Someone get this thing!

[antispatula]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Otari-MX5050-MK...ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

300 bucks SHIPPING INCLUDED is not a bad deal AT ALL. With 40 bucks you'll have a new roller. May not look like much but if it works, I would TAKE IT!

Mine is having some problems, I need to replace litterally 10 relays.....Right now I'm going to do some pc recording but once I get mine back up and running I'll do some more sweet tracks. Anyways, SOMEONE here that wants a 1/2" 8 track, this may be your break......

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Now this is what I call far more honest selling by an ebay'er.

Lots of pictures showing the potential buyer all of the bumps and bruises and pricing the unit accordingly.

If you don't mind the warts, this is a square deal.

Cheers!

 

[A Reel Person]

What,... are you nuts???

That machine was dropped!! It needs WAY more than a new pinch roller!

...
So,... I hate to take this tact with you, 'cause you've really made a great effort,... but "I gotta go digital 'cause analog's a headache" is an all too common thing that's heard around these parts,... but was so unexpected coming from you!!

See,... back a bit I remember most "trusted" members urging you to get a Tascam R/R recorder, mostly 'cause they're sturdy, run well & are easy to fix with parts that are readily available. But no,... you had to have your Otari, 'cause it's "more-pro" than Tascam. So,... you got your Otari,... then another one to fix the first one,... then they both don't work up to par,... and what did you get in the end??? A "Pro-sized" headache!! You can't say you weren't warned!

So, now you wanna "go digital 'cause analog's a headache",... and you'll find no end to the support you'll get on this board for that decision,... but all I can say is,... "Good luck & C'ya!!"

PS: I'd not touch that deck in the auction, (above), as it's another typical Otari that's been rendered to junk, just before it was listed on Ebay. You've gotta be off your rocker if you buy or recommend buying the recorder in that auction!!!

'Spat,... it's nothin' personal,... but we've had many discussions on this board about what to get/not get,... and I've always said I've never seen an Otari that wasn't junked out and trashed, & in the big scheme of things I'd not touch a second hand Otari. I've seen too many of them that were just flat out junk. And that's not one or two oddities in some podunk town. It's many Otari's I've seen that were excessed from real Hollywood studios. JUNK!! ALL OF IT!!!

Again,... 'spat,... it's not personal, but you go against "general wisdom" when you ask your questions, and you seem to get deeper and deeper in the muck. Although, I must hand it to'ya that you've hung in tough with many troubleshooting problems with an effort and tenacity becoming of a "Pro".

Please... have a nice day!

PS: Don't listen to me. I'm not a "Pro". Only listen to those who claim to be "Pro".

 

[antispatula]

That machine was dropped!! It needs WAY more than a new pinch roller!

...
So,... I hate to take this tact with you, 'cause you've really made a great effort,... but "I gotta go digital 'cause analog's a headache" is an all too common thing that's heard around these parts,... but was so unexpected coming from you!!

See,... back a bit I remember most "trusted" members urging you to get a Tascam R/R recorder, mostly 'cause they're sturdy, run well & are easy to fix with parts that are readily available. But no,... you had to have your Otari, 'cause it's "more-pro" than Tascam. So,... you got your Otari,... then another one to fix the first one,... then they both don't work up to par,... and what did you get in the end??? A "Pro-sized" headache!! You can't say you weren't warned!

So, now you wanna "go digital 'cause analog's a headache",... and you'll find no end to the support you'll get on this board for that decision,... but all I can say is,... "Good luck & C'ya!!"

PS: I'd not touch that deck in the auction, (above), as it's another typical Otari that's been rendered to junk, just before it was listed on Ebay. You've gotta be off your rocker if you buy or recommend buying the recorder in that auction!!!

'Spat,... it's nothin' personal,... but we've had many discussions on this board about what to get/not get,... and I've always said I've never seen an Otari that wasn't junked out and trashed, & in the big scheme of things I'd not touch a second hand Otari. I've seen too many of them that were just flat out junk. And that's not one or two oddities in some podunk town. It's many Otari's I've seen that were excessed from real Hollywood studios. JUNK!! ALL OF IT!!!

Again,... 'spat,... it's not personal, but you go against "general wisdom" when you ask your questions, and you seem to get deeper and deeper in the muck. Although, I must hand it to'ya that you've hung in tough with many troubleshooting problems with an effort and tenacity becoming of a "Pro".

