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I've just been testing an 8-track recording unit, an old one that uses cassette tapes.
It's the TOA MR-8T, and I've made the discovery that, although it has a pitch control for playback (ie, a tape speed control) it won't play conventional recordings properly. You can play them fast, or you can increase the speed (pitch) and play them very fast - but you can't play them at the "proper" speed.
In other words, this unit is incompatible with just about every other cassette deck in the known universe.
As if this weren't enough, it seems like it can only play Type II cassettes - the high bias ones with an extra notch next to the customary erase-protect notch.
So it's also incompatible with around - what - 90% of the cassette tapes in the known universe? Something like that, anyway.
I'm rather tempted to review this unit on youtube - with the assistance of a bloody great axe! That would make an entertaining video.
"When investigating problems, it's alway important to disconnect the mains before opening the casing..." - crash!! Yes, I'd rather like to do that.
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3 comments:
Hey man, you still got it? I'm after one. My email is lloooosseehhaaiirr@gmail.com. Hope you're well.
It's a multitrack recorder, therefore it won't be compatible with any other 'normal cassettes'. It's designed to use chrome tapes at double the normal speed to ensure better recording and playback quality.
Don't take an axe to it just because you don't understand it..... Give it to me instead.
I have Two of the TOA MR-8T recorders, both in excellent shape, and they are VERY good pieces of equipment. I did an entire CD on one called "Dancin' With The Kings". The band was The Rockin' Rhythm Kings based in the Southeastern United States and it sounds fantstic. Like any piece of gear, you need to know how to use it in conjunction with outboard gear (mix boards, effects, etc), and then have a source to put the mixed product on. Anuyone starting out to learn the recording engineering business needs this. I also have a Vestax 6 channel cassette recorder that is an excellent piece of equipment. I want to sell these (one or all three). Just think about this. The Beatles only had four tracks when they began recording. The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, James Brown all started recording on an old three head machine. The Beatles did "Paperback Write" on an early 8 track machine and John was concerned that they would not be able to reproduce the song live with just the 4 of them. He was right. And so went the recording industry.
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