Shaping radio today and tomorrow That was then In 1985, the
Studer A820 analog master recorder was designed to “meet the
demands of tomorrow's computer-controlled audio production
facilities.” Multiple on-board microprocessors controlled all
operating subsystems, including capstan drive, spooling motors
and audio parameter settings. Once the dc capstan motor starts,
a closed loop servo system monitored tape tension and real
inertia to provide acceleration and braking. The A820
incorporated Studer's new generation of phase-compensated audio
electronics, available with transformer or active balanced
inputs and outputs. A dual thumbwheel shuttle/edit control made
tape-cut editing easy. One wheel would winds tape in either
direction at increasing speeds, while the other precisely
positioned the tape for editing. Do you remember? After eight
months, the laboratory tests of digital radio broadcast systems
were winding down at the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland
in November 1994. At the same time, several ot