[Vintage-Audio] Re Revox Models

Thu Sep 25 17:22:01 2003

FOR THE REAL SCOOP ON THIS MACHINE, check this URL
http://www.bassboy.com.au/getreel/cc/samples/b77.htm
It is getting confused here ... and I'm not helping too much, so will try
again!  The tracks used on the 77 was TWO ... in one direction, or in the
case of the stereo machine, you can turn the tape over, as opposed to
rewinding it, and "play the other side".  The tracks are laid out, in this
instance, every other of four going the same direction.   This is NOT a FOUR
CHANNEL MACHINE, which is a different animal!  In the 4 track version,
tracks one and three are used for the left and right channels in one
direction, and two and four the other way. On the two track version, the
tape passes over the heads in only one direction.  There is less crosstalk,
and the amount of tape width available to impose a signal on is actually
more than twice as much.  It is very possible to change a machine from one
type to the other, by changing the heads, and setting the equalization for
said same.
Auto-reverse machines have four "slots" on their read head, and it varies by
the machine whether or not it will record both directions.  Most did not, so
the record head would not have the 4 "slots", only 2.  Then, you get into
auto-reverse 3-head machines, which were the most likely to need alignment
done more often than the others.
   The 8-track cartridge machines used the every-other method of putting the
information on tape, so 1 and 3, 2 and 4, 5 and 7. and 6 and 8 were the
tracks used for the stereo signal.  Hence, the klunk klunk klunk klunk of
the head alignment solenoid as it (hopefully) aligned the head with the
tape!   The rubber wheel that contacted the capstan was within the 8 track's
cassette.  The four track, such as Muntz made famous, had the wheel within
the machine, many thought that was way superior.  The broadcast derivative
of that system is in use to this very day, used in mono and stereo versions!
The advantage of the Lear Jet 8 track was that the tape itself was one half
as long for an album!  And . the player could be produced more cheaply. You
can read that as "dollars"!
   And then .. the cassette...started out pretty mundanely, used for voice
recordings, and like that, in the 1960s.  Became used more and more in the
early 70s, and by 1975 or so, was actually a pretty good audio device.
Here, there is a difference.   The cassette, as we all know, goes both
directions.  Simply turn it over, and play the other side.  Or, an
auto-reverse mechanism became quite popular, still is!   The "beauty" of the
cassettes ... the tracks lie side by side!
This makes the cassette itself playable in either a stereo or mono player,
without missing any of the information recorded on it.  On the other hand,
it creates a very difficult medium for high fidelity recording on the very
narrow tape!  Thinking about that, pretty amazing what was accomplished!
There was a lot of money made on "selling the sizzle" on cassette tape
decks.  Like, Nakamichi.    Interesting period in audio history!

We are just about done with tape, and things that spin, whirl, etc.  In my
opinion, the state of art of the recording industry will be totally solid
state, using the new techniques for making non-volatile memory available by
the gobs, and we will look even more fondly in the future on splicers, tape
storage techniques, the accessories (head cleaners, swabs, lubricants, tape
carriers, tape holders, and all that stuff).  Same holds true for video.  I
am sure there will be those in the next ten years or so who claim to hear "a
sweeter sound" on their Revox reel to reel, than on the newest digital
version of the Electric Light Orchestra's finest hits of the 70s!

Cheers, y'all! There went my lunch hour.. now back to work!   Mark  Eureka,
Far Northern California

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Duane Fischer, W8DBF" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 12:44 PM
Subject: [Vintage-Audio] Re Revox Models

>
>
> Yes, Revox did make a two and a four track version of the B77. I am told,
and I
> do not know how true this is, that the two track deck had two vu meters
and the
> four track had four VU meters.
>
> Now I have never had a deck with more than two meters. The Teac A-5500 is
a high
> end two track both directions deck, it has two meters. The Revox B77 that
my
> cousin has is two tracks both directions and has two meters. My Revox B77
is a
> two track one direction and has two meters.
>
> Hence, I think we are confusing tracks here. Correct me here, but are
there not
> stereo two track machines for quarter inch tape that are one direction and
use
> 1/8 inch per track? Then are there not two track stereo decks that are
> bi-directional that use 1/16 inch per track? Then are there not decks that
use
> four tracks in one direction only? Then what about the decks that use half
inch
> audio tape instead of quarter inch?
>
> Perhaps somebody can enlighten us as to the proper nomenclature as to each
of
> these head variations from half track to two track to four track to ...
>
> Duane W8DBF
>
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