Need cheap 1/4" 1/4 track (4-track) reel-to-reel

[shaddai]

If anyone has a list of cheap machines that can do this, I'd much appreciate the assistance.

Maybe not cheap, but off the top of my head:
Tascam 34
Otari 5050 1/4" with a 1/4 track playback head.
Teac 3440

Seems to me about any 1/4 track home deck could do it in 2 passes @ 7.5 IPS as well...so revox stuff, X2000R's, GX 747's, RT909's,etc etc. Tracks 2 & 4 (or 1 & 3) might play backwards on a home deck, but you can flip them around the right direction with your DAW easily enough. If your stuff is 15IPS, you could just double speed it in the DAW as well....won't be quite the same as a 15IPS transfer, but it would get it into digital and listenable.

todd

[seanmccoy]

Originally Posted by shaddai

Otari 5050 1/4" with a 1/4 track playback head.

Most of the 5050's did have switchable 4-track heads, but only two outputs.

[astralplayin]

Originally Posted by shaddai

Seems to me about any 1/4 track home deck could do it in 2 passes @ 7.5 IPS as well...so revox stuff, X2000R's, GX 747's, RT909's,etc etc. Tracks 2 & 4 (or 1 & 3) might play backwards on a home deck, but you can flip them around the right direction with your DAW easily enough.

todd

Thanks for that.

Flipping it sounds easy enough, but won't sync be a problem if done in 2 passes? Guess I can use my Logic Flex Time tool to get things together.

[erikdrink]

Teac a3440

nice gear

[mcgruff]

Originally Posted by astralplayin

Thanks for that.

Flipping it sounds easy enough, but won't sync be a problem if done in 2 passes? Guess I can use my Logic Flex Time tool to get things together.

I tried this once on an old 4-track cassette which had quit working on some channels. Tape speed can vary randomly in play due to uneven tape winding or just general stretchiness and there's also (I think) another effect on speed caused by the changing diameter of the reel on the drive wheel. If the machine can't maintain a constant speed over the playhead it's physically impossible to match the backwards & forwards tracks up.

[therealbigd]

Originally Posted by astralplayin

I've got an old reel-to-reel 4-track recording I did in college that I've wanted to digitize. Finally getting around to it.

If it's just one recording why do you need to buy a machine?

I'd just go in a studio with the right machine for a day and do it there.