I actually learned to edit tape on one of these, many moons ago, so some great memories here for me. In 'BBC Land', what you describe as the mixer was known as a 'Linking Console'.
The EMI platters are based on the German AEG system, the first recorders used this setup and many German machines sticked with it. Lucky for me I purchased 20 of these platters new and full of tape, along with a selection of others for Nagra's, Studers, Telefunkens, even Ampex (Ampex 200 use them, Ampex 300 used both).
Thank you! this is an experiment with different video editing and an added vocal track, the effect is that the commentary sounds better, this video took about 2 hours to put together
Thank you, this machine was one modded, the original BTR-2 required 2 screws and the block comes out, including the connectors, though the stereo version has more pins and so the old connectors were no good, why the BBC didn't connector the connectors to the block is unknown though I have the blueprints of the machine and should really check, this oil is similar to 3-1 though suitable for a machine like this, not suitable for many others.
Thanks for your replies. Obviously EMI engineers didn't economize Mu-metal to make such a huge shields. I always though that Studer-Revox shields were a bit oversized, but after have seen these ones it's clear that EMI gained the upper hand to Studer ;-))) It's obvious that designers did a very well engineering job 60 years ago and they spared no effort to get a true sturdy and reliable studio machine that could rival with German AEG Magnetophon or American Ampex 300 and later 350 recorders.
Great Video! Nice to see how you keep these machines working. BTW: what kind/brand of oil do you use for lubricating the machine? I own two Studer j37´s and one C37. The oil in the manual is not manufactured anymore or replaced with a equivalent. I found a Teresso oil that is supposed to be the same as the one in the manual.
Thank you, using the Nagra just adds complications, sadly the digital age makes things too easy, I know what you mean about the sound blow-out, the "P"'s and breaths cause distortion however I used a cheap old PC mic for the job, I have some very nice Uher mics which work very well, though I have to make a adaptor cable, dont want to cut the ends off, who knows, I may even treat myself to a valve mic next year.
Stuart I was thinking this while I was watching the video having made a hour long video recently following my return from Everest in Nepal. It works and I found it fascinating and very informative Well done a very happy fan Regards Richard
Also I'm some intrigued about the odd profile of recording head and inner reproduce head shieldings that shows a clear bump in the front. Could this one be due to get a better stray field rejection without the need of a front hinged Mu-metal screen like the one used in reproduce head of Revox machines? Thanks in advance.
hi funny thing i got a otari MTR i can change the head blocks from 1/4 to 1/2 but you got to have 2 sets of kit's and MLR tapes i love the otari MTR units as there's alot of parts around
@Seblington Hi, enjoyed your new video and have watched most of them. I've been wanting to comment on the audio for awhile. Why not use a Nagra to give your commentary a more authentic sound? Also, I think your voice should be eq'd differently than the video to clarify and distinguish it from the vid. Perhaps any tape recorder would do that natively. Many words were blotted out by machine noise. I suspect you tried to duck it, but lost a few words by bumping the mic. Overall compression maybe?
What a superb machines!!! I must admit that EMI's were (till now) a bit unknow machines for me. I know Studer-Revox recorders far better, but I also must admit that EMI RD series must be great studio stationary use "magnetophons". The first thing that surprised me when I watched pictures of these machines was the huge size of head shieldings, especialy the outer one of the reproduce head. I have some high-res pics of erase heads and this seems to fit two elements into the shielding. I'm true?
It's absolutely amazing your collection of tape recorders. Unique in the world.
I actually learned to edit tape on one of these, many moons ago, so some great memories here for me. In 'BBC Land', what you describe as the mixer was known as a 'Linking Console'.
The EMI platters are based on the German AEG system, the first recorders used this setup and many German machines sticked with it. Lucky for me I purchased 20 of these platters new and full of tape, along with a selection of others for Nagra's, Studers, Telefunkens, even Ampex (Ampex 200 use them, Ampex 300 used both).
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I like the way these machines have a hinged lid to cover the tape and transport.
You are an excellent professional. Thanks for sharing your videos.
Thank you! this is an experiment with different video editing and an added vocal track, the effect is that the commentary sounds better, this video took about 2 hours to put together
Thank you, this machine was one modded, the original BTR-2 required 2 screws and the block comes out, including the connectors, though the stereo version has more pins and so the old connectors were no good, why the BBC didn't connector the connectors to the block is unknown though I have the blueprints of the machine and should really check, this oil is similar to 3-1 though suitable for a machine like this, not suitable for many others.
Thanks for your replies.
Obviously EMI engineers didn't economize Mu-metal to make such a huge shields. I always though that Studer-Revox shields were a bit oversized, but after have seen these ones it's clear that EMI gained the upper hand to Studer ;-)))
It's obvious that designers did a very well engineering job 60 years ago and they spared no effort to get a true sturdy and reliable studio machine that could rival with German AEG Magnetophon or American Ampex 300 and later 350 recorders.
Great Video!
Nice to see how you keep these machines working.
BTW: what kind/brand of oil do you use for lubricating the machine? I own two Studer j37´s and one C37. The oil in the manual is not manufactured anymore or replaced with a equivalent. I found a Teresso oil that is supposed to be the same as the one in the manual.
Thanks, I now have an Ampex 300-2, it is portable like the ones in that clip but the amp unit is larger
Stuart
A very informative video
Thanks
Richard
Thank you, using the Nagra just adds complications, sadly the digital age makes things too easy, I know what you mean about the sound blow-out, the "P"'s and breaths cause distortion however I used a cheap old PC mic for the job, I have some very nice Uher mics which work very well, though I have to make a adaptor cable, dont want to cut the ends off, who knows, I may even treat myself to a valve mic next year.
Stuart
I was thinking this while I was watching the video having made a hour long video recently following my return from Everest in Nepal.
It works and I found it fascinating and very informative
Well done a very happy fan
Regards
Richard
Also I'm some intrigued about the odd profile of recording head and inner reproduce head shieldings that shows a clear bump in the front. Could this one be due to get a better stray field rejection without the need of a front hinged Mu-metal screen like the one used in reproduce head of Revox machines?
Thanks in advance.
hi funny thing i got a otari MTR i can change the head blocks from 1/4 to 1/2 but you got to have 2 sets of kit's and MLR tapes
i love the otari MTR units as there's alot of parts around
Yes, onthe replay only the record has one shield
Nice collection, wish I had the room.
@Seblington Hi, enjoyed your new video and have watched most of them. I've been wanting to comment on the audio for awhile. Why not use a Nagra to give your commentary a more authentic sound? Also, I think your voice should be eq'd differently than the video to clarify and distinguish it from the vid. Perhaps any tape recorder would do that natively. Many words were blotted out by machine noise. I suspect you tried to duck it, but lost a few words by bumping the mic. Overall compression maybe?
What a superb machines!!!
I must admit that EMI's were (till now) a bit unknow machines for me. I know Studer-Revox recorders far better, but I also must admit that EMI RD series must be great studio stationary use "magnetophons".
The first thing that surprised me when I watched pictures of these machines was the huge size of head shieldings, especialy the outer one of the reproduce head.
I have some high-res pics of erase heads and this seems to fit two elements into the shielding. I'm true?
that thing is the size of a boat
Not sure, the machines were built in 1952 so its more than likely over engineering
@btown2011
No way ;-)