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Originally Posted by drBill  I hope I didn't mislead you when you bought the machine. I recall us talking quite a bit about your level of expertise in fixing things - and my caveat about the technical hurdles that the machine had. |
You didn't mislead me at all, Bill, and I think I got a very fair deal on this machine. No worries here, mate, and I knew full well what I was getting into, and you were dead honest about the machine, its condition, and the maintenance required to keep the reels spinning.
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When you say "motherboard", are you talking about the big circuitboard under the transport? If so, I can remember the tech working on that area of the machine a lot. Maybe I should have had him put in the new molex connectors....  |
Yes, the one all the other cards plug "on" to. It seems that MCI embraced wave soldering early on, but the pins and solder pads on the motherboard didn't reach a hot enough temp to get good solder joints (I've read that they didn't do any preheating), so over time they can cause problems. I just desoldered all of the pins then hit them with some fresh solder using a large iron.
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Anyway, I have to disagree with you about the amount of maintainence on a DAW vs 2" machine. Well.....maybe not. They both take maintainence, but with a computer/DAW, there's tech support, or running out and getting a new $1500 computer to keep you up and going. With a JH24, there's no running down to comp USA to get a new capstain motor, or a set of heads, or an alignment tape, or ...... etc. In my line of bus, when I'm on a project, I can't afford to loose even a single day or I'm doomed. Plus, no one works on analog anymore in the film biz. Pro Tools only now....
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In your situation, a DAW makes perfect sense for sure. I don't have to operate under the time constraints that you do, which gives me the chance to work with tape to see how it goes.
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Your above quote is the best advice I've seen given on this thread. If you're not committed to techie stuff (and I'm not, I'm a composer turned engineer turned composer again) then you shouldn't own one unless you have the knowledge, skill and time to keep it up and running.
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After I posted my comments last night, I thought of a couple of other things. I've always been the sort of guy who likes to keep old things running, and I've been that way my whole life. It's a hobby, and having a machine like this and an analog console just fits my need to tinker with stuff, and I like learning how things work. This is surely not for everyone.
Another thing I was thinking about is that I'd love for some young musician to come into my studio someday and hear the tape and be inspired to become involved in analog recording. You know, keep the spirit and technology alive. Yeah, it's a bit of a romantic and idealized scenario, but I think it'd be cool to keep some of these decks recording for as long as possible.
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I didn't. Sad, but true, I tried, but just didn't have what it takes to keep her up and going. In their nostalgic glossy analog dreamland, people forget one little thing. These machines are OLD. Most of them 30+ years old. It's not like buying a vintage mic. There are basically no moving parts on a mic other than a switch or maybe 2. On a tape machine there are dozens of moving parts and thousands of electrical components that are nowhere near as reliable as surface mount technology in the 2000's. Sound better? Yes. Is it worth the investment in time, knowledge and $$$? Well, that's an answer that each of us has to face on our own. And decide if the journey is worth the effort and the cost.
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Absolutely agreed. Also, you're under far more time pressure than I'll ever be. The movie/TV world is a tough mistress, and you've managed to do well for a long time in that venue, which speaks a great deal about your talent, skill, and professionalism.
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Oh, and one last thing, the deal with Steve Sadler at Blevins is VERY COOL for anyone considering a machine. That deal is worth it's weight in gold. I don't know how he can do it so inexpensively.
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Well, next year his rates are going up, but I don't know how much. My guess is that it'll still be a good deal for someone in my situation. He's he's been very responsive and has an amazing ability to talk anyone through complex processes.
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Way to go Don. Somebody has to keep the torch going, and from what I've seen, you're just the guy to do it! Carry on!!!! Best of luck in the analog world.
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Well, I hope I can keep it going for a long time, though I'm sure there'll be some rough sections on the trail! Whenever you're ready to take a break, get some fresh air, and visit the ol' MCI, come on up and I'll buy lunch.
Cheers,
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Don