It’s been a tentative to have a very advanced machine in Soundcraft’s product catalogue during mid Eighties. The first idea came in 1983 and was developed and materialized in about 10 units which were given to beta testers (studios around the world), to check the machine and report back with feelings/ideas/suggestions, as well as good/bad experiences. The machine could handle 14” reels, was compatible with 1/4” and 1/2” tapes and, in a similar way to the Ampex ATR100, it was just a matter of swapping headblocks and replacing two stainless steel caps in 2 rotary guides. The electronics was able to detect the kind of headblock installed and switch the audio parameters and mecha ballistic accordingly. Of course all audio parameters were software controlled and there was provision for 5 different tape presets for each speed (three in total) and each EQ (CCIR-AES-NAB). The machine was one of the very few to have bass level control also on the recording amplifiers, giving a perfectly flat rec/play frequency response. It was remote controllable and very easy to maintain, thanks to its simplicity and easy access to all its mechanical parts and electronics.Repro amplifiers used multiple transistor arrays in the differential input stage and a very straight audio path was used, in order to keep maximum transparency. In the end, the audio card was about the same as that used in their multitrack machine, the Saturn. The heads were from Photovox, the old one, therefore simply excellent. The audio performance is absolutely in the same league of the top of the line recorders made by Studer, Nagra, Stellavox, Otari, Sony and so on. I have all of them and know well how they sound together with pros and cons of each model.
Unfortunately, the S20 never came to final production because SM was forced to close by its parent company Soundcraft, which was experiencing big financial problems in 1986.
As a consequence, only the demonstrators were assembled and some of them still exist, including the beautiful fully transparent unit (of course fully working, not just dead box) explicitly made to be shown at professional audio trade shows.
This is a video of the 1/2” unit (one of the three manufactured in that format), playing (with its internal speakers) a “Toccata e Fuga” which I personally recorded in my town more than 10 years ago.
I’ve attached some pictures too, for the most curious of you.
