Comments for AMPEX MM-1000 8 Track -The Story of Matilda

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Mar 30, 2021
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The MM 1000 from URC (Universal Recording)
by: Michael Mason

Hi,

I recorded on your old MM 1000 many many times at Universal Recording where I worked as a staff assistant and eventually engineer from 1979 - 1992. It was in Studio C when I first started probably up until 83 when it was replaced by Tascam 16 track 1". I used it on the first multi track record I did as 1st engineer for Steve Freund and Gloria Hardiman called "Set Me Free". Look that one up on iTunes! Everybody live in the room to an 8 track and then mixed down to an AG 440 at 15ips, totally old school. As I recall it didn't have automatic switching so you had to physically switch the channel from sync to input when you'd punch in. That thing was a beast and needed an alignment every other day. It's tension could also be tricky in full on rewind or fast forward and hence it earned the nickname of "The Master Muncher 1000". I still make my living full time as a mixer in TV Prost production over 40 years later. There are only 3 of us from the glory days of Universal who are still working in the business. Glad to know the old 'Master Muncher' found a good home.

Thanks for the memory,

Michael Mason

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