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Re: [ARSCLIST] Capstanless ATRs (was Quarter-inch splicing tabs)



A variation on this theme of feed drag and tension was the later invention and use of servoed feed and take-up reels for capstanless tape handling used on my brother's (John Stephens) analog multitrack ATRs that are still in use by many engineers who prefer it for mastering. Ampex later used a similar type of technique on one of their models (John never patented his). His additional R&D has to do with upgrading Bosch FDL60 Telecines.
http://stephensaudiovideo.com/


He is also mentioned in the AES history of American Tape Recording:
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:21D8Xe9AHy4J:www.aes.org/aeshc/pdf/chronology.pdf+Stephens+Multitrack&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=20

Also one of his legendary 1" cutting/splicing blocks is on sale on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ampex-Stephens-signed-Editall-2-inch-splice-blocks_W0QQitemZ7395867404QQcategoryZ15199QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Needless to say, there is a bit of family pride in his accomplishments

Rod Stephens
Family Theater Productions

Robert Hodge wrote:

Ampex used an indirect drive on their first machines- Models 200 and 300. The fine speed adjustment for the capstan drive was accomplished by adding and subtracting the amount of drag applied to the rubber tire coupled through a flywheel to the capstan shaft. A minimum warm up time of 5 minutes was needed before any adjustment to the drive was attempted.

A supplied strobe disc was used to determine the correct amount of drag.
It must have been difficult to maintain speed consistancy between machines , using this method.

No wonder later machines used the vastly superior direct capstan drive motor.

Bob Hodge





Robert Hodge,
Senior Engineer
Belfer Audio Archive
Syracuse University
222 Waverly Ave .
Syracuse N.Y. 13244-2010

315-443- 7971
FAX-315-443-4866



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