Tape machine masterclass with Dale Manquen

by **Brent** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 2:11 pm

Dale Manquen has expressed interest in coming out to Australia and conducting a 2 or 3 day intensive masterclass in the theory and engineering of tape recorders.The topics would include the record, playback and erase functions, head manufacturing, tape manufacturing, transport design and diagnosis, and related topics.

For the uninitiated here is a link to some info about Dale:

http://www.manquen.net/audio/index.php?page=9

Suffice to say he's one of the big guys in tape machine development and engineering and the worlds leading authority on high resolution flutter analysis of tape transports. A shortlist of development projects Dale's been involved with would include the 3M M56, Ampex MM1100, AG440C and ATR-100. He was also the mechanical engineer behind the development of a little thing called Flying Faders(TM) and is joint holder of the 3 associated patents. Dale also ran a program at Cal State Northridge training recording studio technicians, probably the only one of it's type anywhere.

Dale has taught me a great deal about transport analysis over the past couple of years and as an extension of that I expressed interest in travelling to the U.S. to attend a class. Dale then asked if there would be enough interest to warrant him coming here. I said I doubt it but I'd see if I could gauge interest.

So... Who'd be interested in this and which would be a preferred capital city for attendance? Cost is unknown but it would cost, so bear that in mind, although the more interest the cheaper it would be. I would expect it to be hundreds not thousands though.

If there is bugger all interest at least it was worth asking.

Brent Punshon

by **wez** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 3:56 pm

hi brent, i might be up for that

cheers, wez
(sunny melbourne)

by **rob** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 4:54 pm

might be up for it, depending on content

by **rick** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:01 pm

ahh hell count me in
i will gladly host it if i have a studio that is finished at the time

by **Brent** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:03 pm

thanks guys.

Rob - Any specific content that would be of interest or do I assume you just mean the more advanced end of things?

I'll get more specific info from Dale regarding content asap. Right now he's on the road having travelled to AES NY from California so it might be a bit difficult to get specifics right away.

Brent Punshon

by **Linear** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:31 pm

Count me in if it's in Sydney... happy to host it too if there's nowhere else available.

Cheers

Chris

by **Chris H** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:09 pm

Ok, I'm interested in it too.

by **jeep** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:17 am

by **mylesgm** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:40 am

I'd be interested if its in melbourne...

by **jithknot** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:28 am

Id be very interested :)

by **The Tasmanian** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:07 am

I would be interested if someone was making decent tape - otherwise its nostalgia

by **Brent** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:04 am

Hi Chris,

I have one of Dales T2DS flutter meters. Not only does it do high resolution flutter and scrape flutter analysis (FM), it can analyse the AM component of any tape and quantify the (non subjective) AM performance of a tape, whether a new reel or 50 years old.

I use this box quantify new and hire reel performance at our joint with numbers and spectra (FFT analysis). According to the magic box the tape being made now is excellent. Even after 10 sessions (on a good reel) the numbers haven't changed and it still sounds good. This points to good manufacturing process and a durable tape (and a well setup tape path).

But yes, there have been many well documented cases of bodgy batches from RMGI. We've seen a few ourselves. ATR's tape is probably the best tape ever manufactured to date though.

I'm sure AM component analysis is one of the things Dale would cover in the class.

Gee, that's worked out to be not a bad sales pitch.

I've asked the question regarding more info on content.

Brent Punshon

by **The Tasmanian** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:32 am

Brent - that is good news
we have 5 x 2" machines at BJB
Ampex's Studer MCI - I love them to bits and really want to keep them going
Now if I could only find a 1inch Ampex mm1200 8 track......

by **13thbeach** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:52 pm

I'm also interested. Especially if there are good biscuts involved.

by **Brent** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:23 pm

Here's an outline that gives a feel for the topics. This one is 10 years old and has been pared down further from this but gives the gist.

Dale commented "the course works best for folks who already know how to operate and align a tape recorder. The course delves into how and why all tape recorders work, not how to twist R26".

www.headgap.com.au/moving_rust/TAPE_REC ... 8-3-99.pdf

I'd be interested to know who would still be up for it if I said cost was $290 for the 2 days or $250 for early payment. I'm costing it out to do in both Melbourne and Sydney sometime after March. The idea is if it looks too ugly (cost and risk wise) pulling zero favours then I'll go back to plan A. If it looks like it could grow legs with the odd favour then it might be worth pursuing.

All comments welcome and further expressions of interest appreciated. Thanks to Rick for the space to float such a crazy idea.

Brent Punshon

Tape machine masterclass with Dale Manquen

Tape machine masterclass with Dale Manquen

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