I just scored an otari mx 5050.........

  • Thread starter Thread starter SHEPPARDB.
  • Start date Start date
SHEPPARDB.

SHEPPARDB.

Well-known member
1/2 inch 8 track for next to nothing and was hoping someone here could tell me what it is valued at?
I have looked around the net and cant find a pic of this one.It is a 2 pc.
unit(upright).The bottom is the deck and transport functions and the top
is the ins/outs,vu meters.
Any of you know anything about it.
 
hey there. The same exact thing happened to me, I got one for 100 bucks. If you got it for under that, you had a more increadible deal than I! On ebay, they go for around 500-800!!!!! It's a pretty pro machine, and you can record directly into it w/ no mixer since there is a cue monitor built in. Is the pinch roller ok? Mine was completely disintegrated, I had mine fixed up for 40 bucks. Best way to test the basic functions is to

a. test out play, rewind, and FF.
b.Test all channels by turning on all the channels and then using the built in oscilator, and be sure to have the power up for each channel.

And know that the xlr in's and out's are a little different. You are going to have to rewire pin 2 and pin 3.

If you have any questions or don't get what I'm talking about, PM me, or talk to someone who knows what they're talking about a little better :D
 
Shep,

You own a camera, right?

Take a damn picture of this thing and let us see it!

Cheers! :)
 
I,ve never had luck posting a pic,but I'll try again.
 

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SHEPPARDB. said:
I,ve never had luck posting a pic,but I'll try again.
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Congratulations!
I really want to get myself a good analog 8,16, or 24 track, but the mortgage guys say I have to pay EVERY month.
I'm on a digital set up right now running nuendo which is great, but I really want to edit everything to where it's perfect, then dump it back down to analog to get the warmth and natural compression, plus, there's just something about watching those reels going round and round and round and........
I have an Allen and Heath GS3000 over in the UK that I'm going to carry over with me the next time I visit as I moved to Nashville from the UK in 2000.
I have a bunch of ADATs, BRC etc.
I'm looking forward to integrating the digital with the analog and having the best of both worlds.
 
SHEPPARDB. said:
How about that.It worked.
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That is funky and definitely one of their earlier models!

I must confess I've never seen that version of a 5050 before!

The transport looks mysteriously similar to a TEAC/TASCAM 80-8 which was also a 1/2", 8 track deck with the chrome face-plate, mechanical linear tape counter and similar tensioner arms.

Is there a production date on the unit anywhere? I'd guess its from the late 70's and probably sounds great if its in decent shape?

Are you planing on using it or just turning it over for some coin?

Cheers! :)
 
The Ghost of FM said:
Are you planing on using it or just turning it over for some coin?

Cheers! :)
Click to expand...
I really have'nt decided yet.Part of me wants to keep it for tracking
guitars,part of me wants to sell it to raise some dough for a nice mic
pre.
 
woah......that definitely is a little different than mine. :rolleyes:
 
That is one strange beast. Like antispatula, it's nothing like mine. Do some recordings and get back to us.
 
The Ghost of FM said:
That is funky and definitely one of their earlier models!

I must confess I've never seen that version of a 5050 before!

The transport looks mysteriously similar to a TEAC/TASCAM 80-8 which was also a 1/2", 8 track deck with the chrome face-plate, mechanical linear tape counter and similar tensioner arms.

Is there a production date on the unit anywhere? I'd guess its from the late 70's and probably sounds great if its in decent shape?

Are you planing on using it or just turning it over for some coin?

Cheers! :)
Click to expand...
You can't hide your true intentions from us Ghost! You want it and you want it bad!
:D :D :D
 
snipeguy said:
You can't hide your true intentions from us Ghost! You want it and you want it bad!
:D :D :D
Click to expand...
Perhaps in days of future past, when I had more space then what I do now, you might have been right but now, in my cramped 2 bedroom apartment, there's barely enough space for all my current gear, much less a behemoth like Shep's Otari! :o

Cheers! :)
 
I remember seeing one that was kind of similar go on Ebay Aust., about 18 months ago for what would have been the equivelant of about $600US.

The differences as I recall were that the unit was in a mobile rack/frame, the deck was horizontal with the pre/VU units vertical above and behind and I think the pre's may have been slightly different in appearance........... anyways, this is all based on hazy memory and I'm glad I didn't buy it as a later scored my Tascam ATR-60 1" 16 trk, an MX-5050 2 trk plus a parts unit and 10 spools of 1" 456 for about $900US. :)

:cool:
 
I've owned a 1/2" 8-track for over 20 years,...

and I always managed to make my mortgage payments.

Although it's a clever quote, you seem to want to make analog is exhorbitantly expensive, which it's not. Sorry you feel that way! :eek:
 
SHEPPARDB. said:
I,ve never had luck posting a pic,but I'll try again.
Click to expand...

Pretty cool. I've never seen one in person either. I've seen pics though and I believe the meters were mounted below in a rack. I think it was the same one, but not sure... before my time.

Ah... here it is. It's a 4-track version.
 

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Beck said:
Pretty cool. I've never seen one in person either. I've seen pics though and I believe the meters were mounted below in a rack. I think it was the same one, but not sure... before my time.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find it's in two cabinets, so the transport and electronics can be arranged how you like (assuming the leads will reach).
 
jpmorris said:
I think you'll find it's in two cabinets, so the transport and electronics can be arranged how you like (assuming the leads will reach).
Click to expand...

That is a handy feature, to be sure.
 
Sure!

They should'a grafted a handle on the top and called it a "portable"! :eek: ;)
 
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