Fostex R8 question

[moogyboy]

Another thing I noticed while trying to test my R8: I plugged a cord into the track 1 input and turned up...and *two* LED bars lit up. Tracks 1 and 5. I plugged into 2; LEDS for 2 and 6 lit up. It was a pattern obviously. Regardless, is this machine supposed to do that?

Billy S.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Well ...... I don't know anything about the R8 but on my HD1624 each input goes to 2 tracks so without an interface you can only record 8 tracks at a time. You actually can record 16 tracks but they would be only 8 inputs being doubled.
How many tracks is the R8 and if it is 8 then does it only have 4 inputs?

 

[moogyboy]

Well ...... I don't know anything about the R8 but on my HD1624 each input goes to 2 tracks so without an interface you can only record 8 tracks at a time. You actually can record 16 tracks but they would be only 8 inputs being doubled.
How many tracks is the R8 and if it is 8 then does it only have 4 inputs?

Yes the R8 is 8 tracks, and there are RCA-type inputs and outputs for each track.

I suppose that the R8 must be doing the same doubling thing as your HD1624. I just didn't know if that was something that other recorders did. Does this setup ever pose any problems or inconvenience when recording, btw? I'm used to a 4-track portastudio where all the tracks are always available...

thx

Billy S.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Well ....... to this point I've never had a need for more than 8 tracks although in your case you'd be limited to 4. I could see times when 4 might not be enough. 8 pretty much covers me since I use minimal mics on drums (usually 3 and 4 at the most).

 

[A Reel Person]

Dude,...

The R8 does this cute "doubling" trick, by virtue of it's basic design.

One point I think you're missing, is that if you plug inputs into BOTH 1 & 5, 2 & 6,... etc,... the DOUBLING link is broken, and the inputs respond to whatever is plugged into them, individually.

The R8 is an 8-track, and ALL 8 inputs are individually available for recording 8-tracks in one pass.

Okay?

 

[Lt. Bob]

That's cool ...... wish my 1624 would do that ....... alas, it only has 8 inputs without using an interface of some kind.

 

[moogyboy]

a reel person comes to the rescue again...

You are totally righteous, sir. That's two mysteries in one day explained, and it all seems so simple and obvious. I really should refamiliarize myself with Occam's Razor, so I wouldn't look like such a panicboy.

Thanks again, dude. I owe you two.