TASCAM 34B is still being made (must read)

[A Reel Person]

That's all we ever talk about, here!

Get used to it!

 

[tanoka]

Get used to it!

can you answer my question then?

 

[Outlaws]

Um...........

1/4" reel of tape = $25

1/2" reel of tape = $50

After 100 rolls of tape and still being able to buy more rolls of tape without letting the reel machine sit in the closet from milking you dry...

Thats priceless.

 

[cjacek]

Is there anything available new for a 2 track 1/2" 15 ips with the sync option then? ? ? and how much are we talking about really?

If its not made anymore then how about a vintage? I'm getting dizzy googlin up all these damn recorders only to find links back to this forum

Frankly I have a tough time understanding why you're so adamant about getting a 1/2" machine when there's one perfectly suited to your needs still available new - the 34B ?

As far as I know there is nothing new available in the 2 track / 15ips / sync option. That's really a TALL order even for used gear.

Daniel

 

[A Reel Person]

Yeah, until you consider getting 1/4" tape on 7" reels, $2.95,...

and plenty of comparable tape of 1/4" and 1/2" for $1/reel, clearance.

That is priceless.

I've gotten 2" tape for $50. It's not as expensive as you might think. If you shop around. That 10.5" reel of 1/4" tape need not be $25,... more like $12.50-$14.

I have dozens of reels of tape in storage, and I'm not bled dry.

I could get said 7" reels of 1/4" tape in shipping boxes qty of 40, for just over $120.

 

[tanoka]

change of mind

Frankly I have a tough time understanding why you're so adamant about getting a 1/2" machine when there's one perfectly suited to your needs still available new - the 34B ?

As far as I know there is nothing new available in the 2 track / 15ips / sync option. That's really a TALL order even for used gear.

Daniel

All the 1/2" ones I've seen are horizontal and much bigger, the 1/4" are vertical and much more compact so it's def more practical to my needs. But if the 34B is a four track then each track only gets 1/16" on the tape? I'd much rather have a two track so each gets 1/8" I understand the fidelity increases are far from linear nor 'huge' among the tape widths but I'm anal like that. You're saying the the BR20T and the otari 2 tracks dont have multi-sync? What a bitch!

Ok so now I want a 1/4" two track 15 ips w/ syn and pitch control. Please don't tell me I'm asking too much still. New, recently discontinued, or vintage. What says the board?

 

[tanoka]

and plenty of comparable tape of 1/4" and 1/2" for $1/reel, clearance.

That is priceless.

I've gotten 2" tape for $50. It's not as expensive as you might think. If you shop around. That 10.5" reel of 1/4" tape need not be $25,... more like $12.50-$14.

I have dozens of reels of tape in storage, and I'm not bled dry.

I could get said 7" reels of 1/4" tape in shipping boxes qty of 40, for just over $120.

Thanks for the exaggeration, Outlaws!

 

[A Reel Person]

For 1/4" @ 15ips w/sync & pitch, that's either the Tascam BR20T, or the Fostex Model 20 or E-2. The Fostex E-22 is the 1/2" two track @ 15ips, if you can find it.

I've seen a Tascam 4-Track 1/2" deck, the ATR-60-4, and would I have liked to have gotten my hands on that! At $500, it was more $ than I had at the time. [OT]

The 22-2, 32, 42 & 52 have simulsync, so I assume the BR20 does.

I'd say a suitable 1/2" reel of Quantegy 456 should cost about $35, and that's a consideration in your studio budget. I have gotten very progressive deals, and even clearances on reel tape, so I might be an exception. I live near Burbank, a major media center. Outlaws may be exaggerating, a little. Regardless, I don't consider cost of media a burden, fwiw. I have a righteous deal on 7" reels of 1200'/456 compatible bulk Quantegy media, for $2.95/reel. All the other reel stock I got at clearance, I'm not kidding. I'm fine in consummable media stocks.

 

[Outlaws]

Thanks for the exaggeration, Outlaws!

Its not an exageration. New tape isn't cheap. One pass is used and might not be one pass. Sure can find deals if you look. but if somehting has been sitting around for 20 years in storage then you never know what kind of heat elements it might have been exsposed too.

And a 10.5" roll of 1/4" tape from Quantagy IS $25.

Here is one place to get tape.

Sure you can get it as low as $20 a reel, but thats if you can shell out for 20 rolls at a time. Which is worth it.....but thats still $20 x 20 anyway you cut it.

And to respond to ARP's future response...

I realize you probably got the tape new for a dollar. I realize you probably bought 2" tape for only $50. But the reason places sell the tape for $150-180 a roll is because thats what it cost. If there was a supply of 2" tape for $50 available at any given time, then thats what it would sell for at almost all places.

But its not that cheap. Those are one shot deals and when you want to record you can't just sit around for a week or two waiting for someone on Ebay to unload some NOS tape.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Canadian tape price realities

Here in the great white north I am looking at 100 bucks a reel for one inch, 60 bones a reel for half inch and quarter inch is hovering around 30 bucks...all in Canadian funds.

To rationalize the costs, I break the tape costs down per song and I can get about 6 songs out of a roll at 15ips.

Even if the price doubled, I would still buy tape.

It's just the way I feel about the format ya know! If they are willing to make it, I'm willing to buy it. Regardless of price.

Cheers!

 

[A Reel Person]

That's okay, Bernston.

Tape sells at various rates, depending where you shop. Excuse me for saying you are exaggerating.

The tape I've gotten is in fine shape, always well stored, and in perfect condition.

If you're literally talking about consuming hundreds of reels of tape, you'd have to look for a budget solution, I suppose. It's true, if you have a really ravenous appetite for tape, then it could get expensive. There are some good one-shot deals on tape, if you can find them. However, you don't want to be just waiting til someone unloads some NOS, either.

