Is it possible to synch two Tascam Portastudios?

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troutmask

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Hi everybody,

After working with digital recording for the past few years, I've been itching to get back to analog recording. Unfortunately, buying a 16 or 24-track reel-to-reel is a bit cost-prohibitive for me...but as luck would have it, I have just been given a Tascam 488. Since I already have a 414mkII (and since this would theoretically give me twelve tracks to use), I was wondering if there is any way to synchronize recording between the two units. Granted, I know that the two tapes will not stretch at an even rate, but I've heard of people rigging two machines together (particularly in the late 60s -- Roy Hallee [sp?] used that technique to create make-shift 16-track recording for albums like The Millennium's "Begin" and Simon & Garfunkel's "Bookends"...though he admitted that he had synch problems). I realize, though, that I might be barking up the wrong tree here (and that I should probably break down, accumulate a bit of debt and buy a good 16-track machine), but if this is possible, what is the best way to do it, and has anybody else out there tried this?

Thanks in advance
 
I'm afraid not, but...

Perhaps the best you could do is put your bed tracks on the 414mkII, then mix them down to 2 tracks on the 488 for 6 more overdubs. Vice versa, if you wanted to compose bed tracks on the 488mkII, then mix them down to 2 tracks onto the 414mkII for 2 more overdubs. Net result is 10 tracks, either way.

FYI, the 688 may be sync'd to another 688, a 644 or 238, plus the MSR R/R recorders with the proper cables and synchronizer, (ATS-500, MTS-1000 & some others). But when you get to the bottom line, perhaps a R/R 8- or 16-track would be just as cost effective, less hassle & would sound better than cassette based sync arrangements.

Unfortunately, the 488mkII & 414mkII cannot be sync'd together, but IMO they are decent units nonetheless. :eek: ;)
 
i syncd up two 4 tracks 1) record the first track to both machines and use a test tone or click or something before hand (this is how you sync it up later) 2)overdub on the machines. 3)record the tapes into your computer and sync em up using the first tone.<br>
but it always goes a little wrong. strange timing effects. tapes never play the exact same legnth of time twice.
 
Harmon:
The problem comes from the fact that the tapes will stretch at uneven rates...it is the nature of the beast, unfortunately (though if you had software like Adobe Audition, you could use the first and last beats of the track to shrink or expand the file so that it would synchronize...though again, due to the way that tape stretches, it wouldn't be completely perfect).

A-Reel-Person:

You're probably right, and I should just break down and buy a 16-track reel-to-reel. The problem, of course, comes from the cost of the unit, as well as the cost of tape for it. This is somewhat compounded by the fact that I'm planning on recording up to 50 songs for this particular project and that I'm planning on focusing all of my energies towards my orchestral compositions after this album is complete (and consequently, I'll go back to working in digital for those pieces), thereby deeming the reel-to-reel obsolete for my purposes. I will definitely do a bit of price-shopping, though...and thanks for the information about the 688. Worse comes to worst, perhaps I'll just buy two of them.
 
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