Part 2: Analog Tape! MCI JH-24 Record Calibration @RiotHomeRecording

[@RiotHomeRecording]

Link to Part 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5DWq2uii7qKarssi=CAJ2wgzmoqxUCT1L

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@benjamon4922]

Great series and great content in general! Can‘t wait to record on my a820 for the first time (that I recently refurbished).

[@RiotHomeRecording]

Thank you! Studers are sweet!

[@SeanKerns]

Removing those connector panel in the back is a real PITA.

[@RiotHomeRecording]

Agreed

[@malcolmpalm]

re: guitar sound; the analog chain embraces the distortion and makes it sound holy. Digital would puke it up like a sick dog.

[@RiotHomeRecording]

There’s a noticeable difference for sure.

[@EarslimeRecords619]

Those tuchel cables the mci uses are cool, I don’t like wiring them up though 😮

[@RiotHomeRecording]

Better then paying someone to do it.

[@EarslimeRecords619]

I’m gonna copy your multi meter to tt jack idea tomorrow morning when I allign my scully to the new sm911 tape I got. 😊

[@RiotHomeRecording]

It’s very convenient!

[@EarslimeRecords619]

Nice !

[@RiotHomeRecording]

Thanks!

[@philmanning5447]

Are you considering producing a video about settling up the tape path alignment on the JH24?

[@clintmcclellan1304]

Steve, thank you for these wonderful videos! I too have a JH-24 and your videos are a massive help to me. I was wondering how one would go about soldering the cable from bantam TT connection to voltmeter connectors? I’ve never cut a Bantam cable, assuming it’s hot and cold wire and ground wire? You would solder the Hot wire from TT cable to red plug of the voltmeter cable, cold wire from TT cable to black plug of voltmeter cable?

[@RiotHomeRecording]

Thank you! Sorry for the late reply. You are correct on the soldering pretty simple.

[@clintmcclellan1304]

@@RiotHomeRecording Ok, appreciate the clarification on it! Thanks.

[@faroutsessions3612]

thanks for all this man! Really useful information! Only thing i was wondering, the VU calibration you do after checking the input cal level with a voltmeter (that part was new to me), that should actually be step #1, right? Before aligning the machine with a MRL tape, because if the meter's are off, the repro calibration relying on the VU's woudn't make much sense, right? I also got a JH24 i've been recording with for years, but keep learning things like this, so thank you for that!

[@faroutsessions3612]

Also, when you adjust the bias and rec level, the meters look very shaky on your machine, are you using old tapes? I use alot of older used tapes, think they still sound great, with a 10 k tone the meters are a bit shaky like that, probably would be a little less with a fresh reel of tape, but with a 1k / 700 Hz tone, on my machine it barely moves and seems pretty steady. It looks pretty shaky on your machine? Could that also have to do with using 30 ips? I use 15 ips mostly, just love that sound. But I'd think it should only be more steady on 30 ips. Just wondering! Cheers

[@RiotHomeRecording]

Yes these are very old tapes.

[@1176hambone]

Thats a legit ASAT!

[@RiotHomeRecording]

@@1176hambone yes it is, thank you!

[@Blissy28]

Hi Steve, Once again great video. I am currently restoring a JH24 and I have a random request... would you be able to measure the spring used in the shield lifter. I am missing mine and trying to find a replacement. just the diameter and length not under tension. any help would be hugely appreciated!

[@swankyfox1492]

How often do you have to buy new tape? Are you actually recording to tape or just using the tape machine circuitry? If you are actually recording to tape, are you able to erase the tape and reuse it over and over again once you print your mix to a DAW? I have the opportunity to pick up a JH24 and a JH112 for my recording studio and although my knowledge of tape is limited at the moment it is a craft that I have always wanted to learn given the opportunity.

[@RiotHomeRecording]

@@swankyfox1492 I have stock of NOS tape and used tape as well. I do actually record to tape. Not all the time but certain sessions of the band is right I like it. I don’t have any problems tracking digital. I have Burl converters and I think they’re great. Yes, I reuse tape, the same tape over and over sometimes. When I record to tape, I track drums bass, and rythem guitars dump them into protools then erase and record over the same tape. I then finish the session in protools. Overdubbing any other tracks digitally. Eventually the tape will degrade and when it does then I’ll use another roll. I’ve been alternating between 5 reels for basic tracking and dumping to protools for a long time. If a band wants to do all the tracking to tape and keep the tape I just have them buy a reel. Hope this helps, if you have any other questions reach out.

[@RiotHomeRecording]

Overbias as stated in the user manual.

[@petergonzales6567]

isn’t what you did there Underbiasing? Wouldn’t Overbiasing be if you kept turning the pot 3 dB clockwise PAST the peak so it was OVER biased?? It looked like you hit the peak and then backed your tweaker up counter-clockwise.