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Hi folks,

this is my first thread here after soooo much reading of this supercool forum! I hope that the thread will be helpful for other people too.

I want to buy my first multitrack - accually on 70% I bought it - I made a deal with a seller and I have one week for change my mind. It is Tascam ATR 60 8 tape recorder with: (see attached pics)

- 1x Tascam ES-50 Synchronizer
- 1x Tascam DX-80S dbx / Professional Noise Reduction
- 1x Tascam 8 chanel VU meter
- 1x Tascam ES-51 Synchronizer Control Unit
- Maintance and user manual (but only ATR )
- Cables (see below)

Maybe I am newbie in tape machines but I am electronic enginneer and I build studio electronics, tube amplifiers and so on. BUT with this I need help because of lack of user manuals

My questions:

0. Cost of this was about 2900 Eur. Am I dumb, or I am lucky guy?

1. Is it a good combination for 8 track recording or something is missing?

2. It does not have a remote control RC-65, but is it needed if I have ES50/51?

3. If ES50/51 is enough, could you please describe some fuctionality or send me user manual? For example can I do auto punch record with this unit?




Sorry for lot of question but I searched internet so many times without success. I do NOT have this beauty machine with me right know so ..

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Maros

Comments

Boswell Sun, 01/05/2020 - 11:36

Welcome, Maros!

It's very hard to make any sort of meaningful comment until we have some idea of what you want to use it for, and what other equipment you already have. It's a lot of money for gear that may not be the right thing for your intended use.

I hope you have taken into account how much the ATR 60/8 will cost in maintenance and tape usage. The last time I bought a 2500 ft 1/2" reel it was about £90 ($110).

Maros Sun, 01/05/2020 - 15:24

Thanks! I am a big fan of analog recording since I was a child. I was really amazed with too many knobs and faders. Right know I have a low budget studio with PC and lot of SW plugins but that is not what I really want.

I do not have money for 16 track A80 Studer machine so at the beginig I need to start somehow. Tascam ATR 60 tape recorder are quite good so I thouht that this is a good idea :unsure: I was thinking about Mackie 32 8 + Tascam ATR 60 8 machine.

KurtFoster Sun, 01/05/2020 - 15:42

you should be able to find a manual online. auto punch is nice but it's not an auto locator or a remote controller.

Maros, post: 463086, member: 51815 wrote: No, I want to use it only in analog way. Multitrack -> analog console -> 2 track master recorder -> and here is a place for computer (streming services, mp3, cd, ...)

i'm not sure what the import situation is for you but you might check out a MARA machine. they refurb MCI's and they have a 1" 8 that goes for a little over 7300 euro. MARA has a warranty and they offer telephone support as well. MCI is playing with the big boys. 15 /30 ips 72 dB s/n 30 to over 22 k ... great machines.

http://vintageking.com/mara-machines-mci-jh24-1-eight-track

Maros Sun, 01/05/2020 - 16:36

Kurt Foster, post: 463087, member: 7836 wrote: you should be able to find a manual online. auto punch is nice but it's not an auto locator or a remote controller.

OK! So I do not need RC-65 remote, because the same fuctions are on TASCAM "main panel" (my picture above). What I need to know if ES-50/51 module is useful for me in case of analog recording (no interconnection with PC) or to be more specific: Do I really have to pay for this modele if I do not use it?

I really searched the internet so many times but nothing about ES-50/51 sync module :(

Maros Mon, 01/06/2020 - 02:35

Kurt Foster, post: 463089, member: 7836 wrote: if you are going to run the deck from the controls on the machine then the ES-50/51 is not needed. also if you do use it you have to give up one track for the time code
.

Ouch. This is what I dont want to hear :( 8 tracks are quite low but still fine, but 7 tracks or maybe 6 tracks because of crosstalk..........

miyaru Wed, 01/08/2020 - 14:43

I would opt for a hybrid way:

Use your PC as a recorder and a decent audio interface for Multritrack in/out into an anolog desk and fx. This way you have the best of both worlds. I was fond of analog too, we had this beautiful MTR at the SAE in Amsterdam with an analog Soundtract Jade board.

But later on learned the ease of working digital, and the track count of course.

Think twice, you pay a lot of money for yesteryears equipment, wich result in mediocre recordings...........for high prices of tape!

KurtFoster Wed, 01/08/2020 - 16:27

tape is no more expensive now than it was in the past if you figure for inflation. it's just not as cheap as drive space.

analog tape has it's limits and faults. digital isn't perfect either. each has a different set of short comings. when we combine them we end up with the worst of both worlds. i see no advantage to combining them. analog is only "better" if you stay analog all the way. actually my favorite way of recording other than live to low track count analog is is analog desk and digital multi track, then mixing in analog with real outboard and a minimum of "plugs". a lot of what people assume is the sound of tape is really just the sound of a large format, high volt rail / high level / transformer balanced console like Neve's / SSL's / MCI's etc.

kmetal Wed, 01/08/2020 - 19:54

I think for certain projects live to tape can't be beat. My favorite is tracking to tape, then dumping it into the daw. Ive never mixed all analog except for a tascam portastudio and stereo mixdown deck. Ive never mixed a daw session on an analog mixer. I have used a digital mixer along w the daw.