As a longtime die-hard '70s tascam fan, I've always wondered how to date these suckers.
I know a lot of folks bash these boards as unusable, but I have a penchant for authentic '70s sound. I run this board with a late '70s Teac 80-8 recorder, a matching DBX noise reduction module, and a reel of early '70s 1/2" scotch 203 tape. The sound is...well, '70s! Victory!
The sound: Sure, quite dark, but not noisy really at all! And this is very old old thin tape! Vocals come out distorted...it's amazing...to me considering I was raised on digital....no tone. So I'm determined to prove that pleasing recordings can be made on the M5 and 80-8 pair with vintage 1/2" tape.
The other day, I opened my model 5 up, and found a date code on one the PCB connectors. It reads 79.9.12. In japan dates are written year, month, and day:
The serial number on this mixer is 480333.
I once had an older Model 5A, and the same blue connector had a date of 76.x.x !
So perhaps this is a way of dating?! Folks, take out your Master Monitor Module on yur Model-5B, write the date down and check the serial number? Who knows? I know a lot of times old parts are used on newer pieces, but who knows?
All thoroughly cleaned:
I'm currently working on a progressive rock album called "The Meaning of Life". The album is going to be mixed onto this gear I have outlined. Even though the album is far from completion, I invite you listen to some of these "test" tracks so that you too can hear the sound of the Model 5. (note, outboard effects are 1976 Univox tape echo on vocals and guitar, elec. guitar is a homemade '70s "Kibson," the bass is a 1969 hollowbody Univox fiddle bass and synth is a 1976 Octave Cat)
-This is a song called "Jazz Outing" recorded to the tape setup I described above....you'll certainly hear the crunch of the tape.
Jazz Outing (tape, version 1, LESS hissy)
Jazz Outing (tape, version 2, more hissy)
-Now here is another demo'd version of "Jazz Outing" again using the Model 5, only this time, I recorded all of the tracks straight to the computer. I think this should settle the analog vs digital debate.....yes, THEY DO produce two completely DIFFERENT SOUNDS!
Jazz Outing (Computer)
-This is a song I'm working on for the album called "Strange Room". This track has vocals on it to give you an realistic idea of what the the Model 5 sounds like...vocals begin halfway in...vocals recorded to a very old mid '70s Shure microphone ....with a 1/4" output socket instead of XLR!
Strange Room
-And here is a "jam"...two tracks...guitar, bass.....
Blues Jam
...Long live the Model 5. Only thing better is a Model-10! And anyone who disagrees....well, I'll trade you my Model 15 for it!
John
I know a lot of folks bash these boards as unusable, but I have a penchant for authentic '70s sound. I run this board with a late '70s Teac 80-8 recorder, a matching DBX noise reduction module, and a reel of early '70s 1/2" scotch 203 tape. The sound is...well, '70s! Victory!
The sound: Sure, quite dark, but not noisy really at all! And this is very old old thin tape! Vocals come out distorted...it's amazing...to me considering I was raised on digital....no tone. So I'm determined to prove that pleasing recordings can be made on the M5 and 80-8 pair with vintage 1/2" tape.
The other day, I opened my model 5 up, and found a date code on one the PCB connectors. It reads 79.9.12. In japan dates are written year, month, and day:
The serial number on this mixer is 480333.
I once had an older Model 5A, and the same blue connector had a date of 76.x.x !
So perhaps this is a way of dating?! Folks, take out your Master Monitor Module on yur Model-5B, write the date down and check the serial number? Who knows? I know a lot of times old parts are used on newer pieces, but who knows?
All thoroughly cleaned:
I'm currently working on a progressive rock album called "The Meaning of Life". The album is going to be mixed onto this gear I have outlined. Even though the album is far from completion, I invite you listen to some of these "test" tracks so that you too can hear the sound of the Model 5. (note, outboard effects are 1976 Univox tape echo on vocals and guitar, elec. guitar is a homemade '70s "Kibson," the bass is a 1969 hollowbody Univox fiddle bass and synth is a 1976 Octave Cat)
-This is a song called "Jazz Outing" recorded to the tape setup I described above....you'll certainly hear the crunch of the tape.
Jazz Outing (tape, version 1, LESS hissy)
Jazz Outing (tape, version 2, more hissy)
-Now here is another demo'd version of "Jazz Outing" again using the Model 5, only this time, I recorded all of the tracks straight to the computer. I think this should settle the analog vs digital debate.....yes, THEY DO produce two completely DIFFERENT SOUNDS!
Jazz Outing (Computer)
-This is a song I'm working on for the album called "Strange Room". This track has vocals on it to give you an realistic idea of what the the Model 5 sounds like...vocals begin halfway in...vocals recorded to a very old mid '70s Shure microphone ....with a 1/4" output socket instead of XLR!
Strange Room
-And here is a "jam"...two tracks...guitar, bass.....
Blues Jam
...Long live the Model 5. Only thing better is a Model-10! And anyone who disagrees....well, I'll trade you my Model 15 for it!
John
