With remote!

I can't think of anything in pro audio that has depreciated like this.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-PCM-3348-Di...QQcmdZViewItem

All digital gear bites the dust in the end. That's why I hate having to buy it. The good thing about the 3348 is that once it is obsolete, you can at least still use it as a boat anchor.

And I hear if you configure it properly it will time travel.

Seriously though. Not obsolete. Thousands of albums in the 80's were recorded on the 3324 & 3348. At my Uncle Jack's studio (where I work for bread and water) we do a lot of transferring of multitracks to Pro Tools. And we get a lot of calls, "Do you have a Sony 3324?" "Do you have a Sony 3348?" (What was recorded on 3324 can be played on a Sony 3348.)

About 5 years ago my Uncle went on Ebay and went to the rare studio auction. He picked up three 3348s, four 3348HRs, two Mistubush X-800s and three X-850s. And two dozen ADATS of various sorts. And all for under $60 000 U.S. not including shipping, handling, insurance, and custom duty. One guy wanted $800 for a X-850 manual. Hard to find so we paid.

We been quite busy these last few years just transferring DASH tape to Pro Tools. So lack of tape (They stopped manufacturering DASH tape after 2006.) is not an issue. Unfortunately 1/3 of the DASH tapes we get just won't play anymore.

We had a web page but it to be taken down over some legal reasons which I never understood (Long story) At the moment we exist on word of mouth and a pretty good ad in the Yellow Pages.
My Uncle Jack doesn't seem to understand how important being on the web is. All I get is, "I'll think about it..."

That's legacy work. It doesn't speak to obsolescence. As soon as somebody stops manufacturing a technology and a new technology takes over, it's obsolete. Digital audio tape as a technology is obsolete. Nobody makes new machines, and it's all been replaced by disc recording. Just because we all have amazing stuff still on floppy, ZIP and JAZ drives, and might want to get at it some day, doesn't mean that it isn't obsolete either.

Got tape?

I was wondering the same thing. Is there any tape being made for it these days?

Andre

No, I don't think so.... According to CLA himself, he bought the lot of the last batch (every last tape to be found).

To all those asking - They stopped making DASH tape after 2006. All that's available now is company surplus and of course studios wanting to get rid of their DASH tape which is of no use to them.

Hold on now...Just a moment...I am sure they are other Pro audio gear that has depreciated just as much. I just can't think of any for the moment. mmmmmm....On second thought - you are right. From $250 000 in 1994 down to $1000 24 years later. That's pretty pathetic.
Although to be fare for $1000 you will get your Sony 3348HR as is. For one in good working prime condition the price is usually around $5000. (Doesn't include manual.) It's no different then seeing a Studer 827 on Ebay for $800 will no head report. For all you know you could be paying for 70 pounds of scrap metal.
Still, you are completely right.

I was at the Sorceror Sound auction way way back in the early aughts(2006?) and spent the entire day watching the live proceedings.

Ended up with a Massive Passive and some great experiences....

So at the end of the day, while everyone was moseying on out, I stopped to take a look at two freezer sized 3348's Dash machines in the hallway. One of the studio managers sidles up, asks me if I like what I see. Tells me they didn't sell during the auction...

Anticipating a sales pitch, i murmured that they were great but a little outdated...the guy nods and agrees, and then says..."Well if you can get a truck and get them out of here by 8pm they're all yours...."

250k in 94 to 1k in 2005 - 11 years

That listing was 13 years ago!

I think this deserves the necro-post of the year award.

And now its at $850 from 13 years ago lol

How low can this thing go ha

Sony PCM 3348 - 48 track digital recorder & remote control | eBay

Nobody wants that thing.

"It belongs in a museum!!"


Dr. Jones

And worse - nobody wants to repair them. A genuine nightmare of just-on-the-edge electronics.

Jakob E.

Lol I thought it was a big deal when I rented 2 for a Patti LaBelle live album at the appolo..

i never made the switch to digital tape (could not afford at the time/invested in different technology/gear such as fairlight) but kept my studers running...

to this day, my impression is that some work (which at least partially got recorded on dash machines) sounded really good, for instance some albums by rachelle ferrel or anita baker, (co-)produced by george duke.

in retrospective, how would you characterize large digital tape machines? anyone willing to share his/her experience?

Is it holy smoke or holy smokes ?

I had a bit of time on both the Sony 24 track and the Mitsubishi. The Mitsubishi was popular with jingle clients because it was 32-track and you could do more vocal stacks and alternate versions without having to bounce or copy. It was, what, 12-bit? Very chilly and 2-D and it sounded like everything was gated. The Sony was much more "normal." The assistant at Howard Schwartz kept coaching me to keep my levels really cool and not pre-anticipate with EQ, and I don't feel like I had enough time on it to get good at it. But I know folks that did. Not with the Mitsu, though, that thing was weird.

Are you a theist or a polytheist?

And I'm sure it was at that moment in time.

When we shut down the studio where I worked in 2014, one of the "assets" was a Studer D820MCH. I already knew there was no market for it, but was able to part it out for free to anyone with a FedEx account who wanted bits and pieces. I had a post here on Gearslutz offering it up, but only got traction on the Studer mailing list.

The heads went to Germany, capstan motor to the West Coast, power supply transformers (although it's NOT the same as what's in an A827) to Nashville. I kept the transport control panel and head cover as souvenirs. The rest of the machine went to e-waste.

Geoff

Maybe it's moved beyond obsolete since then. Maybe it's de-obsolete.

another Sony PCM 3348 w/remote and xtras Pristine Condition on its way to the DUMPSTER!! | eBay

I'm gonna watch to see if the dumpster wins.

The dumpster's worth more.

I've seen people making the "dumpster threat" before. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this -- if the item is too expensive for me to bid, too far away, or not what I want... why would I care if the dumpster, bonfire, or local bottomless pit gets it?

I have to confess I still use a Tascam DA-98HR

As a potential customer interested in the product what would motivate you more to pull the trigger? An auction with no bid that will likely come back up once time limit is up. An auction with no bid where seller claims he/she wants rid of the item either way, so if not sold then being chucked out?

Anyway, obviously we all know it’s bull in the first place (which might have been your point. I’ve just got up and brain not functioning). If they’re going to throw it out, set the price at $1 + shipping.

You can find them for $600/ $1000 is a lot for one.