I am very seriously thinking about buying a Reel to Reel machine. I don't need one, more a case of wanting. I think they look so cool!:yes:

I want to do some high quality recording of vinyl and cd in 2 channel stereo, so looking for a 7.5ips or poss 15....is there much audible difference?

I have been reading websites, searching ebay and there seems to be lots to consider. are there any existing threads which you can point me to where newbie’s have been given advice on what to look for and what to avoid?

Prices seem to vary massively, have seen small Akai's go for £100, to big technics at £1500, and mint Revox B77 £1700.

I don’t really know what are good machines and which are best avoided? How much to budget for a decent quality player / recorder? Any help and advice would be most welcome. :thmbsp:

Thank you

If you're serious about RTR half track 7 1/2 ips will be your best option. 15 ips is more of a pro speed for live type recording. You will only see a small difference in sound quality for what you're recording. Tape is an expensive media but has its rewards

For machines Teac/tascam make a number of half track that can be had for up to 500.00 Revox or Studer for up to 1000.00+ These brands are fairly easy to have serviced and parts are plentiful.
Get as many pictures as possible and take your time with a purchase. Allot of decks look sweet in the pictures but have underlying issues under the hood. If you can find something local that you can see and plug in to operate you will limit your chances of picking up a machine that will need allot of work.

Otari is another option for half track and they still make open reel decks.

One other thing buy fresh tape for your new recordings RMGI makes new blank tape and sold through a number of suppliers

Thank you, very useful info, esp about the 15ips.....

Thank you, very useful info, esp about the 15ips.....

For the cost of the tape 15ips is not that economical to use and you will only get about 48 minutes for a 3600' tape.

When you get your new deck give it the AB comparison. What I noticed was the tape noise was a little lower but the overall sound quality for taping vinyl was the same

I have seen and have access to a Teac Tascam 22-4 at a very resonable price, it has 7.5 (and 15 ips.) Are these machines good quality? the owner tells me it has new heads and the only real fault being a meter lamp not working? Will this make good quality stereo recordings and be ok for play back?

many thanks.

edit to say.... it also comes with 4 or 5 new 7" tapes.

edit to say.... it also comes with 4 or 5 new 7" tapes.

Have two hooked up. Both make great tapes 1230 in my Avatar and a 3340. Loads of good stuff out there, just stuck on Teac. The 3340 will run at 15 ips but I run her at 7 1/2. Good enough for me.

Eric:music:

Its nice to have a 2 track machine that takes 10.5 reels.....Teac is a real workhorse..I got a A-6100 mkll and love it! :thmbsp:

I have seen and have access to a Teac Tascam 22-4 at a very resonable price, it has 7.5 (and 15 ips.) Are these machines good quality? the owner tells me it has new heads and the only real fault being a meter lamp not working? Will this make good quality stereo recordings and be ok for play back?

many thanks.

I like mine :-) The problem with a 22-4 (and it's a serious problem in some respects) is that it gives you 15 ips, but will only take up to 7" reels. What was TEAC/TASCAM thinking??

One nice thing about a 22-4 (or any other four-track deck) -- it gives you lots of flexibility in playing back recorded tapes (or in recording tapes, for that matter). You can successfully monitor half-track stereo, quarter-track stereo, two-track mono, 'quad', or four track tapes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mhardy6647/taping100806.jpg

For a starter machine, you certainly could do much worse than that Tascam. As noted above, 15 ips on a 7" machine is kind of an annoying feature (only 22 minutes a side at 15ips on an 1800' reel). But if you can find one in great shape, with new heads, that's more than half the battle right there. :thmbsp:

thanks for the all the info guys, if all goes well I will have it tomorrow evening, I will let you know how I get on and post a pic!

To my ears, 7 1/2 ips is best. There is an audible difference over 3 3/4. I don't have 15 ips, so I can't comment on the sound of it, but I do know tape is expensive and it seems that you would use up a lot of it that way.

Tascam is a fine machine. Although I am a bit "biased" for ReVox.:D

Dave

I have a Tascam 34B (4 tracks) and it is really good
However i have also a simple Akai GX-215D and i can recommend it as "starter" RTR.. If well calibrated, the sound is surprisingly good

Teac is the best for your money. I would recommend 4300, 4300sx, 6300, plenty of parts around.

One other thing buy fresh tape for your new recordings RMGI makes new blank tape and sold through a number of suppliers

ahh ;) - RMGI ?? can you name some supplier's that are accessible overseas ?

This thread may also be of some interest:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=221975

ahh ;) - RMGI ?? can you name some supplier's that are accessible overseas ?


I believe RMGI is based in Europe.

Holland, perhaps?

Dave

I have got it, a Tascam 22-4. Absoulte bargain, the price was too good an opportunity to miss. its in mint condition, every thing works, new heads, and 6 reels of tape, 4 of which are brand new.:banana:

Just got to work out how to connect it to my hifi tape loop to make recordings and play back. I'll post a picture or 2 later on

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/graham_wj/DSC01114copy.jpg

here it is, :thmbsp:

I have just made my 1st recording on to a real of brand new tape, wow the quality is superb, far better than I was expecting! I was also expecting to hear some back ground hiss, there isn't any I can hear.

I used channel 1 & 2 to make a stereo recording. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of the instructions to fully understand all the facilites this machine has to offer.

I have read you can use the other to channels to mix 2 tracks together and that I need a phono cable with 2 rca plugs into my amp which output to 4 rca plugs into the tape player, Can you even buy these?

Thank guys.

I believe RMGI is based in Europe.

Holland, perhaps?
Dave

Spot on !

Found them - and did order a bunch of tapes ....

sad to admit, i'm a fool - RMGI took over when EMTEC gave up - and EMTEC, took over after BASF ... so my beloved LPR35 tape's are still
available ... just under a new name, but still the same tape

Goshh !! I'm getting old :banana:

Congratulations!
I have a Tascam 34B and they are very good machines!
you should use channel 1 and 3, so you will have the compatibilty with consumer 2 tracks RTR



here it is, :thmbsp:

I have just made my 1st recording on to a real of brand new tape, wow the quality is superb, far better than I was expecting! I was also expecting to hear some back ground hiss, there isn't any I can hear.

I used channel 1 & 2 to make a stereo recording. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of the instructions to fully understand all the facilites this machine has to offer.

I have read you can use the other to channels to mix 2 tracks together and that I need a phono cable with 2 rca plugs into my amp which output to 4 rca plugs into the tape player, Can you even buy these?

Thank guys.

Congratulations!
I have a Tascam 34B and they are very good machines!
you should use channel 1 and 3, so you will have the compatibilty with consumer 2 tracks RTR
Exactly. This may goes against what one might initially think, but this is the correct way to be recording. Otherwise if you should ever decide to upgrade, you will be unable to play the tapes that you have recorded on this machine.

Ok, I will do that from now on. thanks

Sweet machine, congratulations :thmbsp:
Had several of these and can create excellent recordings on both speeds.
Kind of surprised you found this in UK, have several buddies over there having a hard time finding Tascams, you did great :)