{"product_id":"otari-mx-5050-the-rugged-studio-workhorse-that-outlived-everything","title":"Otari MX-5050: The Rugged Studio Workhorse That Outlived Everything","description":"\u003cp\u003eOtari built the MX-5050 for radio stations and studios that needed a tape machine to just work, every day, for decades, and that is exactly what it did. Balanced XLR ins and outs, two speeds, a built-in splicing block, and a transport rugged enough to shrug off daily abuse. It was never sold to consumers; it was built to production-studio standards and priced so working studios could actually afford it, which is why you still find them running in mixdown rooms today. Warm, robust, uncoloured analog sound, and the kind of tank-like construction modern gear forgot. A genuine pro mastering and mixdown deck.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFEATURES \u0026amp; PROS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStudio Workhorse:\u003c\/strong\u003e Built for broadcast and studio duty, famously rugged and reliable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBalanced XLR I\/O:\u003c\/strong\u003e Proper professional connections in and out, not consumer phono.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo Tape Speeds:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15 and 7.5 ips for mastering-grade or longer-running recordings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree-Motor Transport:\u003c\/strong\u003e Capstan plus two reel motors for smooth, safe tape handling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e10.5\" Reels:\u003c\/strong\u003e Takes large reels for long, high-quality recordings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFront-Panel Calibration:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bias, EQ and level adjustable up front, plus a built-in test oscillator.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSel-Rep Overdubbing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sound-on-sound and sound-with-sound for creative tracking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThat Tape Glow:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warm, robust, flat-but-musical analog sound prized for summing and mixdown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE WORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tonepearls calls the MX-5050 a rugged, low-maintenance workhorse with robust, uncoloured sound, the best tape machine in its price class, which is why so many radio stations and studios ran them. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tonepearls.com\/otari-mx-5050.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eRead more at Tonepearls\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPECIFICATIONS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeries:\u003c\/strong\u003e Otari MX-5050 professional reel-to-reel (exact sub-variant confirmable on request)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEra:\u003c\/strong\u003e MX-5050 series, late 1970s onward\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTape:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1\/4 inch, up to 10.5\" reels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpeeds:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15 and 7.5 ips (convertible to 7.5 \/ 3.75 ips)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeads:\u003c\/strong\u003e multi-head (record, playback, erase); 2-track and 4-track formats exist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMotors:\u003c\/strong\u003e three (capstan plus two reel motors)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eI\/O:\u003c\/strong\u003e balanced XLR line in and out\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e front-panel bias\/EQ\/level, electronic counter, splicing block, cue lever, sel-rep overdub, test oscillator\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency response:\u003c\/strong\u003e approx 35Hz to 22kHz at 15 ips\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition note:\u003c\/strong\u003e vintage tape machine; may benefit from a service and calibration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Otari","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49711326789871,"sku":"213","price":24500.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/5992\/9071\/files\/IMG_7648.jpg?v=1780999776","url":"https:\/\/innerpieces.art\/products\/otari-mx-5050-the-rugged-studio-workhorse-that-outlived-everything","provider":"Inner Pieces","version":"1.0","type":"link"}