The Otari MTR-90 established itself as one of the most respected and enduring analogue multitrack recorders of the late 20th century. Introduced in the early 1980s, the MTR-90 was designed in direct consultation with professional recording engineers, broadcasters, and studio technicians. The result was a purpose-built multitrack machine that prioritised reliability, serviceability, and precise tape handling, all within a rugged and intelligently engineered chassis.
The original Otari MTR-90 offered a 2-inch, 24-track format as standard, with earlier 8- and 16-track configurations using 1-inch and 2-inch tape respectively. Designed for fast tape access and minimal flutter, it featured Otari’s unique symmetrical constant-tension tape transport, which avoided the use of pinch rollers. Instead, a large-diameter capstan and servo-controlled reel motors delivered consistent performance and stable head-to-tape contact. This precision allowed accurate cueing, editing, and transport operations, even in demanding post-production environments.
The control interface was another standout feature. The system shipped with the CB-104 Remote Session Controller and CB-107 Memory Locator, both of which simplified transport, record-enable, and monitoring functions. These units offered tactile, intuitive access to all major functions and included fast memory-based cue location and punch-in/out capabilities. Otari’s “man-machine interface” philosophy made operation streamlined and responsive, and system logic was fully microprocessor controlled for reliable automation of transport modes.
Internally, the Otari MTR-90 featured modular, single-card-per-channel electronics. This reduced the complexity of service procedures while increasing reliability. Active balanced I/O, transformerless audio circuitry, and precision biasing systems made the machine sonically transparent and highly adaptable. A welded steel frame and cast-alloy deck plate gave the machine mechanical integrity suitable for daily studio use or location work.
The success of the original model led to two major hardware revisions. The Otari MTR-90 MkII added refinements in transport smoothness, alignment precision, and remote functionality. The Otari MTR-90 MkIII, introduced later, represented the final and most advanced evolution of the platform. It featured a fully microprocessor-controlled transport, improved reel-size sensing for reels up to 14 inches, and a standard internal varispeed system offering ±20% adjustment with optional external control up to ±100%. The MkIII also included smoother electronic braking, a redesigned deckplate for easier threading, and compatibility with advanced synchronisers such as the EC-101 and CB-121.
Common to all models was the emphasis on operator convenience. Features such as hinged access doors, removable amp modules, integral test points, bias trim selectors, and symmetrical layout made the Otari MTR-90 one of the most serviceable tape machines of its era. Options such as the CB-120 or CB-148 Autolocators and RS-232 serial control further expanded its integration into film scoring and broadcast environments.
By the late 1980s, the Otari MTR-90 had become a global standard, trusted in music studios, television networks, film scoring stages, and mobile rigs alike. Its ease of use, sonic fidelity, and bulletproof construction made it a workhorse across hundreds of high-end facilities. While many analogue recorders have faded into obscurity, the Otari MTR-90 remains a benchmark in professional multitrack tape recording, a machine that truly was, as Otari claimed, “designed by the people who use it.”
Features
- Multitrack format options: Available in 8-, 16-, and 24-track configurations
- Capstan design: Pinchrollerless direct capstan drive with servo-controlled reel motors
- Varispeed control: Built-in ±20% pitch control, expandable to ±100% with optional external controller
- Tape speed selection: 15 and 30 ips standard; 7.5 ips available via internal modification
- Microprocessor control: Full digital logic transport and automation
- Remote operation: Compatible with CB-104 Remote Controller and CB-107 Memory Locator
- Memory locate system: Fast cueing to user-defined points with auto return and looping
- Selectable EQ standards: NAB and IEC equalisation supported
- Frequency response: Extended response up to 22 kHz at 30 ips
- Transformerless audio path: Active balanced inputs and outputs with optional transformer I/O
- Plug-in headblocks: Swappable head assemblies with individual azimuth adjustment
- Improved punch-in/out: Fast, gapless drop-ins with automatic monitor switching
- Enhanced threading path: Redesigned deckplate for faster tape loading
- Servo reel motor system: Symmetrical constant-tension tape handling
- Expanded reel size support: Automatic sensing and handling of reels up to 14 inches
- Service-friendly design: Modular amplifier cards, hinged panels, and bias trim selectors
