such as Ampex, Maxell, BASF, etc.. how could you record on these without having to re-bias it for each specific tape ? What r your thoughts ?

[@4130aykut]

Hi Mate, great clip! I have aquestion: how did you get the A77 connected to the PC? And how do you convert that all? Do you use a digital to analog converter? Would be nice if you would explain

[@DanBakerMusic]

Aykut Gür I run the master out of the desk to the A77, and then it comes back on the stereo return or a couple of input channels if I want to change it up a bit. Transferring to the computer is done via my audio interface, the Focusrite Saffire pro 56..

[@DelgadoDeejay]

How often do you calibrate the a77?

[@walkingbackwardsforchristm7322]

Hi Dan Baker, have you considered realigning the heads after replacing them? And did you bother adjusting the machine (bias) for the Ampex tape you've used in your video?

[@DanBakerMusic]

walking backwards forchristmas hi there-yes: the wrap, height, zenith and azimuth were adjusted, and then 3dB of overbias applied at 15ips. I must confess to not bothering with 7.5ips as my test tape is only at 15...

[@drdoom2020]

Great video Dan! Looks as though we have the same model. Can you tell me what the 1/4” jack above the headphone jack is for? Your deck is the only one I’ve seen it on besides mine, and I can’t find any info about it. All the best!

[@DanBakerMusic]

Hi there-my machine was converted to high speed (15 and 7.5) in the early 1980s, and there was a varispeed unit that fit into the second Jack. I’m guessing it was used as a tape delay line at some stage...

[@3rdaxis649]

I just acquired one of these from a lot sale. No power plug with it though so I don't know if it works...

[@DanBakerMusic]

I would have thought that not much would need to be done to get it working, possibly a good clean up, and really the only things that wear out are the heads, which are shot if you can see more than a couple of mm wear (flattened) band on the heads. They are expensive. With respect to the mains - some people put a 3 pin IEC connector on instead of the 2 pin. Just leave the earth pin disconnected.

[@rodolfonetto118]

Hi Dan! I heard people use rtr machines to record drums because the tape gives the sound a good compression. Is that true? Also, do you have problems with tapes breaking in this machine? Thanks! Awesome video, excellent examples and explanations!!!

[@saren6538]

Why isn’t he replying ?

[@SupraTompan]

Listen to Dans Fostex R8 video 👍

[@jefdamen2977]

Hi Dan, do u think it is possible to mod a A77 to run at 15ips?

[@DanBakerMusic]

Jef Damen there are a few things you have to do to make that work- a few electronic components need changing, but the main things are a thicker capstan (the motor turns at the same speed but the thicker capstan drives the tape faster), and the position of the capstan itself needs adjustment so the tape makes contact with the reproduce head correctly. There is a bit online about this..

[@ampheat]

Nothing wrong with your hat. Re. erasing, you could use a bulk eraser. Nevertheless, I am not sure the recording head can not completely erase the signal, especially on a revox. Have you tried recording with no signal to test this?

[@dusteye1616]

listening to this 2022, the prices was amaising back then

[@DanBakerMusic]

I did get mine for a good price however, but prices do seem to have gone up significantly...

[@dusteye1616]

@@DanBakerMusic i just bought an a77 mk4 HS with CCID eq. Payed 500 for it because mine has a metal back instead of the wooden frame. They go for like 1000 euros now.

[@nizosuke]

Any idea where we can have one serviced in UK? please...

[@davelordy]

Type 'revox service' into eBay.

[@leehambridge534]

Hey there can you tell Me what tape you bought from thomann? I have one of these and unsure which tape to use. Thanks.

[@DanBakerMusic]

It’s the RTM 911 tape...you can get it from Thomann...

[@leehambridge534]

@@DanBakerMusic thanks Dan really appreciated that. Also do you have any tutorials regarding hooking up your laptop to the reel to reel? Thanks mate

[@meshplates]

A £7 reel of tape?? Pray do tell where!!

[@bobsbits5357]

hi there is 14 inch spools at 1/4 tapes scully 280-14 made some i have one in need of alot of work there are revox decks out there that need homes and alot of work beware of the capstan servo broads there's many models the plans are not allways match up why i take pic's working on them

[@zoolkhan]

in these comparisions, a simple oscilloscope/ or even better spectrum analyzer would convince me more that i can hear a distinct drop or other accoustic difference. i do have a nice sherword amp connected to this computer, but the video algohritm of youtube, no matter what you do there something to your audio - it never comes out of my speakers, as it comes out of your studio headphones in the studio. I could barely hear any difference, and if i heared one - it might be psychological - because you told me everytime what i was supposed to hear. so, could we go about this mathematically - measure dynamics in microvolts, measure bandwidht and amplitudes on a spectrum analyzer - and overlay them to highlight differences. THAT would be a good way to visualize what we may not be able to hear for multitude of reasons, YT compression, old age... cheap plastic speakers on the YT consumer device... you name it. (i am an engineer who worked >10 yrs in medical accoustics (not a hifi-music crack but i know how accoustic patterns can be measured and compared, thats what i did for a living after all) nice video anyhow, very nice to see the A77 in action and in good hands. I really would like one myself.

