Anyone have any information on the Otari MX80 2" machine? I've heard mixed stories about them.

I'm considering picking one up because of the price and compact size, which leads to my next question: How heavy are these machines? My apartment/future studio is on the 5th floor, and there's no elevator.

Any advice would be great.

Good luck.

Though slightly larger, the studio I work at owns an MTR-90. Before we moved to our new location, we were on the top floor of an industrial building (three flights of stairs). We had to crane the tape machine out of the building. If I remember correctly, the MTR-90 is about 460 lbs. I would imagine the MX-80 is probably between twenty to fifty lbs. lighter-- but still, a beast nonetheless.

Also, if you want an opinion-- when I was in school we used MX-80's. I didn't like them. Like most Otari's they sort of lack "a sound", they have a pretty flat response. Which can be good or bad. The MX-80 is way less stable than the MTR-90 as far as headstack, swing arms, capstan, etc. The MX-80 can be a pain in the ass to keep aligned. Having worked with both machines, I definitley favor the MTR-90. And for the hell of it, the Mark II is noticeably better than the Mark I-- I've never used a Mark III but I've heard they are super stable.

i do believe jackpot has this machine (larry crane, tape op). maybe try that forum. also chris walla, death cab for cutie, has one of these, his thoughts:

"OTARI MX80; 24 track tape machine, 1992: A Mercedes is nicer, but it's expensive when it breaks, and you get real mad when someone keys it in the parking lot. You can beat a Honda to death and it still loves you as much as your dog does."

hope that helps some.

i was considering one but eventually went w/an MTR90 mk III instead. the MX80s are lighter/smaller but man, 5 flights? i'd look into a radar. steve advised me against the MX80 before i purchased.

my MTR90 went up one flight and it was terrible. 2 failed attempts by myself and friends, and finally had to call in huge mover dudes to do it, even after taking all PSU/audio/transport control cards/guts out. i probably dropped 100lbs off it doing so, but still....

one of the best lines was one of the movers looking at me and saying, "don't they make computers to record on these days?" and i was like, shut it and start lifting. in my head of course, the guy was twice my size...

you can get the physical dimensions/weights for both machines' manuals at

http://classes.berklee.edu/mpe/pdf_files/manuals_pdf/

I work with Randy Blevins in Nashville, TN and he has had a lot of clients buy MTR 90's and MX80's from him. He has maybe 2 right now. He'd give you an honest answer about the feedback from his clients and spend the time on the phone talking with you about pros and cons. His is THE MCI guy, but he dabbles in Otari machines.

Matt

I´m looking for a remote for the MX-80, should anyone happen to know of a spare somewhere,

nick92675 wrote:my MTR90 went up one flight and it was terrible. 2 failed attempts by myself and friends, and finally had to call in huge mover dudes to do it, even after taking all PSU/audio/transport control cards/guts out. i probably dropped 100lbs off it doing so, but still....

Do you remember how much this cost you? Also, did you just call regular local "movers" or someone else?

telefunken wrote:

nick92675 wrote:my MTR90 went up one flight and it was terrible. 2 failed attempts by myself and friends, and finally had to call in huge mover dudes to do it, even after taking all PSU/audio/transport control cards/guts out. i probably dropped 100lbs off it doing so, but still....

Do you remember how much this cost you? Also, did you just call regular local "movers" or someone else?

i think it cost me 3-500$, something in that range... i was quoted up to $1200 for it though. i looked in angies list and the phone book for piano movers and explained my situation and had a few people come out to look at my specific situation and the machine sitting on the ground floor. they ran through many different options from craning to pulleys, etc - but in the end for my situation, it really just needed some strong dudes to lift.

i should also say that in my situation, what was the worst wasn't necessarily the weight of the machine or lifting it, but the tight confines of the stairway and the turn in the middle w/o the landing. navigating the situation was the worst in my case. those things are HEAVY no matter what way you slice it. mci, studer or otari. but not having any leeway to stop and take a break or have any leeway on either side is what killed me. and that my stairway was so narrow that you couldnt even fit 2 big guys on top or bottom.i literally had about .5" to spare on all sides. the machine really BARELY fit through the stairway. once it was upstairs it was gravy though. they ended up doing it with one dude lifting on top with another sorta spotting him, and 2 guys jammed together so close they could kiss on bottom lifting from below.

i had cardboard cutouts of the machine made before hand to practice walking the thing up. i even knew which side the heat sink needed to go up facing it was so tight.

mattvallen wrote:I work with Randy Blevins in Nashville, TN and he has had a lot of clients buy MTR 90's and MX80's from him. He has maybe 2 right now. He'd give you an honest answer about the feedback from his clients and spend the time on the phone talking with you about pros and cons. His is THE MCI guy, but he dabbles in Otari machines.

Matt

i got my machine from randy. he laughed at me when he delivered the machine and saw my space...

you think THIS machine's going up THERE!?!!

but i just finished a session this weekend up there on it... it was hell getting in place but i love it! (as have the people who i've recorded on it)