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Average Price: $10,450

High-end/Boutique

$499

$1700+

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Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

The Studer A827 24 Track Analog Tape Machine is a hallmark of professional studio recording, revered for its impeccable sound quality and reliability. Standing as a testament to analog warmth, this machine is sought after by audio purists and professionals who crave the authentic tape saturation that digital simply can't replicate. Known for its world-class audio fidelity, the A827 offers a seamless recording experience, capturing every nuance with precision. Its robust build ensures durability, making it a staple in studios around the world.

Designed for ease of use, the A827 features intuitive controls that allow engineers to focus on creativity rather than technical hurdles. The 24-track capability provides ample room for complex recordings, whether you're tracking a full band or layering intricate soundscapes. The machine's transport system is engineered for smooth tape handling, minimizing wear and tear while maximizing tape life. This ensures that your investment continues to deliver high-quality recordings year after year.

Whether you're an experienced engineer or a newcomer to the world of analog recording, the Studer A827 offers a user-friendly interface with a legacy of excellence. It bridges the gap between vintage warmth and modern precision, making it a versatile choice for any recording setup.

Key Features:

  • 24-track recording capability for expansive soundscapes
  • Renowned for its world-class audio fidelity
  • Intuitive control layout for ease of use
  • Smooth and durable transport system for reliable performance
  • Compatible with a variety of tape formats for versatility

Product specs

Brand Studer
Model A827-MCH Gold Edition 2" 24-Track Analog Tape Machine
Year 1990s
Made In Switzerland
Categories Recording Gear

FAQs

What are the main features of the Studer A 827?

The Studer A 827 is a 24-track analog tape machine known for its high-quality sound reproduction and reliability. It features a 2-inch tape format and was manufactured in Switzerland during the 1990s, making it a staple in professional recording studios.

Is the Studer A 827 suitable for modern recording studios?

Yes, the Studer A 827 remains highly regarded in modern studios for its warm analog sound. While it requires maintenance and tape availability, it is ideal for studios aiming to capture classic analog tones.

How does the Studer A 827 handle 24-track recording?

The Studer A 827 allows for 24-track recording on 2-inch tape, providing a robust platform for multi-track recording sessions. Each track is recorded separately, offering flexibility in mixing and production.

What maintenance does the Studer A 827 require?

The Studer A 827 requires regular maintenance, including head alignment, tape path cleaning, and calibration to ensure optimal performance. It's advisable to have a professional technician perform these tasks periodically.

Can the Studer A 827 be integrated with digital recording setups?

Yes, the Studer A 827 can be integrated with digital setups using converters or interfaces to transfer analog recordings to digital formats, allowing for hybrid recording workflows.

White Sea Studio

White Sea Studio

THIS IS HOW A 24 TRACK TAPE MACHINE WORKS!

Video thumbnail for THIS IS HOW A 24 TRACK TAPE MACHINE WORKS! by White Sea Studio

THIS IS HOW A 24 TRACK TAPE MACHINE WORKS!

White Sea Studio

White Sea Studio

Video thumbnail for Loading the Studer A827 by CEMBStudios

Loading the Studer A827

CEMBStudios

CEMBStudios

Video thumbnail for Servicing a Vintage Studer A827 by Funky Junk Italy

Servicing a Vintage Studer A827

Funky Junk Italy

Funky Junk Italy

Video thumbnail for Studer A827 Calibration (Visconti Studio, Kingston University) by Leah Kardos

Studer A827 Calibration (Visconti Studio, Kingston University)

Leah Kardos

Leah Kardos

Video thumbnail for Overview Of The Studer A827 Multi channel Recorder by Reel Resilience

Overview Of The Studer A827 Multi channel Recorder

Reel Resilience

Reel Resilience

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Studer A 827.

Setup and maintenance

  • Correct tape alignment and biasing are crucial; these depend on tape type, machine, and speed. Record and drop-in using sync heads for optimal results.

    Source
  • To reduce noise, add extra top end during recording to dial back high frequencies on playback, similar to Dolby SR noise reduction.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Use ears over VU meters for accurate recording levels. VU meters are slow, making it easy to distort high-frequency instruments like tambourines and hi-hats.

