Why do knowledgeable professionals insist on an ATAE precision reproducer?

1. To reveal how good an analog master recording actually sounds. A master tape might have astonishing sound quality, but playback on even the finest vintage studio recorder adds audible distortion masking that recording’s true fidelity. Prized master tapes deserve the highest quality playback available only from a modern optimized platform.

2. To prevent damage to irreplaceable tapes. Subjecting a valuable master tape to the high tensions and frictional stresses from a recorder's headblock is dangerous because tapes commonly undergo chemical degradation over time often making them fragile and highly susceptible to damage. Further, a recorder could erase or overwrite the recording. Responsible conservation practice dictates that only a carefully engineered playback platform be used.

Not many have access to priceless analog master tapes. We build playback machines for those who do.

Interested in the science behind our state-of-the-art tape playback machines? Ask for our list of technical briefs. We’re in California, USA

Learn about the effort to preserve heritage master tapes at: recordedmusicpreservation.org

ATAE buys Studer A80, A800, A820 and A827 tape machines in any condition.