Recent content by Fred Thal
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New Record Cards!
As far as I know, we (at ATAE in California) are the world's only firm exclusively dedicated to the re-manufacture of Studer A80 and 820 tape transports. As you've now gone to the trouble and expense of building your new cards to fit the form factor of the original A80/RC eleven-slot audio card...- Fred Thal
- Post #5
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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New Repro cards!
Hello Charles and Jeff, A reader of this forum contacted me saying that I needed to log in and read what you’re up to. Wow. I see so many topics! Can I begin by being pedantic, correcting a point of proper Studer machine identification? Reading through your posts (Charles and Jeff), I see...- Fred Thal
- Post #54
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
What if someone were reporting that a Studer A820 that had some of its electrolytic capacitors changed by one shop, sounded noticeably different (or worse) than another A820 that had those same capacitors changed by another shop? For simplicity, let's assume that we're talking about a...- Fred Thal
- Post #78
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
If someone is reporting that two tape machines of the same make and model sound different, what would you first suspect as the most probable cause? Hint: It probably isn't about who changed out all the electrolytic capacitors. (More to say on that, a little later today, time permitting.) To...- Fred Thal
- Post #77
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 owner/operator training in Los Angeles
Hi Ron, The answer is simple. Unacceptable cost to the attendees. Taking a training presentation on the road is like a manufacturer exhibiting at a trade show. There's the logistics of shipping all the hardware, paying for the exhibit space, housing the show personnel. This isn't cheap...- Fred Thal
- Post #23
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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The Cello Audio Suite Master Supply (and where to find qualified service for it today)
A conversation directed me to an eBay listing for some old Cello gear this week. In it, the seller claimed to have an improved power supply for the Cello Audio Suite. I choked when seeing that. Any student of high-end audio understands that good power supply design is critical to audio quality...- Fred Thal
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- Replies: 0
- Forum: General Audio Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
Hi Ron, Well, maybe we could indeed sell a service like you describe to one or two unsuspecting audiophiles. But it wouldn't be ethical. Anyone who actually understands the A820 will tell you that A820s are ticking time bombs today. Just look at that ancient, embedded Motorola 6803...- Fred Thal
- Post #69
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
That's just not true, Ron. Bruce Brown's reply to you listed some examples that contradict your assertion. I could add many more. One in particular, one that many people strangely never mention, is the same company that arguably launched this whole idea of outboard tape audio electronics in...- Fred Thal
- Post #57
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
I'm afraid that this might fuel a popular misconception. So let me address it. Finding an old A820 (or A80) that has very low operating hours is likely a thrill for practically anyone, but it's no assurance that the machine is suitable for serious use today. In fact, it's often these...- Fred Thal
- Post #47
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 owner/operator training in Los Angeles
I regret that the fall 2018, three-day A820 operator training class that ATAE was hoping to host in Santa Monica California was canceled due to insufficient pre-enrollment. I also regret that our infrequent, open to the public courses are so expensive. But we've learned that a nice hotel with a...- Fred Thal
- Post #18
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
Not sure who you're asking. But I'll jump in. First, I should make an important qualification for my remarks. I'm not an A820 expert. Far from it. I was very late to the A820 party. The A820 was long out of production before I ever started to study it. And I do not know the answer to your...- Fred Thal
- Post #41
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
ATAE is sometimes asked why we ceased to offer repair and reconditioning services for Studer A820 tape recorders. The answer is a bit complex (sorry), but perhaps suffice it to say that we prefer building our new reproducers and recorders, over trying to restore vintage ones for which far too...- Fred Thal
- Post #39
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
This too, clearly requires a response from me. Sorry that it needs to be lengthy. Mike Lavigne has been a thorn in my side for years now, because I feel he's been harming Studer A820 tape machines, mainly by his frequently talking about these machines, when in my opinion, he lacks any real...- Fred Thal
- Post #28
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Studer A820 in for repair!
This probably deserves a response from me. Chasing the Dragon (aka Valentine Films) purchased an A820 from ATAE in June, 2015. This was a negotiated deal, whereby Valentine Films received an A820 at discounted accommodation pricing, with ATAE accepting their modified A812 in trade. Someone I...- Fred Thal
- Post #26
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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Advice in buying a Studer A80
You have great questions. (But way too many of them for me to attempt to answer here. So I'm selecting from them.) Curiously, most tape hobby people active on the forums appear not the least bit interested in flutter performance. They only want to talk about their outboard "tape stages". But...- Fred Thal
- Post #48
- Forum: Reel To Reel Tape Deck and Content Forum
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