I'm Prepared To Take Some Heat On This: MRL Tape... Do I Need One?

Seamus TM · 17th December 2008

So, we have an Otari MX5050 mksomething 1/2" 8 track.
The only thing that we will probably ever use it for is as a processing device.
Would using tones from the console be ok to adjust the rec/repro/bias/azimuth?

I understand that this is kind of dumb, but I don't feel like paying $150 for the alignment tape.
The Otari probably won't be in the studio for very long, anyway.
We have a 3M 1" 8 track, that we DO have the MRL for, that will be used... at some point....

The Otari is just something to record guitars and toms to and throw onto the compooter.
I figure, if it sounds good then what the hell.
It's not like the tape from that machine will ever see another deck.
Oh, assuming that we use all the same kind of tape, too, I suppose.

What do you think?
Am I an idiot?

Seamus

sardonic_z · 17th December 2008

eh.

as long as you're sure you're just using it internally I don't see a problem. Maybe try to borrow an MRL just once and then print your own in-house reference tape with osc tone once you've aligned it.

I don't think you can do azimuth using tones straight from the console.. they have to be coming through the heads to get any kind of meaningful reading.

17th December 2008	#1
Seamus TM Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,605 Thread Starter	I'm Prepared To Take Some Heat On This: MRL Tape... Do I Need One? So, we have an Otari MX5050 mksomething 1/2" 8 track. The only thing that we will probably ever use it for is as a processing device. Would using tones from the console be ok to adjust the rec/repro/bias/azimuth? I understand that this is kind of dumb, but I don't feel like paying $150 for the alignment tape. The Otari probably won't be in the studio for very long, anyway. We have a 3M 1" 8 track, that we DO have the MRL for, that will be used... at some point.... The Otari is just something to record guitars and toms to and throw onto the compooter. I figure, if it sounds good then what the hell. It's not like the tape from that machine will ever see another deck. Oh, assuming that we use all the same kind of tape, too, I suppose. What do you think? Am I an idiot? Seamus __________________ Seamus Upstate New York

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17th December 2008	#2
sardonic_z Gear interested Joined: Jul 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 19	eh. as long as you're sure you're just using it internally I don't see a problem. Maybe try to borrow an MRL just once and then print your own in-house reference tape with osc tone once you've aligned it. I don't think you can do azimuth using tones straight from the console.. they have to be coming through the heads to get any kind of meaningful reading.