Fostex Model 80 convert to 3-head? Crazy Idea?

[nettech]

Okay, you've all prolly noticed that the headblock of a Fostex Model 80 has holes punched in it for an extra head to be mounted at the leftmost side. So here's a question:

Could the erase head be moved there, and then add another R/P head in place of the erase head and (with the addition of some "Tascam Simul-Sync-like" slide switches) be wired to convert the deck into a 3-head deck?

So far, one big problem is that the R/P boards use electronic switching to pass the head signals thru the Record/encode - Playback/decode circuitry. This would require some major PC board chopping and circuit modification to get all 8-channels to allow independent assignment of playback from R/P heads 1 and 2.

An easier solution is to sacrifice 4 of the 8 tracks (use only tracks 1,3,5,7 from each head) re-wire the heads off the PCB thru miniature DPDT slide switches in order to select head 1 or head 2 for playback (Tascam Simul-Sync-like) and set the fostex record-enable buttons to record on 4 channels, and play on the other 4 channels. A 4-track 3-head deck is good, and this would be easy to do and require less mod work than having all 8 tracks working in 3-head mode.

Would anyone like to join in and add their own thoughts or ideas about accomplishing this experiment?

[jpmorris]

Originally Posted by nettech

Okay, you've all prolly noticed that the headblock of a Fostex Model 80 has holes punched in it for an extra head to be mounted at the leftmost side. So here's a question:

Could the erase head be moved there, and then add another R/P head in place of the erase head and (with the addition of some "Tascam Simul-Sync-like" slide switches) be wired to convert the deck into a 3-head deck?

Would anyone like to join in and add their own thoughts or ideas about accomplishing this experiment?

I've wondered about doing this kind of thing on a TSR-8, to convert it into a TSR-2. In my plan, channels 3&4 are routed to the second head for repro purposes. Cards 5-8 become spares. The major difficulty with this would be
getting 2-track 1/2" heads custom-made to suit the TSR/38 headblock. Phenomenally expensive, I'd wager.

[monty]

You could just say "fuck it" and do some recording.

[Beck]

I thought about adding a third head on my TSR-8 for about a split-second. As far as the sound goes, the TSR-8 is so accurate I don't need to hear what's coming off the tape during recording. The only other issue is calibration. But that is only needed once or twice a year, if that, depending on how much I'm using it.

Yeah, my first thought was "Hey, there's a spot for a third head!" My second thought was there are no electronics to support a third head, and with dbx on each channel card it would take a second TSR-8 just to put it all together. My third thought was "Fuck it, just do some recording."

[nettech]

Okay. You all have a good point. Truth is I have 2 Model 80's and 1 extra R/P and erase head and I figured at this point there is no reason for the one backup Model 80 to just sit there in the closet, so why not be a techhie about it and make something out of it.

The main Model 80 is clean and records very well, although most of the time I use it to soften up (and adjust the speed of) digital audio output from the Mac. A waste of machinery I know, I sholda got a 2-track 3-head Pro machine instead.

[The Ghost of FM]

I think both TASCAM and Fostex were thinking of Canada when they put those extra mounting holes on the head-block.

I believe they envisioned the provision for mounting a snow plow blade to keep the path clear in winter.

Little did they know that we have central heat in our igloos!

Cheers!

[Beck]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

I think both TASCAM and Fostex were thinking of Canada when they put those extra mounting holes on the head-block.

I believe they envisioned the provision for mounting a snow plow blade to keep the path clear in winter.

Little did they know that we have central heat in our igloos!

Cheers!

Could be but they might have been thinking ahead to the inevitability of something like the “Patriot Act” in the states (which was just waiting for an excuse to be implemented). So that extra spot is for a “government-head” that picks up what you are recording or playing in real time, digitizes it and sends it to the CIA via the original military Internet.

They were in the process of thinking of a way to convince musicians and engineers to connect their recorders to a phone-line through a little black box marked on the bottom “PROPERTY OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. DO NOT EAT.”

However, the whole program was scrapped when manufacturers persuaded the feds that through clever marketing they could convince everyone to abandon analog and record digitally using their PCs, which thanks to Al Gore would already be connected to the web.

The rest is history.

[Beck]

Originally Posted by nettech

Okay. You all have a good point. Truth is I have 2 Model 80's and 1 extra R/P and erase head and I figured at this point there is no reason for the one backup Model 80 to just sit there in the closet, so why not be a techhie about it and make something out of it.

The main Model 80 is clean and records very well, although most of the time I use it to soften up (and adjust the speed of) digital audio output from the Mac. A waste of machinery I know, I sholda got a 2-track 3-head Pro machine instead.

In all seriousness I think it’s cool to experiment. Being an inventor myself and having modified a lot of what I own I could hardly discourage the idea.

Taking things apart and sometimes getting them back together again is invaluable experience when it comes to understanding how stuff really works. The more we can do ourselves the better off we will be, because sooner or later all those gray-haired repair techs are going to retire and be replaced mostly with people who have never seen a tape deck. Sure, they’ll be out there, but probably fewer and far between.

What you’re proposing can be done. And the forum is very diverse as far as the reasons people tune in. Some are musicians first, others engineers and still others collectors.

So I’d say if it’s something you want to do – go for it!

[The Ghost of FM]

I'm just glad the words; "crazy idea" were in the tittle of this thread.

Cheers!

[Beck]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

I'm just glad the words; "crazy idea" were in the tittle of this thread.

Cheers!

Yeah, me too. I get royalties every time someone uses the term.

[nettech]

Backup Model 80 escapes severe hacking. Film at 11. Mini DPDT switches still too large to mount cleanly onto plastic headcover for simple 4-track 3-head config.

It's amazing how much better music sounds when one can watch reels spinning, instead of beam cursor with a graphic waveform sliding behind it.

Makes me wanna go out and get a turntable, a phono preamp, and some old vinyl recordings to listen to.

Thanks to all. See yah!

[fraserhutch]

I have a Model 80 in my closet - how do you use it this way? Do you run your main outs to D/A to the unit and then back in again through A/D for writing to disk?

Does it really soften up the tracks?

[nettech]

Actually, I go from the D/A out of the Mac directly into the 80, and output from the 80 into a mixer. I rarely bounce tape back to HD.

I'd rather just have the tape saturation done in realtime, and that's what gave me the crazy idea to convert the deck to 3-heads.

At this point though, I'm just considering getting a 2-track 1/4" 3-head Tascammish pro deck from eBay instead of modding the Model 80.