Please... have a nice day!

PS: Don't listen to me. I'm not a "Pro". Only listen to those who claim to be "Pro".

Oh don't worry, I think you misunderstand, I'm not planning to change over to the "dark side." I am still very much planning to keep my setup analog, but I've been planing to get a decent soundcard for digital recording ever since I tried converting my otari stuff to my computer, I posted a clip once, it was all buzzy and crappy. The only thing I plan to use the computer for is for transfering my tape to cd, anything seriouse that is. I'm not going to even buy software, I'm going to download some free one. I do plan however while I'm waiting for the relays to come in the mail and while I'm fixing it up to expiriment on my computer with different layers of tracks and stuff. I was recording this one song that I've had ready in my mind for about 8 months now on my otari like a week ago. It was simple: vocals and accoustic. That's it. Well when I try recording it, I start adding stuff like clean electric and tambourine and bass and drums, and I'm like WOAH! I didn't plan to add anything, but here I am adding stuff! So I'll most likely use it as a "sketchbook," better that than using precious 60 dollar tape Unless somehow there is absolutely no way for me to get my Otari running decently, I doubt I'll ever record anything serious on a pc. But I can't record on it in it's condition, and if it can't be fixed than I honestly think I will record stuff on a pc, by this time I don't care TOO much what medium it's recording on, as long as it sounds decent and is RELIABLE!! But I highly doubt it'll come to that.

 

[A Reel Person]

Whew! You had me going there, for a bit!

I'm much relieved now.

I can't boast, as I have numerous "fixit" items and projects,... some of which were only half-done & then left to sit for years! YEARS, I SAID!! Heh, heh. I honestly have more "fixit" gear than I can count or even remember,... but to just find the "time" to do it all,... would be a near-miracle!

FYI, some stuff can be hard enough to take apart, fix, and put back together on the spot, but it's MUCH harder when you take something apart,... set it aside in boxes or bags, then try to reassemble it 2-, 3-, or 4-years down the road!!!

A word to the wise,... (is not necessary!)

For the rest of us, I'll just vouch for the idea that if you are willing to take something apart, you better be prepared to fix it and put it together, all within a week,... otherwise you've just "screwed the pooch" on that, as I've done over & over!! I shouldn't talk about fixit projects gone wrong!!

Also, Otari's are great when they're in good condition,... but the majority of Otari's I've ever seen were otherwise. Again, it's nothing personal. If I seemed harsh, or like I was coming unglued on'ya,... it's that deep down I want to see you get over the difficulties & be successful with your Otari's.

That I'd not touch a used Otari is probably not relevant advice to give a 2x-over Otari owner,... and "expert" such as yourself.

Cheers!

 

[antispatula]

I'm much relieved now.

I can't boast, as I have numerous "fixit" items and projects,... some of which were only half-done & then left to sit for years! YEARS, I SAID!! Heh, heh. I honestly have more "fixit" gear than I can count or even remember,... but to just find the "time" to do it all,... would be a near-miracle!

FYI, some stuff can be hard enough to take apart, fix, and put back together on the spot, but it's MUCH harder when you take something apart,... set it aside in boxes or bags, then try to reassemble it 2-, 3-, or 4-years down the road!!!

A word to the wise,... (is not necessary!)

For the rest of us, I'll just vouch for the idea that if you are willing to take something apart, you better be prepared to fix it and put it together, all within a week,... otherwise you've just "screwed the pooch" on that, as I've done over & over!! I shouldn't talk about fixit projects gone wrong!!

Also, Otari's are great when they're in good condition,... but the majority of Otari's I've ever seen were otherwise. Again, it's nothing personal. If I seemed harsh, or like I was coming unglued on'ya,... it's that deep down I want to see you get over the difficulties & be successful with your Otari's.

That I'd not touch a used Otari is probably not relevant advice to give a 2x-over Otari owner,... and "expert" such as yourself.

Cheers!

yeah don't worry, just because I've never been so close to insanity in my life and proabibly will never quite be quite as sane as I used to before dealing with this machine, I HAVE NOT given up. I came close a few nights ago though. Starting at about 9PM, I was trying to pinpoint it's problem until after 1 AM, with no breaks at all. I was tired and very fatigued, and I entertained the thought "either I'm going into a commercial studio or I'm ditching this thing and going digital." I never decided it, but in my delirious mind, it sounded very very attractive.

