3 head open reel multitrack recorders other than tascam-Teac?

[tedsorvino]

Hi everyone. New in here. Glad I join this fine community. Diy musician - “record” maker - audio devices-instruments builder-repairer from Athens, Greece, here.

I’m about to re-enter the analog multitrack recording “game”. So far I’m in a semi analog phase, after my cassette multitrack young phase. By semi, I mean outboard recording gear, computer editing, minimal plug in use for editing only or as a timing -syncing interface between external and “in the box” worlds, my trustworthy Revox b77 mk2 HS 2 track in there as well and a lot of back and forth between tape and computer.

My electronics skills are good. Many repair - maintenance jobs and builds. I made all the mods from 4 track to 2 and from NS 7 1/2 to 15 ips myself, according to Revox specs. So I’m not scared of “faulty” machines.

The max amount of tracks I need are 8. 15ips, 1/2’’ for 8 or 1/4’’ for 4 (impossible to find affordable 1/2’’ 4 track), a deck capable to accommodate 10’’ reels and i do prefer 3 heads since I do maintenance and calibration myself.

So as far as I’m concerned, according to the “standards” I’ve set, Teac has the classics 3440 and 40-4 or 80-8 (i don’t include 3340 or 70-8 since they are very very old and inferior to the next generations- of course I wouldn’t say no to a super bargain) and then there are the tascams 34,38,58 and 48.

I have to admit that 58 (but also 48) can be found usually on the expensive side for me since I wouldn’t like to go that high. Otaris are expensive and heavy.
Other tascam models are very large format or just 2 heads and very late 80s plastic and Dolby things (not my thing at all). The same for the “good” Fostex models. I embrace “noise” and “hiss”.

Do I miss any models up to my standards from other makers? Any suggestions more than welcome.
Teac 3440, 40-4 or tascam 34? Teac 80-8 or Tascam 38?

Thanks in advance

 

[rob aylestone]

There are a few studers popping up from time to time and other higher price studio machines like of course ampex. Sony had a 4ch version of the 377 intended for quadraphonic systems, plus another of a different design. I think there was a Philips one too but very plasticky. This would have been in the late 70s when I sold video and hifi

 

[tedsorvino]

There are a few studers popping up from time to time and other higher price studio machines like of course ampex. Sony had a 4ch version of the 377 intended for quadraphonic systems, plus another of a different design. I think there was a Philips one too but very plasticky. This would have been in the late 70s when I sold video and hifi

Thanks for the reply Rob.
I had a normal black plastic stereo 4 track Philips (1975). It was just plastic and the insides were all on one board. No cards. Nothing “pro”. Nothing too bad. Gave it away.
Studers and ampex are quite expensive for me. Akai (I know they have a couple quadrophonic ones) and Sony may be quadrophonic and not true multitrack 4 tracks. I will check for the Sony one.

Ps. The sony ones are TC 854-4 and TC 788-4. They look very nice, but because they are quite rare, they usually are quite expensive (for what they really are).
I also found out that Akai had the Gx-400D SS. Good looking machine.Very expensive nowadays. Maybe overpriced,

 

[rob aylestone]

Yep the one I remember was the 388. Very reliable and easy to lace up. No 15ips version though. It couldn’t do sync though so not too useful for our sort of stuff

 

[sweetbeats]

Sony had a 388?

 

[rob aylestone]

It was in that nice slanted wooden cabinet like the 377. The one where horizontal, is sloped upwards at the back, or vertical the top was tilted back a bit, so the spools didn't fall off! The 388 just duplicated the pcb to give two extra channels with the same design, and the two sliding record switches. The 377 I remember quite fondly. Our theatre could not afford a revox or a ferrograph, so we had the Sony.

 

[tedsorvino]

After a bit of research I also found that Pioneer also had rt 2044. Very beautiful but way overpriced.
This research makes me realise that only Teac-Tascam really cared about the “home studio-demo” circuit before Fostex enter the game and quality go a bit lower, since their 4 channel machines are there from the start, they are affordable and normal priced without exotic - “audiophile” components, and then they had their 8 channel affordable ones, where there is no other Japanese maker model.
I’m talking about 1/4’’, 1/2’’ vertical-“portable” machines.

