Tascam MS-16, ES 50/51, AQ-65

[letsfigureitout]

Hello all! I've been through all of the post that I could find regarding the Tascam MS-16 and ES 50/51 combo. Is it possible to use that combo as well as the AQ-65? Thanks so much!

-TJ

 

[sweetbeats]

No. Each one uses the same ACCESSORY connector in the tape machine. You can use one or the other, but not simultaneously.

 

[letsfigureitout]

Hi Sweetbeats - Thank you so much for your reply! Got it...my best option to sync my MS-16's would be with the AQ-65 with the ES 50.

Thanks again!
-TJ

 

[sweetbeats]

No.

The AQ-65 is not a synchronizer, and does not interface with the ES-50. The ES-50/51 is a synchronizer. The AQ-65 is a multi-point auto-locator. It has nothing to do with interfacing any other machine but the one to which it’s connected. It doesn’t interface that machine with anything else. It just allows you to set up to 8 locate points, and do locate point things with those points. If you want to synchronize your tape machine with another tape machine or a DAW, and you want the tape machine to be the master in the sync array, then you need an ES-50 or a TimeLine Micro Lynx or similar.

And, again, you cannot have the AQ-65 and ES-50 connected simultaneously to the tape machine. They do not connect to each other and they both connect to the same ACCESSORY connector in the tape machine, so it’s one or the other. If you have a synchronizer you do not need an autolocator, because the synchronizer includes auto locate functionality, though it uses the timecode striped to a tape track for location reference. So if you use a synchronizer as an autolocator you must sacrifice a tape track. The AQ-65 uses the tach data for location reference and therefore does not sacrifice a tape track.

Unless you are saying you would have the AQ-65 connected to one machine and the ES-50 to the other? I can’t say for sure whether or not that would work…I would guess not, and may possibly induce damage. And…TOTALLY redundant. The autolocate functionality of the synchronizer is far more precise and expansive than the AQ-65. So if you are synchronizing two tape machines and already sacrificing tape tracks, just use the autolocate functionality of the synchronizer.

 

[letsfigureitout]

Understood. To sync the 2 machines I’ll be strictly using the ES-50 & ES-51 combo. I have no issues sacrificing a tape track.

Thanks again!
-TJ