Stereo Bounce as Mixdown?

[coreytx]

I've been trying to find a thread related to this. I would like to use my 1/2" 8 track to record and then mixdown. So I would be mixing from 6 tracks down to the remaining 2.
I know I could mix to my DAW or a 2 track 1/4", but I don't want the cleanness of a mix straight to the computer (and I'm using it for reverbs and delay during mixing) and I don't want to buy a 2 track right now. I don't want to spend any money if it's not necessary.
My 8 track is being fixed now so I haven't done this yet.

Are there any obvious reasons that I may be overlooking as to why I shouldn't do this? Crosstalk?

I would then record the 2 tracks to DAW.
Does anyone do this? Wouldn't it be like mixing to a 2 track, 4 channel reel to reel?

Thanks

 

[jpmorris]

What is the machine? If it's a 2-head unit you may get feedback from the adjacent track unless DBX is enabled. If it's a 3-head machine, any crosstalk will have a 1/15 sec delay.
Also remember that the edge tracks are prone to damage and loss of quality. And yes, it would be kind of like mixing to a 2-track, 4-channel machine. Expect it to sound noisier and weaker than it would on a proper half-track machine.

 

[coreytx]

It's a Tascam 38. Thanks for your help.

 

[A Reel Person]

I'd not do it.

First, you're diminishing your 8 track capability down to 6 tracks.

Second, I don't think you'd get any more analog "flavor" using this technique than a straight 8-track mixdown offboard to your 'puter as a mixdown device.

Third, and it's been an incredibly long time since I tried this, but I think I remember the issue of getting a feedback loop developing on the head when bouncing to adjacent tracks without a "guard band" track. If you bounce 6-to-2 there would be no allowance for a guard band track. However, the idea of bouncing 6-tracks off the Repro head to the Sync head might avoid this feedback loop issue, but then your 2-track mixdown tracks would be out of sync with your raw tracks. At that point any crosstalk could be problematic.

With that being said, and I admittedly don't see any advantage to doing this, there's nothing stopping you from trying this & see what you get.