    Source
  • The Studer A 827's reverse-play function is accessed by holding shift and pressing play, eliminating the need for tape flipping.

    Source
  • The headgap delay feature can be used to manage latency issues with hardware inserts by selecting playback from the sync or repro head.

    Source

User experience

  • Input levels are critical; aim for near-red LEDs without peaking. Tape can forgive peaks, but caution is advised to avoid distortion.

    Source
  • Owners often discuss the A827 in the context of its analytical sound qualities, indicating a preference for precise audio reproduction over coloration.

    Source

Comparisons

  • 15 ips is preferred for rock music due to better drum sound, while 30 ips may suit other genres differently.

    Source
  • The Studer A827 is often seen as more sophisticated than its predecessor, the A800, which is still highly regarded for its robust performance.

    Source
  • Studer and Otari machines are described as analytical and flat sounding, contrasting with the "fat" sound often attributed to transformer-balanced MCI and Ampex models.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Studer A 827's usage isn't solely for analog tape saturation; it offers a distinct character without pushing it to saturation, unlike lower-quality machines.

    Source
  • Utilizing varispeed allows for real-time changes in vocal timbre while maintaining pitch, a technique used by artists like Frank Zappa and Tim Smith.

    Source
  • Recording drums hot onto tape can create desirable tape saturation effects, offering a more pleasing tone than digital clipping.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Reference calibration tapes for the A827 can range from $800 to $1700, reflecting the importance of high-quality calibration for optimal machine performance.

    Source

4.5 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 3 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Jack White uses Studer A 827

Jack White

Singer, Guitarist

The Raconteurs

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used to record Icky Thump, as stated by recording and mixing engineer Joe Chiccarelli in this October 2007 Sound on Sound interview.

“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. I recorded pretty hot, because I wanted the stuff to have an extra little bit of distortion, and more edge and lots of tape compression. These things became part of the sound. I also had to make sure my levels were consistent, so when I spliced something in, it didn’t become unmixable and out of control.”

See how Daft Punk uses Studer A 827

Daft Punk

Music Producer

...
Verified via Soundonsound

For the recording of Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, signals were split and sent both to Pro Tools and tape. "The analogue side of the recording was a Studer A827 running 24-track ATR tape at 15ips, with +3 alignment and Dolby SR, because we didn't want to have hiss."

See how Paul McCartney uses Studer A 827

Paul McCartney

Singer, Bassist

The Beatles

...
Verified via Hog Hill Mill Blog

Paul McCartney is associated with the Studer A827 24 Track Analog Tape Machine, as mentioned in the Hog Hill Mill Blog's "Recorders & Accessories" post.

See how Mac DeMarco uses Studer A 827

Mac DeMarco

Singer, Guitarist

Mac DeMarco

...
Verified via Photo

Featured in this September 26, 2020 Instagram post by Love Magnet Electronics.

Mac and his Studer A827 2” 24 Track are both very happy. #studer #analogrecording #macdemarco

See how Justin Vernon uses Studer A 827

Justin Vernon

Singer, Guitarist

Bon Iver

...
Verified via Soundonsound

In this article it says Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) had a Studer A827 in his April Base studio

See how Bob Dylan uses Studer A 827

Bob Dylan

Keyboardist, Composer

Traveling Wilburys

...
Verified via Photo

A Studer A827 was used to record Bob Dylan's 1999 album, Love and Theft, according to this article by E-Musician.

See how Jack Johnson uses Studer A 827

Jack Johnson

Singer, Guitarist

G.Love and Jack Johnson

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used to record Sleeping Through the Static, as stated by mix engineer Robert Carranza in this May 2008 Sound on Sound interview.

Recordings took place off and on over a period of three months in the late spring and summer of 2007. This included a 10–day spell at Johnson's Hawaiian studio, and Carranza ended up buying another Studer A827 plus a Malcolm Toft console especially for the project. "I took the microphones with me to Hawaii, and we had a duplicate of my outboard and preamp rack, so the signal chain was exactly the same. There was no great pressure in working. We really went with what we felt like." The only moment of concern came when the 18 RMG900 two–inch reels (recorded without Dolby, at +6/185) they had filled had to be sent back to Los Angeles for mixdown. Naturally, Carranza made Pro Tools copies before shipping. (...) Robert Carranza mixed the album at Solar Powered Plastic Plant Studios, happily using the Studer A827 and the SSL AWS900.

