Re: [ARSCLIST] Looking for vintage open reel tape machine

[Robert Cham <cham@xxxxxxxx>]

> For a truly portable (as opposed to 'transportable') recorder, I 
> concur with others that the Ampex 601 might be adequate.
>
> A machine to absolutely avoid would be the Ampex PR-10.  (A later 
> version whose model number I cannot recall was manufactured with 
> 'solid-state' electronics.)  My experience is that even with a great 
> deal of care lavished upon it, one could not be made to pull tape 
> past the heads in a stable fashion.
>
> In my opinion, a Nagra IV represents THE golden age in analog 
> recording.  Through the 1980s, NPR engineers often used them (and 
> even more frequently their mic preamps) when making studio 
> recordings.
>
> -Jan Andrews

Remember how you could link the electronics of a pair to give you 
four mic  driving two transports?  I remember that Minnesota Public 
Radio used to do that and record the announcer for concert series on 
location.

Bob Cham