I show my Studer Tape Machines: A80, B67, A810 & A807

[@carlosoruna7174]

Wow, these are real pro units 30 ips , 😊

[@CaseTate]

I was an audio engineer in a studio that had 4 Studer A-810's. Mono and stereo. WONDERFUL machines, and work horses as well. Enjoy!

[@scottwolf8633]

Stunningly beautiful Studers. Thank You for sharing.

[@superhiend1853]

Well, you have good Studer collection for now. Congratulations!

[@duncan-rmi]

810, 807, C274, PR99s & a ton of revox stuff here. I want to thank you for the FTP mirror- great job. I use it a lot.

[@inforobob]

Very nice. Enjoyed the vid. Maybe next time give a brief overview of each machine.

[@bbfoto7248]

@PhilipvanderMatten All beautiful machines, Philip! None of them look to have any surface/button/panel wear at all! :) I'm assuming all of the heads must be in good condition as well. IMO, these machines are simply marvels of modern engineering and works of art as well. The performance and quality that we were & are able to extract from them still blows me away. They are just so very complex from an electro-mechanical aspect and requiring such tight um tolerances! You're an absolute LEGEND for archiving and re-hosting the original Studer site with all of the product pages and service manuals! Bravo! This is greatly appreciated. Being in the Netherlands, I'm curious what tape stock are the pre-recorded broadcast tapes you have? Have you needed to bake any of them before spooling them up? For your own use, and with such fantastic machines, I would think you would use the higher quality RTM SM900, but I realize that each tape requires different calibration & bias. And I'm sure you are doing this, but I hope all of your tapes are stored in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment around 72°F (+/- 5°) if you want them to last as long as you're wonderful machines. :) Are you currently using any of these machines for music production? While it's no Studer, the only machine that I've consistently used in the past for final 2-track mix-down, mastering, and archiving was a Fostex E-2 1/4" with a 3rd "Cue" track for SMPTE timecode sync/markers/notations. The audio quality and performance of this Fostex machine was spectacular as well, but like any R2R machine, it needed to be well maintained and calibrated to ensure its performance and longevity. While I still have high regard and much nostalgia for all of these machines, and the process/results of using them, unlike many, I don't miss analog R2R tape or these machines AT ALL! 😛 But I really appreciate those like you who are still interested and willing to use these wonderful machines, because it's definitely a labor of love (and money)! Operating, calibrating, and maintaining these machines was and is extremely time consuming and expensive, as you well know. In the studio, "time was & is money", and IMO analog tape just slowed down the process. This of course can be good, and bad. But being able to work faster while the musicians are still fresh and in a creative mindset in order to get to the final desired result quickly and move on to the next song or project makes me (and most others) a happy camper. I'm still using my small 1U Tascam DA-3000 PCM/DSD Mastering Recorder, and honestly don't want for anything better. It takes up exponentially less space, uses exponentially less power, and requires little, if any, maintenance, nor calibration. :) Interestingly, I recently learned that recording & mastering engineer Kevin Gray at CoHEARent Audio (look up his impressive discography) is also still using the Tascam DA-3000 for archiving his masters, so that reaffirmed my confidence in keeping it around. :) Currently, the only Analog Tape Machine I still have and enjoy is a re-cap'd, refurbished, and well-maintained Akai GX-95 3-head/dual capstan cassette tape deck. 😛 Oh, I guess I still have a working 1980s Sony WM-101 Walkman portable cassette player as well. It's just slightly larger than the plastic cassette case itself and uses just one 'AA' alkaline battery! TBH, the performance of the Akai 3-head cassette deck still blows me away! If I record, let's say, Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms" from SACD to the Akai cassette deck, when switching in real time between "Source" and "Tape Monitor" I hear very little, if any, difference through my ATC studio monitors. (I'm a saxophonist and drummer/percussionist). Interestingly, I recently watched a podcast interview featuring engineer Anthony Grimani. Anthony was one of the lead project engineers at Dolby Labs who worked on their development of the various Dolby Noise Reduction systems for analog tape back in the day. Later, he also worked at THX as a lead engineer, and is now a loudspeaker designer & Studio/Home Theater/HiFi acoustician and design consultant. In the interview, Anthony said that they regularly conducted Blind ABX listening tests during their R&D at Dolby Labs. I can't remember which digital master recording they used as a reference, but he said that when using a decent Type II/CrO2 tape formulation with their Dolby C NR engaged along with proper bias & calibration on their reference cassette deck, NONE of the trained listeners could determine which was the direct digital master versus the cassette recording of that same digital master while they were being played! So there's that, haha! :-P I still have plenty of pre-recorded cassette tapes that sound fantastic. To name a few that I've recently listened to... U2 - The Joshua Tree INXS - The Swing Prince - Purple Rain Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring Anyhow, enjoy those beautiful machines!!!

