Picked up a 1/4" reel to reel recorder. Good deal?

[filthyrich]

I just got an Akai 202D-SS for 35 bucks. Haven't had a chance to use it. Anyone have any experience with one of these units?

I figured for 35 bucks it would at least look cool in the control room!

[filthyrich]

Is this anything more than a giant paper weight that looks cool?

I've been in the market for one for years. Will it add anything as a 2 channel mixdown format?

I'm going to try it anyhow; but I was curious as to your opinions.

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by filthyrich

Is this anything more than a giant paper weight that looks cool?

I've been in the market for one for years. Will it add anything as a 2 channel mixdown format?

I'm going to try it anyhow; but I was curious as to your opinions.

Hi

I can't recall the model number but I also have an Akai 5.25" reel, three speed, three head, tape recorder at home. I love it and playback at 7.5"/sec sounds a lot nicer than CD (I have a collection of prerecorded tapes).

One nifty thing I like about it is the auto-reverse facility by splicing copper tape at the end of the reels.... it can continuously playback both sides of a tape until I get bored with it.

It sounds really great through my tube amplifier.

[filthyrich]

Thanks for chiming in. Maybe I can afford some of your gt stuff someday!!

[gurubuzz]

Good to use as an FX send for tape saturation

Just record your track onto it and record it back in

then adjust the offset
visually in your daw.

Try different types of tape and learn how to mess with the bias.

I've seen an old Akai about that has Valves in it too....

I have an Otari 5050...haven't set it up yet I need some spares and the head shaved.

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by filthyrich

Thanks for chiming in. Maybe I can afford some of your gt stuff someday!!

Hi

Here's a piccy of it with my Tube Amp and Nakamishi cassette recorder!

I love old hi-fi stuff!

http://usera.imagecave.com/auroraaudio/tape.JPG

[filthyrich]

thanks for posting that. I'm all giddy. I don't have it yet; but will be picking it up this week sometime.

[Bryan Talbot]

In addition to the good ideas posted, figure that you'll get, at the very least, a "wow" from nearly everyone that comes in your place and sees it. If not a "wow", it'll be "do you use that thing?" or a similar question.

Now figure that you'll have a dozen clients or visitors in two weeks' time, and who knows how many beyond that.

I'd say that amount of attention is worth thirty-five dollars.

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by gurubuzz

Good to use as an FX send for tape saturation

Just record your track onto it and record it back in

then adjust the offset
visually in your daw.

Try different types of tape and learn how to mess with the bias.

I've seen an old Akai about that has Valves in it too....

I have an Otari 5050...haven't set it up yet I need some spares and the head shaved.

i just dumped 2 5050's for 200 a pop

for tape effects such as saturation and delays it's cool beans

get solid reels and paint day glo swirling circles on them..better than the the regulation lava lamp