From dacc@yiffy.tigerden.com Thu May 5 09:29:38 1994 Date: Wed, 4 May 1994 20:34:58 +0100 From: "D.A.C. Crowell" To: Thomas C Butcher Cc: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Subject: Analog tape machines On Wed, 4 May 1994, Thomas C Butcher wrote: > > Anyone want to sell me a Teac 3340? While we're on the subject, what > other reel-to-reel ANALOG :) 4-tracks would you guys recommend? After I > invest in a DAT, the 4 track is my next big anticipated investment... > what models/brands/features are important? I'd recommend just about anything by TEAC/Tascam, save for the bidirectional 4-track machines that they built just prior to coming out with their first serious home studio stuff. Their stuff is built like a tank, as a rule, and you can get a decade or more of use out of one of their machines, typically. Models to look for include the 3340, 3440 (pro version of the 3340), 34, and 40-4. Otari also made four-tracks, although you're going to of course pay more for one of their machines. They also had 1/4" _and_ 1/2" 4-tracks, and having that doubled track width is a _killer_ plus! Look for various versions of the MX5050, as well as the MkII-IV. One of these, hotrodded with mods from Athan Corp., is a monster machine to contend with! The top of the heap is occupied by _serious_ machines. There is a 4-track version of the JH-110 series made by MCI, as well as the Ampex AG-440C-4. Both of these will set you back a pretty penny, and you'd best be ready to deal with the vagaries of a pro-level tape machine, but these will last until hell freezes over given proper parts and maintenance. These are not for the space-limited studio, either; the MCI machine is about the size of an overgrown dishwasher. You _will_ want NR. If you don't have dbx I built into the machine (some Tascams do), get it. The dbx 150X halfrack module provides two channels of NR encode and decode, with 100+ db of dynamic range after companding, for only $239 from Veneman's. These are +4 db balanced-line boxes, btw...which means they won't be so hot with the lower-end TEAC and Tascam models, but will work like gangbusters with the Otaris and on up the scale. Other dbx I (NOT dbx II...this is not nearly as good!) boxes for unbalanced -10 db lines can be gotten, however, with a bit of digging. Use hot tape, also. I recommend Ampex 406 for the lowest grade TEACs, 456 up thru the Otaris, and since they can be rebiased and recalibrated relatively easily for it, 499 for the high-end units. Good hunting sites for this sort of gear will be in areas where there's lots of music activity, such as Nashville, NYC, LA, etc, particularly if you want a higher grade machine than a Tascam. Check _Mix_, and some of the used equipment dealers in the want-ad section there. Another source that seem to turn up some great deals is _Radio World_, if you have access to that publication. Good luck! D.A.C. Crowell Audio Design and Programming KnowledgeMedia/The Aerodyne Works Champaign, IL, USA. (dacc@tigerden.com)