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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 1:01:26 GMT -6
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 8, 2017 5:40:53 GMT -6
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 9:39:31 GMT -6
I like the fact that they've built in the electronics stages of the machine itself....
Description
The TS500 includes the electronics of a vintage tape recorder with input transformer, variable gain input stage, pre- emphasis stage, recording amplifier, constant current driven tape head, playback amplifier, NAB de-emphasis stage and a pure class A output stage driving the output transformer.
The TS500 can simulate a tape recorder rolling at 3 different speeds: 7.5 ips, 15 ips and 30 ips. Each speed gives a different frequency response.
The tape can be chosen between 3 formulations giving 3 levels of saturation from light to heavy.
Makes sense to me rather than some voodoo.....I mean, voodoo is cool, but this (and the anamod) ats-1 seem like cool boxes. This one is a LOT cheaper though at around $250 a channel.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 8, 2017 10:03:01 GMT -6
I have a pair of their Neve style preamps (that use 73 in the name  ) and they're tanks. Solid build and tone. Really nice units. I imagine these are really cool too. |
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Post by jeromemason on Mar 8, 2017 10:34:56 GMT -6
I came insanely close to buying a pair of these about 2 weeks ago. I was wanting to use them for my guitar/synth buss to add a little girth.
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Post by ragan on Mar 8, 2017 10:50:07 GMT -6
Makes sense to me rather than some voodoo.... gee, Bill. Whatever are you referring to by "voodoo"?  |
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Post by deehope on Mar 8, 2017 11:05:23 GMT -6
Makes sense to me rather than some voodoo.... gee, Bill. Whatever are you referring to by "voodoo"? +1 |
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 11:08:31 GMT -6
I think you're reading too much into that. I like the fact that it has the actual tape machine electronics in the electronics of the unit. Kind of like the anamod (I presume). That makes sense to me VOODOO is AWESOME - voodoo is mandatory. Without it what's the point. I'd hope this has voodoo in it too, otherwise - what's the point. I also like that it's packed into a 500 series. Is there a problem?
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Post by ragan on Mar 8, 2017 11:30:48 GMT -6
I think you're reading too much into that. I like the fact that it has the actual tape machine electronics in the electronics of the unit. Kind of like the anamod (I presume). That makes sense to me VOODOO is AWESOME - voodoo is mandatory. Without it what's the point. I'd hope this has voodoo in it too, otherwise - what's the point. I also like that it's packed into a 500 series. Is there a problem? Heheh. If you say so. |
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 11:35:02 GMT -6
I think you're reading too much into that. I like the fact that it has the actual tape machine electronics in the electronics of the unit. Kind of like the anamod (I presume). That makes sense to me VOODOO is AWESOME - voodoo is mandatory. Without it what's the point. I'd hope this has voodoo in it too, otherwise - what's the point. I also like that it's packed into a 500 series. Is there a problem? Heheh. If you say so. I do. OK? |
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Post by ragan on Mar 8, 2017 11:42:17 GMT -6
Yes. Seemed like an obvious little swipe at Zulu. Which you are perfectly entitled to make. And I am perfectly entitled to give it an eyeroll. OK?  |
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 12:01:05 GMT -6
No swipe @ Zulu. Looks to be an awesome unit. Do you have one yet?
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Post by ragan on Mar 8, 2017 12:16:26 GMT -6
No swipe @ Zulu. Looks to be an awesome unit. Do you have one yet? I do. Been posting my initial observations in the Zulu thread. I also think these things are probably pretty sweet too. Got the email yesterday and immediately thought of grabbing a pair. |
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Post by illacov on Mar 8, 2017 12:39:38 GMT -6
In the purple site thread, a TS500 owner ran one of our standard wav files through a TS500. The idea was to do it at normal levels and also to push it as some of us do or did to tape.
My reason for suggesting that is because I used to hit tape extremely hot when I was youngin' at my uncle's place. I always wanted a device that could take that beating. Hitting Zulu hot on the front end guarantees some fun for everyone, especially during tracking.
Now before the teacups get rattled, there was this recent article about Janet Jackson Control being cut to tape at +12db. To their credit it was done in error, they really wanted to hit it at +6db!
