Consumer Stereo (4 tracks) Open-Reel -- 15ips?

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Hi,

Did a search on this, but couldn't find an answer.

In the 70's, were there consumer stereo open-reel machines (i.e., total of 4
tracks) running at 15ips?

If so, were they standard enough that average people used them, or were they
more esoteric, like just for audiophiles?

Thanks,

Adam

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Adam Kendall" wrote ...
> In the 70's, were there consumer stereo open-reel machines
> (i.e., total of 4 tracks) running at 15ips?
>
> If so, were they standard enough that average people used
> them, or were they more esoteric, like just for audiophiles?

4-track machines were much more likely to be running 7.5 IPS
as this was the "consumer release" format of the day (as you
have correctly identified).

15 IPS was more likely found on 2-track machines which were
used for more professional applications (tracking, mastering,
etc.)

There were a few machines that would do 4-track and 15 IPS,
but they generally did 2-track also, with 4-track as an "extra
feature" rather than as the primary mode.

I have one such machine, a Sony TC-850. It actually has inter-
changable head-stacks, 2-track (with extra 4-track playback),
and 4-track (with extra 2-track playback). It would run 3.75,
7.5, and 15 IPS and runs up to 10.5 inch reels.

There was a period where many titles were available in pre-
recorded 4-track stereo, but I doubt that they ever amounted to
even 5% of the catalog. That by itself would indicate that it
was a specialty, esoteric, audiophile phenomenon. Philips
Compact Audio Cassette was a far more popular consumer
tape-based release format.

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Crown 724's were configured stereo 4 track quite a bit @ 15ips.
Nice machines.

jm

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On Fri, 01 Apr 2005 15:10:13 GMT, Adam Kendall <ngacct@hellbender.org>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Did a search on this, but couldn't find an answer.
>
>In the 70's, were there consumer stereo open-reel machines (i.e., total of 4
>tracks) running at 15ips?
>
>If so, were they standard enough that average people used them, or were they
>more esoteric, like just for audiophiles?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Adam
I was an audio Geek, not an audio proffesional, so real people did buy
them <G>.

I have an Akai GX400D-SS. 10" reels, 3 speeds, Stereo (with
AutoReverse play), Quad Record/Play(single direction), "SimulSync"
recording to allow laying down a single track at a time. 4 HiZ Mic
inputs, 4 line inputs with individual level controls. "Quad" headphone
Jacks (True 4 channels). Thete was a 2-track (GX-400D-Pro) version
built with the same transport and case.

I tweaked mine to leave the Quad tape "Tail Out" ( I rewind and it
Auto plays when it hits the leader sense foil).

, _
, | \ MKA: Steve Urbach
, | )erek No JUNK in my email please
, ____|_/ragonsclaw dragonsclawJUNK@JUNKmindspring.com
, / / / Running United Devices "Cure For Cancer" Project 24/7 Have you helped? http://www.grid.org

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Adam Kendall wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Did a search on this, but couldn't find an answer.
>
> In the 70's, were there consumer stereo open-reel machines (i.e., total of 4
> tracks) running at 15ips?

Since no one else mentioned it, there was the Roberts. My friend
John had one, and it had a 2-speed motor and a removalble
pinch roller "sleeve", so that it ranged from 3 3/4 to 15 ips.
Don't remember how good it was, but it took a lot of use and
abuse, I think he still has it.

Henry.

> If so, were they standard enough that average people used them, or were they
> more esoteric, like just for audiophiles?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Adam

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Henry Salvia <hjs@cadence.com> wrote:
>
>Since no one else mentioned it, there was the Roberts. My friend
>John had one, and it had a 2-speed motor and a removalble
>pinch roller "sleeve", so that it ranged from 3 3/4 to 15 ips.
>Don't remember how good it was, but it took a lot of use and
>abuse, I think he still has it.


AAAGH! I'm STILL trying to forget that horror. Please don't mention
it any more.

I do, incidentally, still have parts for the Roberts/Akai machines here.
Not that they are worth repairing, but I have parts anyway.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Sure.

TEAC 3340
Sony 854-4
Crown SX744, CX844

You didn't usually find them at J.C. Penney, or whatever the
equivalent was then of WalMart or Best Buy, so if that
defines "consumer" then I guess these won't fit. There
wasn't/isn't anything esoteric/audiophile about any of these
machines. A couple of extra meters and knobs was about as
daunting as the user interface got. The 854 and Crowns were
pretty nice machines for their day.

There are probably quite a few more. These are just the ones
I either had or used.



TM

Adam Kendall wrote:
>
>
> In the 70's, were there consumer stereo open-reel machines (i.e., total of 4
> tracks) running at 15ips?
>
> If so, were they standard enough that average people used them, or were they
> more esoteric, like just for audiophiles?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Adam

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Greg Taylor" <gtaylor@umd.umich.edu> wrote in message
news:fwe3e.257$r6.75@news.itd.umich.edu...
> I seem to recall the TEAC 3440 coming in a 15ips version

Correct. Mine has a low/high tape speed button for both 7.5 and 15 ips.


Poly

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"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> wrote in message
news2jovb$mru$1@panix2.panix.com...
>
> No, average people wanted more running time and cheaper tape costs.
That's
> the whole reason for the godawful quarter-track standard in the first
place.
>
> You will very seldom see quarter-track 15 ips machines, although there
were
> a few made.


#&# ! I think I mess up, I'm using Emtec Sm468 1/4 inch should I have
things set at (using Nagra) 7.5 or 15 and at STD or LN ?

I use it the first time Sunday "live" in a huge church, I had it set on
7.5 LN , did I goof?

Someone said a while ago unless I was editing, I could just use 7.5.

Thank you , I would just like to learn how to use things right.


--
Peace,
Ed Bridge
Brooklyn N.Y.
http://www.bridgeclassicalguitars.com/

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I asked to help keep me and a client from wasting each other's time with a
tape transfer -- Thanks for the info, everyone.

I was really into tape-loops in the late 70's/early 80's, and I was only
using consumer machines for them. The only ones I used were 7.5/3.75.

Onto a different subject...

If anyone has the speed-adjustment "sleeve" and "cap" for the Akai 4000D
capstan for sale, let me know.

Adam