Reel To Reel - Trying Out Tapes, Recording, Bias, and EQ with a Pioneer RT 707 - The Soundtracker

[@nazznomad]

I have a 707 and I can't believe how much I learned from this video and what I've been doing wrong. My recordings are excellent now. Thank you so much. It's like I have a whole new deck now.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

Thanks very much! The 707 is a great deck, and there are a lot of little things that come together when recording to a tape on it. Finding out about a lot of those little things was a lot of fun for me and I am glad I could help with recording on your end!

[@johnfechter566]

@@OfficialSoundtracker I just got an RT 707 for free on Friday. The right side pinch roller is pretty much frozen. I take it there's no motor turning it, right? and once I get another one, how hard is it to replace?

[@alexeizhiltsov6797]

Thank you for a very interesting and inspiring video. I love reel to reel, since the time my Dad bought Tandberg 4000X, in 1970s. On my 50th anniversary I received a Pioneer Rt-707, what a great gift it was. If I only knew to what it would lead... Despite being in love with cassette decks such as Nakamichi Zx-7, 680, etc, the Pioneer won the battle and made me go for more of reel to reel machines. So, it all ended in the following. Now I have: Akai Gx-625, Teac X-2000M, Technics RS-1500 (two machines), Otari MX-55N, Grundig tk-246, and a Pioneer RT-707 of course... Frankly, no regrets about the money spent, they all sound great and offer a lot of joy when listening music or recording it.

[@robertbrumbaugh4634]

I liked the sound of the Broadway shows. Thanks for posting the samples and all the comments. Your explanations were spot on.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

They were pretty well done I thought, the tapes despite being years old still sound quite good. And thanks very much, I appreciate that. The samples take some editing because of the copyright flag embedded in the uploader, but I think it's better to include them than not so others can get a gauge of the format. I'm glad, I did some more reading on bias and equalization and am planning on incorporating that into a video on cassettes as well. Where cassettes are concerned I think Bias and EQ are heavily glossed over, largely because of how complicated it was to explain on reel to reel.

[@jfz313]

Best reei to reel video.

[@williamsmith9194]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this.I spent hours of time doing this. Thanks to Pioneer that made this so much fun. Then came the hi tech cassettes. What a glorious time I'm still awe struck about.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks very much! I do think part of the real interest in hifi is learning to mess around with your gear, going past regular functions and learning about the little things added to each deck. Cassettes, Reel to reel, CD, Records, the formats and players both have a lot to offer and I get enthused pretty easily by it :) I've heard it said that some people use their music to listen to their equipment, some use their equipment to listen to music, and I think its a mix of both that are kind of symbiotic, you know? Can't have awesome music in the home without good (and fun) gear, and good sound develops through gear developing.

[@TheFlyingBarrel]

This is such an excellent and comprehensive overview of both reel-to-reel and the 707. Thank you for creating this!

[@RegebroRepairs]

Oooh, those white/orange "audiotape" boxes, that's the brand my dad seems to have used the most. I get all nostalgic. Very good and deep introduction.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

That's awesome, I have the same feeling when I see TDK cassettes, those are the ones my family used to tape things on most of the time. Thanks very much, I appreciate it!

[@wh0tube]

Keeping it reel 👍

[@gwatts2745]

No other reel to reel machine is built like this. The worst someone could do is scratch it, not much to break. It's everything someone could want in a 7" deck. The features include nonstop playback, which truly makes this machine highly desirable. I own 3, one of which was released without a serial number on it's plate.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

It's very quickly become one of the top favorites of gear that I have. I initially started becoming interested because I had heard the Direct Drive motors have held up really well over the years, and more than the motors have held up. It was well designed, well built, and a great example of the best Hi-Fi has to offer.

[@MrANTONELLO55]

great presentation, congratulations, also very nice and captivating, in its exposure. I am about to get hold of an RT 707 and you have given me a lot of suggestions and clarifications. Thank you again.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

Thanks very much, I'm glad you liked it! I hope you enjoy the 707 as much as I do, it's a great deck. There was one other feature I didn't know about at the time of filming that I would like to mention, the little metal guide pins attached to the pinch rollers are able to be locked in place if you move them all the way up. Once the tape is past the guides, just press them back to make sure they take up the slack. It makes threading the tape even easier than I thought.

[@MrANTONELLO55]

@@OfficialSoundtracker 👍👍

[@LosFicosMusic]

Amazing work

[@Solar55]

Nice overview. I've had my 707 for 20 years or so .. still working great though it needs new brakes !

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

Thanks very much :) It's a fantastic deck. Ah, I hear that every once in a while on other reel to reel decks, is it unspooling when you hit stop?

