help me with 8-track recorder

[bubbasmith]

Hey, I´m new to analog recording scene (and this board also, so hey everyone). I´ve been recording with digital equipment (PC), but always liked analog way feels better somehow.

Now I´ve been looking for some 8-track reel machine, and the money´s always the problem for me. So, I´ve been thinking whether or not to buy Fostex R8. It´s used one and cheap enough for me. The guestion is if it´s good enough for me. As you may know it has 1\4" tape, and I´ve used to 24bit sound quality in my computer recordings.

So is Fostex R8 worth anything, in you´re opinion? I´m not that picky, in fact I like somekind of lo-fi sound, but there is also some other ways to do it than lousy recorder. It´s very hard to find any reel machines around here (in Finland) at all. Maybe I don´t know where to look for, but the only 2 that came across with me in these days were both Fostex R8s.

And some links for R8 would be nice also, if you know.
And any other help would be appreciated too.
And thank´s much, you´ve got great board here.

-Bub-

[dragnalus]

my $0.02...
although i'm not experienced with analog recording equipment yet, i've also been on a search for a decent reel to reel deck for awhile and here's some of what i've learned.
1/4" tape really won't get you very good sound quality with 8 tracks, and if you want decent sound quality you should go for at least 1/2" (1" if you're willing to spend at least $1500 for very proffessional gear). there are quite a few options at 1/2" 8 track, among them otari mx5050, tascam 38 (and 48 and 58 which are pricier but more pro), and teac 80-8. there's always something on ebay, but i'm not sure how many sellers would be willing to ship to finland. i guess you should just try to find finland audio classifieds online, and maybe call some studios and radio stations to see if they have any analog equipment they're trying to get rid of.

[bubbasmith]

thank´s dragnalus.
thank´s for the info about other, better 1\2" recorders. Right now I´m going to call some guy in the studio and ask him more about this. Maybe (hopely) he even knows where to get one of those better machines.
Thank´s much.
-Bub-

[kip]

hey bub
i definitely agree with dragnalus, try to swing a 1/2 inch deck if ya can, may be a little money more now, but you'll thank yourself later...i've had analog experience form casette portastudios to 2 inch tape.....and the 1/2 8-track format is great for the money.
i found my tascam 38 at a non-commercial radio station. seems like many radio stations are goin all digital these days
(great for us analog fans!) this place just wanted to get rid of all their analog equipment. keep your eye on ebay too, some will ship worldwide.....good luck

[A Reel Person]

but by the laws of physics, you'll get more headroom on the 1/2" 8-track.

My vote is also for the Tascam 38, which can still be found used for reasonable prices, often as low-use decks. The Tascam DX-4D dbx units [2] will give a big boost in S/N ratio to the 38.

Some people recommend the Tascam TSR-8 [1/2"], because it's a bit newer than the 38, and has built in dbx.

I like 1/4" 8-track, and I have several, more than one of each popular model, [believe it or not], but going from 1/4" up to 1/2" is a big boost in headroom, that's obvious when you hear it. It's a hearable difference.

[bubbasmith]

Thank´s for your good advises. But I take my chances on R8 first, before I buy me some 1\2" 8-track, or maybe even 16-track.

I thought, because it´s quite small, it´s somewhat easy to take with. And that´s one thing I need now, cause I don´t have a car. I don´t have any studiokind of place to record in. Only my apartment, and I´ve got my computer there. So I can use it there. Well, it´s not the same you may say, but I´ll also have this R8 soon. So I´m planning to take this R8 with me, hope it works that way, and record some elect.guitar here, some drums there, and so on with all the loud instruments I can´t play at home. Then come back and move tracks to my computer, and make the rest in there.

And then, after again saving some money, I will buy me some 1\2" machine I guess. Well, I was planning to buy some tape echo, or some other reverb next, but we´ll see. And I also have a picture of a sampler in my mind...

I´ve heard many so good recordings made with 4-track, that I thought this would do it now. It´s feeling that counts, for me. Well, headroom is good thing too, but...

thank´s for all the replys. It´s very nice to have a board like this around. Maybe some day I will have some knowledge, some experience to share with you too, maybe helps someone.

And that leads me to my next question.... in the other thread.

thank´s.
-bub-

[A Reel Person]

and the R8 is much more portable than a 1/2" machine. In fact, the R8 has a handle on the top of it, which is perfect for portability.

Your plan sounds good, except you'll need a front end mixer or input device to run signals into the R8. Just an afterthought, I guess.

[bubbasmith]

Yes, I´m lacking a good mixer. But I have one Spirit´s NotePad, which I can use in mono or stereo takes, cause it has only one stereo output. Well it has one effect send too, if it´s suitable for that. If I need more tracks at the same time, I´m planning to use some effects like guitar preamp overdrives or compressors, for snare or and kick. Something like that. Let see what happens. Just trying to keep it simple.

If that´s not enough, I can borrow some mixers, mics and effects from my friends, but that brings new problems like scheduling and lack of independency. Just trying to keep it simple this way too.

-bub-

[A Reel Person]

to the R8.

[bubbasmith]

thank´s, I didn´t think of that.
-bub-