Wouldn't you know it? 16 track 1/2 inch transfer?

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:02 pm

Hey folks! So? Who can transfer what I beleive to be a 16 track, 1/2 inch "Fostex" master, with or without noise reduction and a 1/2 inch 4 track, to a hard drive or multiple DVD ROM's? I'm in the BALTO/WASH area and would prefer someone localy but would consider shipping these 2, 10 inch SCOTCH 226 & 250 masters away. They aren't mine and the client is wondering about cost? Lemee know?

Nevermind that I've had every known analog recorders ever made but not that one. Oh sure I've usedem' and in my studio when they walked in the door. Just never owned one O' those. It wasn't awful but it wasn't 2 inch either and sounded like it. Still got some killer rock sounds with it and I ain't talkin' "bias rocks".

For further analog tape info and what "bias rocks" mean, just ask the old AMPEX/MCI/3M/SCULLY factory service tech & former SCULLY QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER.
MS Remy Ann David

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:21 pm

Remy,

I've used a place out in LA called Access Audio and was very happy with their work. Dana was very helpful with ripping an old 1/2" tape recorded on a Tascam 38 20+ years ago. I have no affiliation with them.

http://www.accessaudioservices.com

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:50 pm

I have the Fosetx e-16, but only 8 mono ins on my PC. Sad

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:58 pm

Can't you do a 2 pass solution? Record the first 8, then play again and record the next 8 tracks.
Or is there some semantic of tape that this won't work...

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:30 pm

Right, analog tape stretches and has no time code or quartz crystal clocks. Analog tape doesn't handle audio in the frame like environment that our digital audio & digital video is based upon. So the transfer has to be done in a single pass. Yes, I have found a company in New Jersey that specializes in analog to digital transfers of any analog tape format. Not sure as to their prices yet? Synchronizing analog machines actually required 4 tracks. On each machine, 2 tracks. One for the time code and a spacer track, since time code sounds real nasty and has a tendency to crosstalk to the adjacent channel. In the older days when this was first being done, you needed to "over slam" the time code level to the clip point of the tape. These days, you can run the time code at a lower level but the crosstalk is still nasty. No way really to do that after-the-fact either, although if there had been an open track that's not recorded, Time code could be added, which would allow a 2 pass transfer, provided a SMPTE synchronizer such as an Adam Smith Zeta 3 is available. I don't have one anymore having sold it off with my 24 track 2 inch, analog machine, in 1993. Thanks to everybody!

Analog girl living in the digital world
Ms. Remy Ann David

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