16 track
- Thread starter Kasey
- Start date
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
Dr ZEE said:The term "demo quality" is not a descriptive but rather is a manipulative one. It's one of those terms that are being used to "guide" a consumer through endless array of halls, stairs and levels in The Palace Of Products and Services. "Welcome to The Palace. Please, stay and keep walking, there is always a higher level here. "
Another good point, Doc.
Kasey said:
I've been using wide track analog machines for about a decade, and I can hear significant differences, at times, between wide track machines and narrow track machines, but I would never scoff at a decently made 1" 16 track. Most likely, anyone who does is trying to sell you something!
There is a lot to be said for the huge sound, superb electronics, and robust build quality of those pro machines, but there comes with it a tendency for some to regard all narrow track machines as toys. That attitude is mostly arrogance (or marketing), in my opinion. The main reason I use the wide track machines is so that I can record without noise reduction and still have quiet tracks.
If you want to go that route, it's not that hard these days to pick up a 2" machine, perhaps with both 16 and 24 track headstacks. But there may be costs and hassles that you don't want to deal with (shipping a really heavy machine, time/money for repairs on a really old machine, 2" tape stock, noise reduction units, scarce parts, etc.) The decently made 1" 16 tracks, OTOH, may be newer, still have that subjectively nice analog tape sound, have lower tape cost, etc. I can see a lot of positives there.
As far as 1/2" 8 track sounding exactly like 1" 16 track, well, the machines aren't going to be exactly the same, even if they are the same brand and series, much less a different make or model. If you want to be a little picky, there is a tendency for smaller formats to have slightly better sound quality than the larger format versions of the same machine. This may be due to any or all of a variety of factors: better tape to head contact across the tape with the narrower tape (1/2" vs. 1" vs. 2"); less overheating due to less electronics in the same box with the same fan(s); less load on the same power supply unit; less strain on reel or capstan motors; etc.
Cheers,
Otto
B
Beck
Guest
ofajen said:
Well said... shows a good grasp of the technology.
I had my doubts about the MSR-16S but I got a killer deal on one. I had been using a TSR-8 and liked the results. I worried about the tiny track width but having used both I havent considered going back. A 16 track gives you so many more options (like 6 drum tracks!) I hated the NR on the TSR-8 but the dolby S is transparent to my ear. The guy I bought it from had the heads relapped from JFR for $270 in 11/03 (i have the receipt) so I cant imagine that it would cost that much more and since i'm just a part timer they will probably last me for years. so, in summary...8 is great but 16 is better..i still want a studer however, but who doesn't?