And both those options STILL sound tempting. I've ruled out the commercial studio thing since I have no cash, but the idea of a no technical problem and impossible to "break" form of recording medium still does and foreever will sound like heaven. But I am not giving up and switching to computer recording if I can help it Even if I did, I honestly don't know if I'd EVER feel right about it, I know that those feelings are pretty bias and unreasonabaly harsh, but still....My favorite band the White Stripes and ALL the other old artists and bands I listen to are on tape, and can't help but feel attracted to tape. I'm a Billie Joel fanatic, and love Elton John and Bob Dylan (saw him live last year!!) and the Carpenters and Dan Fogelburg and such, and they all were of course on tape. I came into this idea of an analog setup thinking it would be cheap, simple and EASY compared to digital, and how much I was wrong...... But still, I'm working on getting that recorder back in shape. I'm 99% sure it's the relays. Most of the relays aren't even sealed!! Talk about crappy design flaw. Since it's too hard to clean relay contacts, I'm simply replacing them. I've ordered some of them this morning actaully. In fact, I barely knew what a relay was until a few days ago, and now I know a decent ammount about them! That's one cool thing about this blasted machine, it forces me to educate myself!

A few days ago I ripped open a relay only to figure out later it was one of the "good" ones.....you can see in the picture a "naked" relay with no seal on it near the white ones.......

I will be honest though, if I can't get this thing running in the NEAR future, I won't stop working on it, yet I certainly won't stop recording. Basically, if I don't get this fixed up soon, WHILE it's in it's recovery I will have to make due with messing around recording on a pc. I'm not a "purist" enough to stop recording music altogether if I have another recording option available to me. But it certainly will never be my first choice.....

Hey thanks for the kind words, I hope I overcome this things problems too! I have certainly already done that in many respects. When I first got it, 9 switches didn't work, and 3 channels didn't work, had no rubber on the roller, and all the levels were completely uncalibrated. All that since then has been corrected now, thanks to you and everyone esle on the board who helps me out all the time

 

[cjacek]

Antispatula: I honestly wish you the very best of luck but Dave's earlier post, while it may be construed as harsh, has a lot of truth to it and while I admire your persistence throughout the months, you did go against a lot of good advice given here and this recently included going against pleads for you to take the Otaris to a service tech. Again, I wish you the very best but what good is it to give advice when a person goes against 98% of it... ?

 

[cjacek]

That machine was dropped!! It needs WAY more than a new pinch roller!

Yup, certainly looks that way. I'd not go near this thing. Seems the seller upped the BIN price to "US $599.00. Thief.

 

[superbeatballer]

Hey Anti, it seems as though you're making technological excuses for why you're not recording. Self-fulfilled prophesies are fullfilling because you're letting the gear get in your way. You may switch to digital, but you'll still have the same pitfalls as in analog unless you just let go.

 

[A Reel Person]

Hey Anti, it seems as though you're making technological excuses for why you're not recording. Self-fulfilled prophesies are fullfilling because you're letting the gear get in your way. You may switch to digital, but you'll still have the same pitfalls as in analog unless you just let go.

That's very true. Most of us are not limited by technology, but more often by something more personal.

I, for one, am not limited by technology, but more by time & talent.

 

[EDAN]

Now this is what I call far more honest selling by an ebay'er.

Lots of pictures showing the potential buyer all of the bumps and bruises and pricing the unit accordingly.

If you don't mind the warts, this is a square deal.

Cheers!

Your attempt at making the other seller out to be a crook is unfounded and unfair. You do not, I repeat you DO NOT get over 1,500 positive feedbacks from happy buyers on ebay if you are a crook or scammer, you're lucky if you make it to ten before you get exposed. You call the guy greedy, nothing greedy about his auction, he's asking what HE thinks it's worth, if someone buys it then they think it's worth it as well, greed is something alltogether different. Plus the Otari auction gives no info whatsoever but for "Body in bad condition Scratches and dents. But works. Was tested" lol.

 

[antispatula]

Antispatula: I honestly wish you the very best of luck but Dave's earlier post, while it may be construed as harsh, has a lot of truth to it and while I admire your persistence throughout the months, you did go against a lot of good advice given here and this recently included going against pleads for you to take the Otaris to a service tech. Again, I wish you the very best but what good is it to give advice when a person goes against 98% of it... ?