[@salmorreale7900]

Thank you for posting.

[@saintjames7387]

fantastic. long live analog tape.

[@olegachib]

We saved the ftp Studer mirror. Thank you!

[@AttilaSVK]

Nice machines! I'm also a huge fan of the brand (and Revox, of course). I used to have an A807 mkII, which I converted to the VU version using original parts, except for the front panel, which had to be custom made, since there were no spares for sale. Unfortunately, I accepted an offer to trade it for some other audio equipment, which was a huge mistake. In 2019 I got a B67 mk1 with the A80 styled trolley and it's my main machine. I also have an Otari MX55 (as you do, but mine is the non-VU version). It's not a bad machine, but I'd prefer an A807 mkII as a companion to my B67 :)

[@BnVRecording]

Awesome equipment! I want a Studer but have yet to be able to make it happen. I own 2 Otari machines a MX5050 1/4” 2 track and a MTR-12 1/2” 4 track. They both sound amazing! I would love to recap the MTR-12 but would need assistance so not to do harm to one of the boards. Thanks for your demos and info regarding your 4 amazing machines!

[@bbfoto7248]

Find someone to re-cap them ASAP before the old capacitors themselves do harm to your PCBs and other components!

[@hansformat]

You are lucky to have these

[@MatadorBW]

Phenomenal! Which one you listen to most? I am mostly curious about the playback/sound quality.

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

Thank you! At the moment I have my A807 next to my workbench and it is hooked up to the audio system, so that one I use the most nowadays.

[@bbfoto7248]

@PhilipvanderMatten Do you have a video that covers your entire playback and/or recording signal chain and system? If not, I'm curious what other equipment you have combined with these beautiful Studer machines?

[@uhuaha100]

Cheers from waVox vintage sounds 😊

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

Thank you!

[@nicolagiannoni973]

Hi beatiful machines, My little B77 Is a 🐁

[@abeljozef]

Nice Studers. I have A62, B62 (waiting for restoration) A67, B67, A80 VU 2ch, A80 VU 8ch, A80 RC MK2, A810 with timecode and neopilot, A812, A807 mk1, A807mk2 and A807mk2 mono.

[@bbfoto7248]

@abeljozef Well, I hope that these are all being used to create and capture some beautiful music and performances!

[@abeljozef]

@@bbfoto7248 They are part of the museum's exhibition of tape recorders as functional exhibits.

[@steelcantuna]

Very nice, all's I have is a Studer a-807. I’m very happy with it so far. Where did you get the replacement caps for the 807? Are you on the hunt for a J-37, so as to put a cherry on top of your collection? I wish you had made video of doing the recap on the 807. You come across as very versed concerning these old Studers.

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, a J37 is a beautiful machine. I get all my caps from Farnell.

[@TheMdbProductions]

Hi Philipe i bought sometime one A80 mii 16 tracks 2", pinch was glueing thebtape i teplace it is ok, but my suply motor simply stoped or is running reversed, i suspect the transistor.

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

Yes either that or maybe check tension setting

[@spacehopper999]

Thanks for an enlightening video. I’m looking to buy my first Studer after owning Revox B77 HS, A77 and a G36 HS. How do you rank your Studers for sound quality?

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

Any Studer is a good choice. Every one has separate good and maybe some weaker points, but that can be found online easily. All sound fabulous. My ears are not capable of distinguishing the sound quality between them, when the machines are properly aligned and calibrated. Just go for the one you can get your hands on!

