Need a good cassette deck recommendation

DryCounty · Post by **DryCounty** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 8:59 pm

Hi Everyone,
Just curious as to what everyone is using when it comes to transferring cassette masters down to digital? Denon? Sony? I seem to recall that Tascam used to have a fairly industrial model (the 122?) but don't know if that is good for 2-track masters or 4-track only.

Thanks in advance.

bobbydj · Post by **bobbydj** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 1:16 am

Have a listen to the Yamaha KX580(SE) if you get the chance. It has all NRs Dolby B, C, and S.

DryCounty · Post by **DryCounty** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 6:50 am

Thanks but don't know if this particular model (or model number) is available in the USA. Can only find information from UK sites. I've got a bunch of cassettes that are 10+ years old that need to go digital. Again, thanks in advance for any help or suggestions...

ottokbre · Post by **ottokbre** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:01 am

Marantz has always made good decks. They actually make their own transport parts.

joeysimms · Post by **joeysimms** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:21 am

The Tascam 122, or 122 mkII and mkIII are good good. rca and xlr ins/outs. Plus the earlier 122 does 1 7/8 and 3 3/4 speeds. The later mkII and mkIII don't have 2 speeds, but do have pitch control. Of course, it'd be better if they all had both speeds AND pitch control, but still good decks for the money.

E-cue · Post by **E-cue** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:25 am

I good cost effective tip on this: Marantz has a DCC (Digital Compact Cassette) deck and the DCC all but failed miserably. The deck got really cheap and a lot of people don't know this but they do play and record to regular cassettes. They also accept Dig inputs and sound very good.

The Denon line beat out an A.B I did with a couple studers a few years back.

joel hamilton · Post by **joel hamilton** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 10:05 am

The tascam 122 MkIII is the standard. I love those machines. I have used those for tape slap because they have a pitch control, and you can listen off the repro heads.

They are excellent playback machines, with actual VU's and biasing.

If I had to do what you are about to do, I would use this machine for sure. No doubt in my mind.

bobbydj · Post by **bobbydj** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 10:15 am

Holy sperm drinkers!!! That baby's a fucking pro piece of gear and no mistake!! Price check here :-

http://www.raperandwayman.com/rw/produc ... D122%2DMK3++++++++

(is that, like, $1300?)

joeysimms · Post by **joeysimms** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 11:16 am

Yea bobby, but on ebay they be much cheaper, you could get lucky and pay $200-$250. Forgot about the 3 head tape slap option with the tascams, it works and works well.

bobbydj · Post by **bobbydj** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 11:19 am

Those VUs have me in their spell, I tells yer. I'll be searching eBay.co.uk for 'em as and when.

But y'know - that is a shitload of coin to drop, new-wise I mean. Fucking Nakamichi Dragon is less, ain't it??

NewYorkDave · Post by **NewYorkDave** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 2:12 pm

Whatever you get, make sure you can adjust the playback head azimuth easily with the cassette in place and rolling. You must adjust the azimuth for each tape you're transferring if you want good results.

DryCounty · Post by **DryCounty** » Mon May 17, 2004 6:56 am

Looking into the Nakamichi line at the moment, steering clear of the Dragon though. There are some good deals on Ebay for the lower-end (2-head) machines. If all I need is a simple transfer, is there really going to be a noticable difference between two- and three-head machines? Just curious. I only need one for about a week, tops and would hate to plunk down $300+ on something I'll have to re-sell on Ebay...

pscottm · Post by **pscottm** » Mon May 17, 2004 7:23 am

hey drycounty, al said you guys had some hardride tapes, is that part of what you're xferring? if so, i have a bunch on dat, wouldn't mind comparing notes for content.. cheers, psm

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Mon May 17, 2004 7:53 am

I'm gonna second Dry County's Nakamichi suggestion. Those are fantastic-sounding decks!

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

kayagum · Post by **kayagum** » Mon May 17, 2004 8:39 am

I've owned NAD tape decks for years, and I've always liked how they have sounded. Very open sounding, and they have a special circuit (DYNEQ) that works a lot like Dolby HX (both add to the headroom).

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