What turntable did radio stations use in the 70's?

[niklasthedol]

I remember using EMT turntables in my time on radio stations.

I also remember talking to BBC tech guys on some commom event we had once.
They told me their recommendation about the use of Technics was based on modifications in such an amount that the TT was beyond recognition.

"dolph"

 

[Marantz 500]

The BBC also used EMT turntables:

http://soundresources.ning.com/video/emt-950347-bbc-turntable

Sweden's National radio broadcaster Sveriges Radio also (among other models) used EMT turntables, as well as Sony TTS-3000, PS2250 and Technics SP10-25, but I think the Technics SL1200 MkII was mainly used by local radio stations and student radio.

 

[jdwk]

The BBC also used EMT turntables:

http://soundresources.ning.com/video/emt-950347-bbc-turntable

Sweden's National radio broadcaster Sveriges Radio also (among other models) used EMT turntables, as well as Sony TTS-3000, PS2250 and Technics SP10-25, but I think the Technics SL1200 MkII was mainly used by local radio stations and student radio.

now I want one like the one in that clip!

 

[PoppaSteve]

When I worked at the student station in college, we had two Gates in the main studio, and two QRK's in the production. All had Shure arms.

Later, our Chief engineer modified some consumer grade direct-drive Technics for the main studio. After he got done with them, they got to a steady speed in about half a turn, both 45 and 33. That man has forgotten more about electronics than I'll ever know.

 

[Holst]

One of my faves, my Sparta GT-12 with an AudioTechnica arm. It attains full speed in 1/16th rotation.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Beautiful Sparta restoration. Haven't seen one that nice in years. Russco's last gasp was to design a direct drive table. It sank the company. Very rare bird and few were built. Until 1978 or so, idler drive decks were mainstays in radio a la QRK, Russco, Sparta, Gates, BE and similar. Then Technics SP 10, SP 15, SP 25 and SL-1200 decks became common fare in better facilities. NRK (Norwegian Radio) used EMT decks mainly until the late 1970's and began installing Technics SP 10 Mk II decks more often. NRK also used some Telefunken decks a la RAI.

 

[ron-c]

The big rim drives were great for AM but maybe not so much for FM especially if they were not well maintained. The BBC SP10s tables were stock but they were in a console housing phono preamps and additional control circuitry for remote start -stop and variable speed. These show up on ebay every once in a while.

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[Holst]

The big rim drives were great for AM but maybe not so much for FM especially if they were not well maintained. The BBC SP10s tables were stock but they were in a console housing phono preamps and additional control circuitry for remote start -stop and variable speed. These show up on ebay every once in a while.

Thanks,
Ron-C

SP-10 were the best you could find in US radio and I have always wanted one.. Still do.

Though I can tell you from 34 years in radio they were out numbered by rim drives in FM.

SP-10's came out at the same time as the last generation of rim drive tables and radio engineers were still high on the idler types. I have BSW cataloges from the 80's with a half dozen rim drives and the SP-25 as the only direct drive. Plus ads for wooden MicroTrak tone arms.

I will note electronjohn's post above. John worked at most of the top radio stations in Minneapolis/St Paul during the 70's and 80's. I worked mornings at an album rock FM in a market of 750k and the new studio installed in 1980 got Sparta's. The chief engineer wasn't very high on direct drive.

SP-10's would likely have taken over but we recieved notice from the lables that they would only supply radio stations with cd's. So the next upgrade was to digital.

The SP-10 was the king, it just wasn't common.

 

[Suzuki]

Back in 1981, I used to work for FM TOKYO, which was the 10Kw sole commercial FM station in Tokyo at that tme as a part-time worker. They were using DENON TT (NOT Technics SL1200) SL1200's basis is meager for professional use, I think. THe DENON reaches the 33-and-1/3 rpm just at the first one-and -a-half rotations after switching on the motor. In our live program in morning hours, our engineer rotated the disc with hands backwards for 1+1/2 rotations with stylus down on the disc and motor off, then turned on the motor syncronizing the directors' cue so that the music would start in a timely fashion. This model was so designed for professional use. "TT"(round plate) itself was fairy light. Therefore, I wouldn't try having this model for my personal TT.

