About the Company
Mara Machines is not a traditional manufacturer of reel‑to‑reel tape recorders in the historical sense (like Akai, TEAC, Ampex, etc.). Instead, it’s a modern restoration and custom rebuild company that specializes in reviving vintage professional analog tape machines — primarily MCI studio recorders — for use today.
Who / What Mara Machines Is
Mara Machines is a U.S.‑based analog tape machine restoration and rebuild company founded in 2008 by Chris Mara, a recording engineer and technician based in Nashville, Tennessee. The company focuses on bringing classic analog recording technology back into use by restoring, refurbishing, and selling rebuilt vintage reel‑to‑reel multitrack tape machines originally made by other manufacturers (especially MCI).
It does not manufacture tape transport mechanisms from scratch.
Its “Mara Machines” are restored and rebuilt vintage units rather than original new designs.
The company has become a major player in the current analog revival movement by making classic reel recorders usable again for studios and enthusiasts.
What Mara Machines Does
Restoration & Rebuild
Mara Machines takes vintage MCI tape machines (analog studio recorders dating from the 1970s–1980s) and restores them to like‑new working condition:
Fully teardown and electrical/mechanical refurbishment
Re‑lapped heads and optional new repro heads
Alignment and calibration for modern tape (e.g., SM900)
Repainted or cosmetically refreshed decks
Lifetime tech support and parts availability included
Spare Parts & Services
They stock spare parts, heads, rollers, and other mechanical components to keep restored machines running reliably — a critical need because original parts are scarce for decades‑old equipment.
Tape Camp & Education
Mara Machines also offers educational programs (“Tape Camp”) and support to help engineers and producers learn how to use and maintain analog tape workflows.
Typical Machines They Offer
Rather than branding their own tape recorders, Mara Machines rebuilds classic MCI analog production recorders with modern support and warranty. Current offerings include restored versions of:
2‑Track Models
MCI JH‑110 1/4″ and 1/2″ 2‑track machines — versatile for mastering, mixdown, and stereo analog recording.
Multitrack Models
MCI JH‑24 1″ 8‑track — good for tracking and stems.
MCI JH‑24 2″ 16‑track & 24‑track — professional multitrack recorders used historically for album production and still popular in analog workflows.
These rebuilt units operate at 15, 30, and sometimes up to 30 ips speeds, support XLR I/O, and deliver the characteristic analog sound prized by contemporary studios.
They also offer “Hi‑Fi” variants intended for home audio enthusiasts with custom cabinets and upgraded components based on the same mechanics.
Why Mara Machines Exists
Mara Machines fills a gap left by the end of traditional tape recorder manufacturing:
Major manufacturers like MCI, Ampex, Studer, and Otari stopped making new analog tape recorders decades ago.
Working parts and service for existing machines became scarce.
Mara Machines revitalizes these classic decks and supports them with parts and expertise.
Their restored machines are used by professional engineers and artists worldwide and are appreciated for their authentic analog sound and workflow — even contributing to contemporary recordings and mixing projects.