mara machines

BRINGING THE PAST
INTO THE FUTURE

 

mara machines

YOUR OWN
PERSONAL TECH

We keep spare parts around so you don't have to. Once you're a Mara Machines owner, you'll have access to a lifetime of tech support to ensure your machines are always up to speed. We're available for consultations and video calls to help guide you through any issues you may have.

mara machines

15 YEARS OF
TRUSTED EXPERIENCE

We've got a deep client list including artists like Pete Townshend and Donald Glover, engineers like Ryan Freeland (Ray LaMontagne, Bonnie Raitt), Eric Heigle (Arcade Fire), and Greg Kurstin (Adele, Beck), to colleges and universities - all around the world!

mara machines

SIGNATURE SOUND

If you're a music fan, chances are, you've heard MCI before. We utilize our Mara Machines daily at our sister company, Welcome to 1979 to record and mix records. In addition to their sound, we love the flexibility and customization abilities that MCIs have to offer.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST
ANALOG TAPE MACHINE RESTORATION COMPANY

Mara Machines is celebrating over 15 years of restoring MCI Tape Machines. With almost 500 Mara Machines in use all over the world, we’re proud to keep analog recording affordable, approachable, and most of all, fun!

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NEWS

NEW DESKTOP REMOTE STAND!

Our custom made desktop remote control stand works with either JH24 AL3s (and earlier AL2s) and JH110 transport remotes.  It can be set on a desktop and can be used with a microphone stand thanks to a threaded mount on the bottom of the stand.

TRANSFORMER-BASED I/O CARD

A dedicated switch on each transformer allows you to choose between four options of operation:

  1. No Transformers engaged (The transformerless factory MCI sound)
  2. Input Transformer engaged
  3. Output Transformer engaged
  4. Both Input and Output Transformers engaged.

MARA MACHINES REVIEW ON PROSOUNDNEWS!

"The Mara Machines MCI JH-110C 1/4-inch 2-track is undoubtedly the best way to incorporate the true sound of analog into today’s recording workflow. I can’t imagine mixing without it."

DOWNLOAD OUR NEW APP

Use MaraTapeCal to align your tape machine just like our in-house techs - but without confusing equipment, diagrams or second guesses! The app is designed with Mara Machines owners in mind, but geared for any tape machine make or model! Simply answer questions regarding your tape formulation, speed, MRL, and reference levels, then our app will walk you through all the necessary steps!

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

"Chris Mara has single-handedly revived the reputation of the great Jeep Harned's American MCI JH series of tape machines. These have survived in large enough numbers to make a business out of their restoration and the Mara rebuilt machines are top quality, great sounding, easy to keep lined up, and smooth running. We have all been pleasantly surprised that the MCI gear they are based on has lasted so well. They were so much better built than anything made today."

- Pete Townshend - The Who

"My Mara Machine MCI JH-110 1/4” is as sonically beautiful to listen to as it is aesthetically attractive to look at. Aimee Mann’s Mental Illness was mixed through my Mara Machine and won me my fifth Grammy. It subtly helped glue the final mix together and added some magical fairy dust. With its unassuming charm and stalwart support my Mara Machine adds the sort of sonic love I’d rather not mix without."

- Ryan Freeland - Engineer - Los Angeles, CA

"For the last three years, I have been using two Mara machines on my recording projects, both the 24 track 2" and 8 track 1". The only thing better than the way these machines run and sound is how supportive and available the Mara machines staff has been to help me better understand the machines and implement them into my workflow."
 
- Eric Heigle - Engineer, Producer, Musician - New Orleans, LA
 
"My Mara 1/4" JH110 has been a fantastic addition to my private studio. The tape deck sounds great capturing mixes and has been extremely reliable. It aligns flat all the way up to 20 khz at 15 IPS and is the perfect combination of tape mojo and hi fidelity all in one."
 
Favorite records I have mixed to it so far are Hood Smoke "Cannonball Porch" and Bunny Patootie "New Growth Chart."
 
- Anthony Gravino - Engineer - Chicago, IL
"I love my Mara Machines. I have both the MCI JH110BC 1/2" 2 track and MCI JH24 2" 24 track. They have been incredibly reliable and the warm analog sound they provide has proved crucial in my music productions. This beautiful sound is something I have not been able to achieve with my digital audio work station. I recently produced and engineered a record for Particle Kid, aka Micah Nelson and an album “With The Sun” by artist Sunny War and the results using my Mara machines are astounding. On another note, the Mara team has provided the best technical support of any recording equipment company I have ever dealt with, always going the extra mile to make sure that I am a satisfied customer."
 
- Harlan Steinberger - Producer, Engineer - Hen House Studios, Venice, California

"My preferred method of working is to record basic tracks  to my Mara MCI JH 110 1" 8 track then transfer to Protools for overdubs. For mixdown is use my Mara MCI JH 110 1/2" 2 track. With that combination you can't go wrong. Solid machine and a solid support team!"

 
Bruce Watson - Fat Possum Records - Delta-Sonic Sound, Memphis, TN