FOSTEX X-55 tape playback on other machines possible?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gaz1967
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Gaz1967

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Hi there, sorry if this question or similar has been addressed on this forum! I tried looking for other relevant threads but there were too many to trawl through!!

My old Fostex X-55 broke about 15 years ago and I was told it was beyond repair and I threw it out.
I am left with my old tapes with no means to play them. I wish to purchase another cheaper machine and I don't care too much if I lose a little quality but I would happily pay a little extra for a unit that preserves the integrity of the recordings.

My question is, what machine will play my old tapes ?
I intend to link up the replacement studio to an amp and then link it to my BOSS digital machine and finally my laptop so that I can digitalise my recordings.
I would be extremely grateful if anyone has the solution because I have some really sentimental stuff on those tapes.
Thank you very much.
 
Almost any cassette 4-track will play yr tapes. The head design on a Fostex unit is similar enough to either a Tascam, Yamaha, or another Fostex (of course) machine that you can switch the tapes without a problem. The only thing that you need to make sure you do is to by a 4-track that uses the same noise reduction as the machine it was recorded on (if you used any.) Tascams and Yamaha use DBX, while Fostex uses Dolby B and C (for the most part.) Just make sure you read up on the machine you choose and know what NR is on the tapes you have. If you can't remember what NR you used (if any), then you can always throw the tape into a regular cassette player and listen for the tell tale signs of NR reduction being on with a deck that doesn't have it (pumping signal, muffled highs etc.).
 
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