Master recording in a shortest sound path

[makaiyumtony]

I made modification on Studer A80 RC with tubes and silver wound transformers, recording set up is two tube mics silver cable to tube pre amp and direct to recorder, no mixer in between, less conduct points and volume controls most simple and shortest path from mic to recorder for master recording, hopefully try to bring the recording closer to the original sound, we have a website about this try a visit if interest.
ultraanaloguerecordings.com
tony ma

[john dozier]

I certainly hope you did not use contemporary phantom power condensor mics. Those DC blocking electrolytics are sudden death. Use only ribbons or older mics with split power and signal leads. Regards John Dozier "Been there, done that!'

[john dozier]

BTW The A80 uses solid state electronics. You should try to find an all tube C37. Regards, John Dozier

[makaiyumtony]

Hi John
Thank you for reply, the mic is ribbon with tube,
tony ma

[john dozier]

You might want to try a Blumlein array-crossed figures of eight. I find widely spaced mics produce "wodgy" stereo. Regards John Dozier I also like Tony Faulkners arrays-again figures of eight but used on either side of a circular baffle.

[a.wayne]

John from the site :

Welcome to UltraAnalogue Recordings
UltraAnalogue Recordings was formed to record chamber music, in a natural acoustic, with custom tube electronics and analog tape - to allow you to experience the ultimate in recorded sound. Hearing analogue tape will completely change your concept of Hi-Fi sound. The tapes you'll receive, all 15-ips 2-track, will be as close as possible to the master tape and when played in a fine system, will bring you closer to the live musical event and allow you to experience the raw emotion in the music.

This has grown from a love of classical music and analogue vinyl sound. The live sound of beautiful Cremonese string instruments have the ability to move our hearts & emotions. To capture a sound as close to that live event has been the focus of much experimentation with components and parts. To accomplish this, we have kept the signal path as simple and direct as possible - using only 2 microphones and removing as many contact points in the tape recorder as possible. Silver wiring and silver wound transformers are used exclusively throughout the whole recording chain for it's uncanny ability to produce the most detailed and refined sound. These recordings are basically "live" as each movement is a whole take. There is no signal processing or added reverb - to keep the signal as pure as possible. The microphone preamplifier is a custom design based on the direct heating triode tube WE300b with an WE437a input tube. We feel these Western Electric tubes present the most natural sound character with beautiful timbres throughout the audio range. For a complete description of the recording and monitoring systems, please check the liner notes for each tape.


Tony...

Could you expound on the different eq offered by you on the tapes, I'm not sure of this ...

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by john dozier

You might want to try a Blumlein array-crossed figures of eight. I find widely spaced mics produce "wodgy" stereo. Regards John Dozier I also like Tony Faulkners arrays-again figures of eight but used on either side of a circular baffle.

My understanding as well .....

[john dozier]

NAB is US, CCIR is European EQ. CCIR offers IMHO a slightly better S/N ratio. It was designed for use with chevron recording heads which offer an addtional 3db of S/N ratio. Regards John Dozier

[makaiyumtony]

We listen between master and copy, they don't sound the same, of cause the master always much better, we used 499/GP9 for master but for copy we can only use RGMI because they still in production. so we have to record a production master in 499 again by putting more high end and copy to RMGI in 15 psi 2 track, result in closer to the master. if not by ABX , the copy already sound wonderful
tony ma

[makaiyumtony]

Originally Posted by john dozier

BTW The A80 uses solid state electronics. You should try to find an all tube C37. Regards, John Dozier

Hi John
from my Studer service tech, C37 good for play back but for recording at it's age. bias of the tape is quite different of to-day's tape, not suitable for 499/GP9 to use, I did change two section in-put and driving into tube 6900 and silver wound transformer, for repro amp a WE437A and silver transformer to replace the out put amp, I prefer to keep it in hybrid because I need to use the original EQ and frequency aliment adjust control section, those are non linear amp with feed back can't easy to design a good one with tubes to match. only those in and out linear section with quality parts ( tube and transformer) and simple design and by passed non use switches replace with better volume control can make the sound quality improve so much, if you can compare our tape between Bach and Beethoven, you will know the different because Bach is recorded by the stock SS amp but Beethoven is by the modified hybrid tube amp
tony ma