Fostex 4030 Synchronizer

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analog aaron

Swami King of Poppers
Hey Guys,
I just found out about this synchro and I don't know much about what it does. I do own 2 working r8 reel to reels and they do have the 16 pin ribbon type connectors on them. Can anyone tell me a little about this? Will it link both machines to make a 16 track? If it's something for MIDI stuff, I don't need it. I currently don't and probably won't ever use Midi. On the other hand, if it can link both machines, I'd like to get one. Anybody?
 
If the ribbon cables mate or if suitable adapters can be found, yes, you can lock your two R-8's together but you will need to give up the 8th track on each deck for time code which the 4030 will write and read as well as lock up the two machines together to form a 14 track recorder. (7 + 7).

The 4030 came out a number of years before the R-8 did so I'm not 100% sure that they are compatible. Perhaps the manual from one of the R-8's will be of some help?

Good luck!

Cheers! :)
 
Thanks Ghost. 14 tracks?.... I can deal with that! I do have manual for the
r8's, but it really doesn't go into too much detail (at all) about the sync. The manual really only shows a diagram of the top panel where the connector is and says only this much.."Synchronizer Connector: For connection of an optional synchronizer (Model 4030) which allows SMPTE synchronization with other audio or video tape recorders"..... Well, at least it tells me that is the sync unit for these models, so I'm going to give it a try. I just hope it comes with the ribbon connectors, if not I hope they're not too hard to find. What exactly is SMPTE? Is that something dealing with Midi?
A
 
What exactly is SMPTE?

Yeah, Fostex manuals are notorious for being very short on details so I feel for you trying to learn more about it here or elsewhere.

SMPTE time code was originally developed as a way of allowing audio, video and additional equipment such as theater lighting and stage curtains to work in synchronization with each other under automation control for presentations of movies and television productions. When they developed it, they didn't really have us audio guys primarily in mind because they had bigger concerns to address then just music productions which at that time of development, didn't yet have the existence of midi which now has it's own time code system called MTC, short for Midi Time Code.

SMPTE, which stands for Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers -, is a time code that consists of a means of representing hours, minutes, seconds and frames of film or video and is recorded on a spare audio track on all audio and visual recorders in a linear series of square wave pulses of various lengths so that by use of synchronizer equipment, can be controlled to all be at the same place, at the same time so that when an actor's lip's move on the screen, the dialog matches up to it.

We, who are strictly in the audio end of things, learned to borrow this technology and use it as a means of getting multiple tape recorders to work in unison with each other to create larger sized music productions but even the people who got into this, did so with with the idea to lock together a couple of 24 track recorders so that multiple takes of vocals or instrument parts could latter be edited down into perfected parts by taking the best of each take and then transfer or "fly in" those parts back onto a pair or singular track on the master recorder for the purpose of having a more manageable tape to mix-down to stereo.

All of this won't help you to get your stuff hooked up and working properly but it might give you some deeper insight into what the code was designed to do in the first place, which was to make people's lives in the movie and television industry a bit easier.

Cheers! :)
 
The only problem with the Fostex 4030 is finding the cables. I rarely see them and there are different types for different machines. Fostex made cables for the 4030 to interface with Otari, MCI, TASCAM and others, as well as the Fostex machines. If you can’t find a 4030 with the interface cables included you’ll be dead in the water until you find some… you’ll need two, one for master and one for slave. It’s pretty cool if you can find everything. There is also a 4035 remote that goes with the 4030... but I would probably sell both R8s, forget the 4030 and buy an E-16.

:)
 
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The 4030/4035 Synchronizer/Controller...

was made by Fostex to be plug-compatible and nearly plug-and-play with all other Fostex reel decks. I've not scoped the pinouts of the 'standard' cable, but it may be as simple as a straight-thru ribbon cable that would do'ya. However, it would probably pay to scope the tech specs on the cables before committing to that as more fact than opinion. Still, I've seen the standard cable and it's nothing special. It's a bundled (round multicore) cable that fans out to a flat connector on the ends, I believe with a toroid on each end for noise suppression.

Sync is not rocket science, but it is more gadgety than straight recording with one deck, with some inherent minor issues included. Sync is there if you need it, but IMO if you're relying on it more often than not, then it's probably in your best interest to purchase up in track count with another recorder. Just to have the capability of syncing two decks for once-in-a-while things is okay.

Sync has been a bit too gadgety for me to dive right into it wholeheartedly, but I'm equipped with the gear and could do it if I wanted to spend the time ramping up on it as a project.

