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Wanted Reel to Reel tape recorder
- Thread starter Kevin411
- Start date
Were they recorded on professional or home reel-to-reel machines? Most home machines were quarter-track format, two-channel stereo in one direction, turn the tape over and record the other two stereo channels in the other direction.
If you try to play one of those tapes back on a half-track stereo or one-track mono machine such as the professional models that were used in most radio stations, the result will be a garbled mess since the forward and reverse tracks will play back at the same time.
The other thing is, reel-to-reel decks in good working condition aren't typically cheap. How many tapes do you have? If it's just a few, it might be more cost effective to send them to a digitizing service to have them transferred to audio files.
They were recorded on professional machines. There are about ten 7" reels, six 3" reels {which I believe are commercials, as the tapes came from a man who ran a local advertising agency circa 1970s and 1980s). There's also one 12"? reel that is labeled with the name of a local call-in radio show from the 1980s.
Some of the tapes most commonly used at radio in the 80s were Ampex 406/407 and 456/457, which now suffer from a binding issue known as sticky shed syndrome (SSS). This causes the tape to essentially get stuck when you try to play it back.
The solution is to bake the tape at 130 degrees for several hours, which will temporarily drive moisture from the coating allowing it to be played back long enough to be transferred. You'll need an oven or dehydrator with very precise and stable temperature control to do this. If the tapes are wound on plastic reels, it complicates matters since the reels can deform from the heat.
If the tapes are NOT back coated, there's less risk of them having sticky shed. However, I recently watched one dump all of its oxide on the floor during playback while the empty mylar continued on its way to the take-up reel, a truly bizarre sight to see.
I don't mean to be too discouraging, but these are just things you should be aware of when dealing with old tapes.
The solution is to bake the tape at 130 degrees for several hours, which will temporarily drive moisture from the coating allowing it to be played back long enough to be transferred. You'll need an oven or dehydrator with very precise and stable temperature control to do this. If the tapes are wound on plastic reels, it complicates matters since the reels can deform from the heat.
If the tapes are NOT back coated, there's less risk of them having sticky shed. However, I recently watched one dump all of its oxide on the floor during playback while the empty mylar continued on its way to the take-up reel, a truly bizarre sight to see.
I don't mean to be too discouraging, but these are just things you should be aware of when dealing with old tapes.
Gee, an Akai GX365D went to the recycle place locally a month ago...the heads were shot, and, by now, I'm sure a cap or twelve would be needed. The last time I had it running was probably 15 years ago, when the few reels of stuff I wanted to keep I digitized. Even then, the splices were coming apart, and the media was degrading. A burn barrel, a match, and a splash of lighter fluid will solve that problem one day. 🔥
I remember writing to Akai shortly after I got it in trade, asking for an operating manual. A few weeks later, a manilla envelope with a photocopied manual arrived.
Best of luck in your search.
I remember writing to Akai shortly after I got it in trade, asking for an operating manual. A few weeks later, a manilla envelope with a photocopied manual arrived.
Best of luck in your search.
Inches Per Second
Turn on the reel to reel tape recorder. Take the tape out of the box. Put the empty reel on the right spindle, and the full reel on the left spindle. Wind the tape through the mechanisms - including the pinch rollers, the capstan and the rest. The tape is pressed against the heads and moves at a...
inches-per-second.blogspot.com
I have an Otari MX5050 Professional half-track stereo reel to reel if you are interested. I’d be willing to hook it up and make sure it still works as it did a few years ago. I’d be willing to let it go for 1500.00 if it checks okay, plus shipping.