have gear now need help getting started

[deferr]

I just bought a fostex m-80 8 track 1/4" reel to reel machine along with a studio projects b1 and a fostex m-35 8 channel mixer with the extension (m-35ex).

I have a few questions.

-I can get the tape player to play into each respective track on the mixer. I'm using the tape in's for each channel. but the only level control I have when playing back is with the cue channel controls and the input trim knob. When I go to mix a song will I have to re-patch.

-When I am recording with my electric guitar plugged into a blues driver then straight into the mixer the vU meter will only read about 12 even when the blues driver is cranked all the way. Is this due to the fact that I need to boost the signal somehow to go into the mixer?

 

[Rokket]

I just bought a fostex m-80 8 track 1/4" reel to reel machine along with a studio projects b1 and a fostex m-35 8 channel mixer with the extension (m-35ex).

I have a few questions.

-I can get the tape player to play into each respective track on the mixer. I'm using the tape in's for each channel. but the only level control I have when playing back is with the cue channel controls and the input trim knob. When I go to mix a song will I have to re-patch.

-When I am recording with my electric guitar plugged into a blues driver then straight into the mixer the vU meter will only read about 12 even when the blues driver is cranked all the way. Is this due to the fact that I need to boost the signal somehow to go into the mixer?

I don't know much about reel to reel recording, so I won't even attempt to answer that question. There is an analog forum here, you may want to post it there. The analog guys rarely look in here.

As far as getting a decent signal for your guitar, why not mic an amp and record that way? Unless noise is an issue, it's better to record guitar that way. If you don't have an amp and that's why you are using the blues driver, it may be because you don't have the gain (or trim) on the mixer turned up enough. It could also be your patch cables. There are a lot of variables. I am not familiar with the blues driver. Does it have onboard volume or gain controls? If so, it could be that. Also, are you running it on batteries? Does the driver take phantom power? Perhaps if you can answer those questions, someone may be able to pinpoint your problem and help you better.

 

[deferr]

I did a search and looked a little deeper and I think I have my problem solved. Thanks for the input.

 

[Rokket]

I did a search and looked a little deeper and I think I have my problem solved. Thanks for the input.

I'm glad you solved your problem.

Now get to recording something!