I use a TEAC 80-8 (8 tracks) and have been wondering if it's at all possible to do internal bounces that stay in sync with the other tracks AND maintain the same fidelity?

On my machine, my two options seem to be:

1. Bounce (ex: 1+2+3+4 -> 7+8) on REPRO/MON head... sounds exactly the same as the original tracks but is out of sync with the originals

2. Bounce (ex: 1+2+3+4 -> 7+8) on SYNC/REC head... stays in sync with the original tracks but sounds noticeably worse (somewhat bandpass-y)

I've read it's normal to lose some high end when bouncing on SYNC/REC, but I seem to loose a lot, plus a significant amount of low end, to the point where I never bounce this way... though having tracks stay in sync would be a life-changer. Any and all advice is welcome!

Today, I've tried recording from a record player to reel to reel. [Tesla NZC 130 -> Tesla B115] I've followed both instructions for use, and the correct recording procedure is:

1. Plug in the 5-pin DIN cable into the reel to reel output socket of the record player
2. Select reel to reel output button
3. Plug the other side of the cable into "RADIO" or "PHONO" socket of the reel to reel recorder
4. Set monitoring to "SOURCE" or "TAPE"
5. Select track
6. Press "RECORD" button and while pressing, turn cueing knob

I've followed all of these steps, and I couldn't hear a thing from the reel to reel recorder. Nothing. Another thing is, that when I try to turn on "RECORD", the red record indicator LEDs light up, but they turn off right after I stop pressing the button. The thing is that the record button isn't supposed to be pressed down, it's electrical, and you check the LEDs to see if you're recording or not. Also, the cable I use is a bit "musky" (corroded?) at the connectors.

Any idea what's wrong?

Another suspicion of mine is, that something is wrong with the "MONITORING" switch, as it cracks from the speakers and you can't hear both tracks, so you have to hold it down for a while so it gets "used to" the position, after you switch it. Thanks for any responses to this long and boring text :)

Edit: here is a cut out section from the reel to reel recorder user manual:

9.7. Record from a gramophone

Connect the output cord from the record player with a crystal transfer to the tape recorder in socket 31 (PHONO). If the record player has an output socket, use the connecting cord from the accessory to connect it to the tape recorder.

Socket 31 (PHONO) can also be used to connect a gramophone with a magneto-dynamic transfer; however, it must be equipped with a built-in correction preamplifier or must be connected to the tape recorder via an external correction preamplifier.

When recording from combinations of a turntable with an amplifier or a turntable with a receiver, the connecting cord will be connected to the tape recorder in socket 30 (RADIO) (this applies to all devices that have an output socket with the verbal or symbolic designation "tape recorder").

Well now I've got the typical problem with this deck after almost 50 years of owning it. The cam for the record/play side is shattered. The rewind and fast forward one looks ok. I've seen where someone was making them on a 3D printer? Anyone replaced theirs? or have a source for the cam? Thanks

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping someone can help me diagnose an issue with my tape machine.

In playback mode, both the tape head (P3) and the pickup jack (J3) are active and produce sound (the tape head signal enters at P3 on the bottom of the schematic).

In record mode, the line input (J1) and mic input (J2) are active, while the tape head and pickup jack are deactivated.

The Issue: • When I send a mono sine wave through the line inputs, I notice that the right channel is slightly louder than the left. This difference is minor and expected. • However, in playback mode, the left channel is significantly louder than the right. • The same issue occurs when using the pickup jacks- the left channel is much louder than the right.

Since both the tape head and pickup jack (P3 / J3) are affected, but the line and mic inputs (J1 / J2) are not, this suggests a faulty component in the signal path that only impacts playback.

Would anyone be able to look at this schematic and help pinpoint which components might be causing this imbalance? (Apologies for the highlighting.) Thanks in advance for any insight!

Hello, as the title says I’m coming here to ask if any of you have good recommendations for a mixer to use with a Tascam 38 I just ordered. I’m aware of the Tascam-M30 which i’d love to get at some point, but for now something standard and more affordable will probably do the job.

Any recommendations? Just needs to be compatible, 8 channels and have good preamps and eq to work with the 38. Preferably something with a warmer sound as well. Don’t need anything insane at the moment. Would appreciate the advice!

hello everybody!

I am currently in the process of setting up a recording setup for mixing and mastering purposes, mainly wanting to use my Telefunken M15a tape machine as a final stage to saturate and glue.

I have come across some confusion setting it up though and I would like some pointers. I use an Apollo 8 interface which I have set to output +4dBu out of its line level outputs, to which I have connected an RTW 1206D Peak meter.

When I send out a 1kHz, -18db (dBfs, I suppose (?)) test tone, the RTW Meter shows around -5dB.

Both the M15 and the RTW are normalised to receive a +6dBu signal, though the Telefunkens Preamps can handle up to 15dB without clipping, which is important, because I would like the option to really saturate the tape with higher input signals.

This is where my question comes in:
- How can calibrate the peak meter to show me 0dB on its scale, when the Telefunken receives its normal level of +6dBu?

- What level would I need to send out of my DAW? Currently, when I play my regular mixes which often reach around -7lufs, the RTW is clipping well into the red, showing over +5dB.

any help would be gladly appreciated!

On page 55 of the service manual I'm seeing part 705 corresponding to an m5 sized e-clip. Is this the same clip as what's in the pinch roller assembly (part 25)? I need to replace this E-clip but want to confirm the size I will need to do so. Thanks in advance for all help and suggestions!

recently bought this Spirit in the sky tape, came with this. I assume it's a magazine for music releases, haven't been able to find much info on it other than the company existing.

that's just such a cool thing... one of the things lost to the digital age. I can imagine myself at 15 just excited to see what releases are happening and which ones I'd like to save for.

Would love to keep this but can't unfortunately. It seems to work okay, has a few reels with it also, original manual etc. Would welcome feedback on a fair value range, I'm in Australia.....

I have an old Akai 4000DS that I haven’t used in at least 10 years, but I just hooked it up again to digitize some old recordings from the 60s—live classical music performances. Some of the recordings are stereo, while others are on tracks 1-4 and 3-2. I’m recording onto a MacBook Pro using Audacity, but I’ve noticed that the stereo recordings only play on one channel. I’ve been recording them and then rendering to mono as a workaround. Could this issue be caused by a problem with one of the heads on the Akai? Is the Akai set up incorrectly? Or could it be a settings issue in Audacity? Any advice would be appreciated!

I recently went to my grandmas house and saw an reel to reel tape recorder, my grandma said I can take it home. Does anyone know how to record over a tape on the Sony to 630?

Thank you all for the kind words about my previous post of our Pioneer RT-707 "SPEC Noir" Edition. Here is another model we also do.

Hi all, Dont know if this is the right place or if i should go to some studio/audio subreds but here is my question.

So i just finished an album on my tascam 388 8 track, it has been a long journey. Hard, sometimes brutal but also fun and giving.

But now i want to it to go to logic for the final mix before sending it to master.

Right now i have a tascam 16x08 which have served me well for many years. But I was wondering if all of my hard work would sound better if I bounced it thru a e.g. apollo x8 or something in that class.

Really hope that some of you would share your experiences.

Best to ya all!

it's almost identical to the more common teac a-1500