Using a pair of 4 tracks to get more tracks.

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JG96

JG96

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Hi everyone! This may be a bit of a noob question as I live mainly in the digital realm but I would like to get my feet wet with analog. I have a pair of Otari MX-5050 4 tracks. I was wondering if it would be feasible to run a duplicate of one track into both decks and then line up the tracks once I dump them into my [expletive deleted] audio workstation? Or would using 2 separate 4 tracks create some issues that I am not thinking of?
 
We used to do it when we had to - you will need to sacrifice a track on each machine and get your hands on a synchroniser - Google JL Cooper. This stripes SMPTE onto the tape and you can use them 'as one', as the master sends sync to the second and this one varispeeds to it. The only thing is to check the Otaris can be synchronised in this way - never used them, so can't check.
 
If they can't be synchronized natively (as described above) then it's really not worth it. There is no way that either of the tapes will play back at exactly the same speed twice individually, let alone together, so they will drift. You could fuck around with it after it's in the DAW and maybe get it close, but it will probably be more work and frustration than it's worth.

If they will let you monitor off the repro head while recording you could record to the DAW that way at tracking time and accomplish about the same thing with less hassle. Run into the tape machine (rolling and recording) and then out (off the repro) to your interface. You basically never have to play back what's on the tape. It's just acting like an outboard processor. You could also run straight into the DAW and loop out through the tape machines at mix time as though they were outboard effects.
 
Yeah I don't think they can be synchronized natively. I'll try some of those other suggestions. I may just mix the drums down to a stereo or mono track before hitting the drums and get the foundation of the band on tape.
 
ashcat_lt said:
If they can't be synchronized natively (as described above) then it's really not worth it. There is no way that either of the tapes will play back at exactly the same speed twice individually, let alone together, so they will drift. You could fuck around with it after it's in the DAW and maybe get it close, but it will probably be more work and frustration than it's worth.
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FWIW, I've done the equivalent of this before with no trouble. I recorded to all 4 tracks of a cassette 4-track, but I wanted to mix in the computer because I didn't have any good outboard effects. My 4-track didn't have direct tape outs, so I had to bounce them over to the computer two tracks at a time.

After that, it was just a matter of sliding them both to the same starting point and then time-stretching them slightly until they lined up. It took about 2 minutes tops. It's really easy if you start and end each track with some clicks (or any short staccato notes, etc.)
 
The Otaris might be able to be synchronized. The TimeLine Lynx MK1 supports the 5050 MkIII-4, the MkIII-8 and apparently also the BQ2.
However, since you'd lose two tracks to timecode, you'd only have 6 anyway. Getting an 8-track machine would be a better way to go.
 
This kind of reminds me of something: have you guys ever seen the film The Conversation? They did something like that there where they had to synchronize three or four tape machines from different people carrying microphones. Of course, with dialogue it's probably not as crucial to get things perfectly in sync....
 
Hammerstone said:
This kind of reminds me of something: have you guys ever seen the film The Conversation? They did something like that there where they had to synchronize three or four tape machines from different people carrying microphones. Of course, with dialogue it's probably not as crucial to get things perfectly in sync....
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I really liked that movie! (I own it)
 
Sgt. Pepper, anyone?

Why not just do one 4-track submix down to the other 4-track in mono or stereo, then use the remaining tracks for overdubs.
:spank::eek:;)
 
A Reel Person said:
Why not just do one 4-track submix down to the other 4-track in mono or stereo, then use the remaining tracks for overdubs.
:spank::eek:;)
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I would but I am unfortunately mixing in a d*****l audio workstation. I am confined in budget and space so no mixing board for me at the moment.
 
Heck, why not just go completely old school and record the whole band into a phonograph cone at one end of the room?!?
 
Agreed.

Why not record yourself or your band live-to-4, mix and call it a day.
Then consider selling one of the 4-tracks getting an 8-track.
:spank::eek:;)
 
Do you want fun, or do you want hipster mojo cred? I'm not sure you can have both.
 
ashcat_lt said:
Do you want fun, or do you want hipster mojo cred? I'm not sure you can have both.
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If I want hipster mojo cred I would sell both of my Otari's and record to a walkman. That could be fun come to think of it. Hmmm.
 
lonewhitefly said:
I really liked that movie! (I own it)
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Me too, it's definitely a good one! Coppola made it between the Godfathers, and pretty much left Walter Murch to finish it so he could start filming Godfather Pt. II. I think there are definitely nuances in there that could only be fully taken advantage of by the first ever man to get a movie credit for "sound designer." That, plus I love seeing all that vintage technology put to use. I can't think of many other movies that feature tape recorders that prominently.

JG96 said:
I would but I am unfortunately mixing in a d*****l audio workstation. I am confined in budget and space so no mixing board for me at the moment.
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At the risk of putting my foot in my mouth, I've considered doing this myself: how about recording 4 tracks, mixing those d*******y down to 2 (or 1?), then putting that mix back on tape, then adding more tracks. Theoretically you could do that an infinite number of times, as long as you accept that you're giving up the possibility of making a proper-sounding vinyl release at some point in the future. At the moment, the only way I can mix things is to do it digitally, so I just have to make do with what I have, and hope that I'll have the opportunity at some point in the not-too-distant future to go back and mix things properly with a real console on tape, so that I can make a proper AAA vinyl release. Other than that, there's really no good reason that I can see not to mix digitally.

(oops, pardon my French)
 
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