My one thing I'll point out about this unit Bill, is the 7.5ips curve kind of throws me a bit. Brighter than 15 and 30IPS? Since when?
Thanks
-L.
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 12:45:48 GMT -6
Got a link Langston? I'd love to check that out. I haven't seen any curves or any clips. couldn't find anything other than the diyrecording blurb about the TS500. Cheers, bp
Yeah, +12 is pretty ridiculous. +9 CAN be cool, but you have to either want pretty trashy audio, or cut VERY conservatively. My fav was always +5 or +6 on the high output tapes.
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Post by illacov on Mar 8, 2017 13:40:22 GMT -6
Got a link Langston? I'd love to check that out. I haven't seen any curves or any clips. couldn't find anything other than the diyrecording blurb about the TS500. Cheers, bp Yeah, +12 is pretty ridiculous. +9 CAN be cool, but you have to either want pretty trashy audio, or cut VERY conservatively. My fav was always +5 or +6 on the high output tapes. Bill, But listen to those records man! I don't get "trashy," from it. And that's not meant as a slight to your statement. It's a head scratching holy crap that's the last thing I think of, rather the opposite. It's a rather clean sounding album but it has loads of character. 7.5 and 3.75 are pretty dark speeds in my experience. Maybe the 7.5ips is from some hi-fi unit nobody heard of? I'll put the link up on a separate thread. Thanks -L. |
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Post by Tbone81 on Mar 8, 2017 13:52:20 GMT -6
Looks interesting, I'd love to hear some comparisions between this, the Zulu and the portico 542's.
I own 542's and I absolutely love them. They make everything sound better. But now I want more channels for multi tracking. I just can't afford 2-4 more channels...hence my interest in this and the Zulu.
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Post by keymod on Mar 8, 2017 14:14:03 GMT -6
Budget hasn't allowed it yet, but I would like to get at least two. |
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 14:14:51 GMT -6
Got a link Langston? I'd love to check that out. I haven't seen any curves or any clips. couldn't find anything other than the diyrecording blurb about the TS500. Cheers, bp Yeah, +12 is pretty ridiculous. +9 CAN be cool, but you have to either want pretty trashy audio, or cut VERY conservatively. My fav was always +5 or +6 on the high output tapes. Bill, But listen to those records man! I don't get "trashy," from it. And that's not meant as a slight to your statement. It's a head scratching holy crap that's the last thing I think of, rather the opposite. It's a rather clean sounding album but it has loads of character. 7.5 and 3.75 are pretty dark speeds in my experience. Maybe the 7.5ips is from some hi-fi unit nobody heard of? I'll put the link up on a separate thread. Thanks -L. Listen to which records?? - I feel like I've been dropped into the middle of a conversation and I have no idea what you speak of. I'm just speaking from PERSONAL experience of running 2" machines for 20 years at every level from "0" to "+9" on literally every brand of tape they made (back then). +12 is insane. Especially if you're sending out tapes to different studios with different engineers cutting. (Standard practice back in the day...) Have you run a 2" machine @ +12 and done records start to finish? I know from experience that on GP9 or the like, +9 can get trashy QUICK if you're not very careful with levels. Of course, it all depends on how hard you hit the machine, and I suppose it depends on your definition of "trashy" as well. If your meters are barely tickling, then yeah, it can be super clean. It's all just levels - there's no magic involved - just how you like your meters to look as your'e tracking. You can calibrate for 0 or +3 and get trashy sounding recordings as well - just make those needles bend off their stops.  I have no experience with 7.5 or 3.75 ips past my days as a youth. I know of no pro machines or any engineers who ever ran those speeds in the "modern" era of tape machines (80-90-early 00's). The noise would have been prohibitive for that era. I'll take your word on that. It makes sense. |
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Post by rowmat on Mar 8, 2017 16:31:41 GMT -6
It would be cool if there was a method of linking a pair for stereo operation.
I have a pair of Sound Skulptor MP566 tube preamps which are really good.