 

[jdwk]

Beautiful Sparta restoration. Haven't seen one that nice in years. Russco's last gasp was to design a direct drive table. It sank the company. Very rare bird and few were built. Until 1978 or so, idler drive decks were mainstays in radio a la QRK, Russco, Sparta, Gates, BE and similar. Then Technics SP 10, SP 15, SP 25 and SL-1200 decks became common fare in better facilities. NRK (Norwegian Radio) used EMT decks mainly until the late 1970's and began installing Technics SP 10 Mk II decks more often. NRK also used some Telefunken decks a la RAI.

hey Kent, do you know the model of that DD Russco? I'd like to search for a pic.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

I'll go you one better, www.russcoturntables.com! It has a write up about company history and this machine. This unit was the veritable RT-700 direct drive.

 

[Arkay]

This thread has already identified most of the brands used in commercial radio stations that I know of.

I'll add three that were rarely used, but have been employed in a few stations:

RCA made some TTs that were used at least up until the end of the forties.

A few European broadcasters used a special version of the Dutch-made Jobo Acoustical 3100, and a few used the Thorens TD124, around the sixties. Why? They had double platters: the lightweight upper platter could be lifted up to stop it, and dropped onto the spinning platter underneath, to make it stop and start virtually instantly.

For any who haven't seen them, the Denons (common in Japan) and EMTs (used by the BBC) mentioned already were NOT exactly the same ones we commonly see in home hi-fi systems. The broadcast ones were built into large floorstanding 'cabinets' containing phono pre-amps, controls, etc... Very impressive machines, but quite space-consuming and very low WAF.

Suzuki is right about the Technics SL-1200s not being very suitable for broadcast use, but I have seen them with my own eyes in two broadcast studio situations. One was a budget-limited college station, and the other was a station which was primarily digital, with only one DJ who still spun vinyl from his own collection, so the TT may even have been his own, or grudgingly bought at his insistence(?). So they have been used for broadcasting, even if major/serious studios with big budgets and a focus on quality would be unlikely to use them.

EDIT: OOPS! I just re-read the OP's question and note that it focused on the mid-late seventies. Some of the models mentioned in this thread would have been more likely to be used at other (mostly earlier) times, unless they were purchased before, and still in use at that time.

 

[Shackman55]

In two stations I worked in 75-79 period, if memory serves (and it usual doesn't) they both used Dual and at one we had Teac R2R and the other Sony Both were school radio stations

 

[KentTeffeteller]

While not the best machines for on air use, many radio stations who use vinyl now use Technics SL-1200 Mk II turntables, the group I engineer for included. We have and use SP-10 Mk II and SP-15s but not enough in working order to put in all studios. In over 4 years of using them, all of our SL-1200 turntables are still in excellent working order and have had few issues. A very few stations used EMT turntables in US broadcasting studios. I used and maintained EMT 900 series tables in Public radio service once upon a time. Some Beautiful stations used them and you sometimes saw Thorens TD-124 tables for that job and Garrard 301 and 401 tables. These saw service due to less vertical rumble due to the advent of Stereo FM in 1961. Some early Stereo FM stations also played 2 and 4 track open reel tapes on air (prerecorded). Other brands saw in broadcasting use early on were Fairchild, Rek-O-Kut, Presto, and RCA. :tresbon:

 

[electronjohn]

Technics 1200s were fairly common in production studios...SP-10s & 15s more common in on-air studios. Did, however, run across a station with a nifty SL-1200 install. The engineer had made 1/4" deep recesses for the feet to sit in & modified the tables for remote start/stop. The dust covers were removed for ease of operation.

 

[Cadillac Kid]

One of my faves, my Sparta GT-12 with an AudioTechnica arm. It attains full speed in 1/16th rotation.

That Sparta is beautiful. I am starting to think that they are rare, I never see them for sale. I used them at a radio station in the Sacramento area in 1970's and would like to get one someday, Very nice job!