So I'm picking up a Tascam 22-2

[fred s.]

Tim, sounds good to me!

I also did a few other tones, 40hz, 400hz, and 10K all pretty much showed and played back at their same levels (mostly at or close to 0, from what I remember).

I also did a quick mixdown (about 1 minute of a song that has drums, guitars, bass, keys) from my Model 80, and compared the playback of both machines through my mixer and they sound pretty close if not the same through the monitors, to my ears at least.

So I'm thinking maybe not to bother with calibration right now? It seems "right", or pretty darn close to it. Maybe it wasn't used much. The machine looks almost like new. Or maybe it was serviced and the seller didn't say anything.

Ps, The 22-2 does add a tiny bit of hiss I noticed (model 80 has built in Dolby, which I use)...are most people using some sort of DBX with the 22-2? Is that how it "should" be used?

 

[Beck]

The need for noise reduction depends on various things. The first thing is to optimize bias and flux level going to tape. Once the machine is tweaked you still may feel you need NR for music that doesn’t mask the hiss.

I have a Sony outboard Dolby C unit that sounds as good as anything.

It's an NR-500

Also look for the Nakamichi NR-200, Which has both Dolby B and C.

The best deal out there right now is the DBX 150X Type I. They’re nearly always on eBay and cheap

 

[fred s.]

I guess I'll mix a few songs in the coming weeks, and decide if I need it or not. I don't mind a small bit of hiss, as long as it's not too much.

 

[Beck]

Yeah, get to know it for a while first.

There is also a very nice single ended model to look out for made by Behringer…

The old Behringer when everything was made in Germany. It’s the Model SNR-200 Denoiser; first known as the MK III in an even older black and red design. Either one of those would rock.

The Chinese made Denoiser 2000 ain’t it, so be careful when shopping.