is buying a 1" 8track a good idea?

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runrunrun
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is buying a 1" 8track a good idea?

Post by runrunrun » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:28 pm

i might have a lead on a good deal for a studer 1" 8track. i am just wondering what everyone thinks about this. i know it is a great machine and that it will require a fair bit of maintenance, I am just kinda concerned that 1" tape would probably be the first tape that they stop making. is this a valid concern? anything else I should consider?

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I'm Painting Again
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Post by I'm Painting Again » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:34 pm

I'd like to know what people think about this as well..

I have a bunch of 1" tape..and I don't need more than 8 tracks..and its more affordable than 2"..so I was also looking for a 1"-8..

It seems ATR is going to have a 1" and RMG has it already on the market..so I'm not sure if it will be an issue..also some of the fancy pants mastering, etc. places have 1" 2 tracks..

hmm.

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Mark Alan Miller
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Post by Mark Alan Miller » Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:55 pm

I don't see an imminent demise of 1".
Go for it, I say!

(I just did a session on my 1" 24 track last month...)
he took a duck in the face at two and hundred fifty knots.

http://www.radio-valkyrie.com/ao/aoindex.htm - download the new record (free is an option!) or get it on CD.

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Post by runrunrun » Sat Aug 26, 2006 3:31 pm

good to hear that 1" is safe! thanks!

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Post by fazeka » Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:12 pm

I just put down some bread on a 1970 3M M56 8-track 1-inch. 8)

Mane1234
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Post by Mane1234 » Sat Aug 26, 2006 8:02 pm

WOW...One inch 8 trak....FAT!!!! where are guys finding these at?

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Post by beauarts » Sat Aug 26, 2006 9:50 pm

I bought two 1" studers about 4 years ago from england and had them shipped here. Real low hours and in good cosmetic condition. It took me over a year to get someone to work on them and they were never running very consistantly. I finally unloaded them and used the money to buy a Otari Radar II. Best move I ever made. Unless you have a top notch tech or are really on the ball yourself, I'd recommend taking a pass. It's not a tape world out there anymore and it's hard to get support and deal with the issues and delays that will frustrate you.

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Post by runrunrun » Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:11 am

beauarts wrote:I bought two 1" studers about 4 years ago from england and had them shipped here. Real low hours and in good cosmetic condition. It took me over a year to get someone to work on them and they were never running very consistantly. I finally unloaded them and used the money to buy a Otari Radar II. Best move I ever made. Unless you have a top notch tech or are really on the ball yourself, I'd recommend taking a pass. It's not a tape world out there anymore and it's hard to get support and deal with the issues and delays that will frustrate you.
were they in working order when you got them? did you know any maintenance stuff yourself, like alignment/cleaning etc......?

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I'm Painting Again
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Post by I'm Painting Again » Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:24 am

yo OOT,

It's not rocket science..but it will take a good amount of effort and $ to keep it going and running optimally..in addition to the purchase of the deck and shipping..you will need to buy all the tools, a calibration tape, etc. you will need to the manual and need to learn your way around the thing..it's pretty intimidating but if I can learn anyone can..

this 1"-8 format and with a good machine will sound so good you will pee your pants..maybe even crap them..

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Post by runrunrun » Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:22 am

Toolshed of Death wrote:yo OOT,

It's not rocket science..but it will take a good amount of effort and $ to keep it going and running optimally..in addition to the purchase of the deck and shipping..you will need to buy all the tools, a calibration tape, etc. you will need to the manual and need to learn your way around the thing..it's pretty intimidating but if I can learn anyone can..

this 1"-8 format and with a good machine will sound so good you will pee your pants..maybe even crap them..
toolshed, thanks for the encouragement. i think i will be able to learn my way around analog machines eventually. there are a few studios in town that have R2R machines and i have contacted them, asking about who they use as a tech. there is at least one guy in town who can do this stuff, so thats good for a start.

i will make sure to budget for some new underwear as well! :wink:

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Post by fazeka » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:35 pm

Mane1234 wrote:WOW...One inch 8 trak....FAT!!!! where are guys finding these at?
The 3M came from Missouri. Posted by a fellow tape op-er, in fact:

http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopic.php?t=35981

I am having the 3M gone through by Doug Weeks @ studiotech1:

http://www.studiotech1.com/

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Post by drumsound » Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:45 pm

fazeka wrote:
Mane1234 wrote:WOW...One inch 8 trak....FAT!!!! where are guys finding these at?
The 3M came from Missouri. Posted by a fellow tape op-er, in fact:

http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopic.php?t=35981

I am having the 3M gone through by Doug Weeks @ studiotech1:

http://www.studiotech1.com/
Smart move. Doug Weeks is the man for 3M machines. I refer to him as my 3M's Daddy.

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fazeka
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Post by fazeka » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:03 pm

Here's a shot of it before it left with Doug:

Image

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Post by parlormusic » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:08 pm

fazeka wrote:Here's a shot of it before it left with Doug:

Image
Damn, I can't seem to stop my drooling!
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fazeka
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Post by fazeka » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:32 pm

More pics here:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v357/fazeka/M56/

The pics show the machine in a homemade wooden enclosure presumably to keep the transport noise/relays to a minimum.

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