Haha yeah, I doubt I'll ever bring it to a tech in the near future. It's pretty simple why: I don't have much money to do so. I get a check every two weeks, and it's usually for about a little over 100. It's a more now since I'm working more, but still. And I did not get the otari because I thought they were better than tascams, heck I didn't know ANYTHING about reel to reel recorders when I got it. They seller said the "pinch roller" was messed up when I called him telling him I was interested, and I had no idea what a pinch roller was! I got it because it was cheap and had 8 tracks. Remember? I got it for 100 bucks! That's cheaper than any 8 track you can get have it be tascam or otari or any other machine. I got money from selling the other otari, but that was back when I didn't think there was anything still wrong with the one I'm keeping! It isn't as simple for me to just "bring it to a tech," I wish it was though.....Believe me, I have looked into it, and have even made some phone calls. I even tried getting an estimate, and the only response I got was from one, and estimates alone were 50 bucks If it takes me a week of working just to get an estimate, I'm guessing it'll take me a MUCH longer time to actually get it fixed up right. I've spent a little under a year to simply get enough money to buy my small stash or gear. When it comes down to it, all my gear decisions are limited to the ammount of money I have. If I had more money I may have more than 2 pairs of mics, or may have more than one pre and one that cost over 100 bucks, etc etc, you know? I HAVE to work with what I have, there isn't any other way I can do this right now.

I'm 17, in highschool, and don't have a "real" job. When it comes down to it, I CAN'T bring it to a tech!

And as for the comment of me making technical exuses for me not recording? I'm not sure I even understand that. There isn't anything I'd rather do than record, but it's a little hard when every 20 seconds you get a K-KSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH KSSSSH! sound come exploding out of any given track

 

[A Reel Person]

'Spat,...

Your deal making power is well beyond your technical expertise, but your tech level has risin very rapidly,... from zero-to-acceptable in a very short time! Not many people have the interest and aptitude to do what you've done, when there are cheap & quick solutions abounding from the retailers' shelves,... (digital mutitrackers, digital interfaces, software). Although, this is not to imply digital is an "easy" solution to recording,... it's just thoroughly different than analog, with different problems and pitfalls.

Hang in there. You won't be 17 & broke forever! You've made tremendous progress. Sorry for my overy critical post! Don't ask me why, but I was feeling kinda testy after I read the "gotta go digital" post. I think I took it out of context.

Anyway, you'd cringe if you saw what I was recording on/with at age 17! You are lightyears ahead of that!!!!!

/DA

 

[hungovermorning]

flirtin with disaster

To chime in here, I felt like I was in the same position you were. I had a 1/2" 8 track (Teac 80-8) and stuff just kept going wrong. The other guy in my band had a Delta 44 so I thought "why not?" We recorded on it and my god it was so incredibly lifeless compared to tape. Even to my Porta 07 which we had messed around with. I didn't let gear get me down though, for a couple months we recorded on my Teac A-650 cassette deck. Just a regular old hi fi unit and it KILLED the sound card. No overdubs, but it sounded great. I'll still record on that thing once in a while. Eventually I wound up with a clean Fostex R8 1?4" machine and I've never been happier. 15 IPS and sounds great (not to mention tape is $15 a reel new). I know you got a deal on the Otari, but I guarantee someone else would buy your can of worms. Consider picking up a Tascam or Fostex instead that's in good working order. Put out a WTB ad here, someone will help you out and then no more worrying about a capture system.
Also, I used to have those thoughts like "what about a good soundcard" and "doesn't everything just go to CD anyways?" Not necessarily. 1/2 track machines are plentiful and have really hit bottom in resale value. I picked up an Akai M-6 tube half track and masters will go on there after I get the pinch roller repaired (like every other one in the world) and then I have a Marantz direct to CD recorder. This one is nice, but a liuttle pricey, you can pick up other ones for about $100. There are definitely options for avoiding the computer, I definitely flirted with the option, but once you've tasted an analog recording and hear it being played back in its full and explosive glory, you'll use your PC forits intended purpose: porn and email.

cheers,
scott

 

[antispatula]

Your deal making power is well beyond your technical expertise, but your tech level has risin very rapidly,... from zero-to-acceptable in a very short time! Not many people have the interest and aptitude to do what you've done, when there are cheap & quick solutions abounding from the retailers' shelves,... (digital mutitrackers, digital interfaces, software). Although, this is not to imply digital is an "easy" solution to recording,... it's just thoroughly different than analog, with different problems and pitfalls.

