What does this mean?

[famous beagle]

Hey y'all,

I'm in the market for a mixdown R2R deck and saw this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...E:B:SS:US:1123

It's a Sony TC-758. It says it's 4-track, both-direction recording. It looks like a 1/2 track to me. What does this mean?

Thanks!

[technoplayer]

That particular machine is a 4 track (quarter track stereo) machine.
It can record quarter track stereo going in both directions; i.e. without flipping the tape over to record and play the other side.
The six head setup keeps the relationship between erase->record->play the same in both tape directions.

This is a nice consumer level machine, but I am not personally fond of Sony machines.

[famous beagle]

Originally Posted by technoplayer

That particular machine is a 4 track (quarter track stereo) machine.
It can record quarter track stereo going in both directions; i.e. without flipping the tape over to record and play the other side.
The six head setup keeps the relationship between erase->record->play the same in both tape directions.

This is a nice consumer level machine, but I am not personally fond of Sony machines.

Oh ... so ... there's heads on the top and bottom?

[Vintage Texas]

Find a 2-track machine with 7-1/2 and 15 speed instead if you want a final mixdown deck.
Tascam 22-2, 32 or 42.

[famous beagle]

Originally Posted by Vintage Texas

Find a 2-track machine with 7-1/2 and 15 speed instead if you want a final mixdown deck.
Tascam 22-2, 32 or 42.

Thanks vintage. (I grew up in Houston by the way ... actually Spring)

I know those models. Are there some other comparible models by other manufacturers too that would do the job?

For example, I know the Fostex 20 runs at 7 1/2 and 15 ips. I know that Fostex is generally regarded as a step down from Tascam, but is that always true?

Are there others from, say, Ampex, Akai, Teac, etc. that would be comparable to the Tascam units you mentioned?

I love Tascam (I have a 38 as the multi-tracker), but I'd just like to keep my options open, as getting one of these nowadays isn't as easy as walking down to the corner store.

[sweetbeats]

There are lots of offerings between Teac, Ampex, Fostex and others. And speaking of Fostex, not a step down...Fostex just did a better job marketing to the prosumer crowd and they are better known for their "small" reel (7") 1/4" decks and IMHO that's one reason they are viewed as "less pro"... Parts and support are harder with the Fostex units though...the Model 80 and 20 are great decks and the E-2 is top-notch IMHO...they even made a 1/2" 1/2-track master deck the E-22. ) Tascam is great stuff, I'm partial to it but part of that is the availability of used-market units at good prices and the aforemented parts and support.

cjacek consistently advises to be less concerned about model/manufacturer and most concerned with:

1. Local availability
2. Condition
3. Model/manufacturer

In that order and I support that ideology. Look around at your local offerings and then post up here what you are finding and I'm sure you'll get lots of good poop on whatever it is.