[@Solar55]

@@OfficialSoundtracker Only when FF or REW - I grab the reel with a rag so I don't hurt my hand - they spin pretty fast ! I tried increasing the spring pressure on the brake pads, but no luck. It doesn't bother me much as I usually play through the whole reel.

[@jeremyjohnson2551]

I have 2 working RT-707 and a Pioneer Program selector U-24 and 178 Reels if anyone is looking for them. I am in the Los Angles Area. Awesome video. I enjoyed watching. Thank You.

[@voiceofjeff]

Just found your video. Loved your explanation. I worked in radio for 40 years and used a variety of reel to reel decks. If you bias the machine correctly, 3.75ips can sound very decent. I've worked for FM radio stations that played music from 10.5-inch reels at 3.75ips. By the way, I have an Otari MX-5050 (pro deck) that came out of a radio station, and I'd never want to part with! Be well!

[@jodygoeler586]

Very informative video. Thank you. I’ve been a vinyl collector for years and have toyed with the idea of adding a reel to reel to the mix, mainly for high quality prerecorded music. Thank you.

[@morrisonAV]

I picked up my 707 in a small town thrift shop for $40(!!!). All that was wrong with it was a burnt out direction bulb (looks like BOTH of yours are burnt out!) and a broken tape counter belt. I'm hoping to pull the faceplate off this week to fix both. Also used to have the RT-909 10-1/2" reel model and I still kick myself for selling that one.

[@kyledansby7598]

I love the awesome look of a reel to reel, but a good quality cassette deck has great sounds also, and a lot less complicated to use.

[@zulkarnin]

It was a wonderful explanation about reel to reel, and tapes, how they work and bias eq.😊

[@infinityvideoprod]

Nicely done. As for loading the tape, if you push the tensions arms to their vertical position, they will "click" in and stay there so you can slide the tape right under them. Once the tape is loaded, just click them out and they will tension again. BTW, I hope you managed to get it fixed, they are a ton of fun to have.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

I appreciate your having mentioned that, I didn't know about that feature until the guy who fixed it mentioned that they lock in place. It does make threading the tape easier. Runs like a top now, I'm glad to have it as a part of my collection!

[@Madjed2024]

Loved your video so much I have been playing and recording on R2R for years and every time I watch a new KZbin I learn something new so many thanks Have an Akai GX77 that records both directions Unfortunately stopped recording but still plays Can’t find a repair place in my area yet

[@donwilliams5249]

Fantastic video! Love the RT-707!

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

Thanks! It's a great recorder, and one of my favorite pieces of equipment!

[@neverknowit11]

This is why they experimented with a spinning head system. Precursor to a video tape system. This type of machine was rare for audio. But had the best quality.

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

I have three RTR's and a small collection of commercial tapes (30+). Pioneer 707, Teac and an older Sony all-tube deck.

[@JetScreamer_YT]

I always wanted one of these growing up. Reel-to-reel has the best audio quality. I've been listening to Switched-on Bach before I could, well...walk. that must sound amazing with that Deck!

[@raygarafano3633]

Nice, between the deck an SG9500 Eq and an SX950 and maybe Cerwin V SL-15s . . .1 hell if a set up

[@artysanmobile]

This particular model of compact reel to reel machine is highly sought after with higher prices every time I look.

[@robertdavis5714]

Nice production Sir. Your parenthesizes was a nice touch, just won bid on 1, debating to Buy. Recording is my main interest. Did I hear some "Heaven 17".

[@rty1955]

As a pro magnetic recording person (both audio & video) the bias is set using a freq generator and oscilloscope to get maximum performance off the head, for of a brand of tape. Yoy want to set it for maximum, undistorted signal off the playback head. Corrext setting of the bias takes time, knowledge & equipment. This is one reason why pros stay with one type of tape. 3M (scotch) has the most consistent and durable tape, but there are also specialty tapes as well. A lot of audio people use Ampex 456 tape where video people who ise 2" video tape, preferred Scotch 400 recording tape. Correct setting of bias is not typically a consumer adjustment. Audio just has to be able to reproduce signals of a 20khz bandwidth. Video haa to be able to reproduce a 6MHZ bandwith!!

[@dubdoodle7191]

Very cool video man ! Thus far I've just been using the overbias spec for tape types. The pro's use multiple freq's for a common level but I'm not sure if they go beyond the drop out point or before ?

[@LAREXJR]

Awesome video Thanks for all the info Thinking of getting the rt 909

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

I'm glad the info helped, thanks very much :) The RT 909 is a gorgeous deck, I'm on the lookout for one as well. It looks to me like a great 10" machine but with the form factor of the 707, which is one of the things I like the best about it.

[@5thcomm]

Bravo!

[@lroussarie]

Perhaps this off topic, but do you have a recommendation for a repair service for a Pioneer RT 707? I own one and it plays great but it won’t record. I agree with the other posts, this was extremely informative. Thanks!

