Download the complete sales materials for the circa 1982 JVC 900 series of digital-audio-mastering products:
DOWNLOAD: JVC_900_Digital_Audio_System
Products covered, with text, specs, and photos, include: the JVC AE-900V Digital Audio Editor, the DS-DM900 Digital Audio Mixer, the VP-900 Digital Audio Processor (AFAICT, a duplex stereo A/D, D/A), the TC-900V timecode unit, RM-900 remote, CR-850U 3/4″ ‘umatic’ tape machine, DS-FC901 Digital Interface Unit, DS-SU900 Sync unit, and BR-8600 1/2″ tape machine AKA a real expensive VCR.
Contributor Tom Fine told us, “this was a competitor to the Sony 1600 system.” We’ve covered the early Sony units bit in the past (see here and here) – they were available early as 1978 – but I have never come across this JVC system before. As Richard Hess writes in his very thorough blog,
“JVC had a competing (with SONY -ed) and incompatible mastering system called the DAS-90 and later the DAS-900. …The processor in the DAS-90 system was called (at least at one point) the BP-90 while the processor in the DAS-900 series was the VP-900. The first version (DAS-90) used 3/4″ U-Matic video cassettes while the second version (DAS-900) used either U-Matic of VHS video cassettes (the latter to obtain longer playing time). I have not been able to confirm if tapes made on the DAS-90 can play on the DAS-900 or not. Early input says they are compatible and should interchange.”
But damn look at this lil 4×2 digital mixer! It’s like a lil baby SSL! And this is an actual digital mixer, btw – it’s just styled to look/feel like an analogue desk. Crazy.
Anyone out there still using this system for anything? Thoughts? Let us know!
13 replies on “The JVC 900 Digital Audio Mastering System of the early 1980s”
I just got a PRO ARTE CD that was edited in 1985 using the 900 system. A Mr. Tony Rice did the editing and I think the recording sounds pretty good. Gershwin recordings, Pro Arte CDG 3244. Attributes the recording to a Thomas Lazarus but no other tech details besides dates and venue.
Just retrieved the PCM-F1 digital interface from storage. I bought that unit in 1984, with the Sony SLHF-600 super-Beta Hi-Fi machine. All the tapes played back perfectly. My more expensive Sony 7030 DAT (better, modern?) machine is currently non- functional, and the DAT recordings made on it won’t even play back on anything. I am following Steve Albini’s advice about preserving some precious audio content on analog tape. I gotta hang on to the Revox G-36, A-77, and B-77. Cheers.
I just posted on a forum today about MCA in the mid 80s using this for Wunjo – Giles Reaves; a classic album of ambient/space music.
It was also used on Bryan Adams’ Cuts Like A Knife album (1983):
“Engineered by Bob Clearmountain
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisc, New York
This album was mixed with the JVC Digital System”
I have that VHS. Impressive machine. It came with another JVC pro VHS unit and video editing console (idk if that’s the right name). Would be nice to get the PCM unit and try recording something with it, but probably won’t happen, as the latter is rare as hen’s tooth.
Supposing someone encounters these pro JVC VCR’s, here’s my advice: if it doesn’t work (can’t load tape), it’s the belt. The machine has a belt, accessible from bottom. They go bad with age. Mine requires several tries to load the tape. Also the loading gear’s oil is gumming up from old age. If you want to use this machine, these mentioned things should be changed.
Check out Edgar Meyer “Love of a Lifetime” 1988 vinyl MCA-6257 (“Master Series”). Most tracks reported as recorded analogue and mixed to JVC VP 900. Album sounds fantastic .
Whenever possible contact Glenn Meadows as he used the system a lot when he was at Masterfonics.
LEE RITENOUR & GENTLE THOUGHTS JVC 1977 > 2003 XRCD24
I am a semi retired classical record producer who has made many of my recordings on the JVC Digital Audio Processor 900. I have one complete with the Digital Audio Editor 900 and the two t/c VHS recorders with very low hours if anyone is interested for a modest sum. It cost me $84,000!! I have the manuals and flight cases. I made several of my recordings at the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican and Fairfield Halls with this equipment which never let me down and was unlike the 1610 an 18bit system. I have had mine adapted to output AES/EBU SONY protocol as well as the proprietary JVC.
I have John Jarvis’ “So Fa So Good” jazz album, which was recorded with a Sony PCM 701 es and transferred to the JVC Digital 900. Some of the tunes were actually recorded directly to the 900. I have a 501 es and a non-functional 601 esd. The former works great, but lacks SPDIF or AES/EBU.
Crusaders Live in Japan (GRP) (1981) was also recorded on this system.
Rush-Signals (1982) used this for mixdown digitally.
I am a analog fan I prefer no digital in my records, I just picked up a few Hank Williams jr records done by Glenn Meadows with this system, I hadn’t played them yet but I’ll let y’all know how it sounds, I bet even digital it still sounds better then a mp3 lol