cyrus@symplex.UUCP (cyrus) (08/31/85)
Last month a music store salesman told me the Tascam Portastudio would have 8 tracks on a cassette. Well, as I'm sure you're already convinced, he was lying. The Tascam Portastudio 246 is a nice machine with integral mixer and recorder. However, it only has 4 tracks. It sells for $1150.00. I am really interested in the Fostex A-series 80 8-track recorder that uses standard 7" reels of 1/4" tape at 15ips. Freq response is 40-18kHz with a S/N of 72dB weighted, 60dB unweighted. The deck uses dolby C to reduce tape hiss, dynamic range, etc. You can record SMPTE time code, etc. on one track without interfering with the adjacent tracks. Selling price is $1650.00. The Fostex model 450 mixing console goes along with it and sells for $750.00. It has balanced and unbalanced inputs on all 8 input channels, and a nice complement of EQ and routing controls. There is an autolocator model 4050 that is coming out soon and promises to be a midi synchronizer and external computer interface. No price on this one. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS FOSTEX EQUIPMENT? I have owned a Teac 3440 for about 6 years and have been very pleased with it's performance. I would hate to buy something full of features and lacking in quality construction. I want to be sure that $2500.00 here is worth spending. By the way....are four tracks ever enough??? "That ain't workin, -Cyrus Azar (313) 995-1555 || ihnp4!umich!symplex!cyrus that's the way you do it" Symplex Communication Corporation 5 Research Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48103
mark@apple.UUCP (Mark Lentczner) (09/04/85)
[]
I have only used Fostex equipment in a heavy use studio enviornment
that also had Teac 3440's and Sony 4-tracks. The Fostex was one
of their 4-track units. Basically it was in the shop about six times
in the first six months, not a good track record. Granted it was
being used about 20 hours a day, seven days a week. However, the Teac
and Sony never needed more than a once or twice a year look-see that
we did ourselves and an occasional re-alignment (every two years?)
under the same conditions (we've had them for six or more years each.)
Oh, and yes, often four-tracks are enough, sometimes too much (I loved
our old one-track recorder that we had...)
-mark
"All opinions are my own and/or of beings from outer space..."
--
--Mark Lentczner
Apple Computer
UUCP: {nsc, dual, voder, ios}!apple!mark
CSNET: mark@Apple.CSNEThedger@ada-uts.UUCP (09/05/85)
The salesperson mentality is often incredible isn't it????? I own a teac portastudio 244 and am quite happy with it.....for a 4 track 'mini' recorder. I have a lot of friends who own tascam equipment and they all love it....however I seem to hear nothing but badthings about Fostex (has anybody out there ever been made happy by Fostex???let us know!!!) I think your concern about 'features' versus 'quality' is a good one. My advice to you is to go with the Tascam or something else and steer clear of the Fostex. I can certainly identify with your concerns....I hope to be making the same kind of decision in the not too distant future...let me know what you decide and how it works out.... keith hedger !ihnp4!inmet!ada-uts!hedger