How does syncing-tape machines work?

[Jerome Higgins]

Hey guys, I have a newly purchased tascam 38 1/2" 8 track which i'm loving. It sounds so good demoing that we've decided to try and record the whole band. we're not after a hell of a lot more tracks but even 2 more would be good.
pardon my ignorance but how does tape syncing work and what are my options for best results?
am i deluding myself? should i just cough up a couple of grand for a 16 track? or can i hook up another 8 track machine?

any ideas would be much appreciated, cheers

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

You would need a synchronizer to handle sync'ing the motor speed of both analog machines. It would read SMTPE stripes on a track of each machine to keep them locked together. I don't know how easy that is with multiple analog machines.

It's far easier sync'ing a DAW to an analog machine, than tape to tape.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

With the prices of second hand gear being what they are these days, I would suggest just going for a 1" , 16 track.

The 38 was never really designed to be part of a multi machine lockup as it contains no control ports on the back of it so, it would have to be the master and a second deck would have to have a SMTPE compatible port for a synchronizer device connected to it to chase the 38's tape position.

Striping SMTPE time code will also eat up a track on each machine and if you wanted and extra guard band to buffer the code, you would lose two tracks on each machine, leaving you with only 12 tracks or 14 without extra track buffering.

I have a 38 myself and I also own a 16 track from TASCAM called the MS-16 and depending on the production I am working on, I just use one or the other, depending on what the song needs.

Cheers!

 

[Herm]

If you dont have the funds for a 16 track machine I would just try and get creative and do a 6 track to two bounce or a 7 to 1 and free up some tracks.
Or Dont forget things like put the vocal track on the lead guitar track if they dont have to overlap each other. Try and get buy with less drum tracks, try to use a 2 or three mic set up on the drums You will be suprised at what can be done if you get creative with what you have.
Tell the guitar player you dont really need 4 guitar tracks for his parts.

And dont go digital it sucks!

 

[fitZ2]

Howdy, the machines themself must have synchro motors and circuits. TSR-8's and MSR-16's have this ability. A great tool to do this with is a "Midiizer", which has so many features it is impossible to list here. For one, it is a SMPTE generator and reader, and synchronizes two or MORE machines, plus has the transport and arming controls, SMPTE to MIDI converter, Midi outputs, parallel and serial outputs, and much much more.
fitZ