Ampex / ATR Services ATR 100 Series ATR-102 1" 2-Track Mastering Analog Tape Recorder with Aria Electronics (Dave Hill / Cranesong)

**LAST CHANCE! We have lowered the price on this 1" ATR-102 to the lowest we'll be going, and it will be taken down soon... so, this is your last chance to buy this incredible tape deck! Please contact us if you're interested! Also, we have had several requests to crate and freight ship the ATR-102. Although it is possible to ship it, it is VERY expensive due to the high value of the tape deck. The quotes we've received are in the $2000-2500 range. That's why we're keeping the listing as local pickup only. Please contact us with any questions.

This Ampex ATR 100 Series ATR-102 1" 2-Track Mastering Analog Tape Recorder was purchased in July, 2000, from ATR Services. It was an ATR-102 that was meticulously refurbished to like new condition by ATR Service / Mike Spitz. It was further enhanced with a brand new 1" Flux Magnetics head stack, and modified to accommodate the larger tape size. S/N for the original Ampex was #1312299.

In 2004 / 2005, ATR Services converted the machine to Aria Electronics, which was a completely new upgrade to the electronics and metering, designed by Dave Hill of Cranesong. This comprehensive upgrade turned the machine into an "ATR-102 on steroids"--not only was it a 1" tape deck, the widest two-channel tape format ever made, it also now housed the most pristine, mastering-grade input and output electronics for an archival-level of sound quality.

This turned the tape deck into one of only a handful of Aria Electronics / 1" machines in existence, making this a true rarity. There are only a few of these in the entire world, and this one is in excellent condition, since it has been so meticulously cared for, and so sparingly used. It remains in excellent functional and cosmetic condition, and it sounds like brand new (most clients couldn't afford the price upgrade to run their mixes through this machine, so 99% of the time, it wasn't used on mastering projects). There are some scratches here or there, as expected and shown in the photos, but the pictures showcase just how clean this beautiful deck looks!

This ATR-102 can always be converted to a 1/2" head stack later, and you can swap between 1" and 1/2", but once you hear the 1" heads on your recordings, you'll never want to switch them out, which is why they were never changed from 1".

There is NOTHING on earth that sounds like this tape deck, as 1" tape is the widest two-channel format ever designed. It can take an "overly digital-sounding" Pro Tools mix and instantly add the widest, deepest analog warmth, depth, glue, and punch to the sound. The glue and power it adds to the low end of your mix is the most beautiful thing ever! There is no plugin that has come close to emulating this--there is no way to digitally recreate the exact warmth and life this machine imparts on an audio signal. It was designed as the absolute pinnacle of what can be achieved with analog tape recording technology, and no other tape format or electronics have come close to this sound quality. It is the ultimate "holy grail" analog tape mastering machine, equipped with the finest mastering-grade electronics at both the input and output stages.

The quirks with this machine, since it is an analog piece: when set to +18, the left meter doesn't function. This is a simple fix, but we never bothered since we usually set the meter range to +4 where it works perfectly. Also, the Aria power supply requires 30 minutes of warm up time, and must be switched off and on several times to get the meters to lock in and function normally. According to Dave Hill, this was by design and ensures normal operation.

This sale includes the ATR-102 with 1" heads and Aria Electronics, the Aria power supply, the Magnetic Reference Laboratory MRL 1" alignment tape, the de-magnetizer, lint-free swabs for cleaning, the tools needed for azimuth and bias / control adjustments, and all the original paperwork and plots / maintenance manual. New tape can be purchased from ATR Services / ATR Magnetics. Aligning the deck is very easy to do with the Aria electronics since the tone generator is built in, so everything you need is on the machine itself (you can very simply change the “tone” of the tape deck from project to project, or even on a daily basis if you’re looking for more or less saturation, more or less brightness, etc… it is infinitely modifiable via how you align it).

Due to the insanely high value and delicate nature of this item, we will require pickup only, and it will not be shipped. Pickup can be scheduled at our location in North Carolina, for free; or, we can deliver it to you in either Orlando, Florida or Nashville, Tennessee for a fee. It has never been shipped since we've owned it, we've only driven to pick it up or deliver it when originally purchasing it or doing the Aria mods, and it is simply too valuable to ever trust it to a freight company. There has never been a problem with the machine, it has always functioned perfectly! And treating it this delicately is the only way to make sure it stays that way. It is an extremely rare piece of art that requires this level of attention in handing it to its next owner.

Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a truly unparalleled masterpiece of analog tape recording technology!