Wanted : Neumann VMS70 SX74 SAL74B System

[RichRoy]

Any help in tracking down a Neumann VMS70 sx74 sal74b system, Sal74 amps and neumann sp79 master console would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

[opcode66]

How much are you willing to pay?

Also, why do you want a sp console. They are out of date....

[Aussie0zborn]

The SP79 is a classic console. I have one I'm restoring now. If you want to cut full analogue you need one. The hard part is finding a 1/4" tape player with preview. Good luck in your search.

[Gerasim]

The hard part is finding a 1/4" tape player with preview.

Which brand has produced such tape player?

[Aussie0zborn]

Tape machines with preview head for disc cutting were made by:

Studer, Switzerland
Telefunken, Germany
MCI, USA

These were the most popular tape machine brands in modern times and there were probably others in the old days, too.

[Gerasim]

Thank you. What are the model number you know?

[Aussie0zborn]

Studer A80-VU-PRE is the model number of the preview version of the A80. You can see the Studer A80-VU-PRE on Cohearant's website : http://www.cohearent.com/meet-kevin-gray/ and some information on Studer here : http://youtu.be/DDj7k4R4hoM

Telefunken M15 and M15A. I don't remember the exact model number for the preview version. I had one - they are great machines. Companies who specialise in restoring and selling the Telefunken M15 series today have never heard of a preview version so be careful what you buy.

I'm not familiar with MCI equipment. Try looking at JH110 which was one of their last 1/4" machines. You can see one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcj_GhAStn0

Telefunken was not popular in the USA as the price was some 3 times higher than the Studer machine. Tape machines were usually available in 2 track right up to 24 track versions.

A Swiss manufacturer of tape machines is starting production of tape machines again sometime this year. I'm guessing it is Studer but we wont know until it's officially announced.

[dietrich10]

I have a pair of rare Ampex 300 machines both with preview heads. they can be run 1/4" or 1/2". mono or stereo or 3track.
need some refurb but have piles of spare parts and heads etc

Could only find on Les Paul have an Ampex 300 with a preview head.

[Gerasim]

Thank you very much. Very useful information for me. Found a good video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtUi4vaJYOo&list=UUAm1nrqV4Irdy8XydKrXaMg

[concretecowboy71]

I have an. MCI preview machine.

Not selling any lathes however. Glad I bought mine when I did!

[audiocarver]

As luck would have it, I was just talking to Chris Mara about this subject this last week, building an MCI tape machine with preview heads that could be switched between 1/4" and 1/2" tape. I thought the price seemed a little steep and there will have to be some R/D work in getting it right, but he seemed confident in being able to do it. I think at this point, it's the best option available.

You might want to talk to him about it.

I'm also in the camp of trying to find a Neumann VMS lathe as well, but I already have a Neumann SP75 console and the rest of the cutting room.

Regards,
Andy

[Aussie0zborn]

The SP75 is a nice console. Is that the one that Randy was selling - fully loaded with A/B path?

I can't imagine where all the preview tape machines have gone. You read about Sterling Sound having modified an Ampex ATR 102 tape machine and fitted a preview head and it's lauded as "the only one of its kind in the world". At some point, every lathe had a preview tape machine connected to it and these weren't custom modified. I wonder where they got to.

[leo gonzalez]

Actually, looks like Precision Mastering in California also has or had a 102 with a preview head mounted on a board fitted on the left side of the transport. According to his owner they had it before Sterling Sound did . They also had "tube" repro cards.

L.

[audiocarver]

The SP75 is a nice console. Is that the one that Randy was selling - fully loaded with A/B path?

I can't imagine where all the preview tape machines have gone. You read about Sterling Sound having modified an Ampex ATR 102 tape machine and fitted a preview head and it's lauded as "the only one of its kind in the world". At some point, every lathe had a preview tape machine connected to it and these weren't custom modified. I wonder where they got to.

Hi Aussie,

Yup, it's Randy's old one fully loaded with the A/B thing. I love it! Although, the A/B switch that Neumann had is kind of weird to use, it's growing on me......slowly. The lathe controls in it are ready for a VMS70 with SAL system. Just plug it in and go start cutting! Unfortunately, Randy sold his lathe decades ago.


What's weird about all those unseemly missing tape machines is that they are really useless to average folks. I don't think any of them were able to record. I suppose maybe that they were scrapped at the time the lathes were done away with? I would think that anyone who bought a lathe would at least wanted it with it though?

I'm wondering how did Studer end up with so many here in the US rather than, say the MT70S consoles that Neumann offered? Was it a price thing mostly at the time? But Scully also offered different tape machines as well with their lathes.

So I don't really know what became of them now either?

Andy

[Aussie0zborn]

The Neumann MT66, MT70 and the later green cabinets all contained a Telefunken tape machines in them. The M15 PREVIEW did not have a record head so these machines are only good for playback. I'm not sure if the Studer or MCI preview machines were able to record but I seem to remember the Studer did.

There were at least ten preview machines in Australia and only one is still connected to a lathe. The others have all disappeared without trace.

As for the cost, Paul Gold did some research and found the Telefunken machines were something like double or triple the price of the Studer, making them very unpopular in the USA. Gotham Audio apparently offered the Telefunken machines with their Neumann lathe packages only after they lost the agency for Studer and so far only one M15 Preview has surfaced in the USA.

Americans also had a choice of local brands such as Ampex and MCI.

Good luck in your search for a lathe to match your SP75.

If anyone finds an A80 or an M15 I'm interested in buying.

[petrolio]

Hallo !!! How much can cost an a80 with preview head?


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[gold]

Actually, looks like Precision Mastering in California also has or had a 102 with a preview head mounted on a board fitted on the left side of the transport. According to his owner they had it before Sterling Sound did . They also had "tube" repro cards.

The story I got about the West Coast ATR102 preview machines was that the preview blocks were probably an Ampex custom or prototype job. They were found in a parts bin by accident. As I understand it there are two of these machines. Sterling had theirs made by Mike Spitz not that many years ago.

Ampex never made a commercially available preview deck.

The tape transport in the Neumann SP66 "tape machine" consoles was an M10A preview model. The playback electronics were Neumann.

[Aussie0zborn]

Thanks for the input, Paul. What about the Ampex ATR300 with preview? Is this an after market mod? Does the Studer A80VU-PRE have a record head?

[leo gonzalez]

pic of a scully 280 with preview and advance pots. i only see one head on it though.





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[leo gonzalez]

aussie, im pretty sure you could add scully to the list of cutting tape machines.

i think there are a few members here that have analog preview systems made by scully. i think there was one sold recently to a member of the forum. not sure who though.

also, im not entirely sure but i think scullys need .6 of a revolution rather than the 1/2 rev like the neumann. please correct me if im wrong.


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