I'm not inclined to go through that much tape, myself. Several dozen reels in supply is plenty. You can record over it, and use it many times, if you're so inclined. My tape media cost is not a huge burdon. Everyone's case is different.
---------

The answer to the other dude's question was the BR20T, the Model 20 and the E-2.

 

[Outlaws]

If you're literally talking about consuming hundreds of reels of tape, you'd have to look for a budget solution, I suppose. It's true, if you have a really ravenous appetite for tape, then it could get expensive.

When I said one hundred I was refering to just using the tape as needed for whatever you are doing. Be it one year or 10 years. I was just pointing out the mass influx of cost from 1/4" to a 1/2" reel. Nothing more.

If you want to stockpile, then just buying what you see on ebay is good...especially if you are using less than you find and buy...

But if you are recording like on open reel alone (ARP, you use cassette most of the time right?) then finding all these deals (outside of a Meca like Cali) would probably start to seem more scarce. At which point, overtime, even $35 for a roll of 1/2" would start to make most people look the other way as they purchase it.

All that is just assuming you don't have another medium (cassette/digital) to work out the song kinks. At least thats how it is for me...and I am only buying 7" reels of 1/4".

 

[cjacek]

The 22-2, 32, 42 & 52 have simulsync, so I assume the BR20 does.

I asked TASCAM support about this and was told that the BR20 doesn't have simul-sync. That's all I have to go on tho.

Daniel

 

[A Reel Person]

Quick check of the manual, and it does have "sync".

However, we should distinguish between "sync" for time code, and "sync" for overdub, more commonly known as Simulsync.

The BR20 will dub to track 1 & 2 independently, and has a Sync head. The Tascam reps may not have chosen to call it "Simulsync", but it functions as a true "Simulsync" deck. BR20T has timecode sync function, too.

Dammit. I hate it when people are dense. The BR20 has sync function.

 

[mixmkr]

why do you want a 1/2 track deck with a "symulsync" capabilty? On a multitrack, the answer is obvious. On a 1/2 track, I don't see you'd ever need it....a sync function yes...but to record the seperate L/R channels seperately...??

and no...the budget 22-2 has no sync capabilties at all.

 

[Outlaws]

why do you want a 1/2 track deck with a "symulsync" capabilty? On a multitrack, the answer is obvious. On a 1/2 track, I don't see you'd ever need it....a sync function yes...but to record the seperate L/R channels seperately...??

and no...the budget 22-2 has no sync capabilties at all.

I would like to have a half track that can record independently. 2 high quality takes on 1/4" tape. I think it would be nice for just 2 acoustic guitars playing off each other. Both recorded by me of course...lol

 

[cjacek]

However, we should distinguish between "sync" for time code, and "sync" for overdub, more commonly known as Simulsync.

The BR20 will dub to track 1 & 2 independently, and has a Sync head. The Tascam reps may not have chosen to call it "Simulsync", but it functions as a true "Simulsync" deck. BR20T has timecode sync function, too.

Dammit. I hate it when people are dense. The BR20 has sync function.

Yeah, see there ya go! Why don't I follow my own advice and not contact TASCAM Support USA already or at least not take their word as gospel ? I specifically asked if I may "overdub" and whether the BR20 had "Simul-sync" capability. The tech guy said no and sugested the used market. It was around the same time he said "Analog is a dead technology". Anyway, my fault, sorry.

Anyway, thanks for clarifying Dave ..

Daniel

 

[tanoka]

dammit

why do you want a 1/2 track deck with a "symulsync" capabilty? On a multitrack, the answer is obvious. On a 1/2 track, I don't see you'd ever need it....a sync function yes...but to record the seperate L/R channels seperately...??

and no...the budget 22-2 has no sync capabilties at all.

Dont laugh as I know not what I speak...

Im gonna be recording off of records but I assumed that the entire signal either from my mixer or amp would be summed directly into just one track of the tape, which would have allowed me to dub on the other one. BUGGLES!

So what I really need then is a four track. But I don't understand how you can dub another 2 stereo on top of the original 2 stereo if tracks 1,3 and 2,4 are respectively recorded in opposite directions.

 

[cjacek]

Dont laugh as I know not what I speak...

Im gonna be recording off of records but I assumed that the entire signal either from my mixer or amp would be summed directly into just one track of the tape, which would have allowed me to dub on the other one. BUGGLES!

So what I really need then is a four track. But I don't understand how you can dub another 2 stereo on top of the original 2 stereo if tracks 1,3 and 2,4 are respectively recorded in opposite directions.

(deadly serious)

Do yourself a big favor and get the 34B. Why complicate things ? I can see how you'd want to go from cassette tape width and the constraints of the format to 1/4" open reel running at 7 1/2 - 15 ips but obsessing on wider tracks after that and the minimal benefits it would bring would be, in your own words, quite "anal". Look at the benefits of running the damn tape at 15 ips and having 4 tracks to work with on 1/4" tape. If you had the BR20 and the 34B side by side to compare, then you'd quickly note that the very small benefit of the wider tracks is not worth the investement. Plus you'd get bogged down having only 2 tracks to work with ... I think that if you had to choose one machine, you'd better spend your money on the 34B.

Daniel

 

[Outlaws]

So what I really need then is a four track. But I don't understand how you can dub another 2 stereo on top of the original 2 stereo if tracks 1,3 and 2,4 are respectively recorded in opposite directions.

Because all 4 tracks run in the same direction...no flipping over like a cassette tape.

A mixer would let you take all 4 tracks and you can adjust each ones volume and how you want it panned (left or right speaker and anywhere in between). Then that gets output two two tracks ala a tape or CD to be used at your discression.