Ampex - Professional 8-track Recorders

Professional 8-track Recorders

Ampex built a handful of multitrack machines during the late 1950s that could record as many as eight tracks on 1 inch tape, based on Les Paul’s concept. The project was overseen by Ross Snyder, Ampex manager of special products. In order for the multitrack recorder to work, Snyder invented the Sel-Sync process to use some tracks on the head for playback while using other tracks on the head for recording. This allows the newly recorded material to be in sync with the existing recorded tracks. The first of these machines cost $10,000 and was installed in Les Paul's home recording studio by David Sarser.

In 1967 Ampex responded to demand by stepping up production of their 8-track machines with the production model MM 1000. Like earlier 8-track machines of this era it used 1 inch tape.