Our History

Introduced in the mid 1980s, Studer’s flagship A820 brought simplified operator control of tape tensions. ATAE saw this important advancement as an opportunity to fit “read-only” (SHRO) head blocks running at ONE-HALF of normal tensions, a modification that can result in nearly EIGHT TIMES less abrasive wear to tapes than seen with a conventional three-head recorder-reproducer.

Our second-generation SHRO head block for the A820-2CH (shown above) was sold only with the “Stage One” reproducer, our popular re-manufactured A820 (discontinued in 2012).

Today’s ATAE reproducers (either A80 or A820 based) come with third-generation head blocks that are entirely of our own design and manufacture.

Founded in 1987, ATAE builds state-of-the-art reproducers based on the legendary Studer A80 and A820 tape transport platforms extensively modified with proprietary mechanical and electronic upgrades to maximize playback accuracy while minimizing wear on often fragile tapes.

ATAE’s focus on playback optimization recovers the highest possible sonic fidelity while also conserving irreplaceable heritage master recordings.