“The unusually natural and lifelike, virtually uncolored reproduction of the tapes therein discussed (Chet Baker Sings, A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, and Joan Baez), the many new things that I learned about the singers, the instrumentalists, and the recording techniques, and the old things I re-learned about myself and about the way music has shaped my life are owed equally to the Metaxas & Sins".
In horology, a Papillon ( French: “butterfly”) is a reference to a shapely organic object. It’s normally referred to the bridge which supports the delicate watch gears, pinions, mainspring and jewels of the mechanism
The Metaxas & Sins “Papillon” Analog Tape Reproducer is the first Tape Recorder to use the same concept to support the rollers and mechanics of the delicate tape path.
It is an entirely newly designed professional reel to reel tape studio recorder and playback machine which challenges the notion that we’ve been able to extract all the information from magnetic tapes and meets and exceeds the highest demands of recording engineers and the most serious audiophiles.
The audio “SOUL” of the Papillion's external electronics borrow from intensive recording work conducted over the past 35 years with Swiss Stellavox portable recorders
which use single-ended transistor purist electronic paths developed in the 1960s.
The result is a machine that is capable of recording and playback with a level of realism that gives the listener the sense of being present at the live music performance in it’s original venue. Combining 2020’s technology with 1960’s “soul”
The Papillon is operated very simply from its 6 key keyboard. From left to right, the basic functions are:
REWIND | FAST FORWARD | STOP / PLAY | TEST | RECORD.
There is a RECORD SAFETY switch to prevent accidental recording over your precious recordings next to the SPEED SWITCH. Once you switch the power on at the external power supply, a welcome screen will appear on the NORITAKE LCD display. After the screen has settled [10 seconds], you can engage the individual keypad functions.
The Papillion comes adjusted as “standard” for 15ips speed using 468 formula on tape. Our experience with using other tapes [such as SM900 or SM911] is that you can also use them to record with with little difference in EQ
The circuits will also be using 100% discrete transistors and parts similar to construction from the 1960’s to early 1970’s
“I’ve never heard anything quite like it. To put the cart before the horse (or maybe the horse in the cart), this is, quite simply, the most neutral and complete presentation I’ve heard from any audio component. This is the absolute sound in the definition of those words that makes the best sense to me: the sound that was recorded in the studio or the concert venue.”