Recording from the repro head on a tape machine

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mattmacdonald

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Hey all,
I'm yearning to add some analog character to my computer-based recordings, and I've learned that there is a way to record directly from the repro head in a tape machine, into my USB converter. What this means (from my understanding)is that the sound would get recorded from track x onto the tape, and (almost) immediately played back through the repro monitor / into my computer, thereby giving it the analog tape character, but not having to go through the hassle of recording everything to tape and dumping it into the computer.
Onto my question:
How can one tell if their tape machine is capable of this?
I'm using a (don't laugh) Tascam 464 portastudio. Pretty low-end, but it's all I got. Can I look at the heads and somehow tell if there is a separate repro head? I don't see "repro" as any option on my machine. Would it be under a different name? help!

Thanks,

Matthew
 
You're looking for a 3-head machine, which has one erase head, one record head and one playback (repro) head - as compared to a 2-head machine that combines the recording and playback functions in one head. Many (if not most) 3-head decks are labeled as such. When you're not sure, it's easy enough to just look at the head assembly and count them.

Also another way, but not as easy or universal, is to check for a "Monitor" switch on the deck that lets you select between "Source" and "Tape". If while recording you can switch between the two can hear a small delay, you know that the tape position is getting "live" playback of the fresh recording.

G.
 
Excellent. A quick check reveals that the portastudio is a 2-head machine.
I think I may pick up a 2-track reel to reel, just to use the repro head. Kijiji is showing a couple of TEAC 1/2" reel to reels for under $75, so not a bad place to start...
 
You might want to also check in with the "Analog Only" forum on this BBS before making a final move. There's some guys there that can help you out with all sorts of details and variables involved - it's not quite as simple as, "I'll buy tape deck and get that 'analog warmth'".

I'm not the expert on this stuff that some of those guys are, even though I do go back to analog days, but I'd be suspicious of the condition of a 1/2" deck for $75. Plus there's other stuff such as some decks are better than others, quality and supply of open-reel tape, deck refurbishing and maintenance issues, etc.

Also, don't expect miracles from this method. If your recordings sound particularly sterile now, they'll probably still sound pretty sterile even if "warmed" through a 1/2" machine.

G.
 
I agree. The reel to reel Im looking at is a TEAC, that comes with reels and all of the appropriate cleaning supplies (including a de-gausser!). You are fully right that I should be suspicious, as it also seems like a good time to find a deal on a reel to reel, as they're cumbersome and starting to become nothing more than furniture and doorstops for those who stopped using them 15-20 years ago.
Thanks for the tip - I'll check out the analog forum.
 
mattmacdonald said:
I agree. The reel to reel Im looking at is a TEAC, that comes with reels and all of the appropriate cleaning supplies (including a de-gausser!). You are fully right that I should be suspicious, as it also seems like a good time to find a deal on a reel to reel, as they're cumbersome and starting to become nothing more than furniture and doorstops for those who stopped using them 15-20 years ago.
Click to expand...
I agree that it's a buyer's market in just about everything these days, thanks to the fine idiots at AIG Financial ;).

The market on open-reel tape machines is extremely model- and condition-dependent. While many of them are over-complicated paper weights these days, there are some models that folks like you and I apparently will still pay fairly top dollar for. When a decent Pioneer RT1020L (10" x 1/4") still fetches $200, $75 for a 1/2" Teac sounds like maybe one of those "sold only for parts" deals.

Feel free to check out the on-line eBay marketplace listings I have sorted specifically for analog open-reel decks and accessories here. There are currently a number of Teac, Tascam, Akai, Otari, Pioneer and other decks of wide variety listed there.

G.
 
Turns out it's actually a 1/4" TEAC A-1250. The price makes much more sense now.
That is some good info. I'm going to try and hunt one down locally though and avoid the ungodly shipping cost on one of those 50lb beasts!
 
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