[@sellmeyoursoul6601]

for home mixtape lpr 35 on 7 ips is the most reasonable

[@wernerschmidsingendermaler94]

Habe ein sehr gepflegtes Revox B77 ist sehr lange nicht gespielt oder abgespielt.Jetz geht es beim Einschalten überhaupt nicht mehr.Hat jemand einen Tipp was hier passiert ist,lässt sich nicht spielen.Wäre froh über eine Antwort

[@DanBakerMusic]

Wenn die Sicherung alt ist, fällt sie manchmal aus, wenn Sie die Maschine einschalten. Sie können versuchen, es zuerst zu ersetzen. Wenn nicht, könnte es sich um die Hauptsicherungssicherungen handeln. Diese befinden sich in der Maschine. Ich hoffe, Sie bringen es zum Laufen!

[@wernerschmidsingendermaler94]

@@DanBakerMusic Hallo Herr Baker danke für die Antwort.Mein B77 ist lange gestanden,es lässt sich schon einschalten ,aber beim drücken auf Spulen oder abspielen kommt das klicken zum abspielen nicht und kann nicht spulen,kann mir nicht votstellen dass der Motor kaput sein soll.Denken sie es sind die Hauptsicherungen im Gerät drinnen.Wäre sehr dankbar für einen weiteren Tipp von ihnen,da ich das Gerät sehr dringend bräuchte..mit freundlichem Gruss Werner

[@davidbartley989]

The sound at 7.5 ips should sound better - my two A77s are indistinguishable between source and tape. The machine needs a setup and calibration. Also, a correctly set up erase head will erase the tape completely.

[@DanBakerMusic]

I don’t have a test tape for 7.5 and I don’t use that speed anyway... The erase head will do a very good job but it would never be utterly perfect. Mind you, it is analogue tape, with all its foibles but fantastic technology...

[@BoxerTys]

Hello Dan, thanks for the vid, i did noticed you are recording at NAB, why do you not use IEC ? they've told me that's the better way for even more quality

[@dave225]

I'll answer per the A77 owner's manual - A77 records using NAB - only. IEC is there to play tapes recorded (on another machine) using IEC.

[@bobsbits5357]

hi they are very go i have 2 i otari mtr 12 is better i have one i use of editing tape on the thing is the space i will say i use zonal 1/2 inch on my revox how you may ask my decks are from a ITAM 8 track units so i have 3 3/4 ips 1/2 tape with out side record amps i have alot of pimped decks to make hem work better love to see more deck s on here

[@slobodanjozejoksimovic973]

Imate li koji za prodaju ali da ima svoje zvučnike i pojačalo i još dva izlaza zvučna. Skoljko mani. Rok isporuke. Hvala Pozdrav joška.

[@salipander6570]

Nah, at 7.5 ips you should hear no difference at all with new LPR35 tape, easily. It's a matter of calibration. My B77 is almost indistinguishable even at 3.75 ips except for noise floor.

[@DanBakerMusic]

Salipander ErisGeenAnder it is fuzzier at the top end, but the bass is tighter at 7.5ips, due to the wobble you get in the bass at higher speeds. I used to work for EMI and their Studer machines sounded great at 15, but for some not as nice as 30.

[@nizosuke]

Haaaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa :( I want one

[@ingenfestbrems]

It’s taking away some midrange

[@DanBakerMusic]

Yes - it is subtle but the frequency response of an analogue machine varies a lot from machine to machine, and with the tape formulation.

[@adam207321]

This is a very badly aligned tape player. The bias is obviously set wrong for the tape youre using. It needs special alignment for each and every tape you plan to use unless youre a not so hardcore user

[@DanBakerMusic]

There’s nothing wrong with the bias and I only use one type of tape...

[@adam207321]

@@DanBakerMusic 19cm/s especially half tracks shouldnt have that dramatic of a drop in the high frequency portion. I can confidently tell you that since my crappy old single motor deck achieves way better high frequency response and its also a quarter track. So were looking at overbias it seems. Tape can sound indestinguishable from source at 9cm/s. The only big destinguishing factor is going to be the noise. Okay 9cm/s isnt exactly hifi due to the noise and the obvious 16kHz limit, but 19cm/s Is definitely a banger to where sound is indestinguishable from source, besides the noise..and with a half track this performance should be even better..yet on the video no it isnt.. So my bet is either you got a severe enough case of overbias or underbias or if this thing has an adjustable timeconstant for the HF rolloff (studio machines do not sure how this one is but I know the B77 is not adjustable)

[@mick_hyde]

Your hat is annoying.

[@DanBakerMusic]

Oh yes! I hadn't considered the view....

[@tomzielinski9506]

Mick, your comments annoy me. You understand what I'm saying.