4 track reel to reel

  • Thread starter Thread starter crisongs
  • Start date Start date
C

crisongs

New member
I have recently purchased a used ,but in very good condition,AKAI 1721 L 4 track reel to reel recorder. It did not come with a manual so I don't know how to overdub on it. Do I need a mixer with it? How do I use each track and keep it in sync? HELP!!! :eek:
 
Before you start using that machine to do any overdubbing or any recording at all for that matter I would take it to a repair shop and have it cleaned and the heads aligned. You COULD do this yourself, but it's kind of a big job and to align the meters for both recording and playback requires a test tape. You can spot a good repairman by his saying 'oh boy! I haven't seen one of those for years!' rather than 'yeah, bring it in and I'll take a look at it...' --- if you live in a major metropolitan area it shouldn't be too hard to find someone who's into working on it.

When you get it back you'll just have to experiment with it as far as overdubbing goes - some older machines have a feature Tascam used to call 'simulsync' in which you're listening to the existing tracks off of the record head. If it's a 3-head deck it should be easy to figure out which setting don't erase the existing track(s).

If you want to mix the results once you get 4 tracks down then yes you do need a mixer of some kind. A simple Behringer would do, and maybe you could even find a small one with built-in effects (reverb, delay, etc.)
 
Sounds like you don't need a manual as much as you need a good classic book on recording. Yes you need a mixer to work with a device like this. You'll also need a separate 2-track device of some sort to mix down to -- either another r2r machine, a cassette deck, DAT, computer, CD recorder, or whatever.

Check the local library and see if you can find a copy of "The billboard guide to home recording", preferably an older edition. Or any book on recording published before about 2000 should have some good info for you.

ask some of the guys in the analog forum for some good info for newbies; they'd probably have better links for you than I would.
 
lykwydchykyn said:
Sounds like you don't need a manual as much as you need a good classic book on recording. Yes you need a mixer to work with a device like this. You'll also need a separate 2-track device of some sort to mix down to -- either another r2r machine, a cassette deck, DAT, computer, CD recorder, or whatever.

Check the local library and see if you can find a copy of "The billboard guide to home recording", preferably an older edition. Or any book on recording published before about 2000 should have some good info for you.

ask some of the guys in the analog forum for some good info for newbies; they'd probably have better links for you than I would.
Click to expand...

Y'know, lykwydchykyn, I better leave the answers to you in the future. You're much smarter than I am. I'm taking at least a month off. Goodbye all.
 
Huh? what are you talking about? I'm just adding my 2 cents, I'm no expert...
 
ssscientist said:
Before you start using that machine to do any overdubbing or any recording at all for that matter I would take it to a repair shop and have it cleaned and the heads aligned. You COULD do this yourself, but it's kind of a big job and to align the meters for both recording and playback requires a test tape.
Click to expand...

It's cheaper to learn to calibrate a tape deck oneself... it's not all
that difficult. One just needs an oscilloscope, a good
accurate AC VTVM, an audio signal generator and a
test tape. It gets easier each time. :-)

It needs to be done as part of routine
maintence, perhaps daily if the equipment is used heavily, just
like degaussing. It's not difficult with my Tascam 34B, but
Tascam could have made it easier by making the adjustment
screws and the various trim pots more accessible without one
having to disassemble so much.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top