I could be more exact if I delved into the specs. I have the 4030/4035, cables & the tech manuals. Maybe check it later.:eek:;)
 
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A Reel Person said:
was made by Fostex to be plug-compatible and nearly plug-and-play with all other Fostex reel decks. I've not scoped the pinouts of the 'standard' cable, but it may be as simple as a straight-thru ribbon cable that would do'ya. However, it would probably pay to scope the tech specs on the cables before committing to that as more fact than opinion. Still, I've seen the standard cable and it's nothing special. It's a bundled (round multicore) cable that fans out to a flat connector on the ends, I believe with a toroid on each end for noise suppression.

Sync is not rocket science, but it is more gadgety than straight recording with one deck, with some inherent minor issues included. Sync is there if you need it, but IMO if you're relying on it more often than not, then it's probably in your best interest to purchase up in track count with another recorder. Just to have the capability of syncing two decks for once-in-a-while things is okay.

Sync has been a bit too gadgety for me to dive right into it wholeheartedly, but I'm equipped with the gear and could do it if I wanted to spend the time ramping up on it as a project.

I could be more exact if I delved into the specs. I have the 4030/4035, cables & the tech manuals. Maybe check it later.:eek:;)
Click to expand...

What DON'T you have???
 
A cool name like yours, and...

time!..............:eek:;)
 
I've got a 4030 as well and also never used it. I didn't know it could interface with otari's! It would be sweet to use the 1/2" 4-track for lead vocal, bass, and kick drum!
 
Everyone of you guys has been most helpful. I couldn't just go to "Sam Ash" and get this kind of information. Ahahahaha. Damn. The guy I was gonna buy the synchro from just sent me a picture of the rear panel and he doesn't have the cables nor doesn't even know much about it. Says he got it in a trade. Im pretty sure I can make cables to connect, I'm handy like that, but that's going to be too exhausting. All that soldering and crimping. No way.Screw it. Somethings just aren't worth it. Anyways......I had thought about just what BECK said. Getting an E-16 and ditching the other stuff... Our new band is pretty excited about recording on reel tape. We'll need many tracks for what we do. When I told the guys about the possiblitly of Sync, they just about crapped. The only thing is one of the R8's is like close to brand spanking new. It's like someone bought it, took it out of the box and decided not to use it and put it back in the box. Then sold it to me years later. I kinda wanna keep that one. The other I don't care so much about. Although it works just fine, the previous owner said it was dropped, the carring handle is broken and the detachable remote panel on the front is kinda rigged but is fully functional. Of course I got it way cheaper than the other one, but I expected to pay what I payed for it. I just don't know how to go about looking for something like the E16. It seems like the Tascam models are more desirable and thus anything I'm gonna find is going to be pretty well used? I dunno. Maybe I'm feeling sorry for myself. Ahahaha. Thanks again guys. .
 
FALKEN said:
I've got a 4030 as well and also never used it. I didn't know it could interface with otari's! It would be sweet to use the 1/2" 4-track for lead vocal, bass, and kick drum!
Click to expand...

The interface for the MX-5050 is Fostex part number 8783. :)
 

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Ok guys, I got the synchronizer and it's remote in the mail. Paid like $40 total w/ manual. Not too bad, I don't think. I'm going to try it and see if I can figure it out. Most of you will think I'm crazy for spending time on this....but believe it or not....I actually enjoy a challenge! If it doesn't work, then at least I'll learn SOMETHING. I'll let you know how it turns out.
A
 
Thanks Ghost!, I'll put a song or two up for downloads when I'm done... I think (I hope) most of you will like it. I hate to categorize or label musicial styles, but if I had to I'd say it's psychedelic, mod-like, high energy rock n' roll!
Cheers!
A.A.
 
FOSTEX 4030/4035 with both cables, manual, and VHS training video

analog aaron said:
Thanks Ghost!, I'll put a song or two up for downloads when I'm done... I think (I hope) most of you will like it. I hate to categorize or label musicial styles, but if I had to I'd say it's psychedelic, mod-like, high energy rock n' roll!
Cheers!
A.A.
Click to expand...

Hello there,
I just came across your quest for the 4030.
I have the complete set that I used with my fostex R-8.

By set I mean, the FOSTEX 4030/4035 with "both cables", manual, and a VHS training video of how to use them.
I'm selling it on craigslist right now. Here's the link if you are still interested.
craigslist.org/wst/ele/882811889.html[/url] (electronics)
Thanks!

John Reed
MUSIC ROOM PRODUCTIONS ®
THE MUSIC ROOM PUBLISHING GROUP (ASCAP)
MRP MUSIC (BMI)
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV
525 South Francisca Ave,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Studio: (310) 316-4551
Cell: (310) 503-1198
Production e-mail MRP@aol.com
 
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