Fostex R8 Setup and Tape

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Hotsilvertone

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Well, After 4 years working with a Yamaha MD8 and figuring out about 1/2 of what it does, I have gone backwards and bought a Fostex R8(brand new in the box never used!).

First, since I am used to the integrated mixer and all the features built in to the MD8. I now need to figure out how to hook up a mixer to the Fostex and make it work similarly to the Yamaha(listeing to pre-recorded material while recording new, effects etc.).

And I need to know about tape as well, the manual to the Fostex recommends Ampex 457, but another musician I know said he uses Ampex 631 on his A4 and its easier to get and costs less. Is there any difference and do you need to readjust the R8 for it?.

Any help in these two areas would be greatly appreciated

:cool:
 
Cngrats on your purchase of the R8 its one of my favorite machines.
And I dont think anyone around here with the exseption of a few Dummies
will think you went backwards on your purchase.

Get 457 quantegy The old 631 is voice quality tape. Dont skimp on your taqe just to save a few bucks. Its not worth it.

Good luck with your new rig.
 
Quantegy 407?

I use a Fostex Model 80 (older version of the R8). I have been using 407 tape only because when I use 457 instead, everything I record plays back +3db higher. I swapped out R/P boards with an entire new set, and still get the same result.

I need to get an MRL tape and try calibrating these cards again.

Anyhow, 407 seems to be an alternative tape to use, and it's a bit less expensive compared to 457.
 
First of all, congrats on snagging a new in box R8. I’ll give you twice what you paid for it if it doesn’t work out – just send me a PM. :D

The R8 is a worthy machine with the right tape.

Herm is right. 631 is voice-grade +1 at best. I see 631 and 641 all over ebay being sold by people who assure us “it’s the best.” It’s total bullshit, that or the seller has been misled by someone else.

The A4 was factory zeroed at 250 nWb/m, but the R8 is set for 320 nWb/m. Those levels are too hot for the Quantegy 600 series tapes.

If you put 631/641 on a machine zeroed for 320 nWb/m you're going to have a honking, muddy mess on playback. The bias and levels are just too high.

631 is a 200 nWb/m level tape, or +1.
457 is a 355 nWb/m level tape, or +6

600 tape is also not back coated. It is really a basic general purpose tape for home use.

407 is a great tape if you don’t push the levels too high. It is bias compatible with 457, but you’ll have to keep the peaks well below 0 vu to stay within distortion specs of the R8.

Nettech’s model 80 was probably calibrated to 250 nWb/m at some point for 407.

-Tim :)
 
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RE:Fostex R8 Setup

Ok thanks for that info.

Now, since I dont have a clue after having an all-in-one, how do I hook up a mixer for recording and playback, what mixers would work?. I have an old Sony with alot of bells and whistles, a mackie 1202 and 1604. Any ideas, cause all I see on this are tape functions and 8 in/out rca jacks???.....
 
Fostex R8

"First of all, congrats on snagging a new in box R8. I’ll give you twice what you paid for it if it doesn’t work out – just send me a PM. "

Ok, I might just do that, I dont know if it will work out for me. But I dont know what PM is! :confused:
 
I would use the 1604. If I remember right the 1604 has 8 direct outs on the first 8 channels. You could use those on the inputs to the r8 and then use the next 8 channels for tape returns.
Did you get the manual for the fostex? It will tell about how you can use a 2 buss or maybe even 4 buss mixer with that machine. It is easier for you to read how to do it then me try and tell you here but if you dont let us know and we can give you a hand on that part.
If you are going to use the mackie 1604 you will need two snakes like HOSA sells, They will need to be 8 wire type with 1/4 inch male on one end and rca male on the other. They sell for about 26.00 each and you will need two.

Here is a link to american music supply this is what you will need only two of them. http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-HOS-CPR802.html
 
Hotsilvertone said:
"First of all, congrats on snagging a new in box R8. I’ll give you twice what you paid for it if it doesn’t work out – just send me a PM. "

Ok, I might just do that, I dont know if it will work out for me. But I dont know what PM is! :confused:
Click to expand...

It's a "private message." You can send an email to anyone through the site by clicking on their user name and selecting " Send a Private Message"

-Tim :)
 
Beck said:
First of all, congrats on snagging a new in box R8. I’ll give you twice what you paid for it if it doesn’t work out – just send me a PM. :D

The R8 is a worthy machine with the right tape.

Herm is right. 631 is voice-grade +1 at best. I see 631 and 641 all over ebay being sold by people who assure us “it’s the best.” It’s total bullshit, that or the seller has been misled by someone else.

The A4 was factory zeroed at 250 nWb/m, but the R8 is set for 320 nWb/m. Those levels are too hot for the Quantegy 600 series tapes.

If you put 631/641 on a machine zeroed for 320 nWb/m you're going to have a honking, muddy mess on playback. The bias and levels are just too high.

631 is a 200 nWb/m level tape, or +1.
457 is a 355 nWb/m level tape, or +6

600 tape is also not back coated. It is really a basic general purpose tape for home use.

407 is a great tape if you don’t push the levels too high. It is bias compatible with 457, but you’ll have to keep the peaks well below 0 vu to stay within distortion specs of the R8.

Nettech’s model 80 was probably calibrated to 250 nWb/m at some point for 407.

-Tim :)
Click to expand...


Well Okay, but I cant seem to find any 457...... What about the others such as 456, 468 and 499???
 
You can use 456 in a pinch for a while. I just wouldn’t use it indefinitely without having the tape tension readjusted for it.

1.5-mil tape is heavier and harder on those little machines in the long term. Headwear will increase although it takes some time to become a problem.

I would try Quantegy 407 first and then BASF/EMTEC LPR35, or BASF/EMTEC 468.

Hopefully you will be able to find one of those somewhere.

Tape will be getting easier to come by in the near future. Right now we’re all in a holding pattern waiting for new tape to start flowing again.

Depending on what part of the country you are in it can be difficult to impossible to find the right tape.

If you can’t find anything at all I have a spare new reel of 7” 407 laying around here. Drop me a line if you need it.

-Tim
 
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