mx5050 experts

[I'm Painting Again]

I recently got an mx5050..

looks like you can set it to use a NAB or IEC eq

basically I'm wondering what is the most badass way to set up the machine?

which cal tape, etc.?

[A.David.MacKinnon]

Depends what you're doing and what you want out of the machine. What kind of music are you doing?

[I'm Painting Again]

Depends what you're doing and what you want out of the machine. What kind of music are you doing?

It would be for Rock n' Roll, Metal and Hardcore..

for Jazz, Classical, etc. I just use my Lavrys with nothin' in front..

[I'm Painting Again]

bump..

[japmn]

I have been using 456 with IEC at 15 ips. and like it.

[percussion boy]

If it's an 8 track 5050:

I would first open it up and see how the cards are marked. It will say "NAB" or "IEC" on each card.

I think they're usually designed to use the European standard -- is that IEC?

[Judas Jetski]

I've got an MX-50. It's a half-track deck which I believe to be similar to the 5050, and is switchable between IEC and NAB on the back. I initially used the NAB setting, which I gather is the "old school USA" setting. One time just for kicks I tried it on IEC instead. Sounds much more familiar. I'll probably never go back. (But then I mix down to some pretty low-grade tape. And love it that way.)

[I'm Painting Again]

it's an 8 track and from the manual it's either or with a switch..haven't really looked at the cards yet though..

the manual seems to call for cal-ing the thing at 7.5 & 15 ips for different functions which is confusing..would I need two cal tapes for this thing?

that would suck..

[percussion boy]

it's an 8 track and from the manual it's either or with a switch..haven't really looked at the cards yet though..

The 5050's service manual should list which alignment tape to get, by part number. If you look that tape up at MRL's site . . .

http://home.flash.net/%7Emrltapes/#Catalog_Pages

. . . you can then see which curve (IEC or NAB) that tape is intended for. Presumably if you follow the alignment instructions in the manual using the recommended tape, you will end up with this curve . . . which is probably also the one marked on your cards.

If your 5050 is really switchable between IEC and NAB, that's another can of worms altogether and I'm clueless.

I don't think you need two tapes, btw, but I would ask Dana at Otari in SoCal, or failing that maybe John French at JRF, if you want to be sure.

Hope this helps.

[biasvoltage]

You don't need two MRL tapes unless you plan on recording at 7.5 ips as well as 15 ips. There are speed-specific calibrations for playback and record EQ, and these only kick in when that speed is selected; so don't worry about calibrating for 7.5 ips if you aren't going to use it.


Dang....I haven't used the 5050 in over a year....I need to do something about that.

[I'm Painting Again]

You don't need two MRL tapes unless you plan on recording at 7.5 ips as well as 15 ips. There are speed-specific calibrations for playback and record EQ, and these only kick in when that speed is selected; so don't worry about calibrating for 7.5 ips if you aren't going to use it.


Dang....I haven't used the 5050 in over a year....I need to do something about that.

OK cool..I didn't think so..my reading of the manual was brief so far..I think I read it wrong or am remembering it wrong..now I have to see if this machine is actually switchable (EQ) or it's a seperate board I don't have..

if its got IEC I'm probably going to use that..

I think I'm wanting something inbetween 250 nWb/m and 500 nWb/m

there is a G320 & 355 nWb/m right? Anyone know how the 300ish tapes work with the mx5050?

or should I stick with the standard 250?