buying an 8 track reel

  • Thread starter Thread starter jericho mile
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jericho mile

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I'm looking to buy an 8 track r2r machine. realy don't want to go over a grand. what machine would you be looking for. sick of digital overloads switching to analog
 
There are all kinds,but my personal favorite is the Tascam 388.It's only 1/4" tape,but sounds reel nice.And it has the built in 8 channel mixer.So its an all in one unit.
You can usually pick these up for 300 to 600 bucks depending on condition.
 
Tascam TSR8, the last of the 1/2" 8 tracks, built in noise reduction, great machine.

Alan.
 
i'm really leaning toward 1/2" but i agree that having a porta studio type set up would be convienient. i also am impressed with what i've read about the tsr. hard to make a decission on my first reel since what ever i get i'll be using it for a long time
 
Whatever you do, get a 3-head machine, since 2-head machines are a pig to do record alignment on. That rules out all quarter inch 8 tracks, but then I would rule them out anyway on sound quality.

I briefly owned an Otari MX-5050 Mk III half inch 8 track before I got my custom Ampex 8 track half inch repro machine built. Otaris are better constructed than Tascams, I'd say. Has a built-in tone generator to aid with lining up, which is nice. All the pots are easily accessible from the rear.

Best of all would be a 1" 8 track of course, but your price range points to a half inch.

Good luck!

David Ollard
Thin Brown Line
Multitrack Analog to Digital Transfers
 
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