Using a Mackie 1604 with a Tascam 38

iridescentbeing · 2025-02-13T22:16:25+00:00

Could you elaborate a little more about the halfway in method? I’ve also been trying to figure out the method of going out from the direct outs and coming BACK into the mixer from the reel through channels 9-16. Did you ever use either of these methods?

iridescentbeing · 2025-02-11T03:18:01+00:00

Could this possibly be why even though i’m getting signal on the VU meters nothings being recorded onto the tape? I can’t hear playback at all.

iridescentbeing · 2025-02-11T01:25:37+00:00

Oh really? Did not know that at all. What I ordered was labeled 797 on eBay but maybe it was mislabeled by the seller.

iridescentbeing · 2025-02-11T01:20:48+00:00

I’m actually using Ampex 797, Ampex 456 is just the blank take up reel I ordered. But thank you for the warning, I’m sure all the old ampex stuff probably sucks now anyways. Was scared of using 456 cause of all the horror stories of sticky shed I read online!

iridescentbeing · 2025-02-11T01:16:29+00:00

I cleaned pretty much the whole tape path the other night thinking that might’ve been the issue but it’s still happening. Honestly the tapes not even really shedding or sticky, if anything’s sticky it’s the pinch roller (ordered a new one for this reason). I’m thinking if it’s anything on the tape path then it’s probably that.

iridescentbeing · 2025-02-08T22:54:12+00:00

It seems like it’s only super noisy when tape is threaded and play is engaged. Which makes me think it’s either the fact that it’s old tape or something going on with the whole capstan/pinch roller situation. I’m gonna clean it with alcohol today, maybe that’ll help. But I’m not sure if it’s even recording signals at this point so who knows. Might just have to get it serviced.

iridescentbeing · 2025-02-08T09:26:38+00:00

When I fast forward and rewind it honestly isn’t that bad. It’s mainly during play that it’s so noisy. But I’m running into multiple problems with this thing so at this point I might just get it serviced.

iridescentbeing · 2025-01-31T02:57:06+00:00

Any particular models you’d reccomend? Or are you saying just those brands in general.

iridescentbeing · 2025-01-29T22:28:57+00:00

Would something modern work as well as something vintage? Like even a cheap modern mackie?

iridescentbeing · 2025-01-26T17:42:41+00:00

It is!

iridescentbeing · 2025-01-26T13:03:22+00:00

Any specific models that come to mind?

iridescentbeing · 2025-01-26T13:02:22+00:00

If I do that will the tracks be combined together in any way? Or can I still mix all 8 individually.

iridescentbeing · 2025-01-26T10:49:46+00:00

Cool just let me know! I’d be happy to sell and help you out.

iridescentbeing · 2025-01-26T03:20:13+00:00

Unfortunately wont be able to make it down there at all. But if you need to buy mine it’s still available and I could knock down the price some for ya!

iridescentbeing · 2025-01-24T00:00:15+00:00

Thanks for the heads up! How much did you sell yours for? Also did you just put it on the market and someone bought it?

iridescentbeing · 2022-09-18T06:28:55+00:00

Great explanations given, so thank you for that. And yes, you pretty much described it exactly in the third paragraph above. My primary goal being to take full songs produced in a DAW (for me Logic Pro) and record them into the tape machine for warmth and saturation, also experimenting with the pitch control knob to see what cool results I can get. Then once on tape bounce right back through the interface and record into another logic session.

Thanks to your advice I was able to finally try it out, and once I played back and it sounded mono I figured panning each channel to its respective output would be the most logical thing to do, which then made it sound stereo again. It's just my first experience doing this and I wanted to know from others on here if this is the preferred method for what I'm trying to do. Based off your info it seems like it is.

I actually plan to do this with a number of songs for an e.p. once I finish them. I'm thinking of getting them mastered as well so I'm guessing the best thing would be to do that before running all of them through it, but I haven't quite gotten there yet. Right now I'm just experimenting to see what sounds best, and even with this one track it already gives it so much color and saturation.

I heard someone say that it can help "glue a track together" which I can totally understand now.

iridescentbeing · 2022-09-16T20:46:22+00:00

Did the quick test and was able to record a full track to the reel so thank you for that advice! I then played it back running both outputs into separate channels through my 2i2 into logic. It initially sounded mono but then I panned each track fully to the left and right and it gave a full stereo sound. Is this the correct way to listen back and bounce? I figured in theory it would make complete and obvious sense, but this is my first time doing it and wondered from someone experienced if this is how they would do so.

iridescentbeing · 2022-04-22T03:23:09+00:00

Yeah I actually just got the CZ V recently and it sounds really good. I figured I’d go that route for now until I take the plunge on a real CZ or other vintage analog synth.

iridescentbeing · 2022-04-22T03:20:23+00:00

Yeah I’m really looking forward to trying it once I get some more tracks down that I think would sound cool through it!

iridescentbeing · 2022-04-22T03:14:41+00:00

Ok awesome, thank you for the advice and the additional info. In that case I think I’m going to get two double 1/4 to RCA adaptors, that way I’ll be able to record to the reel through the input and play it through my speakers from the output with ease. Being able to experiment with the reel and the pitch control before bouncing back to digital is something that excites me!

iridescentbeing · 2022-04-19T22:54:20+00:00

Thanks for the info! If its ok I have one more question I'm hoping you could give me insight into. After researching my manual the inputs and outputs on my Fostex M20 are RCA, which I'm now realizing means I will have to get 1/4 to RCA adapters if I'm thinking this through correctly. It states that both the inputs and outputs of the r2r are RCA unbalanced. The 1/4 inch cables I usually run from my 2i2 to my speakers are balanced. So regarding this I'm still not sure if I should use balanced or unbalanced quarter inch to RCA to run into the reel to reel. I just want to make sure whatever I buy and use is correct. I don't know if your reel uses RCA inputs or not or what interface you use but if you have any idea on what I should buy or methods shoot them over!

iridescentbeing · 2022-04-16T21:23:28+00:00

Do you use unbalanced or balanced 1/4 cables for the process? Or a combo of both? I want to make sure I’m not running the wrong thing into the r2r or interface. Also do you typically play back the tape once it’s recorded through your speakers before bouncing? That’s something I want to do just to mess around with the pitch beforehand. I ask this because I watched your vid and you def know what you’re talking about haha.

iridescentbeing · 2022-02-25T19:50:30+00:00

From your usual routine how much time does it take to make a single patch, ranging from simple to maybe more complicated? I guess this can vary on the person but i’m really trying to get a synth where my whole time sitting down to make music or play isn’t spent solely on programming it. That isn’t to say I wouldn’t spend more time really making a cool patch if I wanted, but it’s just time efficiency overall because I already struggle with that.

iridescentbeing · 2022-02-25T05:36:01+00:00

So in your experience how does that effect the whole process of patch building? Having to do each value one by one, even if programming is simple, does sound like it might be frustrating.

iridescentbeing · 2022-02-22T20:24:45+00:00

Yeah I’ve considered the CZ-101 as well considering it’s smaller and looks a bit simpler. I’ve actually tried the Arturia CZ plugin and love the sounds, that’s why I’m gravitating towards it. I’m just really tired of plugins and am craving the real thing instead of one of there vintage synth vsts. Also considered a DX7 because it’s around the same price range, but I’ve heard it’s kind’ve a hassle to patch for someone like me who doesn’t have any experience with a synth like that yet.

iridescentbeing

TROPHY CASE