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Parts, Service, Technical Support

ATR Services provides genuine parts with the services and technical support to keep your ATR or Studer recording and playing at peak performance.

ATR102 1/4" and 1/2" 2 track recorders

ATR Services is best known for detailed restorations of the 30+ year old original Ampex ATR100 Series recorders. Our restorations are more detailed in construction and accuracy than were possible or practical at the Ampex factory. We take great care not to alter the exceptional sonic qualities of the best tape recorder ever produced. We do however improve the build quality and incorporate a number of reliability modifications as the original models were subject to a number of related failures.

All restorations start by face milling the transport aluminum deck casting. This assures a flat plane in which to start construction. Over 30 years, the cast aluminum tends to warp due to the weight of the assemblies hanging from the plate. This warpage varies but can be substantial, which cannot be tolerated. Next, we re-build all of the motors including installation of new close tolerance ball bearings and re- surfacing the commutators.

The direct drive capstan assembly is replaced with our mastering grade rubber capstan. Tape guides are re-built new ball bearings. Tension arms are resurfaced on our precision lathe to provide a true running envelope. The head block assembly is checked for correct elevation and warpage on our surface plate and optical comparator. The tape heads are replaced with new Flux Magnetics heads built to our specifications.

The cast reel turntables are re-cut to rotate with minimal run-out and the cork pads are replaced. Deck wiring harness is inspected. Power supply is re-capped and the transformer is HyPot tested to insure good insulation properties.

All circuit boards are rebuilt with various new parts and reliability modifications, and all output transistors are blanket replaced with new insulators and sockets if required. Finished machines are then checked for proof of performance with graphical data to the customer.

All machines are re-painted to exact original Ampex colors and textures with all graphics are re-silkscreened. And, the transport control pad plastic face is replaced with a new installed OEM vinyl wristpad.

ARIA discrete class-A reference series tape recorder electronics

Introduced in 2001, ARIA remains in a class by itself due to it's high quality, discrete signal path running in pure Class A mode.

ARIA is completely self-contained down to its own outboard power supply unit. It is an easy bolt on addition to many different tape recorder models including STUDER, OTARI, TASCAM and TELEFUNKEN recorders.

ARIA provides improved low level micro-sonic detail since it does not suffer from tube rush noise of vacuum tube based electronics.

ARIA is available in both record and playback or the mastering playback only version. Frame sizes are 2 track or 8 track.

It is interesting to note that the resolution of analog tape recordings using the binary oxide particle count far exceeds all digital formats at this time. ARIA will provide improved playback resolution on old master recordings. The resolution locked into recordings made in the 1950's are in every way revealed when played back through ARIA's high definition playback amp.

When used for new recording projects, ARIA's 438 kHz bias frequency assures the best possible low level resolution of any recording device, analog or digital.

Aria has been recognized by the TEC® awards foundation.

ATR102, 1" two track studio recorder

ATR Services introduced the first Ampex ATR102 based 1" 2 track studio mastering recorder (called the One-Two) in 1998. Since that time over fifty ATR102, 1" have been delivered world-wide. Our One-Two delivers a solid 80 dB of dynamic range that will handle any recording task and is particularly excellent for highly dynamic classical and jazz recordings.

The 1" 2 track format dictates the tape transport be as precise as possible This is obvious as any vertical tape movement at the recording or playback head will cause smearing of the instruments and depth of field inconsistencies due to large dynamic azimuth tracking errors. The larger the track width, the more pronounced the azimuth error can be. To stabilize the tape path at the tape heads ATR Services is credited with the reverse bias entrance and exit guides at the head assembly. This innovation not only solved the dynamic azimuth error issues but guarantees excellent interchange between all of the One-Two machines we have built. Excellent Interchange allows you ((for example) to record a performance on an ATR One-Two in Italy and the tape you make will play back identically when that tape is played in mastering in the USA.

Our 1" 2 track machine easily converts to record or playback any ½" 2 track or ¼" 2 track tape as well adding value to the system. Like all ATR102's we offer, each One-Two is restored to better than new condition and these have had a near zero failure rate over the 13 years we have been building them.

Our ATR One-Two has been recognized by the TEC® awards foundation.

VS20 Mastering Grade Variable speed control

The VS-20 is designed to replace the aging Ampex VS-10 VSO. The VS-20 features complete digital control of capstan speed. Its fine stepped 0.01% resolution of nominal speed makes it ideal for use in mastering.