Tascam 122B........my new toy

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jjones1700

jjones1700

Learning, always learning
I just received a Tascam 122B deck for a dirt cheap price. It's a little rough around the edges but should prove to be 100% after a good cleaning and a fresh set of belts. This thing weighs a ton! Well, it does compared to my MR-2 deck. It's nice having analog sweep meters again vs. LEDs on my MR-2.

One question though: Is the dbx built-in or is it strictly an outboard piece of gear for this? The whole back side plugs for the dbx have me a bit confused and I don't have the manual to this.:confused:;)
 
Should be built in for that deck, bear in mind it is the Type II DBX not the same as what is used for Reel decks in the studio. Should work like a champ though, nice find!


AK
 
I think someone is not going to like this but ill say it anyway, buy a Dolby SR.
 
analogkid said:
Should be built in for that deck, bear in mind it is the Type II DBX not the same as what is used for Reel decks in the studio. Should work like a champ though, nice find!


AK
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Excellent! Type II is the same as in the 424 isn't it? If so, that will work out great since I'll let my buddy borrow my 424 for some guitar stuff. I suppose as long as both transports are aligned properly I shouldn't have much to worry about.:D
 
dualflip said:
I think someone is not going to like this but ill say it anyway, buy a Dolby SR.
Click to expand...

Perhaps when I'm ready to put out an album I'll consider it. For now, dbx works beautifully for me. SR is out of my budget anyway.;)
 
Well i think you can use a Dolby SR with whatever you want, as long as there is a medium to record, you are done, Dolby units have regular XLR in/outs, so perhaps they are not meant for a cassete deck but im almost sure they can be used in one.
 
if...

If the dbx in/out plugs are on the back of the unit, it would indicate dbx is an add-on, external, optional item. Plus, they should be jumpered "closed" when not in use.:eek:;)
 
A Reel Person said:
If the dbx in/out plugs are on the back of the unit, it would indicate dbx is an add-on, external, optional item. Plus, they should be jumpered "closed" when not in use.:eek:;)
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Awww crap. They are jumpered closed. So which dbx unit goes with the deck?:confused::confused:
 
dualflip said:
Well i think you can use a Dolby SR with whatever you want, as long as there is a medium to record, you are done, Dolby units have regular XLR in/outs, so perhaps they are not meant for a cassete deck but im almost sure they can be used in one.
Click to expand...

Because of the inherent limitations of the cassette format, the SR unit would not be hearing the same thing on playback that it sent to the cassette. Decode would be off by quite a bit.
 
Because of the inherent limitations of the cassette format, the SR unit would not be hearing the same thing on playback that it sent to the cassette. Decode would be off by quite a bit.
Click to expand...

Hear-hear, Rick. Yup. Same kind of issue with using Type I dbx on a Philips cassette format unit...

Awww crap. They are jumpered closed. So which dbx unit goes with the deck?
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Dunno the Tascam unit, but many flavors from dbx that will work...224, 224X, 140, 140X...those are all unbalanced...150X will work too...Same as the 140X but has balanced I/O on TRS jacks vs. RCA's.
 
sweetbeats said:
Dunno the Tascam unit, but many flavors from dbx that will work...224, 224X, 140, 140X...those are all unbalanced...150X will work too...Same as the 140X but has balanced I/O on TRS jacks vs. RCA's.
Click to expand...

150X is Type I, methinks.
 
150X is Type I, methinks.
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Youthinks correctly...thank you for catching that, Rick. I own 8 of the dern things...you'd think I'd have remembered that. :D:D:D

So 224's and 140's, jjones. ;)
 
RRuskin said:
Because of the inherent limitations of the cassette format, the SR unit would not be hearing the same thing on playback that it sent to the cassette. Decode would be off by quite a bit.
Click to expand...

Good to know, thanks for the tip :)
 
sweetbeats said:
Youthinks correctly...thank you for catching that, Rick. I own 8 of the dern things...you'd think I'd have remembered that. :D:D:D

So 224's and 140's, jjones. ;)
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Awesome! I'll have to work on finding one of those next. Well, it's between that and getting my 2 RT-909 decks repaired.:eek:
 
Just thought of something. Is there a way to rack mount the 224? Does anyone make rack ears for it?:confused:
 
Hm...dunno about the 224. The 224X typically has them, or at least can use them. If you end up with a 224X or have located one that is missing the ears
PM me. I may have a set of ears.

The 140 and 140X is another story since it is a half-rack unit. There are adapters to mate two units together, but the adapters are notorius for failing because they were constructed of plastic. I had a machine shop custom-machine some parts out of aluminum to replace the hardware that typically fails, but finding the adapters...another story.
 
40X unit will work as well I believe - that is what i use with my RT-707.

That unit also will decode DBX encoded LPs.


AK
 
dbx encoded...LP's??? :confused:

This is cool...I've never heard of such a thing. So was that a short-lived market phase like quadraphonic sound?
 
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