[@spacehopper999]

@@PhilipvanderMatten Thanks for a quick reply 😊

[@SorinOltean77]

06:19 you mention a "dutch tape deck forum". Could you please tell us what that forum is? Thank you. Also awesome machines!

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

Thank you. tapedeckforum.nl

[@SorinOltean77]

@@PhilipvanderMatten bedankt/thanks

[@laurentiupascariu5743]

Bravooooooo❤❤

[@laurentiupascariu5743]

youtube.com/@laurentiupascariu5743

[@waltwimer2551]

❤❤❤❤

[@lucabattanta9246]

Nice video Philip, I am also a fan of these studer machines. I currently have a Revox a77 hs 19/38 cm/s. I was thinking of upgrading to a studer a807 or a b67 or a810 which I think may be in my budget soon. I've noticed that some of your studer machines don't have vu meters and I too have found cheaper ones without vu meters and input/output level adjustment even in my area. For studer a807 and a 810 the difference, at least in my areas, if they have the output and input volume control is really high: we are talking about at least 2000 euros more. I think you are more experienced than me and I would like to ask your advice. What do you recommend to use to adjust input and especially output levels in studer machines without vu meters and which do not have level adjustment? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

When a tape machine is used in a professional environment, like a studio, the signal levels going in and out are calibrated (by measuring). So there is no need for meters, all level adjustment is done through (also calibrated) mixing desks and other equipment. So the manufacturers of professional tapedecks often omitted these meters, as they would not add anything useful and would only confuse and possibly cause misalignment when somebody would adjust the controls. In a more sort of home setup however, a way of determining the amount of signal that is going to tape is desirable. So if you have a home environment, I would suggest to try and obtain one with the meters. It is not absolutely necessary, but makes life so much easier.

[@lucabattanta9246]

@@PhilipvanderMatten Many thanks for your interesting reply which I appreciate. If possible, I will try to get a studer machine with vu meters and output and input levels directly adjustable from the studer machine although they are rarer and more expensive. I would like to know, if possible, how do you regulate the levels on your machines without vu meters output levels: is there any recommendation on the choice of a mixing console or features that the console must have in order to properly operate studer machines without vu and without adjusting the input and output volume levels ? With machines without vu and without adjustment of input and output volume levels, can you play different types of tape with different magnetisation levels in nwb without re-calibrating the studer machine ? Thanks again

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

Yes, that is all in the Service Manual of the machine.

[@abeljozef]

I was adding VU meters to my A810 and it looks like this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2mtgaB_fs-kp6c NISSEI TN-73 gauges are quite strongly damped compared to the original Modutec ones, and that's why I added a peak indicator like on the A807 model. Later I got the original Modutec so NISSEi will come out in the future. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHK7epl7e5WFh6c Its relative easy add vu meter to A810 or B67. On A807 its little more complicated.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

What are the hub adapters? They look different than nab

[@ВиталийБорисюк-л1к]

I can’t find a procedure for replacing the Studer A80 pinch roller anywhere! how to replace? Help me to understand!

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

Is it not in the Service MAnual?

[@bobsbits5357]

hi re cap can be a right pain i got a brenell mini 8 of ebay hell it need alot of work and re made the power unit 1/2 the size now i only buy decks i know well there's alot of decks out there in need of part my mate run's a tape deck parts web site he said he's got alot waiting for parts

[@ThuyTran-fi8ms]

Hi there is a Studer b 67 near me for sell the unit look pretty dirty and the seller asking $4500 for it, is this price ok to buy or what should it be? Thank you

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

If it is dirty that can be cleaned 😆. More important is the state. The price is very steep but if the unit is very well maintained, works ok and the heads are ok, and if you can afford it, why not. But there are a lot of if's, if you know what I mean.

[@ThuyTran-fi8ms]

Thank you for the information

[@dubdoodle7191]

They're tools to produce audio content for money, but if just for trophies - that's a very costly perversion that has NO ROI as they stand in your possession.

[@PhilipvanderMatten]

ever heared of a hobby?