Samsung VR8260 User Manual download pdf (Page 18)

the vu lamps and cleaned it up and that it is running great. I currently have a fairly nice digital set

up with a MOTU 828 and Powerbook G4, but I find myself more often solving CPU/software

problems than making music. It has come to the point where I am ready to switch to analog or at

least make a slow move over in that direction. I want to be inspired and hit play and record at the

same time and record my inspiration. Are there other reel to reels I should consider? How about

the Fostex model 80 or Tascam 388? Also how about maintenance? I hear the A-8 has a drive belt

that is hard to replace- should this be a factor in deciding? Should I go with a digital multitrack

minus the CPU?

Answer #27: Just like everything else, there are plenty of pros and cons involved with analog

reel/reels. The stated specs on a properly tuned Fostex A8 are 45Hz-18kHz +/-3db with a 72dB

signal-to-noise ratio. So, compared to a digital recorder, you are going to get a fair bit less

frequency response and definitely more hiss (even with the onboard Dolby C engaged). And just

as you stated, there are maintenance issues. I have not replaced the belt yet on mine (now that you

mention it, I wonder why it hasn't failed after 18 years?), so I don't know what a hassle that is.

Then there is the normal head cleaning and demagnetizing you must do just to keep the signal

patch sounding clear and clean. You will definitely want to check the condition of the heads on

that used deck. They may be on their last leg. I don't know what a new record/play head costs for

the A8, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a $200 trip to the repair shop. I'm just trying to prepare

you for the realities of an old reel/reel versus a new digital recorder. On the plus side of tape, you

can drive the tape into saturation, giving you a slightly fatter sound to bass and drums. The A8 is

simplicity itself, and it never crashes like Windows (or whatever OS you happen to love/hate).

You can even play some games with the pitch control during recording and playback.

Here is an idea- why not have the best of both worlds? Use the A8 with your existing digital

recorder. That is what I do sometimes. I have 2 Fostex VR800 digital 8-track recorders that I

synchronize to the A8. I use the A8 as a master (it *has* to be the master since it has no

capabilities to be a slave) and stripe one track (use an outside track such as Track 8) with SMPTE

time code. This is an audio code that is recorded to tape that gives a count in

hours/minutes/seconds/frames for sync purposes. You will need something like a JL Cooper PPS2

sync box to accomplish this. Then when you play the tape back, the JL Cooper box can read that

SMPTE time code and generate a MIDI Time Code output. I then route this MTC to the 2 digital

recorders, and they sync up to wherever the tape is at any moment. That gives me 24 tracks. Then

I can also send this MTC to the Master Tracks Pro sequencer running on my Mac. The sequencer

will also sync to the A8, and I can record unlimited virtual MIDI tracks on the sequencer, all in

sync. I can generate some big orchestrations this way.

As far as a digital recorder with no computer CPU, I have had great success with those VR800s.

They operate like a tape deck, but without the tape deck hassles. And they don't crash or freeze up

like a PC or Mac will. They have full 20Hz-20kHz bandwidth, 90+ dB signal/noise and 96dB

dynamic range. That performance is tough to beat!

So, the bottom line comes down to $$. If you only have a couple of hundred bucks, then get a used

reel/reel. If you have more, I think you will get much better results and enjoyment out of a

standalone digital recorder.

Question #28: How can I pass real time MIDI data between two different software applications

executing simultaneously on the same PC?

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Samsung VR8260 User Manual Page 18

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