Scotchcarts in a Tomcat at 7 1/2 ips in matrix mode was frighteningly good. AA-5s with high output tape in Tomcats at 15 i.p.s. was killer. (You couldn;'t get the ScotchCarts to live at 15). They had MaxTrax heads, roughly the same width as a regular reel machine for good s/n performance. You beat the phasing errors by running them in matrix... essentially, you traded a bit of seperation for response errors in L R mode. You couldn't get as good a flutter spec from them as a reel machine, but beyond that they did as well. They were the epitome of Jack William's ideas for analog audio.
The 99s were excellent also, but didn't measure up in S/N unless you retrofitted the wide heads. If you wanted matrix, you had to use an outboard box to get it. Their recorder did set itself for each individual cart however, which helped immensely with phasing errors. Cart machines were fun. Mostly. But, do you REALLY miss them?
The 99s were excellent also, but didn't measure up in S/N unless you retrofitted the wide heads. If you wanted matrix, you had to use an outboard box to get it. Their recorder did set itself for each individual cart however, which helped immensely with phasing errors. Cart machines were fun. Mostly. But, do you REALLY miss them?