This page about Studer A80 Tape Recorder is a stub. You can help improve it:
Pricing and availability
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
Experience the timeless charm and unparalleled sound quality of the Studer A80 Tape Recorder, a staple in professional studios worldwide. This iconic analog multitrack recorder is revered for its exceptional tape handling and superior audio fidelity, making it a must-have for audio purists and vintage gear enthusiasts. Designed with precision engineering, the A80 offers a warm, rich sound that digital recording often struggles to replicate. Its robust build and reliable performance have made it a trusted companion for countless engineers and producers over the years.
The Studer A80 is equipped with multiple track recording capabilities, allowing artists to capture intricate performances with clarity and depth. Its user-friendly interface and durable construction ensure it stands the test of time, both in terms of functionality and sound quality. With adjustable tape speeds and easy-to-use controls, the A80 provides flexibility and control, catering to the needs of both seasoned professionals and newcomers to the world of analog recording.
Whether you're looking to add a vintage touch to your recordings or capture the essence of classic studio sessions, the Studer A80 delivers a truly authentic analog experience. Its legacy and craftsmanship continue to inspire musicians and audio professionals, offering a bridge between the past and the present.
Key Features:
- Renowned for exceptional tape handling and audio fidelity
- Multiple track recording capabilities
- Adjustable tape speeds for versatile recording options
- Durable construction with a user-friendly interface
- Trusted by professional studios worldwide for its reliable performance
Videos
Doctor Mix
Mixing With Tape: Studer A80 Master Recorder
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Studer A80 Tape Recorder.
User experience
-
Owners describe the Studer A80's sound as smooth and clear, with a notably wider soundstage on both headphones and speakers compared to digital audio.
Source
Setup and maintenance
-
Maintaining tape machines like the Studer A80 is challenging, requiring regular upkeep to preserve sound quality, but it's praised for delivering stellar audio when properly maintained.
Source -
Use unwaxed dental floss, 90% isopropyl alcohol, and Q-tips to clean the tape path and heads, avoiding wear from oxide particles.
Source -
Regularly check for mirror-like gloss on the tape heads to prevent wear and ensure optimal performance.
Source -
MRL tape is essential for calibrating the Studer A80, especially for those working with 2" tapes.
Source
Use cases and applications
-
The Studer A80 is highly regarded for mastering, with its use in professional studios like Abbey Road, reflecting its enduring high quality and value in top-tier audio production.
Source
Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Part of White's home studio, as stated by recording and mixing engineer Joe Chiccarelli in this October 2007 Sound on Sound interview about the production of Icky Thump.
“Jack and Meg are big supporters of the analogue format, and he’s a big believer in the old-school approach: punch it in, no comping. If you don’t like a vocal take, just erase it and redo it. He has a Studer A80 eight-track recorder at home, and we used a Studer A827 with a 16-track head, and Emtec 900 2-inch tape, 30ips, no Dolby."
"Yea, I'm old fashioned in that way. I have a soundcard and a computer, but I've also got an eight-track 1-inch Studer tape machine and two master tape recorders.
Used to record Bone Machine, as stated by engineer Biff Dawes in this February 26, 2015 Mix Online interview.
The album was recorded on a Studer A80 24-track machine, with Dolby SR selectively used on certain tracks.
The same A80 was used to record Mule Variations, as stated by producer Jacquire King in this interview from issue 9 of Audio Technology Magazine.
As a result of using these various room mics, King sometimes ended up with a full 24-track, which meant that choices had to be made upon which room mics to use. The 24-track that was used was a late ‘70s Studer A80 MkIII, with BASF 900 tape, no Dolby, 30ips, recorded at +6, "hit very hard, which gives more tape compression". The album was mixed to analogue, an Ampex ATR102, on a half-inch tape running at 30ips, without Dolby.
Kate's studio was equipped with two A80 1/2' tape machines. It's what she used to record The Hounds of Love, The Sensual World, and The Red Shoes.
There's a full list of Stereolab's live and studio equipment, circa 2004, listed in this e-musician article.
At 6:23 in this video, Robert Babicz's A80 can be seen. It can also be seen in this Facebook post.
It was in 1983, while producing at a small studio named the Producer's Workshop on London's Fulham Road, that Steve Lipson received a call asking him to spend a couple of days engineering for Trevor Horn. This would be at Sarm West, where an SSL E-Series console was supplemented by a couple of Studer A80 tape machines.
After getting his ideas together, Midge transferred them to his studio, which is as he puts it "everything the budding Popstar needs" comprising a Harrison M3 desk, Studer 24 track (A80) recorder, Studer 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch mastering and F1 digital mastering system. Ultravox's Lament album was in fact recorded at his 'home' studio.
Daniel Miller is listed as using the Studer A80 Tape Recorder, as mentioned in Sound on Sound.
According to the "equipment list" found on Church Studios, owned by Epworth, one of the things listed is Studer A80 tape recorder.
In the video, where Steve Mac is taking Future Music Magazine on a tour of his studio a tape recorder is shown and then, at 0:50:03, he says "It's a Studer A-80".
From 1985 Sound on Sound interview, which describe his studio (Havoc House).
The control room is dominated by the monitor array of four Tannoy HPD drivers in huge enclosures set each side of the console tape machines; an early Studer A80 16 track and an Ampex ATR 102 (the half-inch version of the ATR 100). Other machines sit on shelves - cassette recorders and a bank of Sony F1 chargers, processors and recorders.
Album Usage
The Studer A80 Tape Recorder has been featured on the following albums:
Lament (2024 Steven Wilson Mix)
Ultravox & Tigerlily (2024)
Icky Thump
The White Stripes & Jack White & Jack White (2007)
Mule Variations (Remastered)
Tom Waits (1999)
The Red Shoes (2018 Remaster)
Kate Bush (1993)
Bone Machine (2023 Remaster)
Tom Waits (1992)
The Sensual World (2018 Remaster)
Kate Bush (1989)
Hounds of Love (2018 Remaster)
Kate Bush (1985)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Studer A80 Tape Recorder, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
More STUDER Analog
Community setups
Similar
Most Popular Analog
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
austinmwGear IQ 5227
-