DescriptionThe Otari MX-5050 BII-2 is a professional studio Mastering Reel To Reel, using quarter inch tape. It has a Direct Drive Capstan that is Servo Controlled (NO DRIVE BELTS). The B II-2 model operates at all three standard speeds: 15, 7 1/2 and 3 3/4 ips …PLUS it is has defeatable Variable Pitch available at all three speeds. Variable pitch is also available in both recording and playback modes. Built-in test tones and front panel trimmers allow you to calibrate the record bias, levels and equalization for any tape, in less that a minute.The machine uses standard quarter inch tape on 5, 7 and 10 1/2 inch reels. This is the Half-Track 2 Channel version, with 4-Track 2 Channel playback …accomplished with a simple flip of a switch under the “flip-up” head cover. All recordings are performed in Half-Track mode.The “compact”, all-in-one configuration in perfect for on location recording …no truck required.Most 5050 2 channel models have a control under the head cover to switch to a ¼ track playback head, so that you can play back ¼ track tapes as well as play and record in ½ track mode. The decks came with 7 ½ and 15 IPS speeds, however there is an option on the power supply board that allows you to use the deck in 3 ¾ and 7 ½ IPS mode. Recalibration of the deck is required however, as the record and playback eq curves will be incorrect otherwise.The MX5050 has three direct drive motors, which simplifies the transport significantly. The only belt in the Mk1 version is for the mechanical tape counter. Versions II and III used digital tape counters, so no belt is required.The MX5050 uses balanced XLR input and output connectors, with pin 3 being designated as ‘hot’. This option can result in no audio on occasion, while most other equipment assigns pin 2 as hot. If you run balanced to balanced cables, then you should have no issues, but if using balanced XLR to unbalanced RCA cables, on occasion these will need to be rewired at the XLR end so that pin 3 goes to the center RCA connector pin.