Ok now lets talk Fostex

[Herm]

In the last few months as some of you know I have kinda got into Tascam stuff. And I have always been a big fan of 8 tracks.
I have a Fostex E16 that has sat in the corner now with out any use for 3 years. It does have one little problem and that is the counter looses the count in fast forward but other than that it works and sounds great. But it does run at 30ips.
Now my dilema is I want more gear but I cant justify getting anymore tascam stuff unless i get rid of the e16. Could someone tell me any good reason to keep it or should I just let it go?
For more toys?

 

[A Reel Person]

I think the counter would be a belt driven encoder,... so "belts" is an easy item...

fwiw,...

It kind of depends on what Tascam you'd be trading for, and ultimately how $ much you'd like to get for the Fostex, an amount that would ease the "pain", and if you thought you could actually get that on auction.

Also, given that the counter is a minor fix item, disregarding that, roughly how much do you like the Fostex 1/2"-16-track, and how motivated are you to keep using it?

No doubt, Tascam is better equipment is better than Fostex, in the majority of cases, but how does the E-16 fit into your musical production picture?

I'm interested to hear, if not the Fostex E-16, then what?

 

[Herm]

I dont really need the E16 anymore. I used to need that many tracks but now its just me doing stuff around here. And if any of my friends do come over again to record the 8 track is enough.
I have got away from using 7 to 8 mics on a drum kit. Now 3 is about all i use and can get by with even 1 if I have to.

I guess if I thought i was going to be in another band and want to do another album than I wouldnt even think about getting rid of it.

But then on the other hand its not really eating anything or costing me any money sitting here. And its not like I really need the money. Damn, I know what you would do Reel But I guess it just bugs me with it sitting here not getting used.

Its always something

 

[The Ghost of FM]

If you did sell it, you could parlay the funds from that into a nice vocal microphone or a nice compressor or a mastering 1/2 track or some auxiliary studio monitors....

Decicions, decisions!

 

[Herm]

Well ghost that,s kinda what I was thinking. Although I already have a couple of nice vocal mics, and monitors I have been through those and as bad as my hearing is thats kind of a mute point for me. But Im sure I would be able to find something I Need should say want here cause there isnt much I need except maybe singing and guitar lessons. I guess part of the problem is how much the recorder is worth and what I know it will get on ebay. If i sell it I will probably just turn it into another 38.

 

[A Reel Person]

What I'd do is keep it, and brainstorm a made-for-16 epic production, specifically,..

& schedule it to be put to use.

Anyway, the glory band days might be gone, but never say never, and you could concievably use it for any number of live or remote recordings, for fun or hire, if you were so inclined.

You may not need more than 8 tracks for solo work, 'cept every once in a great while, but I say maybe just concieve and schedule a made-for-16 production, just for fun.

I know what you mean about 1, 2 or 3 mics on drums,... suits me fine too. 3-mics and 2-tracks on drums is my latest drum track,... separating kick from the other 2 mics.

I don't have a 16-track, 'cept Magix Music Studio, but I'm not inclined to record on the 'puter.

I have the 24-track, though, and I've not done any production on it at all, yet, TBA. The Tascam MSR-24 has a link function, which links 3-banks of 8 inputs. I've concieved of using the 24-track for a [linked] 1"-8-track-dbx recording, and if I need to go just over 8 tracks, there's tracks to spare that I could borrow, without compromising the 1"-8-track format too much. That's all TBA.

Anyway, I'd say keep the Fostex. Just when you get rid of it, someone will come asking to record his entire band again.

 

[Beck]

I’m a die-hard Tascam fan (old Tascam), but if I had the Fostex E-16 in good working order I would probably keep it over the Tascam 38. By the time the E-16 came on the scene Fostex had really started making some good stuff, so I wouldn’t be worried about quality issues.

The issue then for me is 8 vs. 16 tracks, and 16 wins. There is so much you can do with those extra tracks – doubling instruments and vocals with no bouncing, etc.

The big Tascam fan that I am, I have to admit Foxtex at least equaled Tascam with some products, and just plain beat them with others. For example, the Tascam CD-RW700 vs. the Fostex CR300 CD recorders – Fostex wins (of course that’s really a Philips vs. Pioneer contest).

That being said, I do have a concern about Fostex support for vintage products, which I’ve heard is pretty dismal to non-existent. That could be an important factor after all.

Now if it were MSR-16 vs. E-16, Tascam would win that one, no thinking twice about it.

 

[muttley]

Keep the E-16, thats what I use for analogues...........
Score a 4050 auto-locater/simpte T/C generater and turn your E-16 into a powerhouse for production.........



da MUTT

 

[cjacek]

In the last few months as some of you know I have kinda got into Tascam stuff. And I have always been a big fan of 8 tracks.
I have a Fostex E16 that has sat in the corner now with out any use for 3 years. It does have one little problem and that is the counter looses the count in fast forward but other than that it works and sounds great. But it does run at 30ips.
Now my dilema is I want more gear but I cant justify getting anymore tascam stuff unless i get rid of the e16. Could someone tell me any good reason to keep it or should I just let it go?
For more toys?

The questions I would ask myself before a decision like this are:

(1) Am I planning to move in the near future that prevents me from taking the Fostex with me ?

(2) Do I have room to store the Fostex now ?

(3) Why did I buy the fostex and how much trouble did I go through to get it ?

(4) Is it easy to purchase a "in good condition" e16 if I need it ?

(3) How much can I realistically get for the fostex ?

(4) Is it really worth selling ?

(5) Am I certain that I will not use it ?

(6) What bad will occur if I keep it ?

(7) What bad will occur if I sell it ?

(8) Is there a chance I'll regret selling it ?

There are endless questions but I'd keep it if I were you. Ok, so you get several hundred bucks for it. So what. They money will be gone soon on some compressor, mic etc .. but all that can be bought at any time ... the e16 can't. My gut tells me not to sell it. So you better listen to me!

Daniel