 

[jpmorris]

For half-inch 8 track, the usual suspects are TEAC/TASCAM, Otari with the 5050-8, and Revox also made one in the form of the C278.
After that you're down to really weird stuff like the rare ITAM 806, which was a very heavily modded Revox A77 that I would view as a museum piece or curio more than a workhorse. I'm not aware of any other options in that format.

For 1/4" 8-track, I do think the only options are the Fostexes and the TASCAM 388.

 

[tedsorvino]

Thanks for the info. Never heard of ITAM as a brand. Will check them.
I also discovered Bernell 1’’, Stephens (really really interesting machines but way too rare) and SCM (soundcraft).
Any more info on 4 track 1/4’’ ones (can’t think of any 1/2’’ ones - except stephens)?

 

[jpmorris]

Thanks for the info. Never heard of ITAM as a brand. Will check them.
I also discovered Bernell 1’’, Stephens (really really interesting machines but way too rare) and SCM (soundcraft).
Any more info on 4 track 1/4’’ ones (can’t think of any 1/2’’ ones - except stephens)?

Yeah, the ITAMs turn up occasionally, but mostly in Europe. Someone actually bought one on ebay a couple of months ago - I hope they know what they're doing. I'm not sure I'd recommend one, but it's fascinating that they existed at all. Kind of like Dewtron, a little British firm that never quite made it big.

If 1" is an option, there's also the Otari MX70. Most of them are 16-track configuration, but you could also get 8-track heads for them, and some were built in that configuration.

With Soundcraft, the 380 was the 8-track machine, pretty compact for a 1" unit, but I've no idea how good they were. Like the Brenell, that format had the advantage that the tapes would play back on a 1" machine in a pro studio, so if you were a wealthy pop star you could lay down the basic tracks for your next song at home, and then transfer them to 2" at the studio to finish it off there.

 

[tedsorvino]

Great info. Actually I’m in Europe.
If you have info on 1/4’’ ( or 1/2’’ ) 4 track 10’’ reel (“proper” multitrack ones other than Teac, tascam, fostex and the few akai, sony, pioneer mentioned before) let me know please.

 

[jpmorris]

Great info. Actually I’m in Europe.
If you have info on 1/4’’ ( or 1/2’’ ) 4 track 10’’ reel (“proper” multitrack ones other than Teac, tascam, fostex and the few akai, sony, pioneer mentioned before) let me know please.

Again, there's Otari - 4 track machines from the 5050 series in 1/4" and 1/2" format. IIRC there was also a 1/2" 4-track version of the Studer A807, and the Revox C274, which was 1/4".

To be honest, the 4-track scene isn't something I ever paid much attention to, because I always wanted to do complex projects, and 8 tracks was my bare minimum. Whenever I've needed less as a constraint, e.g. for doing 1967 style productions, I simply use every alternate track on the TSR-8.

 

[tedsorvino]

Again, there's Otari - 4 track machines from the 5050 series in 1/4" and 1/2" format. IIRC there was also a 1/2" 4-track version of the Studer A807, and the Revox C274, which was 1/4".

To be honest, the 4-track scene isn't something I ever paid much attention to, because I always wanted to do complex projects, and 8 tracks was my bare minimum. Whenever I've needed less as a constraint, e.g. for doing 1967 style productions, I simply use every alternate track on the TSR-8.

Otari is always expensive. Alf course they are good machines that may worth their extra money.

 

[ecc83]

Please slap wrist if this is a hijack... I have a Teac A3440 4 track, NABs and I was looking to sell it but found it no longer records or erases so bias osc problem. I found a possible repair shop here but he is snowed. I could have fixed it ages ago but I no longer have the kit, the eyes or indeed the muscles to move it about!
Mechanically it is fine, plays tapes ok so if anyone wants to make me a serious offer? Buyer collects...Geez! The shipping cost!

Dave.

 

[tedsorvino]

Please slap wrist if this is a hijack... I have a Teac A3440 4 track, NABs and I was looking to sell it but found it no longer records or erases so bias osc problem. I found a possible repair shop here but he is snowed. I could have fixed it ages ago but I no longer have the kit, the eyes or indeed the muscles to move it about!
Mechanically it is fine, plays tapes ok so if anyone wants to make me a serious offer? Buyer collects...Geez! The shipping cost!

Dave.

For eu it would be around +30% for vat and custom tariffs on top of not cheap shipping. Seriously doubt an offer from the eu can be good.