Otari MX5050 BII Recorder/Reproducer

Message Board - Otari MX-5050 General Discussion

The MX-5050BII Series Recorders are professional quality two-speed audio tape recorder/reproducers designed for optimum performance and long life.

The MX-5050BII units use 1/4-inch tape and are available in 4 different models. The different models, and their application, are determined by the head format.

Model         Head Format                      Speed            Tape

BII-2      2-track, 2-channel          *15 and 7-1/2 IPS     1/4"

BJI-4      4-track, 2-channel          *15 and 7-1/2 IPS     1/4"

BH-F       Full track, Mono             *15 and 7-1/2 IPS     1/4"

BII-2E     2-track, 2-channel DIN    *15 and 7-1/2 IPS    1/4"

*The MX-5050BII is factory set to operate at tape speeds of 15 and 7-1/2 ips. By users conversion the unit can be reset to operate at 7-1/2 and 3-3/4 ips.

Among the many professional features of the MX-5050BII Series are: selective reproduction, motion sensing, an edit control that permits spilling, an adjustable cueing control for audible monitoring in the fast-forward and rewind modes, a built-in two frequency low distortion test and cue-tone oscillator, a computerized elapsed time indicator with a digital LED display, front adjustable record bias, equalization, and level controls, active balanced input and output circuits, a reference flux level indicator on the front amplifier panel, a standard reference level output switch, separate line and microphone input level controls for each channel, switches for recording levels, equalization, microphone, and output level attenuators, play-back equalization pots for each speed, a memory stop for automatically stopping the tape in the rewind mode at a predetermined position, ceramic tape guides, big head housing, lower transport noise, and improved specifications for distortion, erase effect, and signal and noise ratio.

Foundational text courtesy of Otari MX5050 BII Operations manual.

Otari MX5050 1/4" 2-Track Magnetic Recorder/Reproducer - Photo courtesy of Chris Juried