Buying Reel to reel advice

[jgharding]

Hi all,

I'm looking at buying a reel to reel for recording certain one or two mic parts to tape then transferring into Pro Tools, nothing too expensive.

I've seen all sortsaround in ads - Fostex B 16, R 8, E 2 etc.

Thin is i don't think i need multitrack, or more than two at least. Am i right in thinking that by tracking to a master deck like the E2 i'd get better quality than tracking to two tracks of a B 16 or R 8.

Also the age of the B 16 puts me off, i think it will have been run down a fair bit.

Iv e also seen AKAI 4000DB and the PR99 MKIII around for reasonable money.
So for what i want to do, that is get a nice squashed but HQ tape sound onto a couple of tracks, what's the best option?

Thanks for all the help i've recieved before registering, just by reading, this forum is a great resource!

Jules

www.myspace.com/jgharding

[sweetbeats]

Am i right in thinking that by tracking to a master deck like the E2 i'd get better quality than tracking to two tracks of a B 16 or R 8

Yes. Both the B16 and R8 (for example) have approximately the same track width (B16 is 16 tracks over 1/2", the R8 is 8 tracks over 1/4"), whereas the E2 has about 4 times that...wider track width in general means better fidelity potential.

For the best chance of high-fidelity balanced with your budget look for a 1/4" half-track (i.e. the two channels are spread across the entire tape width) as opposed to a consumer 1/4" "quarter-track" two-track (here the two tracks go both directions so there are actually 4 tracks on the tape like a cassette...you flip the tape over) that can do 15 inches-per-second (ips). That is the standard mastering format and can bring very good results and is available in a lot of models. Fostex E2 is one. I tend to lean toward the Teac/Tascam offerings simply because they are ruggedly built, more available on the used market and parts and user support are very good. This is not the case with Fostex in my experience. Otari 5050 is another good option. Very well-built, and decent parts and user support (though parts are $$$). I recommend the Tascam 32, or even the 22-2 which has a similar transport but will only do 7" reels (the 32 will do the larger 10.5" reels). I think the 22-2 does 15ips.

Anyway, hope that helps.

[jgharding]

Cool thanks, yeah that does help! If it's between a Fostex E2 and a PR99 MKIII which would you go for? Am i right in thinking the Revox is gonna be a little better? (Assuming both are in good condition) Thanks for your help so far!

[sweetbeats]

My vote goes to the PR99mkIII...not real familiar with either, and the E-2 is certainly a fine deck, but the Revox is full of Studer parts and AFAIK is quite rugged...parts availability for it may actually be better than the Fostex.

[jgharding]

Thaks Sweetbeats, that's where i was leaning too. Fostex is usually prosumer so i spose you can't the Studer!

[jedblue]

I have a Revox PR99 MkIII and an Otari 5050 MkII. I prefer the PR99 for recording and mostly use the 5050 for playback to the PR99 for final stereo mastering. The Otari's a great solid deck with a lot of nice push button configuration options but my one is more worn than the PR99 so the Revox gets the nod for recording duties. I like the internal oscillators on the Otari. That's a neat option and I often use the Otari's oscillators to check the recording alignment on the Revox once the playback levels have been set with my alignment tape.

They are both aligned for RMGI SM911 (250 nWb/m at +4db output). Parts availability has not yet been a problem for either. I recently replaced the record amplifier card on the Revox. $25.00 plus freight off eBay. Easy Peasy.

I'd be happy with either if I could only have one.

Geoff

[jgharding]

That's good to hear that parts are still around for the Revox, it was a worry of mine that they'd be rare or harder to find, but i suppose since this model is from 1995 it's not yet too old! Give them another 10 years...

[jgharding]

I'm now awaiting delivery of PR99 MK II, hopefully all's working well, but doubtlessly i'll end up back here again looking for set up tips! Cheers guys.

[sweetbeats]

Awesome!

Put up some pics when you get it okay? Keep us "posted"!

[jgharding]

Cool will do!

Does anyone know their rack size in units? I hear they're usually 12U, is that right?

[sweetbeats]

Hm...

My BR-20T is 10U, my 58 is 11U. I'd be surprised if it was 12U...

Okay...Just looked in my PR99 manual and it looks like its 9U (399.2mm).

[jgharding]

OK guys, the PR99 is here, but i don't know where to start

I have no manual does anyone have one in PDF? I'm not sure how to thread the tape or attach it to the other reel! Eeek!

[cjacek]

Originally Posted by jgharding

OK guys, the PR99 is here....

I have no manual does anyone have one in PDF?

Scroll down mid page:
http://www.audioschematics.com/revox.html

[dodgeaspen]

Hope it works ok. I too would like to see some picks when you have the time.