Re: Fostex A8,80,R8 Question

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> Can anyone tell me if the head alignment between the A8, M80, R8 is
> interchangable (i.e. can tapes made on one be played on any of the
> others?).

The track configuration of all Fostex 1/4" 8-track recorders is the
same. I believe the equalization is, too, so you should be able to
play your tapes on any recorder on which they'll fit.


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[Richard Kuschel]

>
>Don Cooper > wrote in message
>...
>> vx wrote:
>>
>> > I have a bunch of old master tapes recorded on a Fostex A8.
>> > Unfortunately the A8 has died and is no longer. I am looking to pick
>> > up a similar machine on eBay and transfer the master tapes to digital.
>> >
>> > Can anyone tell me if the head alignment between the A8, M80, R8 is
>> > interchangable (i.e. can tapes made on one be played on any of the
>> > others?).
>>
>>
>> I owned an A8, and then an 80. I had no problem with the compatibility
>> of the tapes recorded earlier.
>
>As long as the machine is the same tape width and aligned to spec and
>uses the same noise reduction scheme then the machine just needs to be
>biased to the correct tape. Not sure if the fostex brands were fixed
>bias or not.
>
>Mike http://www.mmeproductions.com
>
>
>


Biasing is only a function of recording.

Since the question was directed toward playback and since all of the above
machines use the same system of noise reduction (Dolby C), The answer to the
question is go ahead and get a machine that plays back well and make the
transfer.

One caveat.
I had many of my friends get these machines and while the transports worked
well, the heads tended to wear out. I had one friend go through three heads
until he replaced the machine with a digital unit.

Richard H. Kuschel
"I canna change the law of physics."-----Scotty

[Ricky W. Hunt]

"Richard Kuschel" > wrote in message
...
> >
>
> One caveat.
> I had many of my friends get these machines and while the transports
worked
> well, the heads tended to wear out. I had one friend go through three
heads
> until he replaced the machine with a digital unit.
>

I had a friend who I guess could be considered borderline-OCD who actually
had to have the heads of his M80 relaped because he cleaned it too much. He
probably didn't make more than 20 recordings with the machine. The wear was
due to his contanst "buffing" and cleaning even when he wasn't using the
machine.