ANalog ?

[Herm]

I have a digital setup and a Fostex E16 And have more less just
let the fostex sit for quite a while.
But I am interested in getting a 1/2 inch 8 track tascam
like the 38 or 48 or maybe tsr8.
But my main concern is if i get one which parts or problems are there that cant be dealt with on these machines.
Are heads still available and motors things like that?
And does tascam still work on these machines or are you left
finding an independent shop some where to do the work?

Thanks for the help

 

[regebro]

I have a digital setup and a Fostex E16 And have more less just
let the fostex sit for quite a while.
But I am interested in getting a 1/2 inch 8 track tascam
like the 38 or 48 or maybe tsr8.

Uhm. But you already have a Fostex...

Are heads still available and motors things like that?

For the most part yes.

 

[Herm]

My e16 has got a couple of little problems like the counter is not working very well and the brakes on rewind dont always seem to
work, and i have to put my hand on the reel to slow it down alittle
before it will stop.
But one of the things that I dont like about this machine is it runs
at 30ips and tape can get used real quick.
I also was wondering if anyone knows if it can be put back to 15
or is that something that requires a parts change?

 

[muttley]

A card change for tape speed change at factory/service center.

You say the brakes are slow, if you are " stopping " the machine while it is in rewind/fast forward, what you do is hit the opposit speed button to slow it down, then when real slow, hit stop.

This is how the autolocaters do this when you rewind lets say from 14:45, and you want to go to the beginning of a song at 3:00, The autolocate will enter the rewind mode, until it gets back to about 5:00, then it will enter fast for mode until its creeping close to the 3:00 mark, maybe overshooting it a little, then it will creep forward to the 3:00 mark. This will save on brakes, and this is how you slow down a heavey roll of tape.
I'm sure this will stir up a hornets nest, But those of us with auto locaters study how they do their mojo, would know.
If you can find a used 4050, thats areal asset for the E-16.


Lets see what comes from this.......



da MUTT

 

[Herm]

Well i hooked it up today and put some old stuff i had recorded on the machine and it still had the same problems that it did last time i used it. But then after about 20 minutes of running it
everythng seems to be working fine. used the machine for a good
3 hours with no problems except just the first 20 minutes or so.

could it just suffer from lack of use?

Il try it again after it has cooled down this afternoon and see what happens when i turn it on again.
Thnaks for the suggestions guys

 

[jake-owa]

So how did it go?

 

[Herm]

Well it went back to doing the same thing, It has to be used for
20 minutes or so before it works right.

I guess its not a big deal if you dont mind putting up with it for the first 20 minutes or so.

 

[regebro]

could it just suffer from lack of use?

Yes, it could. It's a common problem with tape recorders that it if it's left unused for long times it doesn't rewind fast enough of doesn't stop fast enough. Maybe the oil gets sticky or something. It also usually gets better when you start using it regularily again.

My A8 was like that, but it got better.

 

[Son of Mixerman]

Check the age of your tape. Really old and stick tape really drags across the heads rather than glides. I have some old tapes that even after baking are still a little sticky so I have to hand jockey the tensioners to rewind at a reasonable speed. Its also a good time to have the machine serviced while having the 15 ips card swapped.


SoMm