AMPEX MM-1000 2" 16 Track Master Recorder
| In 1966 Ampex built their first 16-track recorder, the model AG-1000, at the request of Mirasound Studios in New York City. In 1967 Ampex introduced a 16-track version of the MM 1000 which was the world's first 16-track professional tape recorder put into mass-production. Both used a 2 inch tape transport design adapted from the video recording division. The 16-track MM-1000 quickly became legendary for its tremendous flexibility, reliability and outstanding sound quality. This brought about the "golden age" of large format analog multitrack recorders which would last into the mid 1990s. |
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The MM-1000, Master Maker, Series of recorders is designed to provide all master recording studios, television studios and motion picture production studios with a complete multichannel recording and reproducing facility. The MM-1000 is available in 8, 16 or 24 channel configurations all, with solid state electronics for maximum quieting. Television audio, at its most spectacular, may now be recorded synchronously with video recorders, eliminating the shaky dependence upon a single audio track. Artists or musicians who were not present at any other recording session can be added and mixed at any convenient time or complete plays can be assembled, one actor at a time as, all tracks have the same base-time reference through the "Sel-Sync" system.
Actual performance time can be greatly shortened at any given session as mixing, balance and blending can be accomplished subsequently by the director and engineer. All channels have Sel-Sync (Selective Synchronization) to utilize record heads as playback devices thus enabling the artist to listen to any other prerecorded track while recording other tracks, all having an exact time relationship. No switching transients are present when switching Sel-Sync in or out. The tape transport was designed specifically for the heavy duty of transporting wide tape and will handle one inch or two inch tape smoothly, well within the confines of its specifications. A rigid die cast base is used to mount all components of the tape transport to assure machine-precision movement of the tape. Mechanical features allow changing from one tape width to the other in a matter of a few minutes. |
Foundational text courtesy of Wikipedia.
Message Board - AMPEX MM-1000 General Discussion
- Ampex MM-1000 16-Track Tape Machine with modified angle of Transport. Photo courtesy of Endless Analog.
- Les Paul's Ampex MM-1000 - Transport View
- Ampex MM-1000 arriving at Mira Sound Studios, NY. Photo courtesy of George Schowerer.
- Judy Worth Friedsam sitting in front of an MM-1000 at Sound Exchange Studios New York, NY - Circa early 1970's - Photo Courtesy of Chris and Phyllis Juried
- Ampex MM-1000 - Photo courtesy of George Schowerer
Elton John, in the Studio, with an AMPEX MM-1000.
- Phyllis Juried sitting in front of an MM-1000 at Sound Exchange Studios New York, NY - Circa early 1970's - Photo Courtesy of Chris and Phyllis Juried
Rebuild of a AMPEX MM-1000 "Phatzilla": The Ultimate Analogizer
Ampex MM-1000 Tape Machine
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MM-1000 headblock assembly examples 
Here are several examples of MM-1000 headblock assemblies.
MM-1000's were commonly fitted with headstacks of both Ampex manufacture (also called the …
AMPEX MM-1000 8 Track -The Story of Matilda
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Dave Kennedy Studio - Milwaukee, WI
My first experience with a multitrack machine was the MM-1000 at Dave Kennedy Recording Studio in Milwaukee. I was 18, and in awe of that thing. It was …
2nd Ampex AG-1000 / MM-1000 Not rated yet
My blog about the machine named "Heard" which belonged to Alembic and was responsible for recording some of the greatest music ever made can be viewed …
Steve Smith Not rated yet
My mom worked as an engineer at Ampex in the 50’ until she became pregnant with me.
I don’t need to say how that played out “happy housewife”
As for …
Steve Smith Not rated yet
My mom worked as an engineer at Ampex in the 50’s until she became pregnant with me.
I don’t need to say how that played out “happy housewife”
As …
Ampex MM 1000 -Famous History Not rated yet
MM 1000 30 IPS/varispeed Sel/Sync
AMAZING HISTORY.
Recorded Robert flack's " Killing Me Softly" as well as many other hits by Famous Recording Artists. …
MM-1000 Not rated yet
This is a photo of me operating the Ampex MM-1000 at Mystic Sound Studios in Hollywood, circa 1978.
The MM-1000 was installed at Mystic in 1971, along …
Additional "Matilda" overview pics Not rated yet
Here are some additional overview pics of "Matilda" my MM-1000-8 taken from early 2010.
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