Hang in there. You won't be 17 & broke forever! You've made tremendous progress. Sorry for my overy critical post! Don't ask me why, but I was feeling kinda testy after I read the "gotta go digital" post. I think I took it out of context.

Anyway, you'd cringe if you saw what I was recording on/with at age 17! You are lightyears ahead of that!!!!!

/DA

hey thanks! Yeah, if I did have the money I most likely would have it serviced by a pro, but either way I really like figuring things out myself. I've fixed 2 guitar amps myself, that was pretty exiting, and have done small simple things like my moms curling iron and stuff......but I do enjoy electronics quite a lot, and find the idea of fixing something as complex as my otari pretty exiting......frustrating at times, but exiting.......
Hey no problem about the critical post, no biggie, I know I'm pretty stubborn about my recorder

Yeah I didn't start out recording with all my semi-pro-ish stuff, I actaully started by plugging a 20 dollar bestbuy mic strait into the front of my computer in my kitchen, using a program I originally downloaded to edit Live White Stripes shows!

 

[A Reel Person]

Back on topic!!!...

Y'gotta ask yourself,... how did the Otari's wooden side panels get broken in multiple places? That pinch roller is more shot than shot,... it's gone! To describe this auction item as "just the panels look rough" is an understatement that borders on dishonesty.

 

[cjacek]

Your attempt at making the other seller out to be a crook is unfounded and unfair. You do not, I repeat you DO NOT get over 1,500 positive feedbacks from happy buyers on ebay if you are a crook or scammer, you're lucky if you make it to ten before you get exposed. You call the guy greedy, nothing greedy about his auction, he's asking what HE thinks it's worth, if someone buys it then they think it's worth it as well, greed is something alltogether different. Plus the Otari auction gives no info whatsoever but for "Body in bad condition Scratches and dents. But works. Was tested" lol.

There are several definitions for "crook" and being dishonest or not honest is one of them. The seller is omitting info, whether intentional or not, which could prove very critical for the purchaser of this 3440 (in an earlier thread). By the seller's own admission he recorded "hundreds" of songs and has "dozens" of reels. Based on this alone, there could be thousands of hours on this recorder including overdubs, shuttling back and forth etc ... Is there a photo of the tape transport or any hint of its use ? Nope. How about other photos or mention of possible oxidation or how it was stored, or whether it was serviced etc .... The seller is not truthful as to the condition of this recorder and he wants a ridiculous price for it. His failure to disclose is troubling or he thinks his 3440 is factory fresh despite the large amount of hours on it. He is either a "crook" or an idiot. I'm with the Ghost on this one.

As for the Otari ... I'm sorry for the harsh word in advance but your take on it is BS. It is obvious this Otari was damaged during handling, likely dropped. That it was "tested" and told by the seller that it "works" means jack sh*t. You mean works how ? That it turns on and the lights come on and that it spins the tape ? There is more to this than that. Yeah, I've seen cars in wrecks that when you turned on the ignition worked too! Would I take them on the road for a spin ? NO! Reel to reel recorders, despite the fact that many of them are very well built, are still very precise and delicate electro-mechanical items and any mishandling, such as is the case in the auction, is really bad news. Add to this the disintegrated pinch roller and you have to wonder even more about the internal components, how the machine was stored and a host of other unknowns.

Picking out a nice working tape recorder and making sure it gets to you in one piece (if shipped) is a challenge and you have to know what to look for or you get screwed.

 

[A Reel Person]

The condition of the pinch roller doesn't bode well for the belts!!!

Not to mention, even if it was a UPS-disaster,... just say so!!

 

[cjacek]

Yeah, beat to the ground with round the clock operation, possibly stored badly and then smashed by UPS! Nice combo! LOL!!

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Your attempt at making the other seller out to be a crook is unfounded and unfair. You do not, I repeat you DO NOT get over 1,500 positive feedbacks from happy buyers on ebay if you are a crook or scammer, you're lucky if you make it to ten before you get exposed. You call the guy greedy, nothing greedy about his auction, he's asking what HE thinks it's worth, if someone buys it then they think it's worth it as well, greed is something alltogether different. Plus the Otari auction gives no info whatsoever but for "Body in bad condition Scratches and dents. But works. Was tested" lol.

Me thinks you have a bone to pick with me.

I'm not quite sure why but OK; have fun.

I could give a shit either way.

Cheers!