SONY APR-5000 APR-5003 reel to reel tape recorder

On the front it states its an APR-500, on the rear it states its a APR-5003, this is one of the few pro Sony analouge reel to reel tape recorders, built in the early 80's its gor more features than the Studers of its time and does sound great.

[@agfamatic91]

thats a very advanced reel to reel

[@EzeeLinux]

Time code in the guard band was just coming in as tape was going out for American radio and I never got to play with it much. It was a good idea but just a little late... :) JC

[@benkleschinsky]

I wonder what year these were made until. I know they replaced the JH24s in 1988.

[@Seblington]

I believe the APR-5000 series launched in 1985. I'm not as knowledgeable about the multitrack machines but I think the Sony APR-24 replaced the JH24

[@Seblington]

Print-thru is when you have two layers of tape closely packed together, back coated tape improves the distance between the layers but this still occurs. When the tape is left for time, the magnetic charge polarises the tape above and below it causing a faint copy being made.

[@EzeeLinux]

Nice machine... As I recall, the time code was recorded on a skinny track right in the middle of the guard band between the standard left and right channels. Therefore, it was completely computable with any other 1/2 track machine. Otari had a unit that came in in the late '80's that did the same thing. I assume that there is no 1/4 track playback head like the ones you'd find in Ampex and Otari machines, right?

[@Orcinus24x5]

I store all my tape tails-out too, not so that print-through is reduced to post-echo instead of pre-echo, but so I get an even, archival wind for storage.

[@Seblington]

Cheers, the Sony is a nice machine and now I have it and the A80 connected to the HI-FI at all times, they both sound great but the Sony does sound better.

[@wado1942]

Very strange design. I really like the demostrations you do. I just wish you'd mix direct sound from the decks with the camera audio. Thanks for sharing.

[@Seblington]

That is a very good point, though this machine winds tape very smooth, if you have thin or old tpe it is hard to wind even, playing it onto the reel is like a slow library wind, it does make it very smooth.

[@samth3mancgp]

i love the way analog sounds but i'm having enough trouble sometimes with my 8 track 1/2" machine. I couldnt imagine a 24 track. shivers. but going analog shows you the warmth and saturation of sound you lose in digital, but it also makes you appriciate how much more convenient easy, and cheap digital can be

[@Seblington]

Cheers, wanted one of these for some time, meeds some spares but all in all its in good condition.

[@Seblington]

They are both very good points, on the Sony Dash, fast spool makes a big mess of the tape but lib-wind or just playing the tape and leaving it tail out does give a even wind, though I do find oxide coated tape winds very well.

[@Seblington]

Apart from the PCM-3402, this is the first recorder I have used it on too, some of the older recorders like Leevers Rich used a Syncro-Pulse which is a similar yet crude idea.

[@StuderRevox]

Thanks for uploading this video. I have one of these machines to that i added to my collection of machines, although i have not used it that much yet. It handles tape very well i think. Mine is not sounding quite right yet as it needs realigning so i have to do that at some point. It would be great perhaps if you can upload another video of how to properly align the electronics for bias, level adj etc etc. Keep it up Stuart. Cheers

[@Seblington]

Cheers!, I tried the tape on my Studer a812 after recording time code, the Studer recognizes the code but I need extra electronics to use it, the time code looks universal but the Studers time heads may be in a different place to the Sonys, not quite sure.

[@Seblington]

Turns out there are 12 inch and 12.5 inch reels, the Sony and other large recorders will take 12.5" reels, where the MKII A807 will take 12" only (like the Nagra T and the Lyrec FRED and FREDA). my A807 MKI has platters too, though it looks better with reels :-) would love to get my hands on some 12" reels :-)

[@Seblington]

Cheers, love these machines but I do all my editing on digital, its just too easy that way,

[@Seblington]

Not sure, just got it down as "Calling Occupants"

[@Seblington]

Thats a difficult one, and I think it depends on taste, I think the APR-5000 series machines sound better, they seem to cope better with lower speeds and higher frequencies, a very cleaver machine with a built in time code gen which is usefull, but the A80 I dont think can cope as well with the high frewuencies but it does have a lovely sound, also note, its much older.

[@Dzoni73]

well i already do have PT system... soon to upgrade to HD3 ... why shouldn't i get analog machine in my studio?

[@turntablesrock]

It sounds amazing....if you like that version, check out the original by the band Klaatu

[@turntablesrock]

What version of Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft is that?!

[@zvukgame]

Really super mashine !

[@Seblington]

Cheers bud!

[@2001SCENE]

FANTASTICO VERY NICE

[@Mitzy596]

I was at Tech training for these at MCI, Florida. These were US design & manufacture but had unacceptable field reliability. Frustrated corporate owner, Sony, then cloned the machine in Japan (insane) (this was near the end of its marketing) -- it was hard to tell the difference between the US & JA version - only the Sony substituted Ja IC's whenever possible - needless to say, boatloads of money was lost, as with DASH.

[@Vladislaw81]

@Seblington Thank you again, this was helpful. Do you currently sell the Sony APR-5003? 2nd question: how often did you met the 1/2" block and guides for APR-5003? 3rd: what do you think about 1/2", 1/2 tracks stereo?

[@Dzoni73]

Hi, could somebody recommend professional 24-channel reel-to-reel tape machine i could spend 5000 $ usd. thanks

[@Vladislaw81]

Seblington, could you tell me what tape recorder is better in case of sound - Sony APR-5000 (APR-5003) or Studer A-80? Thank you.

[@e4friend]

Hello. You only one who can answer my question. I just got SONY APR-5000. When I turn on this machine after four second stop button flashing and I can't push play or any other button to start play reel. What do you think about this problem. Thank you much and I hope you will find time to answer to me. Thank you again.

[@Seblington]

e4friend hi, I saw you on the APR list today, the flashing light as you may have read can be anything, is there an error code on the tape counter, does the tape counter count if you manual move the reels? Similar to the PCM3402, these machines have 3 main hall effects, 1 on each reel motor, one on the counter, I have had these fail and cause this issue, they are very hard to find though

[@e4friend]

Seblington Thank you. No error code on the tape counter. And yes the tape counter count if I manually move the reels. All light working if you push button... I will take a video later next week. Thank you again.

[@vitalygaid]

super mashine !

[@Seblington]

Thank you :-)

[@cbedez]

JE DISPOSE DE CETTE MACHINE EN PARFAIT ETAT AVEC UN BLOC DE TETES 1/4 ET UN AUTRE DE 1/2 POUCE NEUF Si vous êtes intéresses voici mon adresse émail [e-mail]

[@Seblington]

Christian Bedez Private message sent,