mystery 4-track recorder: MICROSOUND MR-64

[paintedtape]

hey all, so I've got this MICROSOUND MR-64 mulitrack cassette recorder that my friend bought at some yard sale. it looks real cool and even works kind of. the record function works, at least as far as the VU meters indicate, but it's the playback function that's messed. it only works when the pan and level nobs are in certain positions, and even then it's pretty random.

what we're after is a user manual, but any other kind of info you guys might have would be excellent since I think it's going to need some fixing. I can't find any info whatsoever on the net!!! (at least from google)

thanks!

(I've attached a backwards picture for your collective perusal)

 

[jpmorris]

It could still be the record - the VU meters will likely be showing the signal levels coming into the machine, not what's being recorded as such. 3-head cassette decks aren't terribly common.

Have you tried playing back a cassette recorded on another machine? (Ideally one that's not terribly precious, just in case it does try to eat it)

However, if the knobs are implicated it might either mean they're dusty inside, or possibly a loose solder joint on the board.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Nice looking machine but very obscure!

Sort of reminds me of some of the "off brand" Portastudio competitors of the day, like Ross, AMR, Yamaha and Akai. Though none of those other machines are identical to it. So your best odds of finding the manual would be to go back to the people you got it from and nicely ask them to turn their house inside out to find the manual.

Good luck!

Cheers!

 

[purerad]

looks very "vestaxian" to me........i know they had a six track in that era...........and i believe it was rack mount, maybe relabled for canadian consumption?

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Yeah!

I forgot about Vestax! It might be a clone of one of those!?

Cheers!

 

[A Reel Person]

6 Channels/4 Tracks, Kids, Pay Attention!

no doubt this thing is unique. Looks like a mishmash of a Tascam 246 input/assign/monitor section onto a 234 transport, but no doubt it's 6/4 onto cassette. Weird, indeed. I'm sure there were very few of these things made or sold. Congrats!

Seriously, looking at the manufacture quality and complexity, it's a shame there weren't more. Seems like a highly integrated technical solution that was technically savvy and possibly ahead of it's time, but that maybe never found it's market.

I'd hang onto it. I'm assuming sight unseen that the reason it's "not working" is due to settings and the knowledge gap and/or learning curve of this thing. As you've searched in depth for documentation and came up empty handed, you're on your own. Looks not too complicated to figure out through T & E.

 

[witzendoz]

I keep looking at the reversed picture and I don't think it is reversed, I think you have a MIRRORSOUND not a MICROSOUND.

Sorry
Alan.