Should I buy an old Otari MX 55?

[Dor]

I saw a listing where a radio station is seling a two track Otari MX 55 for $25 dollars. I've been thinking of buying a tape deck to mix down to but suspect this could be a "boat anchor". Apparently, the transport works fine and there is life left on the heads. Are parts available for these machines or would i be better off buying a machine for more $ upfront?

thanks in advance,

D

[MJGreene Audio]

The Otari MX-5050 and 55 were never considered amazing machines but...... If you can get them that cheap then you don't have a lot to lose. Worst case you can use them as a tape slap. Maybe you will find something in there sound that works for you....

Michael Greene

[Dor]

True, I'm probaby going to grab it tomorrow and see how it goes. I don't mind fixing it up a bit if i can get some decent results out of it. I mixed some stuff down to a studer 1/4" a few years back and was able to compare the diff between dat & tape. Everytime I listen to the songs mixed down to tape I geek for a tape machine.

D

[Dor]

anyone else have experience with the Otari MX 55? Comments, opinions?

Thanks,

D

[RadioMoo]

Originally Posted by Dor

I mixed some stuff down to a studer 1/4" a few years back and was able to compare the diff between dat & tape. Everytime I listen to the songs mixed down to tape I geek for a tape machine.

D

You'll geek for the Otari, too, but not as deeply as the Studer, and no where near as passionately as an Ampex. The Otari has a "cleaner" as opposed to "colored" sound, but it does have that analogue magic - better than burning a mix to a CD, and light years better than DAT.

[Dor]

I hear ya man. I went to pick up the $25 dollar unit and it was kind of beat up so so I upgraded to another machine he had laying around and got this one for $150. Ran out and got some 456 mastering tape & it sounds amazing!

http://www.boomspot.com/images/otari7.jpg

[RadioMoo]

Originally Posted by Dor

I hear ya man. I went to pick up the $25 dollar unit and it was kind of beat up so so I upgraded to another machine he had laying around and got this one for $150. Ran out and got some 456 mastering tape & it sounds amazing!

http://www.boomspot.com/images/otari7.jpg

Sweet! PUSH IT INTO THE RED!

I see the splice block is still attached; you can throw away that DAW now!

[Dor]

Yep, no more editing in the daw. haha. I've been slamming some tracks into the red to hear how it sounds & it's nice! Think it will sound much better if i calibrate it properly? I won't be sending the reels anywhere for mastering.


D

[Chris]

Do they still have the $25 one...?

[Dor]

they have two of the $25 dollar ones but they are pick up only. I was going to buy both for parts but got a unit with a stand that seems to be in great shape.