(...) "Choosing the studio equipment was up to me," explained Carranza. "Nobody had any foresight as to what to get. I already owned all the outboard gear that we needed and I also have a complete Pro Tools system, so the main challenge was to get a tape machine, a desk, and a monitoring system that would work in the relatively untreated acoustic space. We ended up buying a Studer A827 24–track from Harry Maslin, an old engineer and producer who has done a lot of great records. As for the desk, Jack wanted something economical and low–maintenance. I've grown up with API, and they're great, but I know how problematic they can be. The same goes for Neve. So I settled for the SSL AWS900. I realised that I could get any sound I wanted on this console, as opposed to a Neve, which will only give you the Neve sound. As I have a rack full of preamps, four Neve 1073s, eight API 512s, 12 API L200s, I only intended the SSL AWS900 to be used for monitoring and mixing."

See how Meg White uses Studer A 827

Meg White

Singer, Drummer

The White Stripes

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used to record Icky Thump, as stated by recording and mixing engineer Joe Chiccarelli in this October 2007 Sound on Sound interview.

“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. I recorded pretty hot, because I wanted the stuff to have an extra little bit of distortion, and more edge and lots of tape compression. These things became part of the sound. I also had to make sure my levels were consistent, so when I spliced something in, it didn’t become unmixable and out of control.”

See how André 3000 uses Studer A 827

André 3000

Singer, Rapper

Dungeon Family

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used to track Outkast's Speakerboxx/The Love Below.

See how Norah Jones uses Studer A 827

Norah Jones

Singer, Guitarist

Puss N Boots

...
Verified via EMusician

Used to record The Fall, as stated in this February 1, 2010 Electronic Musician interview with Jones, producer Jacquire King and his assistant engineer Brad Bivens.

Recording in mid-2009 at New York’s The Magic Shop, Studio A (Neve 80 Series console with 1079 modules to 16-track Studer A827 2-inch 24-track to Pro Tools|HD3) and L.A.’s Sunset Sound, Studio 2 (Neve 8088 with 1073 preamps and EQs to Studer A827 2-inch 24-track to Pro Tools), Jones and King adopted a quasi Steely Dan approach, often recording the same song with different groups, then cherry-picking the best performances.

See how M. Ward uses Studer A 827

M. Ward

Singer, Guitarist

She & Him

...
Verified via EMusician

Used to record Volume 3, as mentioned in this April 15, 2015 Electronic Musician interview.

Deschanel usually sings into a Neumann U47. “I have done a number of mic shoot-outs to see what we liked best,” she says. “But we don’t always universally stick to [the U47]; I love an RCA 77, too.”

On this project, [producer Pierre] de Reeder placed U47s for Deschanel and Ward; both also went to Neve 1073 mic pre’s, and Deschanel’s vocal took a small amount of 1176 compression. “Nothing’s heavily compressed,” de Reeder points out. “It’s just barely rocking the needle and making sure everything’s in control.”

All of the other inputs went through preamps in Sound Factory’s custom API console, then straight to a Studer A827 24-track tape machine.

See how Big Boi uses Studer A 827

Big Boi

Rapper, Music Producer

Dungeon Family

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used to track Outkast's Speakerboxx/The Love Below.

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 A 827, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Neumann U47
Neumann U47 Condenser Microphones
8
AMS Neve 1073
AMS Neve 1073 Preamps & Channel Strips
7
Shure SM57
Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphones
6
Neumann U67
Neumann U67 Condenser Microphones
6
Neumann M149 Tube
Neumann M149 Tube Condenser Microphones
5
Neumann U87
Neumann U87 Condenser Microphones
5
Shure SM7
Shure SM7 Dynamic Microphones
5
Avid Pro Tools
Avid Pro Tools DAW Software
4
Avid HD I/O
Avid HD I/O Audio Interfaces
4

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