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One of the first big studio recorders. This one was purchased new in 1973 by Don Cedarstrom of Custom Recording and Sound in Boise Idaho. Don, incidentally, did some of the early recording for Paul Revere and the Raiders in Boise in the 60s. I purchased the recorder from Don in 1997. It is a great deck but in the late 90s personal computers became powerful enough to start being considered as a recording platform, so I have only used this great old deck on a few projects. I also show a owners manual and a first edition copy of Runstein's Modern Recording Techniques which features this recorder, among other, and is a great resource for professional recording, and was first printed in 1974. An interesting note about that edition of the book is that in the section covering noise reduction Runstein discuses what was then a new noise reduction technology, that is, digital recording. It is a great historical look at the foundational causes of why digital audio supplanted analogue. To see and even older recorder check this out: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jJ122PObscg

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Comments to “Ampex AG-440 8-track 1inch tape recorder”

1. ORLEGE, on January 6th, 2009 at 14:27:45 Said:
   but don't the MM1200 have terrible reliability issues?
2. Kennedy, on January 6th, 2009 at 14:50:44 Said:
   I love my first edition "modern Recording Techniques." I think it is so cool how digital audio is only covered in the noise reduction section of the book. At the time it was the newest a coolest method of making a noise free recording. It is kind of wierd to think that is how digital audio got its start. The first digital audio was actually recorded on big decks like this on in the 70s.
3. Faegan, on January 6th, 2009 at 15:13:43 Said:
   Actually no it does not have any kind of tape trimming device. As best as I can tell this deck was designed with editing in mind but only multi channel recording. The deck does not even have a footage counter.
4. Braden, on January 6th, 2009 at 15:36:42 Said:
   Hey nathaniel, does the AG-440 have a built in automatic tape cutter/scissors like some of the Studer decks?
5. LUCINE, on January 6th, 2009 at 15:59:41 Said:
   Yeah, volume controls are tricky lol... Anyway, cool video! I have the same edition of "Modern Recording Techniques" from about 1974 I think. I want to get a machine like that one someday too.
6. BREUSE, on January 6th, 2009 at 16:22:40 Said:
   thanks for the great clip..even with the banjo music..i love the realness in some of the note runs there..the flubs are charming..and there is NOTHING wrong with BANJOS BOY! :D hahah looks like a fabulous machine. never had a chance to work with anything smooth like that..just a fostex 16 trk..and mostly digital. but It's all just tools right..how we use them is key ! :D
7. Bran, on January 6th, 2009 at 16:45:39 Said:
   Too bad the volume control is so complicated to use.
8. Medina, on January 6th, 2009 at 17:08:38 Said:
   Whats up with the crappy banjo music?I couldn't look at the whole video because that music was so annoying.
9. RUSSELL, on January 6th, 2009 at 17:31:37 Said:
   start at $1000? and how high to you think it would go? what's the lowest and highest i could realistically get for it?
10. Kathleen, on January 6th, 2009 at 17:54:36 Said:
    I would start at $1000.00 if it is running and the heads are in good shape. The 440-8 was a 440 series "pushed to it's limits" I would rather have a MM1200 or similar that was designed from the ground up for big tapes and multi-trac. Similar electronics but better mechanics, brakes etc.
11. Ariyan, on January 6th, 2009 at 18:17:35 Said:
    The later "C" version is much easier to do punch ins and track stacking as the response of the sync playback system is much better.
12. Ramirez, on January 6th, 2009 at 18:40:34 Said:
    Well, hundreds are still running after over 30 years of use! Think your Chinese made DVD player will do that? Even better, they can be easily repaired or serviced after all that time and even updated or modified! And when well cared for, sound better than digital equipment.
13. VANNESS, on January 6th, 2009 at 19:03:33 Said:
    does anyone know how much this thing is worth, what a reasonable price would be. like if i were to auction one off what would i put the opening bid at?
14. Melva, on January 6th, 2009 at 19:26:32 Said:
    This is either an "A" or "B"series machine. The later "C" version has pushbuttons instead of horizontal switches for record and playback. It also has better sel-sync response. Beware of Scully! I saw a 4 channel one literally catch fire during a studio session one time. The transport wiring developed a short and caught fire! We just got the master off it before it had serious smoke damage!
15. Edmonda, on January 6th, 2009 at 19:49:31 Said:
    really nice setup..enjoyed the banjo as well
16. Marquilla, on January 6th, 2009 at 20:12:30 Said:
    wow, that is what has been turning me off of multitrack decks. The thought of shipping to a tech. I wonder what other machines can be dismantled this easily.
17. Sigfriede, on January 6th, 2009 at 20:35:29 Said:
    Yes, and very easily. The whole deck is somewhat modular. Every channel has a separate amp that is really just a rack mounted pre-amp. Four screws and disconnect the cables (which are all hand tightened) and the module is free. The tap transport itself is a single unit, but it does easily disconnect from the frame.
18. DRUMMOND, on January 6th, 2009 at 20:58:28 Said:
    Can the ampex 440 be dismantled into smaller parts for shipping? I don't mean circuit board parts. More like the channels separated and the deck separated. Stuff like that.
19. Walter, on January 6th, 2009 at 21:21:27 Said:
    Tasty! To think that most of the classic rock between 1966 and 1970 were recorded on this and the 3M counterpart.
20. Morrie, on January 6th, 2009 at 21:44:26 Said:
    WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWW!! That is ONE AWESOME deck! I'd like to get my hands on one of those! Has very nice quiet operation, and would be fun making layered songs with that!! QUALITY!!
21. ERECHTHEUS, on January 6th, 2009 at 22:07:25 Said:
    Looks like a nice deck for sure. I'd be interested to A/B one of these to my Scully 280, which I understand was the competition to Ampex at the time
22. Zacharie, on January 6th, 2009 at 22:30:24 Said:
    I would have to say it is not easy or practical at all with out a fairly elaborate modification.
23. Reilley, on January 6th, 2009 at 22:53:23 Said:
    Is it hard to punch in on these 440's?
24. Faunia, on January 6th, 2009 at 23:16:22 Said:
    That is beautiful. I have a Scully 280-8.
25. KEEFE, on January 7th, 2009 at 23:39:21 Said:
    Nice! I'm going to see a 440 1/4 full-track this week... I hope it still has some workhours left...

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