Portastudio 144 Compatability

[rice80]

Hi
Many years ago I recorded some music on a Portastudio 144. The machine has since died and I was toying with the idea of buying another portastudio from Ebay, not to record but simply to transfer my old tapes to cd. OK - here's the dumb question - what models will allow me to do this i.e. would there be any compatibility problems with playback speed, Dolby NR format or whatever? Ideally I would like a list of comatible machines so I can make my mind up on what to bid for. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mar

 

[The Ghost of FM]

The 144 worked with Dolby B noise reduction only and the majority of the successor models worked exclusively with dbx noise reduction which was superior at eliminating hiss but completely incompatible with Dolby B recorded material.

You best bet is to seek out a decent used 144 on Ebay or elsewhere and do your transfer job.

Cheers!

 

[rice80]

Portastudio 144 Compatibility

Ghost
Thanks again for the reply but another dumb question - are 144 tapes totally incompatible with later machines or is it that the noise reduction doesn't function?
Cheers

 

[A Reel Person]

Choices are limited.

The Portastudios that used Dolby B are either the Porta 03 or the 144, & the 134 Syncaset.

The 134 Syncaset is a great looking machine, that's hardly ever seen. The Porta 03 is comparable to the Porta 02, which is no great shakes, so your best bet might be to find another 144.

The head/track alignment should be compatible from the 144 forward, but it's the Dolby B that's incompatible with the bulk of Portastudios with dbx.

The entire Fostex line of multitrackers used Dolby B, but I can't say for sure if the head/track alignment would be fully compatible with Tascam 4-tracks. Chances are that they are compatible, on a gut level hunch, but that's not gospel.

(Porta 03): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41480&item=3757197615

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Ghost
Thanks again for the reply but another dumb question - are 144 tapes totally incompatible with later machines or is it that the noise reduction doesn't function?
Cheers

The tapes themselves would be compatible assuming you are willing to erase them and use them on a different Portastudio that doesn't offer Dolby B noise reduction!

Otherwise, kindly follow the very good advice written in the post above this one by A Reel Person.

Cheers!

 

[rice80]

Portastudio 144 Compatibility

Thanks for the help on this guys - it's appreciated.

 

[A Reel Person]

See:...

The Tascam 134B Syncaset,... (uses Dolby B).

What a beauty!!

 

[A Reel Person]

Here's your baby!

Tascam 144 !!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41480&item=3758486203&rd=1

 

[A Reel Person]

I digress,...

Here's the Porta 03mkII, referenced above.