AudioBanter.com - View Single Post - I'm going to punt my VS-1680 - give me a recommendation on my next system

(Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:znr1087818333k@trad...
In article writes:

I thought the part about "saying no to obsolescence" right after he suggested
analog was the interesting part.

Thinking about the day when there will be no more analog recording
tape available? I suppose that will happen some time, but probably not
before there are multitrack digital recorders that are fully as
reliable and repairable (I don't believe they'll ever be cheap enough
to be truly disposable) as analog recorders.

I love my Mackie HDR24/96, but I doubt that it will last as long in
service as my Ampex MM1100 did (and it's probably still going). The
Ampex came with a manual containing schematics, wiring diagrams, parts
lists, and a Theory of Operation section that helps get through the
schematics. While there are some parts that can't be replaced by the
originals, there isn't really anything in there that doesn't have a
substitute that will work fine.

Mackie will provide a service manual on request, and it may be
possible to do a certain amount of board-level repair if there's a
component failure on a circuit board. However, there's EPROM code
which is, and as far as I can see, will remain in the vaults at
Mackie. When you need a new EPROM to make your recorder work and
there's no Mackie, the only way you'll be able to get it is from a
pirate with a PROM burner. I don't see Mackie owners sticking together
at this level of technology the way Ampex owners do.

The place you will get sucked into the void with a 2 inch 24 track is
at mixdown. You will need several good compressors and maybe some
expander/gate units as well.

A good option would be to go with something like a Tascam ATR-60 16
track. Do your core tracks on it. Get something like the Motu 24i so
you can bounce straight into it with your tracks. There you can
sweeten a bit and use some use something like Waves rennaissance
compressor pacage from Waves and voila.

Mike http://www.mmeproductions.com