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 16:34:29 GMT -6
It would be cool if there was a method of linking a pair for stereo operation. I have a pair of Sound Skulptor MP566 tube preamps which are really good. In reality, even on a two track machine, neither channel is "linked" to each other than via the physical aspect of tape. Both sets of electronics are completely separate. At least on any tape machine I've ever worked on. While interesting (it certainly could be done I'd guess), it's not really an issue IMO. Thanks for the input on the SS pre's. Things look good. Hope to hear some real world audio soon..... |
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Post by illacov on Mar 8, 2017 16:40:30 GMT -6
Bill, But listen to those records man! I don't get "trashy," from it. And that's not meant as a slight to your statement. It's a head scratching holy crap that's the last thing I think of, rather the opposite. It's a rather clean sounding album but it has loads of character. 7.5 and 3.75 are pretty dark speeds in my experience. Maybe the 7.5ips is from some hi-fi unit nobody heard of? I'll put the link up on a separate thread. Thanks -L. Listen to which records?? - I feel like I've been dropped into the middle of a conversation and I have no idea what you speak of. I'm just speaking from PERSONAL experience of running 2" machines for 20 years at every level from "0" to "+9" on literally every brand of tape they made (back then). +12 is insane. Especially if you're sending out tapes to different studios with different engineers cutting. (Standard practice back in the day...) Have you run a 2" machine @ +12 and done records start to finish? I know from experience that on GP9 or the like, +9 can get trashy QUICK if you're not very careful with levels. Of course, it all depends on how hard you hit the machine, and I suppose it depends on your definition of "trashy" as well. If your meters are barely tickling, then yeah, it can be super clean. It's all just levels - there's no magic involved - just how you like your meters to look as your'e tracking. You can calibrate for 0 or +3 and get trashy sounding recordings as well - just make those needles bend off their stops. I have no experience with 7.5 or 3.75 ips past my days as a youth. I know of no pro machines or any engineers who ever ran those speeds in the "modern" era of tape machines (80-90-early 00's). The noise would have been prohibitive for that era. I'll take your word on that. It makes sense. Janet Jackson "Control," the records/recordings on there. They tracked +12db. I just mentioned it Thanks -L. |
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 16:51:25 GMT -6
Tracking at +12 is very strange, no doubt, but it still doesn't tell us how "hard" they were hitting the machine. Were they +12 above 185nW/m? Do you know what tape they were using? I'm curious as to whether this is "internet common knowledge" or if you have insider information. I've worked on hundreds of albums in that era and have never seen any project @ +12 above 185nW/m. Rarely (maybe 2 or 3) at +9 above 185nW/m. Whatever it was, it certainly didn't hurt the record. There's no way they hit it hard @ +12 above 185nW/m. |
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Post by illacov on Mar 8, 2017 17:01:29 GMT -6
Tracking at +12 is very strange, no doubt, but it still doesn't tell us how "hard" they were hitting the machine. Were they +12 above 185nW/m? Do you know what tape they were using? I'm curious as to whether this is "internet common knowledge" or if you have insider information. I've worked on hundreds of albums in that era and have never seen any project @ +12 above 185nW/m. Rarely (maybe 2 or 3) at +9 above 185nW/m. Whatever it was, it certainly didn't hurt the record. There's no way they hit it hard @ +12 above 185nW/m. Insider information LOL medium.com/micro-chop/jimmy-jam-and-terry-lewis-recorded-janet-jacksons-entire-control-album-in-the-red-1da761b1af98#.l96zttr8lThanks -L. |
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Post by drbill on Mar 8, 2017 17:08:56 GMT -6
He said they were hitting red @ +12. That means peaks pushing well over +18 above 185nW/m. After listening to the album, I kind of find it hard to believe. Maybe it's a minneapolis thing or maybe a cool quote for the magazine showing how slamming they were.... LOL Still, there's not much distortion there from what I can remember. (Been awhile since listening to it.)
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) and they're tanks. Solid build and tone. Really nice units. I imagine these are really cool too.
I have no experience with 7.5 or 3.75 ips past my days as a youth. I know of no pro machines or any engineers who ever ran those speeds in the "modern" era of tape machines (80-90-early 00's). The noise would have been prohibitive for that era. I'll take your word on that. It makes sense.