Ultimate Analog MKII for Studer A820 or 827

Whether tracking for music or mixing 5.1 Surround, Ultimate Analog MKII takes everything you like about analog recording and elevates it to a dramatically higher level of performance. Never before has a recording medium so successfully captured all the power, dynamics and delicate surrounding ambience ("air") of difficult-to-record musical instruments. Simply put, Ultimate Analog must be heard to be believed.

Why does it sound so good?

· Output 10dB to 12dB hotter than standard 24-track recorded at same level

· Near-digital dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratios

· Outstanding performance even at 15 ips with no noise reduction

· Playback compatibility with standard 16- and 24-track formats

· Separate time code track at track 24 position

· Installation requires no modifications and no mechanical calibration after initial set-up

Ultimate Analog was originally designed to record drums, bass and percussion instruments. In addition, creative customers have found it to be a new and dynamic format for mixing and archiving 5.1 Surround projects. Users have described the results as "unbelievably fat," "in your face," and "bigger than life."

To put Ultimate Analog in perspective, imagine tracking on a stack of 1/2-inch 2-track heads. The integrated time code track allows easy synchronizing for use in conjunction with any other analog or digital recording format–including one or two additional Ultimate Analog machines.

Technical Notes

Ultimate Analog MKII consists of three heads (erase, record and playback), each with eight wide-format audio tracks and a discrete time code track.

The eight audio record/playback tracks are each 0.180 inches (4.6mm) wide, compared to 0.04 inch (1.Omm) on a standard 24-track machine. This extra width produces output levels 10dB to 12dB hotter than possible with a 24-track headstack under identical conditions. Higher output levels translate into lower noise, wider dynamic range, and the option to record with far less tape compression effect. However, when tape compression effects are desired, Ultimate Analog may be pushed far beyond conventional limits without oversaturation or distortion.

The eight tracks occupy the same portion of the head as tracks 1-22 on a standard 24-track head, Should playback ever be required on a standard 16-or 24-track machine, each of the eight tracks fully covers at least one track on both formats.

Ultimate Analog tracks one through eight are wired to the corresponding channels of the multitrack. The separate, ninth time code track is placed in the standard "track 24" position and wired to the headblock connector pins as track 24. Since the time code track is integrated into each head, no separate time code heads are utilized and the system functions as if it were a 24-track. Installation of an Ultimate Analog headblock requires no changes to existing multitrack or studio cabling, and machine calibration is "by the book."