Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted October 11 Posted October 11 Rhino is now selling albums on reel to reel to make it even more of a hassle https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/special-edition-shops/reel-to-reel/?pdshow=true&eml=2025October10/6909709/6134371&etsubid=223450362 3 6 Quote
BigRedX Posted October 11 Posted October 11 (edited) Probably better sound quality though…. And you can always tape over it if you get bored of the album you bought. Edited October 11 by BigRedX 3 Quote
Hellzero Posted October 11 Posted October 11 At that posh price, they'll surely sell very quickly... 🤦🏻 Quote
Bassassin Posted October 11 Posted October 11 That may well be the single w@nkiest thing I've ever seen, musical or otherwise. 4 Quote
three Posted October 11 Posted October 11 I saw something similar a couple of days ago and was quite surprised at the revival of the format - I think this was some sort of classic album and taken from original masters - about £1200. I was aware that there's a very strong market for Studer and Revox machines (prices have increased dramatically in recent years) but the release of pre-recorded open-reel does seem strange - I imagine there's a small but (affluent and) enthusiastic market. Personally, I don't really miss the hiss of open reel machines or the crackle of vinyl. 1 1 Quote
Rosie C Posted October 11 Posted October 11 13 minutes ago, three said: Personally, I don't really miss the hiss of open reel machines or the crackle of vinyl. Oh, I love it! I have a turntable and a valve amp'd reel to reel, although I only use the turntable for listening to music. I actually like the hassle, and it's made listening to music an activity in itself rather than something I have on in the background. 3 Quote
floFC Posted October 11 Posted October 11 7 minutes ago, Rosie C said: … although I only use the turntable for listening to music. As opposed to what? Making pottery? 😋 10 Quote
Buddster Posted October 11 Posted October 11 I'd be amazed if the 'original flat analog master tape' was in any state to be used to copy from after 50+ years 2 1 Quote
Hellzero Posted October 11 Posted October 11 Next step, the wax cylinder! Enjoy the sound of noise... 1 11 Quote
Rosie C Posted October 11 Posted October 11 2 hours ago, floFC said: As opposed to what? Making pottery? 😋 Well played @floFC ! I meant I don't use the reel-to-reel for listening to music 2 1 Quote
Rosie C Posted October 11 Posted October 11 1 hour ago, Buddster said: I'd be amazed if the 'original flat analog master tape' was in any state to be used to copy from after 50+ years I think if it's been properly stored, and been wound the right way, then it can still be good. I watched this YouTube video recently of someone who'd bought a reel-to-reel recording from the Sergeant Pepper master and Abbey Road helped him play and digitise it... 1 Quote
Grahambythesea Posted October 11 Posted October 11 oh those happy days of taping off the radio and the tape snapping and getting caught round the spindle. I’ll stick to CDs thank you. 2 Quote
42Hz Posted October 11 Posted October 11 3 hours ago, Rosie C said: Well played @floFC ! I meant I don't use the reel-to-reel for listening to music Neither would I ever use a r2r for making pottery. But a turntable ... maybe 😁 Quote
Buddster Posted October 11 Posted October 11 4 hours ago, Rosie C said: I think if it's been properly stored, and been wound the right way, then it can still be good. I watched this YouTube video recently of someone who'd bought a reel-to-reel recording from the Sergeant Pepper master and Abbey Road helped him play and digitise it... Very interesting video. Brings back memories of working with those 1/4" Studers, doing a line up of the multitrack machines everyday. Yes I agree, it's possible, but they would have to be very well looked after. 1 Quote
Dan Dare Posted October 11 Posted October 11 Once you've bought your reel to reel tape, you can have weeks of fun trying to find a machine to play it on that isn't either knackered or uber expensive. 1 Quote
Stub Mandrel Posted October 11 Posted October 11 (edited) My reel to reel is in the loft. I wonder if it would work if I cleaned it up. Only been up there about 45 years... Edited October 11 by Stub Mandrel 1 Quote
SpondonBassed Posted October 11 Posted October 11 12 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: Rhino is now selling albums on reel to reel to make it even more of a hassle https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/special-edition-shops/reel-to-reel/?pdshow=true&eml=2025October10/6909709/6134371&etsubid=223450362 That's like, so_____ cool. 3 Quote
Hellzero Posted October 11 Posted October 11 1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said: My reel to reel is in the loft. I wonder if it would work if I cleaned it up. Only been up there about 45 years... Cleaning won't be sufficient, the capacitors will collapse on themselves and the motors will burn. It could be fun, but the smell is awful. 1 1 Quote
Rosie C Posted October 11 Posted October 11 (edited) 2 hours ago, Dan Dare said: Once you've bought your reel to reel tape, you can have weeks of fun trying to find a machine to play it on that isn't either knackered or uber expensive. This is mine - an early 1960s Philips 4-track. 3 speeds, magic eye etc. I have several tapes of my grandfather playing guitar. I tracked down the exact same model they were recorded on, to give me the best chance of getting a decent playback. It feels very strange plugging it into an audio interface and recording into Logic Pro. It is working right now - I bought it from a YouTuber who'd serviced it, but for how long I don't know, so I don't use it for anything. Edited October 11 by Rosie C 8 Quote
Stub Mandrel Posted October 11 Posted October 11 2 hours ago, Hellzero said: Cleaning won't be sufficient, the capacitors will collapse on themselves and the motors will burn. It could be fun, but the smell is awful. There are strategies Quote
itu Posted October 12 Posted October 12 Next step is to buy a Sony PCM-3324, or -3348, a digital r2r. I have seen one, once. Quote
Hellzero Posted October 13 Posted October 13 There are 3 different models at the moment on Kleinanzeigen in Germany: https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/sony-dash-pcm-3324-digitale-tonbandmaschine/2770799789-172-9399 https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/sony-pcm-3324s-24-spur-digital-bandmaschine/2421553558-74-7482 https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/sony-pcm-3324a-professionelles-digitales-mehrspur-tonbandgeraet-/2974919996-172-4564 1 Quote
Huge Hands Posted October 13 Posted October 13 (edited) Are they 1/4" tape? If they're like the ones in the OP's photo. then surely you would need to buy studio quality machines like Studer etc with those big locking hubs? My dad was into reel-to-reels in the 80s and had some pretty professional looking domestic models. but they all had the small 3 prong hole in the middle like @Rosie C's example. Not that those full size reels would fit on Rosie's machine! I wonder if they do adaptors for the centre? Not that I am planning to go down this rabbit hole of course! It's a long time since I tried splicing tape on a Revox B77! EDIT - I just clicked the link and saw how much they were - definitely not! Edited October 13 by Huge Hands Quote
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