Papillon Reel Tape Recorder By 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.
Papillion is the result of 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”!
Metaxas & Sins, founded by Kostas Metaxas, is renowned for creating “high-end audio sculptures” and “kinetic art objects” - not merely hi-fi. Furthermore, Kostas is also a prolific recording engineer who's made hundreds of live concert recordings using magnetic open-reel tape.
Kostas Metaxas is an articulate and forceful champion of audio without comprise. He is a connoisseur of fine music, a man for whom second best isn’t good enough. In September of 1981, Kostas formed the company which bears his name. Known all over the world today simply by its initials, M&S, Metaxas & Sins was founded for several reasons.
Metaxas & Sins is based in the Netherlands, where Kostas and his sons carefully hand-make these pieces of sonic art. Kostas is a renowned artist and product designer whose collaborations with respected luxury brands stretch well beyond audio equipment – pens, clocks and much more.
As with all Metaxas & Sins' creations, the design is horologically inspired and offers the user the tactile appeal of precision mechanical machinery. The high-end wristwatch design is followed through in the TR-X with the use of a tourbillon, an addition to the mechanics of a watch lever escapement to increase accuracy and has been used for the first time in a reel-to-reel tape machine to regulate the speed of the tape.
Papillon Reel Tape Recorder - Metaxas & Sins BV - Made in The Netherlands.
