Help with analog tapes rescue

[Dan_]

Hi all. I finally got hold temporarily of an analog 16 tracks half inch reel to reel. I want to transfer my tapes (25 plus years old) originally recorded in a 8 track Tascam. As the tapes are the same I assume the 16 tracks will read what is left of my old tapes.

However in my city and nearby nobody is equipped to convert the tapes to digital. I have an firewire EDIROL FA-66 with 4 in and 4 out and a Mac Digital Performer 7 and analog mixers.

THE QUESTION: Is possible to keep my tracks in synch with this equipment, transferring the tracks in two rounds?

I was thinking to transfer the entire tapes in one go from head to tail and repeat the transfer with the missing tracks. I would do it in two different files and then try to find a "synch" point and merge them in one DP file,to later edit or whatever else is necessary.

All I need to do is export the analog traks to DP; I have more than 45 tapes. If trying to resynch becomes a nightmare, what is a not desperately expensive option to transfer? I searched Ebay in Europe with no luck. What are the cheapest machines with no frills which will do the job for me?

I am not a sound man at all. I used to play in a band and these tapes popped out from nowhere ... I realise some material will be unreadable still I really hope to try and get back as much as possible out of what's left.

Any hints?

 

[RRuskin]

Hi all. I finally got hold temporarily of an analog 16 tracks half inch reel to reel. I want to transfer my tapes (25 plus years old) originally recorded in a 8 track Tascam. As the tapes are the same I assume the 16 tracks will read what is left of my old tapes.

However in my city and nearby nobody is equipped to convert the tapes to digital. I have an firewire EDIROL FA-66 with 4 in and 4 out and a Mac Digital Performer 7 and analog mixers.

THE QUESTION: Is possible to keep my tracks in synch with this equipment, transferring the tracks in two rounds?

I was thinking to transfer the entire tapes in one go from head to tail and repeat the transfer with the missing tracks. I would do it in two different files and then try to find a "synch" point and merge them in one DP file,to later edit or whatever else is necessary.

All I need to do is export the analog traks to DP; I have more than 45 tapes. If trying to resynch becomes a nightmare, what is a not desperately expensive option to transfer? I searched Ebay in Europe with no luck. What are the cheapest machines with no frills which will do the job for me?

I am not a sound man at all. I used to play in a band and these tapes popped out from nowhere ... I realise some material will be unreadable still I really hope to try and get back as much as possible out of what's left.

Any hints?

It probably can be done but it won't be easy. You will have to determine which of the 16 track's channels are picking up the most signal from the 8-track tape. Assuming your tapes are playable, (if they are subject to sticky-shed syndrome don't play them before they are properly baked) I'd do one tune at a time. Syncing can be expedited if you can record a single marker across one of each pair of the 4 channels. Example: a click or other transient on tracks 4 & 5. Line those two up and you should be ok. I wouldn't trust this method over the length of the entire tape.

Otherwise, get an 8 in interface that allows you to record 8 discreet channels at one pass.

BTW - I do this kind of retrieval work all the time. PM me if you want to hand it off

 

[grimtraveller]

get an 8 in interface that allows you to record 8 discreet channels at one pass.

BTW - I do this kind of retrieval work all the time. PM me if you want to hand it off

I think these two are the sensible options. If you really want to do it yourself and the tapes play on the 16 track and it has 8 outs, go the 8 interface route.
Otherwise, PM Rick,
PRONTO !

 

[Dan_]

Thanks

Sorry but my english is rather rusty .... I don't understand what you mean about the tapes ... how can I get them cleaned up? Do I need to run them back and forth a few times before pressing the "PLAY" button?

As for the 16 tracks is a fantastic machine and I am the first person using it. It's brand new out of the original box as the shop owner didn't sell it and everything changed soon after. I did play a tape and it seem from the VU meters I can read each track in two adjacent tracks in the 16 Machines.

i will follow your advice and I found this BEHRINGER ADA8000 ULTRAGAIN PRO ADA-8000. It has 8 in and 8 out. However I couldn't find info about the compatibility with Digital Performer. I'm in Italy and I can get it new for about € 220 (some 260 US). Will this do for me as I also read some mixed comments about it. I'd be happy if it simply converts to DP

Regards from Italy

Dante

 

[RRuskin]

Sorry but my english is rather rusty .... I don't understand what you mean about the tapes ... how can I get them cleaned up? Do I need to run them back and forth a few times before pressing the "PLAY" button?

As for the 16 tracks is a fantastic machine and I am the first person using it. It's brand new out of the original box as the shop owner didn't sell it and everything changed soon after. I did play a tape and it seem from the VU meters I can read each track in two adjacent tracks in the 16 Machines.

i will follow your advice and I found this BEHRINGER ADA8000 ULTRAGAIN PRO ADA-8000. It has 8 in and 8 out. However I couldn't find info about the compatibility with Digital Performer. I'm in Italy and I can get it new for about € 220 (some 260 US). Will this do for me as I also read some mixed comments about it. I'd be happy if it simply converts to DP

Regards from Italy

Dante

Do search on "Sticky-Shed Syndrome." Playing a tape that has the problem will ruin not only the tape but the machine attempting to play it.

 

[timtimtim]

Do search on "Sticky-Shed Syndrome." Playing a tape that has the problem will ruin not only the tape but the machine attempting to play it.

I mixed all my 8-track 1/2" tapes to digital and the AMPEX tape deposited layers of horrible sticky gunge on the heads. I had to fast wind the tape from spool to spool several times while holding the tape between folded tissue to wipe off the gunge. After that I had to run the tape several times at normal playback speed over the heads, cleaning the heads between each time, until finaly no more gunge was deposited. Not only that but there were lots of points on the tape where lumps of gunge had come off the head and stuck to the tape causing dropout. I had to pick these lumps off carefully with my fingernail and clean that bit of tape with meths on a tissue. It was a long, tedious and finnicky job and I hope I never have to do it again.

 

[Dan_]

Th

I will bake them all as thry are all Ampex in the wrong years

Thanks everyone for helping

 

[RRuskin]

I will bake them all as thry are all Ampex in the wrong years

Thanks everyone for helping

Do some research on how and with what if you haven't done it before.

 

[buzzard bass]

I'd go with someone experienced unless you're willing to lose the tapes forever bro. The 8 input device is a great idea, but you're talking tape preservation and restoration, not just transfer. Do anything wrong and those recording are only good for the circular file. And sounds like the 16 track too.

 

[Dan_]

Well

Actually I hope the baking sys will work as all I need to do is transfer the tapes to digital.

I called some very serious people in London and they told me more or less what you guys said here.

So it seems I will go on and hope to do it correctlhy

 

[grimtraveller]

I called some very serious people in London and they told me more or less what you guys said here.

I called some very serious people in London and they told me "You've got a traffic ticket, mate ! That'll be £120 !".

 

[Dan_]

I called some very serious people in London and they told me "You've got a traffic ticket, mate ! That'll be £120 !".

Really? Sad isn't it

 

[grimtraveller]

Sad ? I was incandescent !