by Mike Cleaver » Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:56 am
We were using Uhers as the first really portable tape machines in the early '60s at CKOV and had one of the first Phillips cassette machines as well.
Prior to that, the most portable tape machine was the Ampex 600.
The problem with cassettes was noise, the tape hiss was pretty excessive in the early units and sounded bad, especially on FM.
The first Sonys improved on the sound but hiss always was a problem with FM.
Cassettes continued to be the medium of choice for portable recording up until the arrival of DAT.
We replaced all the cassette recorders at CHUM and CHUM -FM with portable Sony DATS in the early '80s.
Mike Cleaver Broadcast Services
Engineering, News, Voice work and Consulting
Vancouver, BC, Canada
54 years experience at some of Canada's Premier Broadcasting Stations