converting 16 1/2 tape machine into 2 track?!

[poda]

...Its about Fostex e-16...traying to make as master mashine 2 track...Is this make sence, or this is just my wild imagination...by some logic, it should make sence and it should be easier, than converting 1/4 to 1/2 iinch...please any expirience analog technishion if you can give me your opinion on this...tahnx in front...

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Trying to find two track 1/2 heads that would match your deck would be somewhat impossible. There are companies that will custom build you a new head stack (ERP) but they are expensive. Why not try and find an MCI JH110 or an Ampex AG-440/B/C or an Otari MTR-10/12 and go from there. The heads are easier to come by and so are the parts. All three decks with do a GREAT job of pulling 1/2 inch tape and if you get the servo version of the AG-440 you can go all the way from 3 3/4 to 30 ips. Most of these machines come up on EBAY pretty regularly and most cost less than 1000 dollars. You would have a fully professional machine and with proper care and maintenance would last you years.

Best of luck!

[wado1942]

I'll tell you what ATR Services told me when I asked about converting my 80-8 to stereo. "It can be done but it would be very expensive and you won't be satisfied with the results". The biggest problems are that #1, the electronics in the deck would all have to be replace because they won't drive the 1/2 track head stacks sufficiently and are a bit noisy anyway. Also, you'd have to change the capstan motor if it's an AC synchronous motor to get it to run at 30 I/S. If it's not, then you still have to change the capstan controller. You don't want 1/2" running at 15 I/S because almost all the existing decks out there use NAB EQ standards which is going to sound about as good as a 1/4" IEC deck. So basically, you'd have to pretty well build a new tape deck, reusing only the chasis and possibly the power supply.

[Waltz Mastering]

Sounds complicated, but if anybody can do it these guys can:

Head relapping

Tw

[jamesp]

The transport on the E16 can be made to run at any standard speed from 3.75ips to 30ips by moving jumpers on the back of the capstan motor controller and by changing the state of one of the logic control lines to the capstan controller. The reason for this is that, as far as I know, the transport on the E16 is identical to the E22 which is a half inch two track machine with two speeds.

Of course, the record and replay electronics will probably have to be modified as well and you will need to find some E22 heads so it might be easier just to go for another machine.

Cheers

James.

[poda]

...thanx a lot for yours replays...yeah...its more probobley, I gues that I just have to let go of this beauty, It has been serving me for almoust a decade withouth problems, and it is was a truly hit maker, mechanicly and sonicvise very superiour mashine, even that has no balanced in/out....I have move on to 2 iinch 2/3 years ago...I am hunting for some decent deals on 2 track 1/2, 1/4...Living in Europe(Holland) makes it inposible to track down a god deal...To give you the clue....Ampex atr 100/102(3500-5500e) studer A80 (3500-4000e) Mci JH110 (3500e) Otari mtr 10 (1500e) Telefunken m10 ( 1000-1500e)...Yeah it is very frustrating seing in the us,some of this mashine goin for what they are worth rather than some musem colector prise...Anyway my hart is saying Ampex atr...
but I never realy worked on any of this dinosaurus masters besides some semipro tape recorders like Revox b77/Tascam/Fostex /Lyrec,,,ect...Most of music that I record is alternative, agresive and pushed all the way to the edge...By the revues, that I could get on the net about the sound and qoality in mine mind I came up with this...Ampex...raw and heavy / Studer.. fat and clasy / Mci...underfind but solid, (some say mushy)...Otari decent mix down mashine / Telefunken...outdated
and more hi-fi....I would aprishiate a lot if someone would come up with real experience instead of me talkin meets and legends here and corect me about sonic details of mentioned models...plz..keep in mind mastering heavy brutal extrem music...Yeah I know they would all the the job, but speaking here about little extra magic...which I touth that E-16 was suitable for...thanx again for your input...Dejan...

[poda]

...O yeah...I think I find a new love!!!....I didn't even know about E 22...They seems to be inposible to track down, and they are kind of cult...
Who has them, knows that are little pressious...It seems that they are easilly holding up in a hi end studios and being choice over Ampex and Studer, no wonder why..I just love sound of E-16 with 456...so modern and so in your face...Tape compression is amaizing and mahanicly are superb...I guess the master version of E 22 can be nothing else but state of the art recorder..And yeah,
I belive that E series are in different league than; Otari, Tascam...ect (ps no offense)...Its a sunny day again...Thanx; James, Sound Great and everyone else on your very usuful comments...Dejan....

[poda]

...auch...yeah...went a bit over the top...Just got so entusiastic about E 1/2, 2 track version...and yeah...dolby C makes it unicue E models and huge differents from older models...have to admit that I remember not being satisfield recording withouth dolby!!!...You are right about squising 16 to 1/2 which they managed lovley with dolby which may be way different with 2 to 1/2 and withouth dolby...hmm...I think I goin mtr 10/12 direction, as my budget posibilities, with 1/2 upgrade in future...still definetly would love to try to get some mixes trhuu E 22
just for a curiosity...and if one pop up for such prize as you mentioned, probobley I want think twice...Cheerz for comming back and mentioning this, and put me back on the earth...accually wanted to ask you about that myself...btw...would it be to much to ask you for some links of the samples of mixes withouth and than with E 22...
just to give me idea if that sparkle is there...thanks again...

[themaidsroom]

this same question with a tascam 38 in 1999 led to my purchase of a wonderful
otari mtr - 12 1/2" in great shape, still running great , and then a studer A827 gold
edition with three head stacks...........
watch out
for that
analog thing


be well


- jack

[TimbaBeat]

Hi,

Can you replace channel cards in the Fostex E-22 and E-2s with ones from the E-16 or G16? Or are they different cards?

Tried to find this from the Fostex site and elsewhere, but doesn't say. Any owners know about this?

Thanks,

[jamesp]

I have an E16 and I also have a service manual for the E2/22 and I'm fairly sure that the channel cards are different.

Cheers

James.

[stellar]

I have both machines. The E-16 does not have a repro head so, yeah, the electronics are totally different.

[TimbaBeat]

Originally Posted by stellar

I have both machines. The E-16 does not have a repro head so, yeah, the electronics are totally different.

Ok, thanks.