[@Sankara2000]

Cassette is also reel to reel

[@MrJimbos87]

Yeah it is definitely a passion with real to reels I had currently have 10 of them definitely would like to get my hands on the Pioneer 707 I do have a pioneer 1020L which is a 10 and 1/2 deck absolutely awesome really like seeing your videos I feel like you're into a lot of what I like to do especially with reel to reels you helped me in one of your previous videos when you had the Akai 1800 SD I believe it was and I have a Robert's 771x which is basically really close to the same kind of configuration far as the cams and the belts go. Really do appreciate your videos keep them coming

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

If only I had the space, I'd have 10 Reel to reels as well, haha. What are some of your favorite models in your collection? I really appreciate hearing that as well, I am just starting out with this and finding out that it resonates with others is encouraging for me. Ah, I'm glad! Did you wind up doing a belt swap and a cam replacement too? You're right, that Roberts Mechanism made its way into quite a number of units, I wonder why it was so popular. I'm planning to do a full functions overview of the 1800 SD in the future, and I hope you get some good info from that one too. Thanks again!

[@MrJimbos87]

I have a Sony tc730 ,Sony TC 580, Sony TC 377, Sony TC253d Panasonic 715, Teac 4010s ,Akai 260d, Pioneer 1020L I enjoy every one of them definitely an addiction I've got myself pretty much out of room now but I think if I ever did I could definitely squeeze in a Pioneer 707 for sure LOL

[@MrJimbos87]

Yeah I did the cam Swap and the belt swap on my Roberts 771x crazy thing of it is is the older belt work better than the newer belt the newer belt kept on slipping every time I would change speeds for some reason so I put the old one back on and solve the problem and then the cams the fast forward and Rewind worked great but when it came to doing recordings on the other cam it did not do very well I ended up having to put the original cam back in to get it to engage into the recording mode luckily it wasn't disintegrated like the fast forward one was so now I have the playback and the record with the original and then the fast forward and Rewind I have the one from the kit

[@jimjones1505]

Hey bro great video.., love pet shop boys…hey can u go over how to adjust the heads? No one has done that

[@dennisdemark8151]

... enjoy this video very much indeed 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼...I have the same model.

[@Anth4044]

I just bought one of these its beautiful but when I record on playback the right channel has loud hissing really sucks because I just bought it😞

[@DJRobbie54]

Say Soundtracker, you said that you had to put it in for repair, where did you send it, it's not in the description.

[@Nowhow112]

Good job. Thanks.

[@chabka34]

I have an akai gx77 and it's very similar and I love messing around with it I wish there was more 7.5 ips meda tho I really don't understand the point to the other media that In my opinion sounds significantly worse

[@sc0or]

Except a high price old pre-recorded are ampexes. So... A good source is a showstopper for that format.

[@LapisandHamtarolover]

LH/HO tapes remind me of TDK D tapes on how they were the good ferrics.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

Good comparison, TDK offered a really good cassette, quality wise.

[@chuckaluck123]

Nerd! Great video

[@EnochLight]

Every time I watch this.. those pinch roller mechanisms need some massive lubrication.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

I gotcha, I got it back from being serviced, the rollers were lubricated when the tech had it apart.

[@LapisandHamtarolover]

28:07 28:26 THE WAVE 103 GTA VCS

[@martyjewell5683]

Nice machine, pity there's no output control. You'd think at this price range it'd be compatible to other machines.

[@OfficialSoundtracker]

There is, it's just on the back in the "set and forget" area. I get what you mean though, it would have been nice to have that on the front.

[@martyjewell5683]

@@OfficialSoundtracker- didn't know that, must be a bitch adjusting volume when deck is rack mounted. I do see what you mean though. Personally, I have had the need to adjust volume at the deck due to different recorded tape volumes and when using headphones. Can't think of any other machines that have that setup. Funny, the RT-701 has no output control on back (or front). What were they thinking at Pioneer? I'd still get a kick outta playin' with either the 701 or 707 deck. Nice video and thanks for the education.

[@garyhoffman503]

It's so small It's like a early Sony Walkman.

[@Gordonseries385]

👍

[@scottwolf8633]

"Mystical", Nope, just the best media for archiving LPs We had in the 70's. I've owned the Teac 2300SD and Revox B 77. The Revox without any NR the better deck. Factory biased for Grandmaster 456 and had my 2300SD biased for same. Unfortunately the tape didn't last.

[@lutello3012]

I got one of those for $10 becuase it was worn to the bone by previous owners. :(

[@mikejuchem9639]

I hate when people talk fast to make themselves appear to look smart. Or am I just dumb and slow?

[@Cheficide]

First!

[@DacMan777]

Calm Down .......